Pics of your Fast Estate...

[sxmwht]

DoubleSix said:

Seems there are quite a few of us based on the last few pages

I was in a similar position, coming from smaller hot hatches and sports cars but family needs dictated something bigger. The 340i fits that brief without being huge.

Make no mistake, I don't consider it "fun" relative to a small hot hatch or two-seater, but it performs its duties with about as much entertainment as you can expect from a two-tonne estate and isn't as dull in hand as an Audi, but equally not as much theatre as an AMG. Mine is the LCI which is muted by the OPF, perhaps a bit more noise from the pre-LCI would address this.

When I hop in the wife's 130i for short journeys that car brings on a grin as it is genuinely fun to pedal. You have to view the 340i in the context of all the many other things it does so well or you could be disappointed - for longer journeys and general family duties it absolutely sings and there's not a lot else I would consider.

I guess there is only one way of finding out and that's to try it, but even then who knows how I'd feel about it a few months down the line.

I know I'd have to mod it a bit to get it how I'd like it. Probably have it sitting a bit lower, maybe a splitter etc. I don't want it looking too "executive"

[DoubleSix]

I have done the PCW exhaust mod and spacers all round to address the usual issue of BMW wheels sitting in the arches too far like shopping trolley. Keeping the overall look as stock as possible in my case.

A drop of a few mm would look nice though…

[RJH777]

georgejoshington said:

I got rid of my (stock) B9 S4 back in 2019 but I currently have a B8 RS4, having had an F82 M4 Comp inbetween.

The RS4 is obviously more of an event and feels more special due to the engine et al, but I wouldn't say it's hugely more dynamically accomplished than the S4 I had.

Ah ok, good to know - have a test drive booked for one tomorrow so will see (although doubt I'll be able to really push it on a test drive!)

Do you feel it was the right move overall?

[georgejoshington]

RJH777 said:

Ah ok, good to know - have a test drive booked for one tomorrow so will see (although doubt I'll be able to really push it on a test drive!)

Do you feel it was the right move overall?

Yes, absolutely!

The S4 was better on long journeys due to the MPG (35+ IIRC vs 25ish), more easily-accessible torque, and virtual cockpit/other toys, but it never ever felt special.

Having said that, the RS4 is not bad as a country-crosser per se, you just have to take a little time to learn where you need to be in the rev range to get the shove for overtaking etc. Absolutely worth it though - not too many practical estates you can rev out to 9000rpm.

[bolidemichael]

I'd want to know from the 340i lads etc, why they'd opt for a fast smaller sized estate for family duties, rather than a 5/E sized estate?

[pb8g09]

bolidemichael said:

I'd want to know from the 340i lads etc, why they'd opt for a fast smaller sized estate for family duties, rather than a 5/E sized estate?

Because unless you’ve got 3 kids, a 3 series touring is more than enough space, the one time of the year you need a bit more you can use a roof rack, the middle seat or just pack less.

[Slow]

pb8g09 said:

bolidemichael said:

I'd want to know from the 340i lads etc, why they'd opt for a fast smaller sized estate for family duties, rather than a 5/E sized estate?

Because unless you’ve got 3 kids, a 3 series touring is more than enough space, the one time of the year you need a bit more you can use a roof rack, the middle seat or just pack less.

Depends how big the kids are to be fair. Myself and my brothers were all over 6ft before age 16!

[Matchman]

Kids are out of the house, I can now have my dream team!

[Marcus-7tcc2]

Slow said:

pb8g09 said:

bolidemichael said:

I'd want to know from the 340i lads etc, why they'd opt for a fast smaller sized estate for family duties, rather than a 5/E sized estate?

Because unless you’ve got 3 kids, a 3 series touring is more than enough space, the one time of the year you need a bit more you can use a roof rack, the middle seat or just pack less.

Depends how big the kids are to be fair. Myself and my brothers were all over 6ft before age 16!

I dont need the space etc as have others cars for that but still drive an estate...have had 2 RS6 estates and now the E63S estate. Something cool (to me anyway) about having a big barge that can rip your face off I guess.

[Blown2CV]

JAMSXR said:

mikey k said:

I get you
C63S is RWD only though
That's why I went C43 mapped to 420BHP
AWD and AMG performance sets
Better all year round car than a C63S

C63 is fine in the cold and wet, but I wouldn’t fancy a track day in anything but dry conditions.

erm... not sure i quite agree there. You won't instantly die in the wet if you're a decent driver, but i definitely wouldn't feel comfortable pressing on in the wet or cold in the same way as might in an AWD. However it's obviously equally true that all C43 drivers are trembling chihuahuas who don't trust their own right foot

[Marcus-7tcc2]

Blown2CV said:

JAMSXR said:

mikey k said:

I get you
C63S is RWD only though
That's why I went C43 mapped to 420BHP
AWD and AMG performance sets
Better all year round car than a C63S

C63 is fine in the cold and wet, but I wouldn’t fancy a track day in anything but dry conditions.

erm... not sure i quite agree there. You won't instantly die in the wet if you're a decent driver, but i definitely wouldn't feel comfortable pressing on in the wet or cold in the same way as might in an AWD. However it's obviously equally true that all C43 drivers are trembling chihuahuas who don't trust their own right foot

I previously had a 2017 M3 Competition which was incredible handling and the front end grip was unreal. But any powerful RWD car in the wet is going to be a handful. The amount of new owners who would immediately go and tune them to 550 bhp etc without getting to know the car first was ridiculous.....and then of course there were multiple posts of said owners with their new car all smashed up in a field or upside down on the motorway-especially in the wet.

