Is The G20 M340i The Modern-Day E9X 335i N54?
Back when the E9X M3 replaced the outgoing E46 M3, purists were in an uproar over the V8 introduction and lack of a straight-six. However, they were pleased to find that the N54, though somewhat of a maintenance headache, offered a much higher performance ceiling out of the box than the S65 V8 found in its top-of-the-line counterpart. With the nearly 2JZ-like tuning potential, bolt-on upgrade market explosion, compatibility with M3 body, brake, and suspension parts, enthusiasts quickly found the E9X 335i to be a better platform for pure power than the M3. Now, with the release of the G8X M3/M4, we have the brand-new S58 that is more ‘true to BMW form’ under the hood, but the looks are somewhat polarizing. With the B58 in the G20 M340i offering staggering performance potential from simple bolt-ons and software changes, are we about to see the rise of the N54 replacement we never saw with the N55? | | | The B58 is BMW’s new straight-six turbo platform that powered the F3X 340i, Z4, and Toyota Supra A90. It has already broken records on drag strips and recently took home staggering awards at TX2K. It’s capable of hitting 1,000HP without internal modifications, which seems incredibly reminiscent of the RB26, 2JZ, and N54 that have been popularized for the same reasons. With so much potential in that platform, and arguably better looks than its M3/M4 big brother, the new G20 stands to be the well-rounded Ultimate Driving Machine of the modern era. | | | It’s a car you can take anywhere. It isn’t too flashy, so trips to the store are reasonable. It has ample interior cabin space for four passengers to fit comfortably, five to fit in a pinch, and still offers all the creature comforts you’d expect from a luxury sedan like heated/cooled seats, dual climate control, an intuitive multifunction display, driver assists, heads-up display, and multiple driving modes to dynamically change the car’s handling and feel. Even with all that modern convenience and luxury, the G20 rips. I have a hard time with the automatic-only transmission option, but the blistering power and smooth delivery of the G20 M340i makes that simple omission forgettable. | | | What isn’t forgettable is the first time you launch the G20 from a stop or feel it grip around a hard corner. The size of the car compared to older, especially classic BMW models, makes it easy to forgive someone for assuming its dimensions and weight would cause the G20 to handle and perform like a big executive sedan, but it doesn’t. The thing just moves. It feels as tight as some of the best setup E46s I’ve driven. | | | But enough about the stock performance of the car; what are the odds this platform will take the place currently held by the E9X N54 in enthusiasts’ hearts? Given the past trends of purists ‘disliking’ the current model M3 and what the N54 community did with that platform, we think yes, it’s highly likely that we will see an explosion in popularity of the M340i with modern performance tuners. | | | Think about it. When those tuners were gravitating towards the 335i rather than the M3, that was over a decade ago. They’re older, wiser, likely have different needs in their lives now but similar desires to what they had then, and probably feel the same about the new M3/M4 that they did with the E9X M3. They are more interested in luxury and comfort features but don’t want to give up the tuning abilities and performance car feel. The perfect answer? The G20 M340i. At least, that’s what we’re predicting. | | | That’s why we’re pulling out all the stops with this platform. It hasn’t quite taken off yet, but if the past is any indicator, we think enthusiasts will quickly realize the M340i offers a better bargain for performance potential, similar luxury, and arguably better looks than the G8X, which means buyers have a high probability of choosing the G20 over the M3/M4 and putting the difference in cost into performance and visual upgrades. This is where Turner Motorsport comes in to help. | | | Already, we’re knee-deep in new performance and visual upgrade releases. As it stands, our Carbon Fiber High-Kick Spoiler is available, along with the ECS Flush Kit for more aggressive wheel fitment. These two simple improvements help the somewhat sedate sedan stand out as the M-performance rocket that it is underneath, but we’re not just bringing simple visual enhancements to the platform, oh no. | | | On the way from our friends at ECS Tuning are fully adjustable coilovers that are currently in long-term testing, which you can see fitted to our test mule here. These have significantly improved the handling of the G20, along with its stance, without sacrificing ride quality or inducing too much NVH to negate the sedan’s luxury status. With a wider track from the spacers, or more aggressive wheel/tire options that are already available, and the improved suspension, this already grippy platform inspires even more confidence behind the wheel when driven hard through the twisties. | | | Coming soon in the pipeline are some real performance upgrades, like our Carbon Fiber Intake, Charge Pipe, upgraded Turner Motorsport Software, and more. These simple, but effective, bolt-on performance adders stand to take advantage of the inherent capabilities of the B58 to bring some of that hidden potential to the surface. Since we have already had the B58 in the F3X to play around with and see the potential, we know what’s coming will bring the same results. | | | Fortunately, you won’t have to wait too long to get your hands on these upcoming performance upgrades. We’re working diligently to move these new releases through to production, after some long-term testing and quality inspections, of course, so you can expect to start grabbing parts for your G20 M340i now with more on the way to follow. Hopefully, if the past is any indication of the future, we’ve found the true successor to the N54 with the B58 and will see the popularity of this platform continue to rise. With that, we’ll open it up to the readers: do you see the B58-powered G20 M340i as the modern E9X 335i? Do you think it will be preferred as the tuning platform of choice over the M3/M4, or will buyers come around to the G8X and opt for the available manual transmission instead of the automatic-only G20? Let us know at [email protected] and you might find yourself in a future edition of Turner Motorsport Weekly. | | | | |
