F8X M cars Vs M340i (Daily driver)

[aaleksem]

hey guys this might sound a little dumb, but I'm currently looking into the 2020-2022 M340i and 2016-2018 F80/F82, I live in texas for some extra context, I've driven both M4 and M340i and I love them, only thing that's holding me back from 100% getting the M4/M3 is that the M340i seems more practical as a daily driver, and as well for driving long distances. M340i also has the fun and the tuning capabilities with the B58. The M cars are raw and really fun, Just not sure if it'd be the best for a daily driver. When it comes to looks I love them all, The M4 would stand out a bit more I'd say but that's not a priority for me. F87 has also recently caught my eyes but haven't looked much into them (I apologize for being all over the place with this)
Would love to get some insight on this.

[aaleksem]

hey guys this might sound a little dumb, but I'm currently looking into the 2020-2022 M340i and 2016-2018 F80/F82, I live in texas for some extra context, I've driven both M4 and M340i and I love them, only thing that's holding me back from 100% getting the M4/M3 is that the M340i seems more practical as a daily driver, and as well for driving long distances. M340i also has the fun and the tuning capabilities with the B58. The M cars are raw and really fun, Just not sure if it'd be the best for a daily driver. When it comes to looks I love them all, The M4 would stand out a bit more I'd say but that's not a priority for me. F87 has also recently caught my eyes but haven't looked much into them (I apologize for being all over the place with this)
Would love to get some insight on this.

[NickyC]

Originally Posted by aaleksem

hey guys this might sound a little dumb, but I'm currently looking into the 2020-2022 M340i and 2016-2018 F80/F82, I live in texas for some extra context, I've driven both M4 and M340i and I love them, only thing that's holding me back from 100% getting the M4/M3 is that the M340i seems more practical as a daily driver, and as well for driving long distances. M340i also has the fun and the tuning capabilities with the B58. The M cars are raw and really fun, Just not sure if it'd be the best for a daily driver. When it comes to looks I love them all, The M4 would stand out a bit more I'd say but that's not a priority for me. F87 has also recently caught my eyes but haven't looked much into them (I apologize for being all over the place with this)
Would love to get some insight on this.

I've daily driven an F80/82 for around five years now, including quite a bit of daily driving in Miami traffic. I promise you'll live.

///M

[aaleksem]

Originally Posted by NickyC

I've daily driven an F80/82 for around five years now, including quite a bit of daily driving in Miami traffic. I promise you'll live.

///M

How comfortable is it in the long run? another thing i love on the M340 is the updated interior. though the F80/F82 is still beautiful

[Equilibrandt]

Honestly, the best thing you have going for you with the M340i is that you simply get a newer car with less miles, with adequate performance.

If you go the F8X route, I'd recommend only 2017-2018 as those have more features like CarPlay (which came in some 2017s but can be coded into all). If I were in your position today, I think I'd choose the M340i. Newer car, less miles, newer tech and interior, B58 repair costs.

Weight the differences between the B58 and the S55. Also think about DCT vs 8 Speed Auto. For some, the DCT is >>>> the automatic. I'd bet a tuned B58 could easily match a stock S55. M340i also has a comfier suspension set.

M340i:
- newer interior, newer car, newer tech
- B58 is plenty powerful for a DD, mild-hybrid
- comfort-oriented suspension with some sportiness
- adaptive cruise control, etc
- AWD or RWD?

M3:
- DCT (though my wife prefers the non-dramatic automatic over the quirky DCT)
- Many more mods for exterior, internal/performance, and interior
- Sportier suspension with an agreeable comfort mode
- It's an M3. Even fully stock, it'll get more looks than a new M340i.

[Hxngs]

I daily drive an m3 coming from a 340i. I only drive in the city and I have way more fun daily driving the m3 than I did with the 340i. Could be because the f80 is manual tho.

[NickyC]

Originally Posted by aaleksem

How comfortable is it in the long run? another thing i love on the M340 is the updated interior. though the F80/F82 is still beautiful

I've driven 18 hours non stop quite a few times door to door from St. Louis to Miami, absolutely no issues. The car is amazing.

