BMW 3 Series

The Driver’s Car

Not long ago, the entire BMW 3 Series line-up was offered in India in the standard guise, and only select variants were offered with extended wheelbase. However, BMW soon realised that the Indian luxury car market requires a good back seat, so now the entire BMW 3 Series lineup is offered in the ‘Gran Limousine’ guise, which gets an extended wheelbase to offer more leg room at the back. And if you are looking for those variants, we have a separate review on our website for it. 

As for the standard wheelbase 3 Series, it is currently offered only in one guise in India — the M340i — which is the top-of-the-line 3 Series barring the M3. It is priced significantly higher than the long-wheelbase GL variants, but gets a more powerful engine. Is the performance draw enough for you to compromise on your bank balance and rear seat comfort? Let’s deep dive and find out.

BMW 3 Series (M340i) Pros and Cons 

BMW 3 Series (M340i) Exterior Design 

The M340i commands attention with its sportier aesthetic, thanks to the redesigned LED headlamps (which have shedded the previous notch design for inverted C-shaped LED DRLs), honeycomb grille elements in the iconic kidney grille (which thankfully isn’t obnoxiously large), and an aggressively sculpted front bumper. The silhouette is signature 3 Series, which brings freshness whilst maintaining familiarity. This being an M-Sport variant, it also gets signature light blue brake callipers and gloss black mirror casings, enhancing the car's aggressive appearance. 

The rear design complements the front with larger twin exhaust housings and a pronounced diffuser, all underlined by sleek LED tail-lamps. The rear tail lamp lenses feature darker glass surrounds, contributing to a sporty appearance. Other ‘M Sport’ visual enhancements — including the striking 19-inch alloys with Rolls Royce-esque floating hub caps — amplify the M340i’s road presence, making it a head-turner.

BMW 3 Series (M340i) Interiors 

The interior of the BMW M340i has undergone significant enhancements with its facelift, and the biggest change is on the tech front. The first thing you notice when you step inside is the massive curved display housing which houses a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment. This screen imparts a futuristic and luxurious ambiance in the cabin, duelling beautifully with the redesigned dashboard. However, the removal of traditional buttons and dials in favour of a touchscreen interface will not appeal to all, especially given that this is a driver-centric car. 

The interior quality has seen improvements too, with refined plastics and softened design elements around the AC vents and trim, shedding the previous industrial look. Carbon fibre trims and Alcantara materials all around infuse a sports car-like ambiance, while the sporty front seats with adjustable side bolstering promise a snug and engaging ride. The rear seat — which will be the focal point for many buyers — remains largely unchanged. The extended wheelbase affords generous space, and the overall interior design of the Gran Limousine blends functionality, luxury, and modern technology really well. The boot space mirrors the practicality of the 3 Series Gran Limousine, which itself gets a rather small boot, thanks to a bulky spare tyre housing.

BMW 3 Series (M340i) Comfort 

The M340i balances sportiness with comfort through its supportive and well-cushioned front seats that feature heating, ventilation, and extensive adjustability. However, the firmer suspension setup — a consequence of its handling focused tuning — translates to a ride that's on the stiffer side, particularly noticeable at lower speeds. The cause isn’t helped by the large 19-inch wheels and low-profile run-flat tyres with a less forgiving side-wall. The ground clearance is also less, and while this setup enhances handling, it does require careful navigation over speed breakers and rough surfaces to avoid scratching the belly. 

BMW 3 Series (M340i) Performance and Handling

At the heart of the M340i lies a 3.0-litre in-line 6-cylinder engine, which now also gets a 48V mild-hybrid system. The performance of the petrol engine is exhilarating to say the least, as it is capable of a 0-100kph sprint in just 4.4 seconds. Those figures from a non-M BMW are exceptional, especially considering its price tag. The seamless 8-speed automatic transmission, coupled with BMW's xDrive AWD system and M-sport differential, gives it an agility that is remarkable for its class. Throw it into a corner, and it will deliver a big happy surprise. Throw it into a series of corners, and it will deliver pain to your cheeks from all the smiling and giggling you will be doing. Simply put, the M340i offers performance that is paralleled only by a select few other sedans this side of the ₹1 crore mark.

BMW 3 Series (M340i) Key specifications

BMW 3 Series (M340i) Safety Features

The M340i is equipped with a host of safety features, including six airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, seatbelt pretensioners, and several more. Advanced driver-assistance systems — or ADAS, as it’s better known — enhance safety further, offering features like adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and automatic emergency braking. BMW has also incorporated robust structural elements to ensure the vehicle's integrity in the event of a crash. The use of high-strength steel in critical areas of the chassis enhances the car's overall rigidity, improving crash protection as well as driving dynamics. While the facelifted version is yet to be tested, the 2019 3 Series was tested by Euro NCAP, and returned an impressive 5-star crash test rating. 

BMW 3 Series (M340i) Technology and Infotainment

The infotainment system and the instrument cluster in the M340i stand out, representing a significant upgrade over its predecessor. The large, curved housing dominates the dashboard, offering a modern and high-tech interface. The housing includes two screens — a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment which gets wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The system runs on BMW's latest OS 8 software, which features crisp graphics, customizable widgets, and great touch sensitivity. This makes interactions with the system intuitive and less distracting while driving. Another feature that adds to this is the inclusion of the i-Drive click-wheel controller, which despite being omitted in some newer models is retained in the M340i, allowing you to toggle menus on the screen without the need of using touch controls. And of course, if you don’t want to bother yourself with any of that, you can just use the voice activated BMW intelligent personal assistant.  

One of the more novel features of the infotainment is an animated 3D model of the car, displayed in real-time, in the correct colour, which provides an interactive experience along with useful trip data. The infotainment system is paired with a high-quality 16-speaker Harman Kardon surround sound system, which delivers outstanding sound quality. The ‘Live Cockpit Plus’ instrument cluster also adds to the usability, and gets three stylised customisable display options which make glancing at the speedometer and tachometer easy.

Is the BMW 3 Series (M340i) for you?

If you are looking for a luxury car with a great back seat for you to be chauffeured around in, the BMW M340i is definitely not the right pick for you. However, if you are one of the few luxury car buyers in India who prefers driving themselves, going on road trips over flights, a stiff darty suspension setup over a cloudy soft one, and who loves the sound of a beautiful in-line 6 petrol, then for under ₹1 crore, things can’t get much better than the M340i. Yes, there are some electric alternatives like the BMW i4 and the BYD Seal which do come close or even better the M340i in outright performance, speed, and acceleration, but in terms of sheer thrill and driving pleasure, the M340i does an outstanding job which is rivalled by none other in the budget.