The BMW M340d xDrive Touring at a glance
Is the station wagon a discontinued model?
The small station wagon is losing ground more and more in favor of buyers. The zeitgeist calls for SUVs, if you want to surf the bow wave of the trend, you can even grab the SUV coupé. On the other hand, the one for whom a BMW 3 Series Touring is enough is almost stuffy. However, if you opt for a BMW M340d xDrive Touring (combined fuel consumption: 6.7-6.1 l / 100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 177-160 g / km²), you will get a real arsonist.
Because even if the M-Performance-Mobiles, which are followed by several numbers after the letter, are only part of the “Light” models from Garching, they still have a lot behind their ears. Or just: behind the kidneys. Surprisingly, the diesel engine refined by the M Performance team delivers a performance that is almost completely free from censure. But one after the other.
The compact sports station wagon remains surprisingly discreet
From a purely visual point of view, the strongest diesel triple is hardly noticeable. The M Sport package differs only in nuances from the series brothers. Only the delicate gold shimmer on the kidney grille, air inlets and mirror caps tells the expert that 250 kW / 340 PS go to work here. Even the powerful sports brake is hardly noticeable behind the two-tone 19-inch alloy wheels.
The rest of the vehicle offers the usual 3-series qualities. The space in the first row is tailor-made, you can move around easily, but still sit comparatively tightly in the vehicle. The sports seats, which can not only be adjusted over a wide range, but can also be adjusted in terms of the width of the backrests, go well with this. Only the hardness of the upholstery can feel a little too tight for the sensitive buttocks. On the long haul, however, this support quickly pays off again.
In the rear it is a bit narrower. However, two adults can barely find their place if they communicate appropriately with the front row. Child seats can also be stowed away comfortably. But the 3 Series is not a Skoda Superb, which is also noticeable in the trunk volume. Up to 500 liters are standard in this class, the rear roller blind continues to limit the payload. But at least the rear window, which can be opened separately, is sufficient for BMW, allowing smaller items to be loaded and unloaded quickly.
Small body, large engine: a recipe that also works perfectly with the BMW M340d xDrive Touring
But an M (performance) BMW is about much more than mundane practicality and ample space. It is much more about the brand-cited sheer driving pleasure. And the M340d Touring is something of a full-range supplier. Because even if the changes to the chassis and the power transmission have only changed in fine details – the difference is still huge.
A gently widened track width provides better support against rolling movements, more negative camber increases the tire contact area in fast corners and the stiffer chassis rubber bearings bring more precision to the wheel guidance. In addition, there is the active rear axle differential, which not only acts as a lock but can also distribute the torque to specific wheels.
And there is a whole lot to distribute. Because the fine three-liter turbodiesel shovels a mighty 700 Newton meters on the four driven wheels. He hardly needs the powerful thrust of the 11 kW starter generator, the compression-ignition engine pulls the trigger so smoothly from the lowest speed. With a silky run and surprising revving up to over 5,000 tours, it is more convincing than many a direct-injection Otto colleague.
His favorite discipline is the long motorway drive
At the recommended speed on the autobahn you can hardly hear it. The famous 8-speed automatic from ZF lets it stroll around with less than 2,000 revolutions, the double acoustic glazing also shields the occupants from the last interference frequencies. Of course, a 5 Series or even a 7 Series can do that even better, but the overall level of comfort of the BMW M340d xDrive Touring is quite remarkable.
However, his talent only really comes to the fore when the transmission sorts back three gears and lets the in-line six-cylinder rejoice. The 340 hp pull the almost 1.9-ton station wagon forward with vehemence. The 100 sprint is history in well under five seconds and the M-Performance station wagon doesn’t run out of air either. The test consumption leveled off at around 7.1 liters per 100 kilometers.
Beyond the 200 sound barrier, everything comes together to form an impressively harmonious picture. The steering conveys calm and precision at the same time, with it the M340d moves stoically and yet sensitively on its path. In addition, there is the chassis, which not only transparently reports the condition of the road, but also wonderfully pushes through the limit of the tires directly. Meanwhile, the cabin is quiet, with the punchy sound of the optional Harman / Kardon speaker system, which can be supplied with music in a variety of ways from the intuitively operated iDrive, if desired.
Conclusion
The BMW M340d xDrive Touring is perhaps the perfect car for all occasions. It offers enough space for the family and sports. It’s lightning fast – and not just straight ahead. It attracts with long-distance fuel consumption of sometimes less than six liters of diesel per 100 kilometers. And if necessary, it burns from Frankfurt to Munich in 2:40 hours. So if you are looking for a discreet car in the classic style of “small body, big engine”, you should grab it. This combination will not be around for a long time. (Text and image: Fabian Mechtel)
