[Scott_y37]

wasn't on your wish list but maybe consider an M850 cabrio ?

[NC M550 VADER]

Originally Posted by Scott_y37

wasn't on your wish list but maybe consider an M850 cabrio ?

Two kids, must have 4 doors. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[maDjzo]

Our family is getting bigger and I will be looking to part ways with the G30 for something bigger. Have you considered the F95? Paired with an Eisenmann or Akra it will pass the sound test for sure.

[NC M550 VADER]

Originally Posted by maDjzo

Our family is getting bigger and I will be looking to part ways with the G30 for something bigger. Have you considered the F95? Paired with an Eisenmann or Akra it will pass the sound test for sure.

I keep coming back to X5M but the exterior design doesn’t do it for me. If lowered and fitted with 23s, it might work. I probably need to go drive one. We have an X7 for my wife’s car already.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by g21

that's why i don't test drive an M5

you are describing my M340i in sport plus. so in a way, in my mind i already have the M5 "feel", but half the power.

but from my other thread in the M5 section, yeah it's what i have discovered. can't justify paying and extra M550i (after deprecition) to get the M5.

I’m taking my car for regular service tomorrow. They have a M340i and a X3 M40 on the preowned lot. I really want to drive both but unfortunately don’t have time. I don’t want to trade my M550 for either, but I would really like to try out the M340. I think I’d enjoy it.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by g21

so tell me if this is the difference - i have a M340i and M550i and they are completely different cars. noting that the 3 is not a luxury car compared to the 5, let me just state the driving dynamics

when I drive my 5 and 3 back to back (3hrs, 3hrs, same route)

i notice that the 5 throttle response is about half a second slower. the 340 (in sport plus) will fly off the moment i press the gas pedal. it's like an angry lion waiting to be released from its cage. car feels light as a feather vs 5 feels like it doesn't really want to move but reluctantly responds to the surge in torque.

steering wheel is direct. you turn the wheel the car is already pointing where you want it before you realize it. car feels half a tonne lighter than the 5 even though the difference is only 100kg. also the 3 feels half a meter narrower but it's actually only a few mms here and there.

suspension. 3 sits flat, no boating, no trampoline bounce. you can feel the back of the car moving from the seat sending messages to the butt.

gearbox - shifts are violent. you can hear and feel the bangs when the gears shift up and down. and shifts faster than the 5 by quite a bit. but doesn't have enough power to get to 6th gear (135mph) where as the 550 will get to 6th gear without you realising how fast it's going lol (but it's out of breath at 6th gear. i imagine the M5 will continue to pull in 6th gear)

all in all, raw, direct, flat. vs isolated, delayed, sways a a bit like a boat.

so if i combined both cars, i have the M5 lol. but i decided not to (mainly depreciation, after speaking with the [...]

Based on published specs, the M550 is the faster car off the line. The torque is awesome. How does the M340 feel compared to the M550 in acceleration? Is the M340 also xDrive?

[G30M]

Originally Posted by NGT2

Based on published specs, the M550 is the faster car off the line. The torque is awesome. How does the M340 feel compared to the M550 in acceleration? Is the M340 also xDrive?

i meant the way the 340 dynamics is what i imagine the M5.

power wise 340 is lower. the 550, when the computer decides to give you power it's brutal. but the throttle response is so slow compared to the 340.

[tsbrown]

Originally Posted by g21

so tell me if this is the difference - i have a M340i and M550i and they are completely different cars. noting that the 3 is not a luxury car compared to the 5, let me just state the driving dynamics

when I drive my 5 and 3 back to back (3hrs, 3hrs, same route)

i notice that the 5 throttle response is about half a second slower. the 340 (in sport plus) will fly off the moment i press the gas pedal. it's like an angry lion waiting to be released from its cage. car feels light as a feather vs 5 feels like it doesn't really want to move but reluctantly responds to the surge in torque.

steering wheel is direct. you turn the wheel the car is already pointing where you want it before you realize it. car feels half a tonne lighter than the 5 even though the difference is only 100kg. also the 3 feels half a meter narrower but it's actually only a few mms here and there.

suspension. 3 sits flat, no boating, no trampoline bounce. you can feel the back of the car moving from the seat sending messages to the butt.

gearbox - shifts are violent. you can hear and feel the bangs when the gears shift up and down. and shifts faster than the 5 by quite a bit. but doesn't have enough power to get to 6th gear (135mph) where as the 550 will get to 6th gear without you realising how fast it's going lol (but it's out of breath at 6th gear. i imagine the M5 will continue to pull in 6th gear)

all in all, raw, direct, flat. vs isolated, delayed, sways a a bit like a boat.

so if i combined both cars, i have the M5 lol. but i decided not to (mainly depreciation, after speaking with the [...]