[65fastback]

Originally Posted by aaleksem

hey guys this might sound a little dumb, but I'm currently looking into the 2020-2022 M340i and 2016-2018 F80/F82, I live in texas for some extra context, I've driven both M4 and M340i and I love them, only thing that's holding me back from 100% getting the M4/M3 is that the M340i seems more practical as a daily driver, and as well for driving long distances. M340i also has the fun and the tuning capabilities with the B58. The M cars are raw and really fun, Just not sure if it'd be the best for a daily driver. When it comes to looks I love them all, The M4 would stand out a bit more I'd say but that's not a priority for me. F87 has also recently caught my eyes but haven't looked much into them (I apologize for being all over the place with this)
Would love to get some insight on this.

Not to sound like a Richard but...you don't sound like a F8X kind of guy I mean most people around here lust after these cars including myself, they are special, the M40i maybe not so much ya know? . You shouldn't have to ask what others think or be "talked into" buying one or the other because head to head they are totally different cars.

The way a car Looks matters to me quit a bit so for that reason alone I have hard passed on the m340i .

But since you asked for peoples options or insight here's mine....I think the m340i is your jam for a daily Just a guess.

[aaleksem]

Originally Posted by 65fastback

Not to sound like a Richard but...you don't sound like a F8X kind of guy I mean most people around here lust after these cars including myself, they are special, the M40i maybe not so much ya know? . You shouldn't have to ask what others think or be "talked into" buying one or the other because head to head they are totally different cars.

The way a car Looks matters to me quit a bit so for that reason alone I have hard passed on the m340i .

But since you asked for peoples options or insight here's mine....I think the m340i is your jam for a daily Just a guess.

Yeah I get your point, I love the looks on both, though there is something about the F8X that makes me keep going back to them. But I'm in college so I put other things into account that would serve me best, in reality you can't compare the experience of driving an actual M car, it's truly a Joy, but it's more about what would be the best financial decision for me (though both cars are well within my budget, I'm just trying to think in the long run if that makes sense)

[Ropes]

I will try to make this non biased. I have owned my M4 for 5 or 6 years now and find it to be just fine as a daily with almost 80k miles. I have done a 400+ mile drive and found the car and seats more comfortable for the trip then when I took a 5 series, M5 and a 330i. I have driven the M340i a bit and find it to be quite good. It is more playful than the previous 340i and does the daily thing without issue. I do find that unless the M340i is in sport+, the suspension is rather soft and has a more body roll than what the wife or I care for. Some people think the F80/82 are too firm and go to the M340i and are happy. Others get a M340i and try to make it an M car and just end up getting an M car afterwards. I would say you can't go wrong with either but that would be a lie. Considering you are on a M forum, I am assuming you are more drawn to the F80/82.

[luthers4]

I intend to order a 2023 M340i this week, trading my F80. If BMW offered the options/ packages for an F80 I want for road trips, I would definitely not make this move. I'm travelling +/- 800 miles at least one weekend a month. I want adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring and lane assist. The M340i should have enough performance to satisfy my periodic urges for fun.
I have used my F80 comp as a daily and for a few road trips. I find it comfortable for both uses, plus I absolutely love the looks and it can go from tame to beast with the push of a button. If tech isn't your primary concern I would go F8X... you won't be sorry. I'll likely go back to an M3 once my daughter graduates high school and I'm no longer running around the country for junior sports.

[Suds]

OP, you have to figure out why you would want an F8x M.
If it is for something other than the driving experience, buy the M340.

I drove my 19’M4 on a 4kmile road trip from TX to CA to CO back to TX.
What a great experience, but I am single and don’t mind interior road noise.

[TractionControlDelete]

OP, I sincerely appreciate your honesty in asking the question because I think it's representative of a lot of buyers in the general market.

I see the "F8X vs M340i" question come up in a thread every few months and the discussion follows a similar pattern: 1) OP is genuinely torn on the decision, 2) most F8X owners (me included) are borderline confused at why someone would want anything but the ///M, 3) OP spends time explaining the pluses of the M340i, 4) F8X owners tell OP to just get the M340i because he/she clearly doesn't want a ///M car, 5) Go back to step one.

