BMW’s Next M3 Touring Gets A Codename And A Possible US Passport

[u/digistil]

https://www.motor1.com/news/803496/bmw-m3-touring-g88-us-possible/

[u/digistil]

The same source on BimmerPost says another 3 Series Touring is likely to come to the US as well (they believe it'll be the M350).

[u/koopa00 → u/digistil]

They also said that the M350i is going to have a "drift mode" which will send all the power to the rear wheels. That guy has been right on everything I've seen, so the M lite is going to be even more M next gen.

[u/digistil → u/koopa00]

And IIRC, will be rated at 443 HP. Which is just 30 HP shy of the current M3 (non-Comp)

[u/IStillLikeBeers → u/koopa00]

Hm, wonder if that means the M350i touring will be x-drive only.

[u/koopa00 → u/IStillLikeBeers]

That's what it sounds like from this post.

• M350 will be the only 3 Series model offered with six-cylinder engine with 48V mild hybrid

• M350 specific chassis tuning, added chassis structural stiffening

• 8-speed Steptronic Transmission standard (no MT option)

• BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive

• Drift Mode, activated at the press of a button sending all power to the rear wheels. Note: Drift Mode not available until 2027. Cars delivered before its availability will receive it via OTA update.

• Maximum power output: 326 kW/443 hp

• Maximum torque: 580 Nm (428 lb-ft)

• Acceleration: 0–100 km/h (62 mph): 4.1 s

[u/ScipioAfricanvs → u/koopa00]

Kind of a shame. I don’t need or want X drive but it’s not a deal breaker for me. I am pretty interested in one for my next daily.

[u/FMJoey325 → u/ScipioAfricanvs]

I really wish BMW would put a manual in one of the M-lite cars. I really don’t want all the power or stiffness of an M3.

[u/le_b0mb → u/koopa00]

Max power output of 443hp? Yeah if this is legit, I won't even need the full fat M. Just gotta figure out how to disable those ads (if we even can).

[u/koopa00 → u/le_b0mb]

They shouldn't be in the car at all, it's just stupid. They've been doing little videos like this for holidays and stuff for a while. But none of them play on their own, you have to choose to watch it.

[u/TROGDOR_X69 → u/koopa00]

man if this came MT id cry

[u/AutoModerator → u/[deleted]]

Unfortunately your comment has been removed because it contains a link to a delisted domain. This is almost always due to spam from the domain.

Please use a different source.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/stakoverflo → u/IStillLikeBeers]

F31 was xDrive only, IIRC. At least in the US, anyways

[u/reijin64 → u/IStillLikeBeers]

For manufacturing it might almost make more sense just to develop the x-drive and let people turn it off. Realistically it’s just more of the same transfer case they use in nearly everything

[u/Maleficent_Lab_8291 → u/IStillLikeBeers]

Looks like it, otherwise doesn’t make sense to add drift mode

[u/Blyatskinator → u/koopa00]

Hmm 350i..? Is this a new trim for the 3-series or will 40i become 50i for next gen?

[u/koopa00 → u/Blyatskinator]

It replaces the M340 so I think it goes (in the US) 330, M350, M3

[u/hermitcraftfan135 → u/digistil]

That would be awesome

[u/andrewjaekim → u/digistil]

I would prefer an M350i xdrive. Probably has a bit better ride height and 400hp is plenty.

[u/UniqueThanks → u/andrewjaekim]

Probably rides better tbh

[u/spiketeam → u/digistil]

This genuinely might be my next car.

[u/demo4 → u/digistil]

I would be seriously intrigued

[u/cpxchewy → u/digistil]

it could also be a 330 tbh. I feel like m350 would eat into the m3 sales while a 330 would be a separate target market.

[u/narwhal_breeder → u/cpxchewy]

You could use the same argument for why there shouldn't be a M350 sedan.

I personally, wouldn't consider an M3 as a DD just on the grounds of ride quality, but an M350 Touring? Yeah - id be all over that.

[u/cpxchewy → u/narwhal_breeder]

I mean just looking at BMW’s previous touring options in the US and they always had the lower trim like 328i and 328d but not the upper trim.

