F30 (LCI) 340i M-Sport - ordered!

[Monty Python]

Figures I've seen for the 340i are 331bhp at the wheels, which equates to something like 400bhp at the crankshaft.

http://www.bimmerboost.com/content.php?6677-Techni...

[chandrew]

Just picked up my 340i xdrive touring - it replaced an i3. We're moving from near Zurich to St. Moritz and the new location meant an EV didn't work.

Given the timing of the move we had to find a car in stock. Fortunately my local dealer had a good selection and was able to let me try a 330, 340 without the MPPK and a 340 with MPPK. Naturally we've got the latter as it felt closest to the instant torque of the i3 and the children giggled when they heard the sound.

Colour (black, black with black windows) wouldn't have been my first choice but it's by far the most common selection here and we got a very nice price.

It has the typical Swiss high spec. - equivalent to a UK car with M-Sport inc the adaptive suspension, Advanced Parking, Innovation package, Interior Comfort, Active security, sunroof, electric seats, adaptive cruise, adaptive LED, surround view, comfort access etc. etc.

Julier, Fluela, Stelvio, Ofen and Maloja passes are all close to the new place so it should get a chance to stretch its legs.

[12TS]

Monty Python said:

Figures I've seen for the 340i are 331bhp at the wheels, which equates to something like 400bhp at the crankshaft.

http://www.bimmerboost.com/content.php?6677-Techni...

Thanks - interesting read. It helps explain the difference I've noticed between the 340 and 135

[VerySideways]

Monty Python said:

Figures I've seen for the 340i are 331bhp at the wheels, which equates to something like 400bhp at the crankshaft.

http://www.bimmerboost.com/content.php?6677-Techni...

"The stock motor through the automatic transmission puts down 331 horsepower to the wheels and 339 lb-ft of torque to the wheels. As is the BMW trend now with the turbo powerplants their crank output ratings tend to be closer to wheel output ratings. 331 to the wheels exceeds the 320 crank rating meaning this motor is closer to 400 horsepower than 320. "

Errrr, wow!

[Monty Python]

The 326bhp figure is at the wheels, the higher figure (~370-400) is at the crank.

Someone in the US got the Alfa on a dyno and measured it at 392bhp at the wheels (70 more than the 340), a bit down on the claimed 503bhp.

http://jalopnik.com/heres-how-much-power-the-alfa-...

[jan8p]

So is the quoted 321bhp for the N55 at the wheels or the crank? I can't see that explained too well in the article.

[Monty Python]

jan8p said:

So is the quoted 321bhp for the N55 at the wheels or the crank? I can't see that explained too well in the article.

That figure is for the B58. For the N55, power at the wheels is ~306bhp.

[jan8p]

Gotcha, thanks.

[smashy]

Monty Python said:

The 326bhp figure is at the wheels, the higher figure (~370-400) is at the crank.

Someone in the US got the Alfa on a dyno and measured it at 392bhp at the wheels (70 more than the 340), a bit down on the claimed 503bhp.

http://jalopnik.com/heres-how-much-power-the-alfa-...

wow surely thats a case of "misrepresentation" and the consequences of doing so whatever that may be.

[Monty Python]

smashy said:

wow surely thats a case of "misrepresentation" and the consequences of doing so whatever that may be.

It goes back to the fun Chris Harris had with Ferrari years ago - the cars the press get may (or may not) be the same as those sold to the general public. If't quite easy to bump up the power with a remap so there's nothing to stop them doing it only to press cars - not that I'm suggesting Alfa has done this but the difference does appear to be "significant"

[chandrew]

Monty Python said:

After a few weeks of ownership, the only thing I don't like is the level of wind noise from around the wing mirror/A pillar on the driver's side. I've tried masking off the various "openings" without success, so I guess I'll just have to put up with it.

I wonder if this is specific to your car. I certainly don't notice wind noise with my touring.

At 120 kmh on a Swiss motorway the only thing I notice is the exhaust / engine (I have MPPK). Other than that it might even be quieter than the i3 (less road noise).