[Blown2CV]

Marcus-7tcc2 said:

Blown2CV said:

JAMSXR said:

mikey k said:

I get you
C63S is RWD only though
That's why I went C43 mapped to 420BHP
AWD and AMG performance sets
Better all year round car than a C63S

C63 is fine in the cold and wet, but I wouldn’t fancy a track day in anything but dry conditions.

erm... not sure i quite agree there. You won't instantly die in the wet if you're a decent driver, but i definitely wouldn't feel comfortable pressing on in the wet or cold in the same way as might in an AWD. However it's obviously equally true that all C43 drivers are trembling chihuahuas who don't trust their own right foot

I previously had a 2017 M3 Competition which was incredible handling and the front end grip was unreal. But any powerful RWD car in the wet is going to be a handful. The amount of new owners who would immediately go and tune them to 550 bhp etc without getting to know the car first was ridiculous.....and then of course there were multiple posts of said owners with their new car all smashed up in a field or upside down on the motorway-especially in the wet.

part of it (on the merc at least) is that loud and fast mode is also minimal traction control mode. The louder and faster you get, the less safety nannying. On the road, for most people, I'm not sure that's ideal as a default principle. If you want full power, max noise, not crashingly hard ride and aren't planning on powersliding everywhere like clarkson, so some normal level of traction control please... you have to configure that as a custom drive select option. Many a youtube crash bellend captured on camera just banged it in Race and floored it. You can tell by the fishtail.

[Jules Sunley]

Off to the Collecting Cars meeting at Bicester in the morning. Gave the toy a good clean this evening.

[AC43]

Jules Sunley said:

Off to the Collecting Cars meeting at Bicester in the morning. Gave the toy a good clean this evening.

Drool.....

Great day for a meet down there - enjoy the sun & the cars.

[RacingPete]

bolidemichael said:

I'd want to know from the 340i lads etc, why they'd opt for a fast smaller sized estate for family duties, rather than a 5/E sized estate?

Couldn’t afford it is the straight answer. I have four kids, but often the 12-year-old doesn’t want to hang out with his younger siblings so it works perfectly well for three across the back for day trips instead of taking the 7-seater.

Though did come from a VRS estate and the space in the 340i is so much smaller all round.

[AC43]

RacingPete said:

bolidemichael said:

I'd want to know from the 340i lads etc, why they'd opt for a fast smaller sized estate for family duties, rather than a 5/E sized estate?

Couldn’t afford it is the straight answer. I have four kids, but often the 12-year-old doesn’t want to hang out with his younger siblings so it works perfectly well for three across the back for day trips instead of taking the 7-seater.

Though did come from a VRS estate and the space in the 340i is so much smaller all round.

Cost was certainly the reason I got into my first C43 (saloon). I could get an immaculate one owner C43 for the same price (£20k) as a high mileage flyblown E55 with a shady history. I much preferred driving the the E but the overall ownership proposition of the C was better. I bought the estate version when Cost Centre 2 arrived.

When I bought the first C43, I'd have had to go to £23/24k to get into the equivalent E55 and didn't want the debt. The E55 did make a lasting impression, though, which is why I ended up in E500 estates a few years down the line.

There's just something very rounded about an E Class estate with a V8.

Handy too. Right now it's got a 5 foot chimenea stored in the boot and I'm off to Camden shortly to pick up some trellis.

Edited by AC43 on Saturday 14th May 10:28

[DoubleSix]

pb8g09 said:

bolidemichael said:

I'd want to know from the 340i lads etc, why they'd opt for a fast smaller sized estate for family duties, rather than a 5/E sized estate?

Because unless you’ve got 3 kids, a 3 series touring is more than enough space, the one time of the year you need a bit more you can use a roof rack, the middle seat or just pack less.

Yeah, my two are both under 9. No need for bigger less dynamic vehicle. Smallest I can get away with was the goal. Roofbox for acceptional loads.

[G-wiz]

tenmantaylor said:

Flugplatz

That looks like pretty serious gradient/ elevation change.

[bolidemichael]

G-wiz said:

tenmantaylor said:

Flugplatz

That looks like pretty serious gradient/ elevation change.

It doesn't feel like it as one's winding up to the straight. Speed can also be carried into 'Stephen's Cross' which makes it even faster still.

[JoshT97]

bolidemichael said:

I'd want to know from the 340i lads etc, why they'd opt for a fast smaller sized estate for family duties, rather than a 5/E sized estate?

currently have a C63 Wagon but previously had a 440i Gran Coupe so same as 340 tourer. Largely comes down to "value" and in my personal opinion you don't really get much additional comfort or space for your money from the 5/E/A6 (maybe 10% being generous) but they're more money and 50% less fun down a country lane as they tend to be far more barge like. I do have to admit that I had a Volvo V90 prior to the 440 and that was way ahead of the germans in terms of rear passenger space, I find nowadays rear legroom isn't ideal even in humungous cars like a Range Rover Vogue.