[BnB]

8 months of ownership and I yesterday passed the 10,000 mile mark. My hobby is mountaineering so a fast estate is the coolest car in my world.

The power and acceleration, particularly on kick-down in Sport mode, is sufficient for my typically A-road, cross-country (Yorkshire and Scotland) mileage. A little more noise would be nice sometimes but the exhaust makes a pleasing if muted sound in Sport+.

It really is a very comfortable car, and fairly quiet too, on non-RFT 18s with adaptive. The dealer barely allowed me to spec the car without 19s, particularly as I ordered virtually all the options in the MSport+ pack. But I'm so happy I resisted his entreaties.

It's taken me a while to bond with the suspension when pressing on. I found it too wallowing at first. The car really likes smooth inputs instead of the trail-braking approach I brought over from 911 ownership. Mind you they like it smooth too, so maybe I'm just a poor pedaller. The change that's brought the best rewards has been to drive more in Sport+, rather than Sport chassis and stick to the left. I can't tell if it's the suppression of some of the safety nannies which allows for a smoother delivery of power without it cutting out, or the dampers firming up harder because the engine is revving more aggressively. I'd be interested in the thoughts of the many better drivers on here. Either way, with the right inputs, the cornering is fast and flat, with impressive grip from both sets of Michelins, PSS and PilotAlpins. The latter are the best winter rubber I've experienced.

Either way, this fast estate suits my lifestyle. Yesterday I drove 400 miles back from Scotland with a boot full of climbing gear. Today, three of us will head to the airport to be reunited with my daughter and her luggage. Tomorrow, I'll adaptive cruise control my way along the M62 and through Leeds traffic listening to Spotify's Discover Weekly playlist.

Yes, ACC and Spotify integration are favourite features. But I also enjoy email integration, the panoramic roof, and everyone's favourite, the heated steering wheel. Wasted money on heated seats, although my wife would disagree.

A quick word about the proportions. One of the reasons I plumped for the 3er in Touring guide is its packaging. I spend a considerable time on narrow country roads and the 3er is much slimmer than its rivals and easy to thread down the lanes. One of the best things about it, but rarely mentioned.

How long will I keep it? Who knows? I struggle to keep my cars for more than 2 years or 30,000 miles. I'm already eyeing up the forthcoming Merc GLC 63, Macan Turbo PP, Panamera Sport Turismo. However, because width is a serious matter, I'm praying Alpina get on the G20 with a refettled B58-powered B3 Touring.

Finally, my mileage borders on diesel territory but I am very happy with my, wait for it

35.3 mpg over the first 10k.

[225]

Nice. I concur the f31 340 is a great family estate that doesnt instantly make you depressed when you drive it. As you say it is a bit smaller than some which is good for handling/looks and just about manages long trips with the extended storage.

Hopefully when the g series comes out it will have a slightly bigger boot but keep the looks and please BMW make the m340 in a touring!!

[Andrewthefirst]

Great post. Great mileage!

Yeah what a car! My dream next car at the mo is the 540i touring, but the point you make on width is very valid.

[skipraider]

Mine is my first estate car, and they do come in very handy, even if it's not the biggest.

I take it you have an iphone for Spotify integration? Doesn't work with android does it?

[F31-340i]

I'm 5k in now in my 340i.

It's been on 18" non-RFT winter rubber for nearly all that, and I think it shows that the car is now engineered to ride well on RFT 19" - in a way the old E91 wasn't.

Will be switching back to 19" RFT soon, so it will be interesting to see if that suits it better. I don't have adaptive.

I find the gearbox very impressive - super quick changes, sometimes absolutely seemless, other times it feels like the change is optimised somewhere else in the rev range - example 1>2 needs to happen low down, its jerky high up. Other gears are different. Still think there are too many of them.

33.7mpg so far. That's really not that far behind the old 330d (usually settled around 36.6mpg).

I always assumed I would have an xdrive 335d when I swapped the 330d, the 340i has been a bit left field for me but pleased I went for it.

[djcowlin]

Nice post, and a good point about width. An easy choice for me, as a 5 series would be too long to fit on my drive.

Your mpg average is excellent, though I've found that it's easy to get mid-30s on a run if you're not pushing on too much. It's the urban driving that kills it.

One thing that Alpina do get right is the suspension on their cars, so a new B3 would be worth waiting for (if you can cope with the total lack of discounting).

[djcowlin]

Originally Posted by ajd

I always assumed I would have an xdrive 335d when I swapped the 330d, the 340i has been a bit left field for me but pleased I went for it.

Agreed!

[BnB]

Originally Posted by djcowlin

Nice post, and a good point about width. An easy choice for me, as a 5 series would be too long to fit on my drive.

Your mpg average is excellent, though I've found that it's easy to get mid-30s on a run if you're not pushing on too much. It's the urban driving that kills it.

One thing that Alpina do get right is the suspension on their cars, so a new B3 would be worth waiting for (if you can cope with the total lack of discounting).

Lack of discounts on the B3 wouldn't be a problem for me if and only if residuals hold up accordingly. Supply is likely to be exceptionally tight, but I've no idea about demand for a used Alpina B3. Possibly reasonable I'd guess. On the other hand, if they drop to the value of a two year old 340i then the pain would be hard to bear. Pork would look much better value in those circumstances.

[BnB]

Originally Posted by skipraider

Mine is my first estate car, and they do come in very handy, even if it's not the biggest.

I take it you have an iphone for Spotify integration? Doesn't work with android does it?

Correct. But then office doesn't work with iPhone although I've got a workaround.

[insanecoder]

Nearly everything is commendable in the 340i imo
except one area: the suspension could be a bit tighter.. the weakness/bounciness easily seen in a slalom-like situation

[225]

Well having just been for a strop in mine I am still grinning. I can highly recommend getting the 340 tuned as they really do fly then

[bimmer456]

I'm at 14k and my 340 is a blast! Especially in sport+ which some have said is no different than sport in the 335

[BnB]

Originally Posted by bimmer456

I'm at 14k and my 340 is a blast! Especially in sport+ which some have said is no different than sport in the 335

Agreed. Still interested in other's views on my observation that the handling seems distinctly better in Sport+, even though the chassis is set to firm up in vanilla Sport mode.