RE: All-new 2019 BMW 3 Series revealed

[bcadou]

Evo says there is a 6 speed manual

[sidesauce]

wab172uk said:

Given this car is bigger and heavier, it'll be slower.

Incorrect. Up to 55kgs lighter than the previous model in fact.

[wab172uk]

daveco said:

wab172uk said:

So as per usual, the next gen car is bigger than the car it replaces. ie, the new 3 Series will be huge. Probably getting on for a 5 series size a few Generations ago.

The 340i will share the engine and power of the 1 & 2 series. Given this car is bigger and heavier, it'll be slower. Why not boost the power to make it quicker or at least as fast as it's smaller siblings?

No mention of X-drive I see. I thought about going for a 3 series a couple years ago. But you couldn't buy a 340i manual with X-drive. No doubt the new car will follow suit. Want X-Drive, you have to have an Auto.

For me, I think the new 1 & 2 series (whenever they're released) cars will be more of interest.

It is bigger but lighter than the previous iteration, like the current 5 series is lighter but more spacious than the previous gen.

This new model is still smaller than the e39 5 series too iirc.

Likely little to no demand for x-drive with a manual. If you want a manual go RWD surely?

Why would I want RWD with a manual? So I can drift it round every round-a-bout?

I personally prefer AWD. Winters are wet and greasy, where AWD makes much more sense in the UK. I've owned RWD cars before, but they are always a compromise in the wet and through the winter months.

[kambites]

sidesauce said:

wab172uk said:

Given this car is bigger and heavier, it'll be slower.

Incorrect. Up to 55kgs lighter than the previous model in fact.

He meant heavier than the 1/2-series, although even that will be marginal I suspect given how close the 2-series and F30 3-series were in weight.

[Mike Roberts]

From BMW's site:

Meet the new BMW M340i.
With the explosive thrust of the M TwinPower Turbo 6-cylinder petrol engine, which unleashes 374hp (275kW), and the perfectly tuned 8-speed M Sport transmission, the new BMW M340i xDrive is ready to take your breath away. It’s everything you expect of a BMW 3 Series Saloon, yet with so much more. Available from July 2019.

Hope it comes in RWD with a stick too.

[Ninja59]

kambites said:

Well both. BMW decide not to bring cars here because if and only if they wouldn't generate them a net profit. Fashions in the market obviously play a large part in the profitability of a particular model/variant.

Of course we make something of a rod for our own back in that regard by driving on the "wrong" side of the road.

Exactly .

I am surprised rather like you mention that BMW has not combined a 6 pot with a petrol. I suspect part of the restriction is torque as BMW use ZF's hybrid system which replaces the TC.

[kambites]

Ninja59 said:

I am surprised rather like you mention that BMW has not combined a 6 pot with a petrol. I suspect part of the restriction is torque as BMW use ZF's hybrid system which replaces the TC.

I assume you mean with an electric motor not with a petrol.

I'm sure they could down-tune the low rev torque of the six pot turbo in a hybrid application to avoid destroying the transmission. I think a plug-in hybrid version of the 340i would be a lovely thing. Given it enough electric range for the average city commute (40 miles would do) and the top-end and sound of the BMW 6-pot with the electric motor providing a torque fill to mitigate the turbo lag for enthusiastic driving and it'd be great.

[RicksAlfas]

I'm pleased the bonnet reaches the grill now. It looked a bit odd on the previous version.

[Ares]

I like it. Evolution not revolution. Rear is a little different, a bit Lexus-ish, but a handsome package, especially in M-Sport guise. Interior is OK, but quality looks good which was my gripe having been in previous gen.

There's not been a bad 3-series, can't see this failing to set the overall sector benchmark.

[mylesmcd]

Mike Roberts said:

From BMW's site:

Meet the new BMW M340i.
With the explosive thrust of the M TwinPower Turbo 6-cylinder petrol engine, which unleashes 374hp (275kW), and the perfectly tuned 8-speed M Sport transmission, the new BMW M340i xDrive is ready to take your breath away. It’s everything you expect of a BMW 3 Series Saloon, yet with so much more. Available from July 2019.

Hope it comes in RWD with a stick too.

That is the vinegar stroke right there. RWD with stick. The M3/4 wont come manual (? it wont, will it?) so if the M340i does, that will be the pick of the bunch. IMHO!

[M1C]

Im not sure. It does look like they just didn't know what to do with the sides. It's like...."flamesurfacing Lite". The front and rear are more defined (although that boot lip looks quite soft edged)

Hmmm....not sure.

Saying that....i REALLY didn't like the 5 series when it was revealed but i quite like it now.

[Ninja59]

kambites said:

I assume you mean with an electric motor not with a petrol.

