After more than a decade away from BMW, selling my E46 330i felt like a clean break. For years I assumed that was my last Bimmer. Up until late January, I would have bet on it.
My original plan was a GR Corolla. That fell apart fast. Servco Toyota’s lottery system was gamed by flippers, and their own sales staff were in on it. The post-COVID car market was already frustrating, and that experience made it worse. So I pivoted to Plan B: the refreshed Lexus IS350.
The interior was genuinely appealing. The front end, less so. But what killed it was Servco Lexus. Their sales culture was disengaging from the start, and after a week of being ghosted without follow-up, I walked. That is not how you sell a premium vehicle. Yelp link here.
Back to BMW.
The G20 M340i was the right call. The interior bests the IS350 on fit and finish, and the 3.0L turbocharged B58 puts close to 400 horsepower at the wheels. What I did not expect was the fuel economy. The 48V mild hybrid system is quiet about its job, but I am consistently seeing around 40 mpg on my commute. Eco mode is comfortable enough for daily driving; Sport mode transforms the car entirely in sound and feel. It is a satisfying combination: a well-appointed family sedan that performs, sips fuel, and still moves when you ask it to.
It is a good time to be driving a modern sports sedan..