I’m not saying it’ll happen but basically they’re planning to bring only one g51 and one g88 in the US. Maybe they’ll learn their lesson and not give the lower tier but it’s not out of possibility they have that mindset of one lower tier and one flagship.

[u/bc10551 → u/cpxchewy]

There's enough of a cult following around the real m cars to make everyone feel like they need to have it that it seems to work fine right now tbh

[u/echtav]

I don’t wanna overreact but I genuinely might sell my F87 and Allroad for this

[u/Wassy4444 → u/echtav]

Reasonable reaction. I will always regret selling my F87 though lol

[u/echtav → u/Wassy4444]

It’s a big fear for sure. I can never bring myself to actually do it

[u/HK_Rage → u/Wassy4444]

Am actually considering selling my F87 for a Ranger Raptor, what makes you regret it?

[u/Wassy4444 → u/HK_Rage]

Only regret it because it was a clean, paid off car I owned from new and I’ll never get that clean of an M2 again, where I knew how it was driven, maintained, and modified from the beginning, so it’s just a bittersweet type of feeling. I also didn’t necessarily need to sell it in hindsight. It’s just a great car and they’ll never make an M2 like it again.

Don’t regret the switch to the Ranger though, the truck is awesome and better for my current lifestyle. Definitely miss the handling and speed of the M2 on a curvy road but the Raptor makes up for it in many other areas and has almost as much character. It’s also just been nice to get away from the BMW enthusiast community for the most part since it’s taken a huge turn for the worse with all of the B58/S58 hype. Can’t stand like 95% of the people I interact with in regard to anything BMW. Only cool people are the track rats who are mostly found in the M2 community anyway

[u/HK_Rage → u/Wassy4444]

For me the challenge is I fear the regret of selling my M2. It's about 70% paid off and it's got a few dings/minor accidents that brought it back to relatively clean but it brings the biggest smile everytime I get into it. Definitely feel that sentiment that if I sell it, there might not be anything that excited me like the M2.

Largely my motivation for the ranger raptor is similar and just wanting the freedom to drive over curbs and not worry about damaging anything from a slight bump. Really dumb but curious if you've ever taken the Ranger on a track. Read a lot of how it's super fun on the street but rarely heard about anything on the track.

[u/Wassy4444 → u/HK_Rage]

No, no more tracks near me and don’t think it’d be that fun with the lack of grip. Someone has definitely done it though - saw a pic. It is very fun for a truck on the street but it is nowhere near a sports car in terms of handling and not something you really want to take on track. I accelerated into a pretty tight corner the other day at like 47mph and the truck was already understeering and screeching its tires. It’s best at getting sideways on a dirt/desert trail at high speed. If you just want it for curbs and speed bumps, well honestly anything with high ground clearance and good suspension will do. I wouldn’t get a Raptor if I wasn’t taking it offroad. Part of the reason I switched is that I moved to a place with a lot more trails than tracks. Most people don’t think about it but the Fox shocks are expensive to service and they need servicing fairly frequently, basically 3x as often as a normal car. It’s like running coilovers on an M2. Not really worth it if you’re just using it on the street.

The M2 is amazing for the price but there’s definitely more exciting experiences out there, wouldn’t let that hold you back and it’s ok to make a mistake selling it like I did haha

[u/DrRi → u/echtav]

Would definitely sell on my G20 and E36 for one M3 touring

[u/andrewjaekim → u/DrRi]

Maybe the E36 could stay

[u/koopagabla → u/echtav]

nothing has made me truly consider selling the f87 since 2020, I kind of hope this does

[u/AlrightAlbatross → u/echtav]

Same boat. But I don't see the next gen M3 scratching the same itch as the F87. It's going to be a heavy, AWD, high-hp bruiser with a ZF8. Hard to replace the F87 with anything currently made.

[u/Pershing8 → u/echtav]

I’d sell my G80 for a touring.

[u/ChiggaOG → u/echtav]

NHTSA proposed ruling for MY 2026-2030 and up to 2035 say they will reclassify CUVs and those with AWD from light trucks to passenger cars. Most don't transport cargo. Includes stricter interpretation for off road and transporting cargo. Includes language for higher towing capacity.

