BMW’s mantra has ever been giving sheer driving pleasure to its customers, and the very core of the brand would be the 3-Series, or as Germans would call it the “Dreier”. It has long since the go-to for every luxury car buyer who want a compact luxury sedan that also gives fun in driving.
The M3 sits at the top of the 3-Series hierarchy thanks to its race-bred performance worthy of the motorsport focused M badge. It is quite a tantalizing package for fans and enthusiasts, though it lives in the hearts and minds of most people.
Or you can get this M340i xDrive Touring, with a similar engine configuration but in a more refined suit. And a lot more space. This is not just a regular 3-Series with a big engine, the M name on the M340i makes more than just a case in itself.
Exterior
With this facelift (Life Cycle Impulse in BMW speak), BMW has implemented various changes inside and outside. The standard M Sport Package Pro bodykit, starting with the more chiseled front fascia, with new L-shaped Adaptive LED headlights, black Shadowline exterior trim with matching gloss black honeycomb kidney grille, as well as a gaping air intake made it all the more cleaner looking. The grille opens when the engine is turned on for cooling, and closes when it’s not.
The wide fenders give it much more road presence, as well as giving the M340i Touring its natural elegance that does not deviate from the sedan when turned into a wagon, and also gives it a very macho appeal. It sits on 19 inch double spoke bicolor alloys wrapped in grippy Pirelli PZero tires.
A gloss black rear diffuser, coupled with metallic exhaust housings, gives off an aggressive appeal when viewed from the back, letting people know behind them that this is a serious performance car. Also, M badges found on the side fenders clearly tell others that this is no ordinary 3-Series BMW.
As it is a wagon, you do get a power tailgate, and the glass hatch can also be opened by pressing the button underneath the rear windshield wiper if you need to get something at the back without opening the tailgate.
Interior
Those who are familiar with the pre-facelift 3-Series will find the cabin very familiar, apart from a few changes. BMW employs Sensatec perforated Sport seats in the M340i, with seatbelts adorned with the M tricolor stripes. The front Sport seats, while it is a comfortable place to sit, bolster you in place under sporty driving, but sit too long on the road with it can make your lower back uncomfortable in some occasions – though BMW’s intent with the M340i isn’t meant for just an all-day comfortable cruise around the metro. The rear side can sit three, although keep in mind the transmission tunnel running in the middle. You do get extra air conditioning vents there as well with climate controls for the rear passengers as standard.
The LCI model also employs a curved screen that extends from the driver’s side to the center, similar to the one found in the all-electric iX, combining a 14.3 inch BMW control display and a 12.3 inch infotainment display with BMW’s OS 8 with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, and audiophiles can also enjoy crisp, clean sounds thanks to its Harman Kardon speakers, also equipped as standard.
The control display shows beautiful graphics and can change its color depending on which mode you’re in, which can distract you from driving at first glance due to how aesthetically pleasing it is. It also shows you its in-house navigation as well as various other functions too.
The climate control buttons are removed in favor of on-screen controls, which can take a while to get used to. You can operate it via voice via “Hey, BMW” commands, though having dedicated buttons for climate control would make it easier.
The center console gets revamped, with a shift toggle which is easy to use, but can take while to get used to if you’re coming from stick gear levers. There’s buttons for the driving modes for easy access, consisting of Eco Pro, Comfort, and Sport. A rotary dial is implemented if you’re accessing the center screen without having to lean and control the screen via touch or swipe.
There’s also generous legroom and good headroom, and as it is a wagon, you get 500 liters of cargo, which is huge. Fold down the rear seats and you’ll expand it to 1510 liters.
Performance
Under the sculpted hood lies one of BMW’s greatest hits – a twin turbo 3.0L inline-six dubbed the B58, developing 382PS and 500Nm of torque, and with engines like this, economy doesn’t matter anymore. Blip the Sport mode on and it roars into life as you give it the revs. Power gets sent to all four wheels via an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission, with a manual mode via paddle shifts. This allows to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds, which is blisteringly fast for just shy of under 400 horses.
It revs freely and quick, with no signs of lag. It is very responsive enough on Sport mode that if you give it the hammer down, it’ll happily oblige you with all of its power at the disposal of your right foot, and with with the engine’s musical splendor to boot.
There’s a little extra to it as well. Hold the left paddle shift down and you’ll engage Sprint mode, which downshifts and optimzes revs, and engages Sport mode to give you a short burst of power in a short amount of time.
Given the slightly stiff ride of the M340i, it does have its benefits in some occasions. In places such as in Antipolo, where there are a lot of winding roads, the M340i xDrive Touring glides into them perfectly and without any drama. Sport mode lightens the steering so much it just darts through as you turn, and it is quick enough you’ll forget you’re driving a wagon. Combined with such a magnificent engine, you won’t even care about even the slightest annoyances anymore and be enchanted by the drive. Dynamically, it is as fabulous as it is to look at.
Which goes to show that BMWs like this are geared towards enthusiasts in mind. P5,890,000 is steep for a car of this caliber, but it’s almost half than what the M3 Competition xDrive Touring costs, with a lot more comfort. This could very well be a perfect performance car overall in any occasion – whether for a daily commute or short jaunts on a winding road or a racetrack. Truly a car worthy of the M badge, and it is truly a performance car in itself.
