Last really thick diesel in this class
Get used to it, frequent drivers: your future consists of filling up with petrol or – more likely – fast charging. The time of the tireless diesel is over, although BMW does not seem convinced yet. There is still ‘just’ an M340d on the price list, with an old-fashioned thick diesel executioner in the front.
Is it so special that BMW still supplies the 3-series as a thick M340d?
Yes, because the BMW is the M340d a rare powerful diesel. For once, the numbers in the model name represent power here. The 340 horses are supported by no less than 700 Nm of torque and deliver sprint times that the 374 hp M340i can hardly exceed. But more important than that pure performance, we find the fact that BMW still supplies a six-cylinder diesel in the relatively compact 3-series. Two even, because in addition to the M340d, the 286 hp 330d also has a six-cylinder.
Is BMW traditionally a brand that has something to do with diesel?
If there is one brand where this type of engine still belongs, it is BMW. Already in the early 1980s there were a 324d and a 324td (with turbo), tanks that united a high consumption, little power, a raw barrel and a relatively high weight by today’s standards. Yet such a large diesel is undeniably charming, and nothing has changed in all those years. Pressing the start button in the new M340d results in a low-key growl, such a powerful roar that only a large, civilized auto-igniter can produce.
Is the BMW M340d always an automatic with xDrive all-wheel drive?
BMW offers this power source under strict conditions in the 3 series. For example, it is only available in combination with xDrive four-wheel drive and – of course – an eight-speed automatic transmission. We cannot find any fault with that proven ZF automatic transmission in this setup. It simply always shifts silky smooth, at the right time and lightning fast and never makes you want anything else
Is this diesel still a bit economical?
Not really for a diesel. The factory says 1:16.7, we almost get that and end up with 1:16. Filling up with fuel therefore provides a range of 976 kilometers. Still very neat for such an executioner. Have we never even tried that six-cylinder? Certainly, but the many highway kilometers more than made up for it. With 1,700 rpm at 100 km/h, it is almost impossible to get without fuel, while it still performs nicely at higher speeds. We divide the credit between the diesel in general and the BMW engineers in particular, because Munich often produces very efficient powertrains.
What does the M stand for on M340d?
As an M sub-top model, the M340d is on a par with the aforementioned M340i. Sporty decoration is mandatory, including an M-Sport suspension and an M-Sport differential.
And do you feel that too?
The sporty feeling comes up quickly in practice. The 3 Series feels very compact even in its latest form and makes it difficult to steer clear of clichés like ‘you put it on like a coat’. The incredibly thick, sporty steering wheel is perfectly close and works wonderfully directly, while the sturdy chassis lets you know exactly what is happening under the car in all circumstances. That is not always pleasant in residential areas, but anyone who ‘grabs’ an autobahn go-getter with more than 200 km/h really appreciates it. Under those conditions, the M340d is actually unbeatable. Consumption remains reasonable even at very high speeds, the range is impressive and it combines sufficient comfort with a portion of certainty and stability that larger, softer sedans and station wagons cannot match.
Why would you still drive such a thick diesel in the Netherlands?
That’s where the problem lies: in the Netherlands, those ultimate GT properties are less often used. Here he ends up somewhat between two stools, because the engine needs space to get up to speed and the car itself is not playful enough to function as a pure fun machine. For that role, the more rousing, noticeably less heavy and of course also nicer sounding M340i is a better choice. If you have the space, then this über-diesel is a delight. One word best describes that sensation: excess. The rather bizarre torque is already present from 1,750 rpm and it seems as if the engine never has to do its best to achieve its impressive performance.
How do you recognize the M340d?
The facelift that BMW implemented with the 3 Series in 2022 also applies to the M340d. On the outside there is even more news than with less powerful versions, because BMW now even provides the subtoppers with real M exterior mirrors. Together with the trapezoidal exhaust tailpipes and the mesh-like layout of the grille, they are the main indication that this is not a regular 3 Series with an M Sport package, but an actual M model. Still, the ’40’ is fairly subtle, especially since there’s such a thing as an M3 Touring these days. It has the fierce nose of the M4 with wide, aggressive headlights and that much-discussed grille and is therefore not everyone’s taste. In the interior, BMW now uses the large, slightly curved screen combination that belongs to ‘Operating System 8’. That looks more modern than the ‘old’ dashboard, but also means that you have to make some ergonomic sacrifices because many buttons have been removed.
Diesels are already almost unaffordable in the Netherlands, so that M340d is certainly very expensive?
The test sample is beautifully decorated with a unique paint color and beautiful, brown leather, but even then the experience in this interior is not quite in line with the price you pay. Make no mistake: this diesel, boosted by almost €20,000 in bpm, costs at least 95 grand. With the necessary options, such as our lavishly decorated test sample, it is well over the ton. It is not much more than an M340i, but in combination with the prevailing sentiments around diesels, it makes it a very daring purchase. In other words: this is almost guaranteed to be a huge depreciation cannon. Those who really want him would do well to drive on to the bitter end. That could just come in the form of regulations…
.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl