B8.5 S4 vs F30 340i

[jalx]

Hi Guys, would love some advice.

I have had an B7 A4 for 8+ years, and it is time to upgrade. I plan to keep my next car for long time as well, 7+ years.
After a lot of test driving I’m between a 2016 B8.5 S4 with sport diff or a 2016 F30 340i x-Drive with M Performance Pkg. Both pretty much fully loaded, slightly used, and about the same price.

The B9 is out of the equation because I will have to wait 2 years before they are at price range I can afford. Also, drove the Golf R, fast, but didn’t like it.

I love the V6 supercharged and sport diff combination. But the 340i i6 pull to the red line effortless. Also the 340i is way better equipped, not to mention a completely newer generation (that’s something to consider when you plan to keep the car for long).

I know this forum is biased, but I would love to hear what you think.

Thank you

J

[roydle]

Hard decision, I was in your same shoes a couple of months ago and ended up getting a 2016 S4. I never test drove the 340 but decided for the S4 as it is more unique than the 340. Better seats, amazing DSG transmission and overall more racing touches than the 340. The only advantage the 340 has is the newer body style. The B8.5 in couple of years or even now might look kind of old style. Seems you are into all wheel drive, and my understanding, Quattro system is much better than the X-drive. Good luck.

[jygesq]

When I was looking for new car to replace my 2000 BMW. 528, I drove a new then 2015 435 BMW coupe then took home a 2014 s4 for week end test drive, then drove the 435,coupe again. My response was different from yours, the S4 was so much nicer than the bimmer . Faster better interior, nicer seats, better electronic interface, intergrated display, better engine & transmission.So I oredered my new 2015 s4 the way I wanted and never looked back . Quattro is so much nicer than x drive, BMW are a dime a dozen, the S4 is very special. M3 is a closer rival , faster ,but not AWD. S4,is the best of all worlds for me . My 2 BMW s were both troublesome from the beginning. The first one 1984,325,e was so bad BMW Replaced it after 44 months. My 2000 had idle issues in cold weather, fixed once after warranty expired , then to return five years latter, as the fix f was temporary and the vanos. Unit, part would go bad again as the replacement vanos was the same as the original again , as the design was not changed.

[snowmuch]

Same here test drove the 2015 335i and it drive like crap so I went with the B8.5 S4

[whiped]

I haven't driven a 340 but like most here I drove a 335i Xdrive and ended up going with the S4.

Just liked the S4 way more.

[Mr.Tan]

i'll be the one--- i'd go with the BMW. Like you said, newer generation. You also mentioned it was better equipped. I do love the b8.5, dont get me wrong.... Its a really fun car to drive, however the bmw always just felt more refined and comfortable. When the time comes i will probably go back to a bmw of some sort.

[jalx]

Completely understand the comments on the 335i/435i. But the 340i is BMW's mid cycle refresh car. It has a newer engine, no lag what so ever. Revised suspension, transmission, and idrive.

On the other hand the supercharged engine / dsg on the S4 is sweet...

Decisions... decisions...



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[johnstah]

Check the steering. See how it feels before you decide.

[mmm def]

Sounds to me like you have your mind made up

[BLACKS4-10]

I test drove both a 335i x-drive and an 340i x-drive and while I liked both cars 340i especially..it didn't have that feel or communication with the road as they felt isolated and artificial..they were smoother with the tranny shifts though but couldn't pull me away from my 10' S4.. you will have to decide for yourself..good luck

[B8Addict]

I would probably say go with the S4 since the performance is very similar however the 340i looks like a normal 3 series unless its the M performance variant. The S4 looks more sporty in comparison to a 340i. Driving dynamics of a 340i would be much more balanced compared to S4 being more nose heavy. Also if you care, gas mileage would be better too. I only get 18MPG in the S4 vs my friend in his 340i getting 21MPG with a similar driving distance and city/highway.

[adganga]

I actually did the exact same comparison. Was shopping the 2016 340 to the 2016 S4. I thought that the S4 was much more of a drivers car. It felt special driving it, while in the 340, I felt very normal. The same problems occurred to me as well...if the lack of completely up to date technology would bother you, the 340 might be better, however the S4 will put a smile on your face every time you get in it. It's the 'fizz' that was missing from the 340 that pushed me into an S4


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[adamkb26]

I went from 07' 335i coupe to the 13' S4. Looked at the new 335i before getting it and I felt like it was a downgrade from my 07'. I thought the S4 was way better looking, more fun to drive, faster, way better interior, more refined, more luxurious and felt special. The S4 makes you feel special having an S car while the 335i just wants to pretend to be an M car. Gotta give technology to the BMW but that's all.

