It was my first day at TDH and as my first assignment, I was asked to write an article about the M340i. I did not complete it. Why? Because I was absolutely clueless about what to write, having never experienced the car. Fast forward 9 months, and I finally spent some quality time with the M340i. And just to tell you how late I was to the party, it was the LCI2.
The LCI2 comes with a host of significant changes and chief among them is the M-sport suspension. And spoiler alert, the magic works. The ride is comfortable and even at (alarming) triple-digit speeds, the chassis remains composed and planted on the road. And on our smooth Maharashtra roads, it takes the potholes and the imperfections in its stride. It’s not an E450 though. But still, it does not break your back like the pre-LCI, as my colleagues say.
No M340i article is ever complete without a love letter to the B58. So here it goes. The inline-6 layout of the engine is creamy-smooth and vibrations just don’t exist. It loves to rev and power delivery is predictable in spite of the turbo. The inline-6 formula is etched in BMW motorsport and it’s no wonder that they still use it even after decades. And don’t even get me started on the tuning potential. It can push 900 hp, no sweat. We love you, B58.
My first drive of the M340i was at the perfect place, the Tamhini Ghat, and that too on a Monday. As I sat on the driver’s seat, the BMW badge on the steering wheel was staring back at me. It was egging me to drive how it deserves to be driven. I switched to Sports Plus, the exhaust woke up and I pushed the throttle. It was Intermediate conditions but who cares when you have xDrive. My confidence grew with every corner and I realised that the car could take more. The balanced chassis, predictable power delivery and the perfect suspension put a smile on my face. The most fun I have ever had in a car. Period.
The interior is a step back thanks to almost every function being in the curved display. Even the AC and blower controls are integrated in the screen. Physical buttons, please. The gear-selector is now a stubby knob. Meh. But other than that, the interior feels upmarket and the build-quality is strong. The shift-lights look cool. And you feel the songs in the Harmon Kardon sound system.
Just forget everything for a minute. That it has a B58. That it’s bang for buck. And it drives like it does. It is the way it makes you feel when you’re driving it. Every corner feels like you are hugging it. Every straight feels like the inline-6 is singing beautifully. And now, every commute in the city feels like a comfortable journey. With the LCI2, the m340i is now a complete package. And I am glad that I got to experience it.