Honestly dude, if it were me I could never go for the M340i because the positives of it don't appeal to me - I don't see the comfortable seats/suspension, or the technology, or the "it can be faster than a F80" as pluses at all.

For me the old school tach, the utilitarian interior, the chassis, the transmission, the looks, sporty suspension, and less technology ARE the appealing parts of the cars (and yes, I've driven 1000+ mile road trips and have daily driven the car)

And so, we are at Step 4)… just get the M340i and call it a day. I've driven it, the car rocks, and you'll love it.

[RugbyBro]

F8X is totally livable to pretty much everyone on this board - hence why we love and drive them so much. It's can be a little rough around the edges and a bit raw but to the patrons here that is within our definition of livable / comfortable. Said another way, a car as capable as F8X could easily be more uncompromising than it is - and that makes it very livable. With that context, I'm gonna be honest with you... it is not livable for a lot of people. It's very stiff and does have a bit of a learning curve. M340i is probably the car that most non-enthusiast buyers thought the M3 was going to be and I don't blame them. Very comfy, very fast, and surprisingly capable given it's an M-lite.

F87 should only enter the equation if you want a surprisingly practical "fun" car. Anyway, I'm on my second F8X and have no plans to move away from it so take my opinion any way you want.

[kwatkins12]

I daily drive my 6MT F82 and love it. I have said this so many times, but I think the car has two different personalities. In my opinion Efficient/Comfort/Sport is the best settings for an easy commute or just quick trip. There is some forgiveness in the suspension and the steering is a good balance of feeling it is there but not an effort. My preferred config for weekends or twisty parts of the commute is Sport/Sport +/ Sport +. This makes the car sportier and overall much more special. It is stiff, turns in sharply and sounds much better (open valves and single mid). I think the car really offers the best of both worlds a way not many others can. It is hard to describe, but the car just feels special when compared to other options which to me adds so much to the experience.

Long distance wise I find the MPG totally fine and the seats comfortable.

[jew82]

Get the F80/82. I look forward to driving everywhere and anywhere, everyday.

[Mikeymymo]

I was in the same position as you back in Dec/Jan. Drove both the M340i and F80 multiple times trying to figure out which one I wanted.

For me personally, it came down to looks. I just couldn't get past how much better the F80 looks compared to the m340i. The tech, freshness and interior of the m340i was no doubt amazing but I found myself giving the "parking lot look back" way more often to the F80.

So I guess my two cents in figuring out which way to go is finding out what you're going to interact with more. The features or the looks. Unless you find one that has both.

Cheers to whichever way you go 🍻

[darrvao777]

another vote for the f8x platform

i daily drive a 2015 f82 6mt without adaptive suspension so the ride can be a bit harsh but like others have mentioned, i look forward to my hour long commute every day

the HK sound system is really nice too when compared to some of my older cars

[Teoh94]

F8x has my vote.

I daily drive a 2018 M3 and love it.

[knickerbocker]

I used to own a F30 335i, I currently own a F80 and I've had some seat time in the M340i. IMO the key difference between the highest numbered BMWs and the M cars is this:

- To me the high numbered BMWs (M340i included), feel like normal cars, that are super fast and have some sportiness baked in
- The F80s feel closer to a true sports car with some practicality on top

To me the choice was clear I wanted to have the extra sportiness that the F80 offered, and I was ok with the stiffness of the ride and chassis when puttering around town.

However, someone else might prefer the additional comfort/tech that the M340i offers for day to day driving but can be fast as hell and a bit sporty.

Basically it really depends on what your priority is. Do you want a sports car that can do the day to day. Or do you want a comfortable daily car that can occasionally do the sporty thing. Both are awesome cars, it really depends on which way you lean.

[Humdizzle]

having owned both an f30 and f8x i'd recommend the f8x. it is a bit stiffer, but it feels very much like a sports car should when you push it. the 3 series cars feel very bleh if you're trying to hustle them. they don't like to rotate, steering feels dead, suspension is wallowy. the m3 is worth the trade off imo.

[HotRodM4]

When an M pulls up next to you at a red light, you'll always look and feel some regret settling for M-lite. But that's just me.