Words Abhay Verma | Photography Akshay Jadhav, Saidatta Naik
My love affair with the BMW 3 Series began in the early 2000’s when I drove a privately imported E46 belonging to a friend’s father. It was the first time I was driving a German luxury sedan, and something as special as an E46 at that! Delhi’s wide (and then traffic-free) roads allowed me to experience what the car could do, given the powerful petrol engine under its hood and dynamics that made me want to go faster. I was hooked, and ever since, the 3 Series has been a personal favourite. In fact across its generations I’ve seen BMW have the sedan offer a plusher ride quality and a more luxurious feel and even get more spacious, but without sacrificing being a driver’s car. And that’s thanks to BMW not really changing the original ingredients: a rear wheel drive system, chassis balance, brilliantly responsive steering and an overall taut feel.
I was enamoured even more when BMW launched the M340i in India, which is nearly half a decade ago now. It impressed, feeling closer to the full-blown M3, while feeling extremely practical and being far more affordable. Buyers seem to love the M340i too given its blend of space and practicality mixed with a strong dose of thrill, and the M340i has been a hot seller for BMW India. The car now gets a list of updates over and above what it had, and right on top of that list is the inclusion of Adaptive M suspension. Truth be told, the M340i’s ride quality was stiff, besides which adaptive dampers are an upgrade that’s always welcome! The 3.0-litre straight-six turbocharged petrol engine (codenamed B58) under the hood that makes it oh-so-good puts out 375PS and 500Nm and feels as potent as always, and the ponies are sent to all four wheels via BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system.
Acceleration is relentless thanks to the twin-scroll turbocharger, and 0-100kmph is achievable in just about 4 seconds. More importantly, the M340i has always offered the kind of dynamic versatility that few performance cars are able to match in the real world, be it on highways, winding roads or even in city. And this demeanour gets even better now. But before we get to the driving bit, let’s take a look at what else has changed. BMW has updated the design with some very subtle but purposeful tweaks. The signature kidney grille, sleeker LED headlights and aerodynamic enhancements lend the M340i a more focused stance now, without it losing the ‘executive’ appeal a lot of buyers want.
Two new colours are on offer now, one being the Arctic Race Blue you see on these pages and I can confirm, it looks very good! The new, blacked-out 19-inch wheels add to the stance, especially with the red-hued brake calipers. Inside, you get BMW’s trademark curved glass slab integrating a 12.3-inch driver display and a 14.9-inch infotainment screen that runs the latest version of BMW’s operating system. I’m not a fan of the way you access functions though as the overall user experience is confusing with too many apps, which makes it hard to search for something specific. What stands out is the richness of the cabin and the abundance of carbon fibre, which makes for a very racy look along with the fine stitching and M-specific trims.
From ambient lighting to the Harman Kardon sound system, the car offers all the creature comforts expected at this level. You also get a new flat-bottomed steering wheel with a 12’o clock marker in red, which looks cool. The M340i also gets the new air-conditioning vents from the updated 3 Series which add to the ease of ensuring the air is blowing exactly where you want. Under thigh extensions on the front seats add to comfort and overall, the front seats feel snug but also very comfortable. The rear bench feels comfortable too but rear legroom and kneeroom are not as good as say, the 330 Li, as the M340i has the standard wheelbase.
The car offers the same, sporty and very intuitive feel as before from behind the wheel and I have no qualms in stating this is the best driver’s car you can buy under Rs 1 crore in India today. Performance is heady, especially in Sport and Sport+ modes. Some of the engine sound is ‘piped’ through the speakers, with a few crackles as well, but that does not take away the fact that is a good sounding engine and makes you want to rev harder at every opportunity for its sound. Given the grin inducing acceleration, you’re also constantly searching for a chance to step on the throttle for the ‘kickdown’ and the resultant thrust from the engine and howl from the speakers.. er… exhausts. The 8-speed automatic gearbox – which is a torque converter and not even a dual-clutch unit! – helps in keeping you enthused too with its responses, especially via the paddle shifters.
I had the opportunity to drive to Mumbai in the 330 Li and swap it for the M340i on my way back to Pune, and the difference between the two cars is akin to chalk and cheese! Performance is worlds apart expectedly, and bigger differences can be felt on the dynamics front. The M340i obviously feels more taut and I’m not talking just courtesy the stiffer suspension, but also the chassis and shorter wheelbase. The adaptive suspension works well in terms of offering a differentiation between modes, but there is a sense of stiffness even in Eco and Normal modes. You can even adjust the damping via the screen in ‘Sport Individual’ mode though overall, the suspension still feels too firm to be appreciated by rear seat occupants. But then, this is the M340i after all, a car that ensures there’s a grin plastered on your mug all the time as its handling, steering responses and overall dynamics make you want to push harder.
In a nutshell, BMW has bettered a package that was already very impressive. And this midlife update also help the M340i stay relevant, even nearly half a decade after it was launched originally. The car retails at Rs 74.90 lakh ex-showroom now, commanding a premium of Rs 6 lakh over the previous version, but price feels justified courtesy the adaptive suspension and cosmetic tweaks. The suspension helps the M340i feel better on the comfort front, while also allowing you to use the option of selective damping. Talk about having your cake and eating it too!
