BMW M3 vs M340i - IS THE M3 WORTH THE MONEY???

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I wish the M3 had the front end of the M340i

The M3 and M340i are two different cars. One is for people who want a little bit extra speed, but still want comfortability and ultimate daily drivability. The other is for those who want to sacrifice certain comforts for ultimate performance, as well as those who want to track it. Both are good DDs, but the M340i is the better every day car.

Let's be honest, if you have the money you're going for the M3... Stop fooling yourselves people lol

I own a 2024 BMW M340 and in my opinion it’s an all-around all season sports car best car I’ve owned in a long time

As a previous m240i to a m2 owner, yes m cars are worth it.

Back in 2022 I had the same decision to make and I chose the M340i. My biggest stips were fuel economy since I wanted a fun DAILY, and price. The m3 is a whole lot of car but seeing all my friends with supras, I figured I could get the M340i there a lot cheaper and be happier. Fast forward to now, my m340i is on fortune coilovers and dinan monoballs with some rear and mid bracing. Easily closed the gap in handling between the M3 and M340i. Currently doing a g80 brakes retrofit. Also immediately ditched the runflat stockers for 19x9.5 apex wheels with a 265/35 squared setup. Then for power just did a DAW turbo with fuel and I'm very happy. Car runs low 10s, probably 9s if I go back and I can make 35mpg on long trips. And I'm still not even close to the cost of the m3.

simple, quick answer.... YES the M3 is definitely worth the money

M340i for the reasons others have given but also for looks alone. Will never get used to the M3 grille. Just doesn’t work aesthetically.

Ive owned a lot of performance cars, Ive built out a few of them for both drag & track racing. I bought a G80CXD in 2022, as my first BMW, and its by far the best high performance daily driver Ive ever owned. With just a downpipe, drop in air filters, custom tune, & decent tires its a 9.7-9.8 1/4 mile car. With a subtle KW adjustable lowering springs(very subtle lowering) and it goes from good to great on the track & backroads. I truly believe the G80CXD is the greatest high performance daily driver ever produced. Unmatched in several areas: Performance Versatility(Drag, Track, Prep, No Prep, Street, Roll, Backroads), Performance gains with basic mods(200hp+200lbs gain with just DPs, intake, & Custom E40 tune), materials, build quality(unlike AMG interior which looks nice but has cheap squeaky plastic pieces), drive-ability+adaptability(Various performance & suspension settings, & AWD to RWD selection, that actually has noticeable changes), practicality(true all season, all weather daily with useable backseat & trunk space), fuel economy(in eco mode can easily get 30+MPG), reliability, value(I know some people will say "how can be it be good value costing 6 figures". What you receive for the $ competes with $300k+ super cars with literally $5k in upgrades. Most cars that perform on this level are perfect weather cars only, little practicality, performance versatility, etc. BMW could charge $140k-$150k for this car and I would still think its decent value at that level.. BMW hit a grand slam with the S58 & combining it with their XDrive. A RWD biased AWD system that still handles & feels like a RWD car in many ways, and if you want a little RWD fun its as simple as pushing a button. The M3/M4CXD are modern marvels of a car and highly recommended for anyone wanting a top of class highly practical performance car. I love my G80CXD so much I actually just ordered a new G82CXD with Carbon Buckets & CCBs to fully build out as a first in class drag, track, & show car. Ive never been a brand loyalist. I grew up on a classic car dealerships surrounded by all types muscle cars, so I liked many different models & brands, but experiencing this marvel of a machine BMW has turned me into a massive supporter of their brand. Even with basic mods-- Downpipes, lighter resonated exhaust, lighter rims + good tires, quality intake, subtle lowering(not slammed, just enough to slightly lower its CoG and reduce body roll a little), & custom 93 Octane tune for daily driving and custom E40 tune for race/track days, and you have a car that not much can compete with on the streets(thats not fully built). If you want to go further, with some engine & trans mods, these are now just after 2 short years already in the low 8's in the 1/4 mile. Which is outstanding. If someone is watching this video and is on the fence about ordering one, DO IT! I promise you wont experience a micro second of buyers remorse. Once you get past the break in period and can experience all it offers, youll be as ecstatic every time you have to drive down the road. Moreover the support Ive received from BMW has always been first class. IN 2022 when I was in the market for a new performance car, I test drove almost every one listed below. When it was done there wasnt anything that ranked as high in all the categories mentioned above. C8, Z06, GT500, GTR, RS3, RS5, RS6, ZL1 1LE, Hellcat Charger Redeye, AMG E63, Alfa R Quadriglio, Blackwing4, Blackwing5 Some platforms had a higher drag ceiling, some had a higher track ceiling, some had more space, but nothing was good in every category. It may not be an Ace of any specific category, but its better than a Jack...... A "King of all trades kind of car".. Now the platform has been out for a couple years, there is a good amount of after market support for the platform, so you can customize it however one wants. Whether thats for drag or track racing, or just cosmetically, so many different quality vendors to choose from no matter what your preferences/objectives may be. Knowing the potential of the S58, and knowing BMW was going to launch a new Hybrid M5, I was hoping BMW would use a tuned S58 instead of the V8 to help reduce the weight. I think BMW could easily release the S58 with 600-620HP + additional Hybrid output. This would have helped take off some of the weight from the hybrid system, which I think would have been the perfect combo for the new M5. I suppose we'll see how its reviewed when its launched.

