Classically Clear Gauges - 2016 BMW 340i xDrive Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds.com

Classically Clear Gauges - 2016 BMW 340i xDrive Long-Term Road Test

The gauges in our 2016 BMW 340i have the same design as millions of BMWs before it. There's a reason for it.

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mojo_mike

I rather dislike the kph scale cluttering up the speedometer. Other than that, very well done.

7driver

Not sure I like the tach being on the right. Most others have it on the left. It wouldn't be so bad if the center wasn't so blank. Either set the speedo and tach closer together or find something else to fill that large void at top center.

schen72

I have a BMW X3 long term rental (due to Takata airbag recall) and while the gauges are very clear, they are kind of boring. I quite like the gauges on current Acuras. Also very clear and simple but more of the voids are filled in with useful information.

bodyshop_boy

Basic navi info (such as direction and distance to next turn) is presented in the lower portion of the instrument panel when the feature is used.

tom_in_mn

I find the screen in the middle of the gauges on my Highlander makes the audio and nav less distracting to use as you get the info as part of your usual visual scan pattern with out having to look over at the main screen.

john_in_tc

These gauges are fine as long as you don't need to know how fast you are going. A quick glance at the speedometer and you know you are going somewhere between 60 and 80. I like to drive 5 mph over the speed limit so an extra 5 mph might mean a ticket. Gauges like this drive me nuts.

banhugh

BMW's interior design (not materials or quality) lacks compared to Audi and Mercedes. As for the cluster, I like the latest Audi and Mercedes digital screen instead of analog gauges. BMW needs to innovate or else it's going to keep on falling behind. Despite the million different models they have to offer (2 series, 3 series, 4 series, 4 series grand coupe, 5 series, 6 series, 7series, etc)

cygnus_x1

I agree, the gauges are nice and simple. It's the red lighting that I can't stand.

roadburner

This weekend I had a heavily optioned 328i loaner while my M235i was getting a new windshield(thanks to a large rock). Like my 2er the "extended information"cluster can provide a secondary navigation display or radio station info. For me, simple is good.

black07gti

These gauges are clean, but the virtual cockpit on the Audi A4 blows them away. Having the full nav right in front of me is less distracting and I also really like having the detailed trip computer information readily available when I don't need the nav. I looked at the 3 series and just thought the overall interior was kind of dated compared to the C class and A4. The C class was the most luxurious, but the interior was too tight for me. Whether you like it or not, in this class, tech features symbolize luxury as much as wood and leather, and the BMW is just a little behind on that front.

darex

BMW Head-up displays are very good adjunct and/or compromise to the basic dash. They add speed, navigation and infotainment displays front and center, in a very clear graphical manner.

wheelmccoy

Definitely classical old school, right down to the no-nonsense red lighting. I like it, but it may be too spartan for this particular BMW... unless it's equipped with a head-up display mentioned by @darex above.

sda

I guess it is to give an impression of sportiness and a high top speed, but I don't care for speedometers that read to 140-160 mph. This creates a lot of clutter and makes reading the true speed harder than if the spacing between the 10 mph increments were spaced further apart. A 120 mph speedometer should be plenty for a 70-80 mph limited USA. On the other hand, during the late '70s-'90s (?) I did not care for speedometers being limited to reading up to 80-85 mph.

roadburner

Speedometers should indicate the car's actual top speed plus an extra 20 mph or so.