We had it up to 230kmh at the weekend in nearby Germany and I was surprised at just how quiet and stable it felt at those sorts of speeds (and how quickly it got there).

It's certainly not as quiet as the new E400 with the acoustic glass that I tried recently but I wouldn't have noted it as an issue.

[interstellar]

One thing I have noticed is I have my Iphone connected via Bluetooth so I can play it in the car all the time but when you get in most times it says on the car screen

unknown artist
unknown song

And you have to press play on the Iphone music app to get it going rather than through the cars controls

Anyone else had this?

[VerySideways]

interstellar said:

One thing I have noticed is I have my Iphone connected via Bluetooth so I can play it in the car all the time but when you get in most times it says on the car screen

unknown artist
unknown song

And you have to press play on the Iphone music app to get it going rather than through the cars controls

Anyone else had this?

YES! Very irritating isn't it? And it's not even every time, it's inconsistent...

[Monty Python]

interstellar said:

One thing I have noticed is I have my Iphone connected via Bluetooth so I can play it in the car all the time but when you get in most times it says on the car screen

unknown artist
unknown song

And you have to press play on the Iphone music app to get it going rather than through the cars controls

Anyone else had this?

That's normal - the phone only sends track details when it starts playing - the iDrive doesn't remember the last track played. If you use a USB stick or the internal HD it does.

[interstellar]

Monty Python said:

That's normal - the phone only sends track details when it starts playing - the iDrive doesn't remember the last track played. If you use a USB stick or the internal HD it does.

Not exactly. As the above poster says its not consistent. Sometimes you get in and the car carries on where it left off and others it says unknown and you have to activate it from your phone.

[Monty Python]

Monty Python said:

After a few weeks of ownership, the only thing I don't like is the level of wind noise from around the wing mirror/A pillar on the driver's side. I've tried masking off the various "openings" without success, so I guess I'll just have to put up with it.

Another few minor gripes: the start/stop function can't be permanently turned off, the track forward/back buttons than used to be on the steering wheel in the E92 are now on the dashboard, the cruise control has to be turned on every time you start the car (unlike the E92) and there's no easily-accessible switched power supply for my dashcam.

Other than that it's great.

Small update for anyone interested - I've managed to cure the wind noise problem :-)

[Grif500]

Monty Python said:

Small update for anyone interested - I've managed to cure the wind noise problem :-)

Hi Monty - any chance you could share what you did? I've had my 340 for just over a year, and always noticed it was slightly noisier than my previous 3 series - however I've just returned from a 2000 mile Euro trip and the noise, particularly when driving overnight, is quite intrusive - so much so that at times i thought i'd left a window slightly open!

Cheers

[Monty Python]

Grif500 said:

Hi Monty - any chance you could share what you did? I've had my 340 for just over a year, and always noticed it was slightly noisier than my previous 3 series - however I've just returned from a 2000 mile Euro trip and the noise, particularly when driving overnight, is quite intrusive - so much so that at times i thought i'd left a window slightly open!

Cheers

I my case it appears to be a combination of the thin gap between the A-pillar and the plastic trim around the windscreen and the first 12" or so of the strip on the roof where the roof rails attach. If you want I can take some photos later this afternoon for clarity.

Edited by Monty Python on Friday 28th July 11:29

[Grif500]

Monty Python said:

I my case it appears to be a combination of the thin gap between the A-pillar and the plastic trim around the windscreen and the first 12" or so of the strip on the roof where the roof rails attach. If you want I can take some photos later this afternoon for clarity.

Edited by Monty Python on Friday 28th July 11:29

If you could that'd be great

Thanks

[Monty Python]

So this is looking down onto the A-pillar - wing mirror in the bottom left:



Between the A-pillar and the windscreen trim there was a gap a few millimetres wide - covered with black tape up to the roofline and viola - no wind noice. It also turns out the roof rail wan't causing any noise - just this gap. Happy now :-)