Oh, I can come up with reasons for you to justify.
Making a list now. Lol

 

I would not. By all the metrics, the M340i outperforms the IS500, but there is something unique and raw about the IS500 - the looks, V8, the engine sound (one of the best ever), the RWD setup, simple technology, the jekyll and hyde nature (above 4500-5000 RPM it turns into an entirely different car - a beast. It is more visceral in my opinion. I think for me to trade up, I would have to go M3 or M5.

 

So I did look up some M340s after reading this thread.

 

I saw a dark blue M3 this afternoon that looked great. Couldn't snap a pic in time. Looked like this:



I would bypass the M340 and go straight to the big dog.

 

Those silver 825Ms are one of the few options from the LCI that I wish I could have gotten on my 2023. I have the bi-color 825Ms (polished and black), which do look nice, but not as good as the silver.


That said, the M340i is far and away the better daily driver if you're not regularly "getting after it". B58s higher compression and smaller turbo means significantly more power at light throttle, and WAY better fuel economy--16/23 vs. 27/33.

But if the goal is a fun car, I wholly endorse the M3. It's an absolute monster when driven with purpose and intention.

 

Your car looks awesome. That orangeish interior is so beautiful.

The silver 825M wheels provided a great contrast to the dark blue. They really caught my eye.

 

Exactly. This is why I couldn't justify an M340i over the IS500. I would take the IS500 all day long for reasons I mentioned in my post above. However, if you are now throwing M3's or M5's at me, then that is an entirely different proposition in my opinion. Those are legendary and absolute monsters.

 

I spent my Friday afternoon at the BMW dealer checking out the M340i X drive and the 540i xdrive.
Im going to be looking at certified used unless somebody can tell what the discount I should expect from buying a new BMW vs a Used one.
I test drove a ‘24 M340i with 17k miles on it. Not sure what the package was included exactly but the original msrp was $72k. The only thing I saw missing was the panoramic camera that I would like. Drove quite well, I like it very much from the short 15mins drive. It was quite comfortable and quiet on the highway. Suspension is much more compliant than I thought. I was expected stiffer and harder on bumps tbh but it was quite comfortable and good for daily driving. I can definitely see myself in it. The space is okay. But I’m a little concerned with wanting more after 2 weeks of owning it. This is my only concern with the M340. It’s a ‘24 so it has the single large wide screen which I thought I wouldn’t like but I actually do. Asking price is 60k on this one.
Then I test drove a ‘22 540i xdrive and right away, I like the space more. It does feel and drive like a larger vehicle than the M340i. I also quite like it. I didn’t ask for the original msrp on this one because it wasn’t the color I want. But I didn’t really like the tombstone screen and the controls feel a little dated. No panoramic view camera. And I really dislike the shifter that sticks out. Why does it have to be so long? I wouldn’t have any problem with wanting more space on the 540i. With 37k miles and not the color I want, the asking price is 45k.
The 540i is probably what I’m leaning to at this point. But I do wish it has the single wide screen and a more flushed shifter. I do not like the ‘24 540i. Sits too high like a Toyota Crown.
My problem is, the Lexus is always on the back of my mind. This is probably the reason why I never bought anything else for the past 15yrs. At 60k, I can get a pretty low mileage ‘22 certified LS500 which will feel “just like home”.
I’m a little surprised to see 540i is priced almost exactly the same or even a little less than a m340i. Can anyone tell me why? Is it because the maintenance cost on the 540i will be higher than a m340i?

 

You already have Supra lol!

 

My local dealer has a IS500 in Ultra Sonic Blue. This will match with my LC500.

 

The LS500 is nothing like your 460, it's just a worse 540i in most ways

 

lol. When I got home, the wife asked how did it go. I said a BMW might be my next vehicle. I mean, how bad can it be?
I just really dislike the shifter on the 540i. It looks out of place. And the tombstone screen that is way higher than the dash.

 

Those are minor quibbles…

 

If you get the M340 I would definitely get the adaptive suspension. I like a stiffer suspension but since it was my first BMW I didn’t really know much about it so I didn’t order it on my car and I always regretted it because having adjustable suspension on any car for not much money makes a big difference to me since the standard sport suspension is pretty stiff.

 

I have almost 100,000 miles on a RWD dark blue big dog with that same Silverstone interior, and if you appreciate g forces and have a heavy right foot, I concur. Step right into a used M car and never look back. So many smiles/mile.