{"id":9393,"date":"2021-10-25T19:15:08","date_gmt":"2021-10-25T19:15:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/?p=9393"},"modified":"2022-06-13T15:57:55","modified_gmt":"2022-06-13T15:57:55","slug":"the-meanest-of-machines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/the-meanest-of-machines\/","title":{"rendered":"The meanest of machines"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/em><\/h2>\n

 <\/h2>\n

Sorted's<\/em> Tim Barnes-Clay<\/strong> reviews the BMW 3-Series M340d xDrive Saloon<\/h2>\n

 <\/h3>\n

Since its launch back in the decade of space hoppers and flared trousers (the 1970s for those of you who don\u2019t know what I\u2019m on about), over 15 million BMW 3-Series models have been sold.<\/h3>\n

Many of the sales have happened here in Britain, but rival cars like Audi\u2019s A4 and Mercedes\u2019 C-Class are constantly snapping at the 3 Series\u2019 coattails. These motors keep BMW from resting on its laurels too much, which is good because it keeps the bimmer sharp.<\/p>\n

Performance<\/h4>\n

BMW\u2019s 3-Series line-up entails a bunch of petrols and diesels as well as the 330e hybrid. The engines can be massively powerful, and it\u2019s the M340d xDrive I drove for this review.<\/p>\n

The oil-burner costs over \u00a353k and comes with a three-litre turbo unit. This powerplant produces 340PS, and with the help of a quick-shifting eight-speed auto gearbox, 0-62mph is realisable in 4.6 seconds.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s more, the top speed is 155mph, which is brisk enough for most folk \u2013 especially in this country with our 70mph ceiling. <\/p>\n

Ride and handling<\/h4>\n

If a saloon car is your thing, then you\u2019ll probably already know that the BMW 3 Series is legendary in this segment.<\/p>\n

Even though the M340d xDrive is propelled by diesel, the car\u2019s cabin is as quiet as a church mouse. There\u2019s hardly any vibration from the engine, either. Much of the sound-deadening can be attributed to well-sealed window surrounds, double-glazing and a windscreen with acoustic glass.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Fast Facts<\/h3>\n

Price: \u00a353,420<\/h5>\n
Max speed: 155 mph<\/h5>\n
0-62 mph: 4.6 secs<\/h5>\n
Combined mpg: 46.3<\/h5>\n
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo diesel<\/h5>\n
Max. power (PS): 340<\/h5>\n
CO2: 159 g\/km<\/h5>\n

The M340d makes light work of the UK\u2019s well-worn road surfaces. It skips across potholes and sticks to corners like gum to the sole of your shoe.<\/p>\n

Despite being known as a \u201ccompact\u201d executive, the 3 Series is no small car. However, at the tiller, it feels lithe and light. The steering set-up makes driving the vehicle effortless, and the switchgear is intuitive, making the saloon perfect for trips around town or longer commutes.<\/p>\n

Refinement<\/h4>\n

BMWs are refined; it\u2019s in the German firm\u2019s genetic material to be sophisticated. After all, what good is a bimmer with a devastating dearth of classiness? Okay, a 3 Series is not intended to be a Rolls-Royce, but a renowned Teutonic make is expected to have a certain finesse. The M340d xDrive doesn\u2019t displease in this respect.<\/p>\n

The seats are supportive, and the cabin offers a close to perfect driving position. A good range of seat and steering wheel adjustment helps with getting comfy in the driving pew.<\/p>\n

Add BMW\u2019s awesome iDrive infotainment tech into the mix, and life is good. The rotary controlled system is utterly intuitive \u2013 almost foolproof to use. Indeed, many automakers have tried, few have succeeded in making their infotainment systems as good as the iDrive.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, BMW\u2019s superlative build quality and insulation described above are in attendance. So, you certainly won\u2019t feel fleeced if refinement is high on your list of car \u201cmust-haves\u201d.<\/p>\n

Behind the wheel<\/h4>\n

Well, anyone clued-up with the way BMW does things will feel unperturbed here. High-grade materials, deftly designed surfaces and the driver-targeted composition of the cockpit characterise the performance aura of the 3 Series\u2019 cabin.<\/p>\n

Technology is abundant on the bimmer, starting with a sizable digital cockpit, which incorporates navigation. There\u2019s also Apple CarPlay connectivity, live traffic data and Microsoft Office. Furthermore, a rear-view camera and parking sensors are fixtures on every BMW 3 Series model.<\/p>\n

Overall, the M340d xDrive\u2019s cockpit comes with controls that are in all the areas you\u2019d expect them to be. It is a typically commendable effort from BMW, with no unpleasant surprises.<\/p>\n

Space and practicality<\/h4>\n

I\u2019ve already said that the 3 Series is a compact car, but there\u2019s more room inside the BMW than you might imagine. It will seat five-up, although two adults in the rear will be more comfortable than three. This is due to the intruding transmission tunnel.<\/p>\n

While it\u2019s a low-slung saloon to get into (perhaps too low for some), the back doors are large, and there\u2019s a good serving of legroom and headroom. Of course, you will also get your family\u2019s belongings in the 480-litre boot. Sure, it\u2019s not as practical as a hatchback or an estate, but I got five people\u2019s worth of stuff in there on my family\u2019s 200-mile test drive.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s more, the 3 Series has lots of side pockets in the load bay \u2013 and you can order luggage nets as an optional extra. Also, the BMW\u2019s rear seats fold down if you want to load long or bulky items.<\/p>\n

Running costs<\/h4>\n

As with most motors, the declared fuel economy statistics for the 3 Series differ depending on how sizeable the wheels and tyres are. But, as a rule, the bigger the wheels, the thirstier the car becomes.<\/p>\n

The M340d xDrive on test here returns up to 46.3mpg, and emissions are relatively low (considering the car\u2019s performance) at 159g\/km CO2.<\/p>\n

Vehicle safety and security<\/h4>\n

The BMW 3 Series attained the maximum five-star grade when tried and tested by Euro NCAP. It achieved a genuinely incredible 97 per cent score for adult occupant safety, with tallies of 87 per cent in both pedestrian and child safety. It comes factory fitted with Active Guard Plus, which comprises front collision warning with braking intervention and pedestrian recognition, speed limit assist and lane-departure alert. In addition, airbags all over the car increase protection further.<\/p>\n

BMW works to improve and design the best systems you can get when it comes to vehicle security. But, let\u2019s face it, it needs to \u2013 BMWs are sought after cars, and you don\u2019t want yours pinched. The automaker doesn\u2019t stop there, though; it also works together with the authorities in reacting to threats and forecasting new risks. So, be assured, you\u2019re in excellent hands if you purchase or lease the awesome M340d xDrive.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Follow Tim Barnes-Clay on Instagram @tbarnesclay and Twitter @carwriteups<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Sorted’s Tim Barnes-Clay reviews the BMW 3-Series M340d xDrive Saloon   Since its launch back in the decade of space hoppers and flared trousers (the 1970s for those of you who don\u2019t know what I\u2019m on about), over 15 million BMW 3-Series models have been sold. Many of the sales have happened here in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":692,"featured_media":9400,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,1546,1802],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9393","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-free-content","category-homepage","category-motoring"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2021\/10\/BMW_3-Series_25oct21.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9393","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/692"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9393"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9393\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9404,"href":"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9393\/revisions\/9404"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9400"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9393"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9393"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9393"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}