[harperium]

I had a 340i xDrive with the MPPSK, which was equal in power to the new M340i, though the new chassis is reportedly better. I also had an X3 M40i. So I have about 4 years of experience with M Performance and B58 models.

Compared to the X3MC… not really a fair comparison. Forget the published figures and numbers. The M cars are special in every way. But the big things that I’ve noticed:

* On the highway, the acceleration of the B58 will not push you back into the seat. The S58 will, and it’s exhilarating.

* The exhaust on the X3MC is awesome, and the M340i doesn’t come close.

* The M buttons are awesome.

* The suspension on the X3MC is wonderful. My wife thinks it’s the most comfortable car I’ve had.

* The M cars have a street presence the M Performance models don’t have. It’s subtle but there.

* The steering and handling are so tight. On my 340i, I had even lowered and stiffened it to make it handle better, but the X3MC is far better.

[BMWsully]

M340i, really? Lol. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice car but apples and oranges in more than one way.

[bmwsalepro]

the more accurate comparison is M340xi to X3M40. The X3M would be the equivalent to the M3. Both have the S58 engine.

[allinon72]

Compare any M car to an M Sport car, the M wins every time, spec sheets mean squat. It's about more than that. Doesn't mean the M340i isn't a great car.

[Daniely30]

I had 2017 340i and now have 2020 x4mc
The turbo lag on 340i was not existent compared to x4m. Till i got rid of DP. There is no comparison in performance. X4m will smoke 340i all day.

[Young04]

This is from some time ago.

[Gsavarese]

Wonder if the X3/X4M lag is software related?

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a3...eleration-fix/

[Transfer]

Funny to see this popped back up to top. Since the first few posts I bought both M340i xDrive and X3M. The 3er feels lighter, more torquey down low, and is softer suspension with still seriously amazing handling and speed. It's not very exciting but it is incredibly capable, more so than any M performance car before it, substantially blurring the MP and M dividing line.

The X3M is a lifted and heavier M3. Not much else needs to be said about it.

Both are amazing vehicles although I would no question choose the X3MC over M340i. Because I like the X3M so much but I appreciate the lower center of gravity of the M340i, I'll be trading the G20 for a G82 xDrive.

[Ilyam5]

Originally Posted by Transfer

Funny to see this popped back up to top. Since the first few posts I bought both M340i xDrive and X3M. The 3er feels lighter, more torquey down low, and is softer suspension with still seriously amazing handling and speed. It's not very exciting but it is incredibly capable, more so than any M performance car before it, substantially blurring the MP and M dividing line.

The X3M is a lifted and heavier M3. Not much else needs to be said about it.

Both are amazing vehicles although I would no question choose the X3MC over M340i. Because I like the X3M so much but I appreciate the lower center of gravity of the M340i, I'll be trading the G20 for a G82 xDrive.

Nice feedback, thank you. Im having a hard time choosing a utility\ car to drive bikes around and to be exciting to drive. Problem is I would always choose sedans over suv for handling. But nobody makes them with hitch or have exciting wagons
I went m4 for my driving and track. Have m340 for everyday family car.

Can’t persuade myself to go x3mx even lci
- will loose laser lights
- wireless charging
- wifi hotspot
- digital key
- fuel economy

Some of the reviews are pretty rough too Like top gear. There is a whole thread of people switching to m340 from x3m

https://g20.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1762709
https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/bmw/x3-m/driving

[MaxGainz]

Love these threads... Laggy acceleration lol these people don't know how to drive. 11.8@116 stock X3MC so sloooow better switch to m340. Reading these looks like people bought x3m because its the most expensive and not the performance model...

[Gamerguy]

Originally Posted by MaxGainz

Love these threads... Laggy acceleration lol these people don't know how to drive. 11.8@116 stock X3MC so sloooow better switch to m340. Reading these looks like people bought x3m because its the most expensive and not the performance model...

Facts lol! Like one of the above posters we have both: My wife drives a 21 M340 and I drive the 22 X3M Comp; night and day I mean come on! Since I'm in the US laser lights was not a factor for me at all and the LED's are more than bright enough.

I do like driving my wife's car when we're just hanging in the city or cruising, it's an awesome car and can hold its own with older M3's. But, driving experience, not close, the X3M is a real M and you CAN tell the difference when you push them even with the extra weight, different center of gravity, etc. Now the M3 xDrive, that's a different story!

Side note: I really hope they backport whatever engine tuning they did for the stock 22's; that would put that laggy crap to bed no matter what the driver skill is, just hit the gas!

[Littleted]

Originally Posted by Mako

So both are rated at 0-60 in 4.1 seconds but X3M cost $10,000 more with similar options.

Now that's hard to justify

1s an M car 1 Isnt, quite different mechanically
If its purely numbers then bang for buck 40i is ok, but if your debating this now, when you sit in your 40i youll still lust after an Mcar

blow your engine in the 40i its around 6k from BMW to replace
Do the same in the M and its 24k

Tuning ability M can go high 7xx BHP, turbos in my X3MC are running around 1.2bar thats low, mapping and when close to 2 BAR with downpipe and 7xx BHP

Just swallow that M Car pill from start 0-60 not much in it, but once the M is rolling you loose. I had the 440i and it is a differing beast my X3MC, and if i take it easy i can get 37MPG, my 440I struggled to get that.

the other element that was most important to me was boot space, try getting an IKEA wardrobe in a 3 series, or a family camping trip....