I'm sure they could down-tune the low rev torque of the six pot turbo in a hybrid application to avoid destroying the transmission. I think a plug-in hybrid version of the 340i would be a lovely thing. Given it enough electric range for the average city commute (40 miles would do) and the top-end and sound of the BMW 6-pot with the electric motor providing a torque fill to mitigate the turbo lag for enthusiastic driving and it'd be great.

I am glad you could decipher my musings whilst doing other things! I knew what I meant.

But yes. I could well imagine that will be the future, I suspect it is one of the reasons BMW decided to ditch the DCT for the 8HP in the M5. Will the M3/4 do a similar thing?

[Ares]

sidesauce said:

wab172uk said:

Given this car is bigger and heavier, it'll be slower.

Incorrect. Up to 55kgs lighter than the previous model in fact.

Don't let facts get in the way of blind vitriol

[RemarkLima]

NJJ said:

sidesauce said:

Getting a little too big packaging wise but that does look good...

...waits for comments about the door handles being different heights.

Edited by sidesauce on Tuesday 2nd October 08:45

Now that I've seen that I cannot unsee it! Looks more progressive than I was thinking, smart but given its size, 3+ Series?

Argh! That's ruined the whole car for me

[Ares]

kambites said:

Ninja59 said:

I am surprised rather like you mention that BMW has not combined a 6 pot with a petrol. I suspect part of the restriction is torque as BMW use ZF's hybrid system which replaces the TC.

I assume you mean with an electric motor not with a petrol.

I'm sure they could down-tune the low rev torque of the six pot turbo in a hybrid application to avoid destroying the transmission. I think a plug-in hybrid version of the 340i would be a lovely thing. Given it enough electric range for the average city commute (40 miles would do) and the top-end and sound of the BMW 6-pot with the electric motor providing a torque fill to mitigate the turbo lag for enthusiastic driving and it'd be great.

Would it be a false step with emissions though? (don't know, genuinely asking)

The e range is about eco/green/tree-hugging...and tax. Negating those by making it a warm performance model could find a minimal market.

[Ares]

Mike Roberts said:

From BMW's site:

Meet the new BMW M340i.
With the explosive thrust of the M TwinPower Turbo 6-cylinder petrol engine, which unleashes 374hp (275kW), and the perfectly tuned 8-speed M Sport transmission, the new BMW M340i xDrive is ready to take your breath away. It’s everything you expect of a BMW 3 Series Saloon, yet with so much more. Available from July 2019.

Hope it comes in RWD with a stick too.

374bhp for a non M model!

[kambites]

Ares said:

Would it be a false step with emissions though? (don't know, genuinely asking)

Depends on what type of emissions you're talking about. Given that there's a large political focus on city-centre air quality at the moment, plug-in hybrids are understandably the focus; diesels tend to still be better in terms of CO2 emissions on long journeys though.

[moffat]

Ares said:

374bhp for a non M model!

It's good news, a lightly boosted version of the current 340i and 440i that have the M Power, Performance and Sound Kit which provide a performance exhaust and light remap to 360bhp. I've got that package now and it's fantastic.

[daveco]

wab172uk said:

daveco said:

wab172uk said:

So as per usual, the next gen car is bigger than the car it replaces. ie, the new 3 Series will be huge. Probably getting on for a 5 series size a few Generations ago.

The 340i will share the engine and power of the 1 & 2 series. Given this car is bigger and heavier, it'll be slower. Why not boost the power to make it quicker or at least as fast as it's smaller siblings?

No mention of X-drive I see. I thought about going for a 3 series a couple years ago. But you couldn't buy a 340i manual with X-drive. No doubt the new car will follow suit. Want X-Drive, you have to have an Auto.

For me, I think the new 1 & 2 series (whenever they're released) cars will be more of interest.

It is bigger but lighter than the previous iteration, like the current 5 series is lighter but more spacious than the previous gen.

This new model is still smaller than the e39 5 series too iirc.

Likely little to no demand for x-drive with a manual. If you want a manual go RWD surely?

Why would I want RWD with a manual? So I can drift it round every round-a-bout?

I personally prefer AWD. Winters are wet and greasy, where AWD makes much more sense in the UK. I've owned RWD cars before, but they are always a compromise in the wet and through the winter months.

Good to hear.

[cerb4.5lee]

I've always been a big fan of the 3 series and I've had a couple of E90's and a E92. Looks wise I'm not that keen on this from the photos, but I'm hoping it looks better in the metal.

The interior has always let the more recent(E90/F30) 3 series down for me(bland and old fashioned), so I'm looking forward to sitting in this to see if they've moved the game on enough.