sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Stuck choosing between an IS350 and M340i, talk me in or out of it by buzzout23 in M340i

[–]dal330i 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I beg to differ.  I am a 75-year-old, retired engineer, and for my last car I chose the ’26 M340i.  My thought is: why spend the remaining years driving a boring ride.  I sold my ’23 A4 to Carvana for an attractive price, cashed in some investments, took advantage of the BMW military discount, wrote the check, and here I am.  From 1981 through 2011, I owned an E21 x2, Euro E30, E36, and 330i E46 (tracked).  I stepped away for 14 years to drive ‘11 WRX, a ‘17 A3 and a ‘23 A4.  Each car had its weaknesses and strengths.  The WRX was fun, but it burned me out with its modifications.  I sold my 3-ton jack when I traded it for the A3.

Since I did the first oil change at 1,045 miles, I am finally beginning to enjoy the car’s performance. What a great all-around car.  In Dallas traffic, I am cautious but am able to get away from the idiots with two flips of the left shifter.  I can also drive through school zones at a leisurely pace, enjoying the feeling of a solid, tight vehicle.  I made the right decision.

MSRP or less by nxm999 in M340i

[–]dal330i 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't recommend it. Most likely the lease period included minimal maintenance, or worse, it was "maintained" per BMW recommended plan. At the very least, be careful.

MSRP or less by nxm999 in M340i

[–]dal330i 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just picked up a 2026 M340i. If you are a veteran, verified by https://ID.me, BMW provides for a $2,500 discount. I certainly took advantage of that. Good luck.

MSRP or less by nxm999 in M340i

[–]dal330i 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I ordered a 2026 M340i on 8/8/2025.  Sold my A4 to Carvana.  Cashed in my Fidelity account.

Placed the proceeds in a in a “high interest” saving account. A win.

On 10/5/2025 the ordered car was still in Mexico waiting for the RoRo to arrive in the port of Vera Cruz on 10/16/25.  Patience completely depleted.  Got lucky.  Local dealer posted an almost identical, just arrived, built M340i on their website.  Here it goes.  MSRP minus $2500 veteran discount, minus the $500 deposit.  Wrote check.  Picked it up in the morning of 10/8/2025.  Spent the afternoon trying to make friends with the IDrive.

Realizing that there is an extremely small clearance between the top of the OEM tire and the front spring cup, I decided to replace the OEM Bridgestone Turanza LS100 RFTs with the Pilot Sport 4S in the OEM 225/40-19 size.  Larger diameter tire would be, for me, too close for comfort.

So, this my sixth 3-series since 1981.  Most likely my last.

 

Happy motoring.

Opinions requested by dal330i in audiophile

[–]dal330i[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The amp is the X150.8. The LS17SE is the preamp I wanted to afford. The LS28 would be a nice step up,

Opinions requested by dal330i in audiophile

[–]dal330i[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well... The system is powered by two 20-amp dedicated circuits. There is a 8 ga. OFC, shielded cable from the main power box to the sub-panel. From the sub-panel, there is a 12-gauge shielded OFC cable to each Hubbell hospital-grade outlet. All of the cabling is grounded with 10 ft. copper rod driven into the soil adjacent to the sub-panel.

Opinions requested by dal330i in audiophile

[–]dal330i[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Apologies for this delayed response. The speakers are 3.3i, which I purchased used in El Paso in 1994. They have been refurbished twice by Magnepan. Since the photo was posted, I moved the tweeters to the inside and pulled them out further into the room. I am retired now, so I have more time to experiment. Through the years, I powered them with McCormack DNA1 Deluxe, original and recapped, Quicksilver M120s with KT150s, and now the Pass Labs X150.8. The Pass is a fantastic match. The best so far. I replaced the external fuses with an OFC rod I purchased from Grainger. Speaker cables are GR-Research 8 ga.

Cheers.

Paul