I Prefer the M Sport Steering Wheel - 2016 BMW 340i xDrive Long-Term Road Test

Comments

• banhugh Member Posts: 315

  May 2016 edited May 2016

  Damn, if you add the M sport package to your existing configuration you exceed $60k. For a 3 series! That is not even an M car! Why not skip all that options and get the M3?

  1
• longtimelurker Member Posts: 455

  May 2016

  "Our goal with the 340i was to get the most luxurious version of the 3 Series that we could. Unfortunately, that meant leaving the box for the M Sport package unchecked and its excellent steering wheel absent."
  
  Wait...why? What other options does getting that package preclude you from getting?

  1
• darthbimmer Member Posts: 606

  May 2016

  @longtimelurker-- I don't think they're saying that having the M Sport steering wheel makes other options unavailable, I believe they're saying that given the choice of vehicles available, the most luxurious one happened not to have that sporty option. Remember, Edmunds has this vehicle as a press loaner from BMW. They had to pick from whatever was in the pool.

  0
• vvk Member Posts: 196

  May 2016

  Yes, M Sport package is a must. But not because of the steering wheel, although it does make a difference. The biggest reason to get M Sport package in any BMW is because of the amazing manual shifter. It is MUCH better than the regular one. Shorter throws, better feel and smoother gear changes. I once had two identical 3ers, one M Sport and the other Sport. There was a huge difference in my perception of the two cars. The M Sport was so much more pleasant to drive due to its fantastic shifter. My current BMWs are all M Sport for this reason.
  
  People who drive the automatic would never know, of course.
  

  1
• roadburner Member Posts: 18,206

  May 2016

  The ETK does not show any M Sport specific shift linkage parts- are you sure you aren't referring to the BMW Performance SSK? Also, how does the shifter handle HPDEs?

  Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
  Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
  Son's: 2018 330i xDrive

  0
• black07gti Member Posts: 5

  May 2016

  The standard BMW wheel doesn't even feel like real leather. You can get much better wheels in much less expensive cars. For me, if the wheel feels cheap, it totally diminishes the overall experience, especially at this price.

  0
• longtimelurker Member Posts: 455

  May 2016

  darthbimmer said:

  @longtimelurker-- I don't think they're saying that having the M Sport steering wheel makes other options unavailable, I believe they're saying that given the choice of vehicles available, the most luxurious one happened not to have that sporty option. Remember, Edmunds has this vehicle as a press loaner from BMW. They had to pick from whatever was in the pool.

  You're probably right. They did get the popular "Get Off My Lawn" package, so there's that.
  

  1
• agentorange Member Posts: 893

  May 2016 edited May 2016

  longtimelurker said:

  
  You're probably right. They did get the popular "Get Off My Lawn" package, so there's that.
  

  Spot on. I know this will cause grinding teeth, but I suspect Edmunds are testing a car much nearer the spec of most actual buyers rather than the dreamers posting here.

  0
• DLu Member Posts: 94

  April 2017 edited April 2017

  The M Sport wheel made a big difference for me. The steering wheel and instrument cluster are right in front of my face when I drive. Exterior styling doesn't matter as much. IMO a good steering wheel is a "must have." The manual gearing is too darn tall, makes the engine feel just a tad lazy. Previously the Mazda RX-8 R3 was my first and only manual car. That car had a very sharp clutch engagement and close gearing, which now I realize is not that common (at the level of the RX-8), even for sporty cars. If the BMW's manual is on par with the "average" sports sedan, then I don't really care for manual transmissions for my future cars. The Mazda's was fun. This one? Much less so.

  0