Just to note I was a BMW guy before my S4. If anything I was biased for BMW.

[cval3]

I went from 07' 335i coupe to the 13' S4. Looked at the new 335i before getting it and I felt like it was a downgrade from my 07'. I thought the S4 was way better looking, more fun to drive, faster, way better interior, more refined, more luxurious and felt special. The S4 makes you feel special having an S car while the 335i just wants to pretend to be an M car. Gotta give technology to the BMW but that's all.

Just to note I was a BMW guy before my S4. If anything I was biased for BMW.

I was also a BMW guy before an Audi. Had a 325ci, a 325i, and a 128. Even tried an 14 E350 and an 11 C350...all leases. All of which I was shopping for cars many months before my term was up. Bought a 13 S4 in December and never looking back. Before the S4, I tested a 2016 435I Gran Coupe which I thought I would love. It was okay at best, I felt cramped, the steering was numb, and by the time I ticked all the boxes I wanted it was a 60k car.

The exclusivity of the S4 is also something to be mentioned, nothing new but the way BMW structures its leases means that anyone with a half decent credit score can walk out the door paying $4-500 for a new BMW. You can't go wrong with the BMW but it won't be anything special.

[silverf0x]

Test drove the 340i.
Then test drove the S4.
Bought the S4.

/thread

[adamkb26]

I was also a BMW guy before an Audi. Had a 325ci, a 325i, and a 128. Even tried an 14 E350 and an 11 C350...all leases. All of which I was shopping for cars many months before my term was up. Bought a 13 S4 in December and never looking back. Before the S4, I tested a 2016 435I Gran Coupe which I thought I would love. It was okay at best, I felt cramped, the steering was numb, and by the time I ticked all the boxes I wanted it was a 60k car.

The exclusivity of the S4 is also something to be mentioned, nothing new but the way BMW structures its leases means that anyone with a half decent credit score can walk out the door paying $4-500 for a new BMW. You can't go wrong with the BMW but it won't be anything special.

Yeah I also drove a 15' 435i xdrive M Sport last year. Was not impressed at all. Very disappointed in BMW.

[wilazn]

I am also a former BMW guy before getting my 2013 B8.5 S4. I had a 2008 BMW 335xi coupe with full suspension done, tune, FBO, and ton of exterior mods. If you compared the s4 to the e9x 335 then I would say go with the BMW, but the new F30 are a downgrade. The engine isn't as performance based and easily tunable like the N54 engine. I'd definitely go for the S4 over the F30 340i.

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[vwblackb5]

OP, to add another choice I cross shopped a 2016 S4 against a 2016 BMW 340i x drive, a 2016 MB C450 and ended up with the 2016 S4.

The torque vectoring Sports Diff was the key differentiator, at least for me. You can't go wrong with the BMW though, as the 340i X drive optioned out with M-Perf package looks like a baby F80 M3, not to mention the residual is better on the BMW compared to Audi if you lease (I know you said you're buying). All the magazines love the MB interior as a lot of features look/feel like they came from the S-class, but personally thought it was too gaudy inside and was not for me. Performance wise, the C450 AMG felt slightly faster but didn't give me the same feeling as I did on the S4.

TL;DR, S4 with sport diff then upgrade to F80 M3 down the road if Audi doesn't bring the B9!RS4


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[ModItNow]

I was/an a bmw guy. Had a '07 328i coupe, a 2010 135i and then a' 13 335i coupe. Loved all those cars and modded were fun as hell. As of now I don't like the direction bmw has gone. Too many models and you now feel that the 3 series is so watered down. I ended up in a 2015 s4 6mt which is awesome. If I didnt find a manuel would have still probably went with bmw though.

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[jonwoods]

I'm a long time BMW owner and I just went through this myself. Came from various E36 models, an E46 330 M-Sport and even an E34 m5... All fantastic driver's cars. Looked at an m235, 340 and a few older 335s. Found all of them lacking in what I really loved about the older bmws... Road feel lacking, steering is numb, styling was overstated and obnoxious, colour choices are red, white and blue and reliability of the BMW turbo motors is sketchy at best. Most of the choices around my area were 4 wheel drive slush boxes too - which just completely ruin an otherwise almost-tolerable platform (though the ZF auto in the m235 was quite snappy). None of them really interested me. Maybe a new M2... Maybe. To be fair, the S4 is no "driver's" car either - steering feel is numb, balance way is off, the v6 sounds like crap and it corners like a three legged pig when you really push it (sport diff is gimmicky but doesn't solve the real problem of total lack of turn-in) - but at least it's drop-dead gorgeous inside and out, far more refined than the bmws, understated, and can still be plenty of fun almost all the time. Better value too IMO.