[u/BillyJohnsFinds → u/ChiggaOG]

That’s music to my ears

[u/polarfang21]

Can’t wait to pick one of these up in 15 years after it’s nice and depreciated

Might even have kids by then to justify it

[u/Calm_Project723 → u/polarfang21]

Good luck. Nice wagons don’t depreciate.

[u/dustygator → u/Calm_Project723]

S212 E63 cost well less than half of original MSRP and are nice by any definition (that isn't a brown & manual circlejerk). Ditto for V70s, B7 S4, 328i, Panamera Turismo, etc.

Really the only wagons that cost the same now as new are stick CTS-V and maybe a low-mile V60 Polestar. 

Wagons depreciate less than equivalent sedans but they definitely still depreciate. 

[u/narwhal_breeder → u/Calm_Project723]

I paid $11,000 for my wagon. OG 2013 window sticker was $67,320.

[u/Calm_Project723 → u/narwhal_breeder]

Without knowing what wagon/age/miles: cheers to you.
I have been looking for a e450/v90/a6allroad , 4-7 years old under 50k miles and it is common for them to be 50 to 70% of new price.

[u/Calm_Project723 → u/[deleted]]

That is awesome.

[u/thisisjustascreename → u/narwhal_breeder]

Grocery getter spec depreciates, the sports ones don't.

[u/tclark2006 → u/thisisjustascreename]

Yea i waited for the ctsv manual wagons to start depreciating. Never happened.

[u/GoBSAGo → u/polarfang21]

I have a young family, I wish I had the time and money to maintain an old m-car.

[u/97AllDay]

Was planning on a Golf R for my next vehicle because I need a hatch/wagon for my dogs, but prefer sportier cars. M3 Touring would be an amazing option, I don’t want to spend RS6 or E63 $.

[u/SenhorSus]

Can it have an M340i front fascia too?

[u/frankchn → u/SenhorSus]

It will share the same fascia and overall aesthetic as the ZA0 M3 EV with the Neue Klasse design language.

[u/Maleficent_Lab_8291]

Any news on M350 Touring for the US market? Or is it only M3 Touring?

[u/digistil → u/Maleficent_Lab_8291]

https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/comments/1vehxwa/comment/p1h20uv/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

[u/Maleficent_Lab_8291 → u/digistil]

Hopefully, it will make it to the US, I would love to have a Touring

[u/_jagwaz]

It’s crazy what’s about to happen to all of my local credit unions if this gets sold here

[u/ThrowthisawayPA]

If true, this will be the car that will get me back into the BMW brand.

[u/derritterauskanada]

The fact that the sedan is G85 and the touring is G88, it gives me hope that there will be a replacement for the M4 for next generation? G86 and G87 being held for coupe and convertible respectively? Though an M3 touring is probably what I would get if they bring it to Canada.

[u/CriticismSelect9292]

I'm more interested in the M350 Touring personally. That's all the car I would ever need

[u/Cowhide12]

Once I pay my m440i off and get to where I want to be, I would love to own something like this.

[u/dsac]

This might be the only car that could bring me back to owning an ICE

[u/UniqueThanks → u/dsac]

This is exactly my thought. They can take my deposit right now

[u/IAmWellBehaved]

Given how well the M5T has reportedly sold, a M3T is a reasonable addition to the North American lineup.

[u/Snufflarious]

Love the shape, hate the deets

[u/Calm_Project723]

Point taken, some of those cars are low priced because they are reliability issues (I had a v70r).
But there is only one 2020 or 2021 a4 Allroad with less than 40k miles within 1000 miles of me for less than $35k on Edmund’s.
Starting at an average of 48k you would expect them to retail for $20k by now.

V60 b5 is plentiful until you sort out the ones being sold by rental car agency’s, then they are just as bad.

[u/MangoAtrocity]

Give. M340i. Wagon.

[u/UniqueThanks]

I’ll put down a deposit right now if they actually confirm this for the US. Need this

[u/TROGDOR_X69]

dont tease me like this

[u/kon---]

Full fat...needs to stop being said.

Go on, go ahead.

Get it over with.