I’ve never driven the M340i but in many ways sounds like my E90 M3 6MT. The ultra sensitive throttle was great on track, and often on the road. But after 6 1/2 years with it, I was a bit fatigued by the always-on-edge nature of the car. Probably my all time favorite car though, with the G30 being 1a.

[MrLatte]

Originally Posted by NC M550 VADER

Two kids, must have 4 doors. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Originally Posted by NC M550 VADER

I keep coming back to X5M but the exterior design doesn’t do it for me. If lowered and fitted with 23s, it might work. I probably need to go drive one. We have an X7 for my wife’s car already.

If it was me, Id think outside the box and look at large coupes as 2 SUVs sounds like hell on earth

[MauiSteve]

One vote for the X3M Comp. I think the S58 engine is what you want even though you don't know it yet. Order a new one exactly the way you want it and with an individual exterior paint color. I'm looking at these now since the new G60 is so fugly.

[BMW012]

Originally Posted by NGT2

I’m taking my car for regular service tomorrow. They have a M340i and a X3 M40 on the preowned lot. I really want to drive both but unfortunately don’t have time. I don’t want to trade my M550 for either, but I would really like to try out the M340. I think I’d enjoy it.

did you get end up getting the m340i loaner? considering how much you like your m550i not sure if it will meet/beat your expectations.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by BMW012

did you get end up getting the m340i loaner? considering how much you like your m550i not sure if it will meet/beat your expectations.

No. It is for sale, not a loaner. But I’m going back to rotate the tires and that will take them 45 minutes or so. I may text the salesman and see if I can test drive it while they rotate my tires.

[Benjamin_Nicholas]

I've owned both the M340i and the M550i.

Enjoyed both. Apples and oranges to compare. One is seriously lighter, which is why it's got the feel it does. Fit and finish on the 3 is lacking (imo). You don't have that issue on the 5.

The 3 is a fun, go-kart of a car, but on conditions other than smooth pavement, it can feel unsettled. City streets and potholes were no bueno. The 5 has a more compliant suspension for that and even better if you went with ZDH.

[jsf721]

Seriously good choices. The problem is you are and have been with the best all around car imho. The 550.

All the others are different but less. Audi is crazy that they don’t fix that throttle lag. It ruins an otherwise perfect set up. It must be to meet mpg numbers but at the cost of response. Aftermarket makes a petal remap dongle but that is not what I want to do to a new car. Cost them me as a new customer on the Q8. Really wanted the RSQ8 but it’s out of my range.

If you drive a sporty bmw the Audi won’t cut it unless you jump to their RS cars.


Porsche is merciless on what they will charge for service. Like crazy imho. Need a good Indy or hard pass.

I would go M5C if you like the ride quality or x5m.

[CMK]

Originally Posted by jsf721

All the others are different but less. Audi is crazy that they don’t fix that throttle lag. It ruins an otherwise perfect set up. It must be to meet mpg numbers but at the cost of response. Aftermarket makes a petal remap dongle but that is not what I want to do to a new car. Cost them me as a new customer on the Q8. Really wanted the RSQ8 but it’s out of my range.

If you drive a sporty bmw the Audi won’t cut it unless you jump to their RS cars.

I was a huge Audi nut for many years. Still love them but the throttle lag has been a VW/Audi problem for as long as they've had DBW.

I drove a 2020 S6 and it was a great overall package, but the touchscreen climate controls, steering wheel buttons, and throttle lag combined to be a dealbreaker.

Coincidentally I followed it up with a test of an M550i on a lark and decided I had to have one. Bless you, Carmax.

[NC M550 VADER]

Originally Posted by jsf721

Seriously good choices. The problem is you are and have been with the best all around car imho. The 550.

All the others are different but less. Audi is crazy that they don’t fix that throttle lag. It ruins an otherwise perfect set up. It must be to meet mpg numbers but at the cost of response. Aftermarket makes a petal remap dongle but that is not what I want to do to a new car. Cost them me as a new customer on the Q8. Really wanted the RSQ8 but it’s out of my range.

If you drive a sporty bmw the Audi won’t cut it unless you jump to their RS cars.


Porsche is merciless on what they will charge for service. Like crazy imho. Need a good Indy or hard pass.

I would go M5C if you like the ride quality or x5m.

So I went and test-drove a '22 RS6 this past weekend. Really, really nice car. Aggressive exterior, terrific cargo space, and a modern interior. Throttle response was good but not great and there was just something missing for me overall. I will keep it on the list, perhaps, but it just didn't move me.