SA Road Tests

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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. I drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under real-world South African conditions. Many of the vehicles driven are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you get where you live.

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Beyond ordinary: 2020 BMW M340i X-Drive

Big differences

Pics and supplementary information from automobile-catalog.com
Posted: July 6, 2020

The numbers
Base price incl. VAT and carbon tax: R1 086 476
Engine: BMW B58M30, 2998 cc, DOHC 24-valve, twin-scroll turbocharged, inline six
Power: 285 kW between 5800 and 6500 rpm
Torque: 500 Nm between 1850 and 5000 rpm
Zero to 100 km/h: 4.4 seconds
Top speed (governed): 250 km/h
Real life fuel consumption: About 10.1 l/100 km
Tank: 60 litres
Luggage: 480 litres with seatbacks up
Ground clearance: 137 mm
Turning circle: 12.0 metres
Warranty: 2 years / unlimited km
Maintenance plan: 5 years / 100 000 km

BMWSA’s information sheet gave the colour of our M340i X-Drive, all-wheel drive (awd), test unit as Sunset Orange Metallic. Not quite; it was darker. Try curry powder red – specifically Mother-in-law’s Tongue – that’s more accurate and even oddly prophetic.

One cannot really compare this car with a previous South African offering because we haven’t had one quite like it before. There was an F30-series, 340i recently but that was only two-wheel drive. And a pussycat by comparison.

Apart from having all-wheel drive this new, G20, M-car is 74 mm longer, 16 mm wider and 3mm taller on a wheelbase extended by 41 mm, while track widths increased by 15 mm. X-Drive and added materials make it 124 kg heavier. Fuel tank and boot capacities are similar so there’s a bit more people space.  It’s still not a limousine; just roomy enough for an averagely sized family of four, or perhaps five, if one of them has really short legs.

The big differences are in the urge - an added 45 kilowatts and 50 Newton-metres – and in the gearing. Final drive and standard wheel sizes are the same but the first three ratios in its eight-speed Steptronic sports transmission are noticeably lower than those on the “shopping” car. That, and the extra thrust, combine to slingshot the M340i up to 100 km/h almost a second quicker; in 4.4 seconds against 5.3.

The steering feels a bit heavy at first but that’s usually expected in cars with sporting credentials; especially those with awd. BMW’s version uses an electronically-actuated clutch pack to constantly vary torque supply between the front and rear axles. And, in line with BMW preference, delivery is biased toward the rear.

The mixed, low profile, 19-inch tyres; 255/35 (r) and 225/40 (f) Pirelli P-Zero run-flats, don’t ride nearly as harshly as you might expect, so the expected objection flies out the window.

Apart from all the safety equipment you can reasonably expect, there’s lots of standard kit too; like M Sport brakes, M Sport differential, launch control, variable steering, antidazzle interior mirror, sport seats with electrical adjustment for those in front and filtered automatic air conditioning with separate controls for those in the back.

It’s the perfect inter-provincial personal express; loads of standard kit, all the options you could possibly want, rapid acceleration and big, easy power that feels endless. Its handling is all you dream of - you’d have to be supremely vulgar and talentless to lose control - so it challenges you to enjoy it more.

And you will, but Officer Aggro will get you one day. Just don’t tell the magistrate that we dared you.
 
Test unit from BMWSA press fleet

Note: SA models have bi-coloured wheels as standard equipment

What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.

Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads or goat tracks as well. As a result, my test cars do occasionally get dirty. It's all part of the reviewing process.

I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material.

If ever I place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with a very similar vehicle already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.

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Comments or questions?
Want to ask a question, comment or just tell me you completely disagree with what I say? If you want advice or have a genuine concern, I will be happy to hear from you. All I ask is that you write something in the subject line so I know which vehicle you're talking about.