[ruderegime]

Originally Posted by harperium

I had a 340i xDrive with the MPPSK, which was equal in power to the new M340i, though the new chassis is reportedly better. I also had an X3 M40i. So I have about 4 years of experience with M Performance and B58 models.

Compared to the X3MC… not really a fair comparison. Forget the published figures and numbers. The M cars are special in every way. But the big things that I’ve noticed:

* On the highway, the acceleration of the B58 will not push you back into the seat. The S58 will, and it’s exhilarating.

* The exhaust on the X3MC is awesome, and the M340i doesn’t come close.

* The M buttons are awesome.

* The suspension on the X3MC is wonderful. My wife thinks it’s the most comfortable car I’ve had.

* The M cars have a street presence the M Performance models don’t have. It’s subtle but there.

* The steering and handling are so tight. On my 340i, I had even lowered and stiffened it to make it handle better, but the X3MC is far better.

I don't understand? I thought that the x3mc had stiff suspension, and the m340i's suspension was livable?

[M3Pilot09]

You are comparing apples and oranges. The X3M is a true M Car and the M340 is not. It's a great car and If I needed a sedan and could not do an M3 I would do an M340 all day long.

I have had 10 M3's along with an M4, M5, M6 and I am in my 3rd X3M and love it.

[JOHNBMWM5]

Originally Posted by M3Pilot09

You are comparing apples and oranges. The X3M is a true M Car and the M340 is not. It's a great car and If I needed a sedan and could not do an M3 I would do an M340 all day long.

I have had 10 M3's along with an M4, M5, M6 and I am in my 3rd X3M and love it.

How are you finding the every day economy and drive.

[izzynyc]

My Stock X3m non comp 0-60, 3.5 with the 1ft roll out. M340 Not even close. Also the b58 dies up top and does not keep pulling like the S58!

[Mike02z]

If you have problems getting into and out of a car the X3 M is a great choice. I could have easily gotten an M3 but I'm too old and fat to get into a sports sedan anymore.

[DFTBA]

I currently have a '20 m340 wagon over here in Europe. Great car, very versatile, plenty of comfort and quite economical. On long drives, you can easily do 36 mpg us if need be, but 18 mpg us is no problem either when driving fast or around town.

From my point of view, it is a very capable allround vehicle that is good in everything, but not brilliant in anything (handling, grip, brakes). Had a '16 340i with MPPSK, so roughly >120k kms of experience with the B58, which I am really convinced of.

Changed to the X3M mainly because of brilliant offer (still waiting for it), the fact of having a real M car (depreciation, etc.) and because it's easier with kids in the back.

[PabstBleuRibbon]

Recently had a loaner m340i for a couple weeks while my '22 X3MC was getting one of its cameras fixed. I know it's confirmation bias but getting back in the X3MC confirmed it was the better choice for a DD (over a G80 sedan). The m340i was a great car, tons of power and handles well. The loaner had ~14k miles, so it wasn't at the end of its life or anything.

m340i
- Suspension in comfort mode wasn't dramatically different/cushier than the X3MC. It's a sport sedan not a Buick regal.
- B58 is fun down low but as others have pointed out runs out of steam up top compared to the S58. Very nice motor.
- Noticeably harder to get and out of in my inclined driveway, and I don't have any mobility issues (yay).
- Did a day trip to the beach with 4 in the car and the sedan was lacking for utility compared to the hatchback.
- Handles flatter than the X3MC. Lower weight makes a difference and you can tell. Sure the X3MC can hustle around corners but there's no covering up it's an SUV.

x3mc:
- Motor. Motor. Motor.
- Better interior, way more utility.
- SOUND
- Hustling the x3mc around twisty roads is arguably more fun/hilarious. It's dumb how fast it goes around a corner, you do get tossed around more than a sedan.

[moff]

Originally Posted by Ilyam5

Nice feedback, thank you. Im having a hard time choosing a utility\ car to drive bikes around and to be exciting to drive. Problem is I would always choose sedans over suv for handling. But nobody makes them with hitch or have exciting wagons
I went m4 for my driving and track. Have m340 for everyday family car.

Can’t persuade myself to go x3mx even lci
- will loose laser lights
- wireless charging
- wifi hotspot
- digital key
- fuel economy

Some of the reviews are pretty rough too Like top gear. There is a whole thread of people switching to m340 from x3m

https://g20.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1762709
https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/bmw/x3-m/driving

My view on your points after a 2019 X3M and a 2022 X4M.

- will loose laser lights. - a waster of money and offer no performance advantage over the adaptive LED’s
- wireless charging - a $70 fix
- wifi hotspot - it’s in my car and a software fix
- digital key - huge and awful, you can do the same things with your phone
- fuel economy - 15% difference but you get a real M engine that loves to be revved and is way more exciting than the B58 (I previously owned an MPPSK 440i)

Reviews - depends on the model year that you want. But my LCI X4M rides way better than my X3M and I can guarantee it feels better to drive than an M340i.

There are huge differences between a real M car and a light version - the gap has closed but there is enough there to justify the cost difference. It all comes down to whether you want a tame normal road car or something more exciting.

[moff]

Originally Posted by ruderegime

I don't understand? I thought that the x3mc had stiff suspension, and the m340i's suspension was livable?

LCI fixed that.

[mdpelta]

The previous posts are correct about the 340i xd. However, please keep in mind that one is an SUV and the other is a sedan. I've owned the 340i for about a year and it is a very nice design!