Awesome vid!

I’d say daily livability is better in the M340i because of its better low end response for stop and go traffic, much better mpg, and better sound. Plus the B58 has already been proven to be extremely reliable (S58 is also reliable, but still yet to see if it measures up to B58 level). Let’s not forget that with some minor suspension and wheel/tire mods, you can make the M340i very close in track performance. The B58 has also broken more world records and has proven to hold more power than the S58 both stock engine and built.

Finally some honesty from a M340 owner. I really wish Mercedes AMG and BMW MDivision didn’t dilute their brands but I understand why they do it. Look, M-Lite cars are fantastic sporty editions of already exceptional cars BUT they are not the same as a real M car. If you own one, bravo you’re already ahead of the game and you have a sweet ass ride but please stop arguing it’s the same or better. I don’t care what tune, downpipe, midpipe etc. you put on to improve your 1/4 time. You can even paint or wrap your roof to simulate carbon fiber or slap on an oversized CF spoiler from Amazon, it’s just not the same. Purists can appreciate both, but the real ones understand that a real M is greater than the sum of its parts. It’s not about 1/4 times etc.; it is truly the definition of the ultimate driving machine and it cannot be expressed in words or quantified with data, it has to be experienced on a canyon road or on track.

Got the '22 M340i xDrive, Spartanburg delivery (GO for it!). Ordered every option (including Michelin Pilot 4S NRFs and oil cooler) except the power trunk lid--HATE power doors. It's now a Dinan car with suspension, strut braces, cold air intake, and quad exhaust. It's my first automatic in 42 years, and it's brilliant, but it still does what IT wants to do--I'd rather have a manual. Could've gotten an M3 with manual tranny for near the same price, but detuned and RWD only. Plus, for professional reasons, I needed something with some degree of subtlety and elegance--wood trim, black metallic paint (with Shadowline), mocha leather--and I just couldn't spec the M3 that way, away from brash boy-racer combos (don't like carbon fiber decor), plus its styling gives it away anyway. I lMUCH like the M340i! The struts and suspension give the steering more responsiveness. The cold air intake and quad exhaust actually smooth out the sport transmission action around town so it isn't so jerky, yet more responsive. I ordered adaptive suspension, but it was decontented during the chip-shortage build, so the ride's a bit stiff. I save the Pilot 4Ss for track days. They have a lot of impact harshness. The Continental all-season DSW Extreme Contacts lose just a touch of turnin sharpness but add LOTS of impact smoothness--well worth it for daily driving. I took the car to VIR and yes, the M3s have it all over this slightly upgraded M340i xDrive. (But for now, the car is way better than I am!) Maybe some chip work later? Re. the LCI, I'm GLAD to have the pre-LCI interior! The binnacle and center screen are BEAUTIFULLY integrated, making the whole dash area into an attractive work of art that's also functional with real but unobtrusive buttons. The LCI dash is UGLY! It looks like someone mated two Dell desktop screens from someone's work cubicle and just dumped the result to perch on top of a formerly beautiful dash--where the screens even need ugly bracing in the back just to stay in place! Sure, these screens do more and have more graphics--but whatever happened to the simple, well-integrated, elegant beauty that BMW has modeled through the years? And buttons--what buttons? (And with computer graphics, why oh why can't we just have the option of round dials?) Then, THE SHIFT LEVER IS GONE--the thing that "falls readily to hand" and in a Bimmer, FITS your hand! I can move the lever by feel, not sight. How will a slide switch EVER perform the needed functions so smoothly and well? No way! This is a big step back in ergonomics. To conclude: is the M3 worth the money? Yes, no doubt. Is it what I need? No, it's a bit much for me in presentation and maintenance. I'm VERY happy in the land of my modded M340i!

If you’re looking for a sports car go M3. If you’re looking to save thousands of dollars, for a daily that you can still have “fun” in and get 30MPG go M340i.

Great review, loving this format. Have already said it, but you guys gotta get a Giulia QV and even just a 2.0T out on this track. I actually went with a 2.0T over an M340i based on chassis tuning and steering and of course the looks. Escalated into a QV which I am picking up this week.

I always say the m lites sound better than the new M cars. I love the F80 generation still. Just perfect ughh wish I got the xdrive in an F80 and the upgraded tech. I believe you can upgrade the regular brakes on the g80 for track use and save the almost 10k from the carbon ceramics I have see plenty of people do it and have no issues. I have got used to the grille over the years, but still wish it was better. great video

I had a 2020 BMW M340i and loved it. Had to sell it because it was just collecting dust, have a car from work I have to use due to my job. Hoping someday to justify getting a M3.

The style 666m wheels are so good 🤩

Seems like you guys were able to get over that gaping maw a lot easier than I was. Obviously the M3 is the more dynamic vehicle, but then you have to look at it. Would love to see this comparison redone with a few more basic mods on the M340i. I just put lightweight forged wheels and wider tires on mine and it’s a different machine. If tires got you three seconds without changing tire size…