443hp, 580Nm, xDrive and a six-cylinder petrol engine. BMW has not abandoned the recipe that made the M340i such a strong fast-road platform. It has turned it up.
BMW UK reveal · 30 September 2026The M340i has a successor, and BMW has kept the straight-six
The eighth-generation 3 Series brings Neue Klasse design and technology to the combustion-powered 3 Series, but the M Performance flagship still follows a familiar mechanical formula.
The new BMW M350 xDrive is the petrol-powered performance flagship of the G50 3 Series. BMW UK quotes a provisional 443hp and 580Nm, with 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds and a 155mph electronically limited top speed.
More importantly for enthusiasts, BMW has retained a 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder in-line petrol engine with 48V mild-hybrid technology and xDrive. For owners coming from an M140i, M240i or M340i, that continuity matters.
The UK price starts at £66,785 OTR, and BMW says petrol-powered customer deliveries begin in January 2027.
How much has changed from the M340i?
The outgoing G20 M340i is already a seriously effective road car. The M350 moves the numbers on while adding a more advanced chassis and a far more digital cabin.
| Specification | G20 M340i xDrive* | G50 M350 xDrive |
|---|---|---|
| Engine layout | 3.0L turbo straight-six | 3.0L turbo straight-six + 48V |
| Power | 374hp | 443hp |
| Torque | 500Nm | 580Nm |
| 0-62mph | 4.4 sec | 4.1 sec |
| Drive | xDrive | xDrive + Drift Moment |
| Standard wheel size | Generation dependent | 19-inch |
*Comparison uses the familiar 374hp / 500Nm UK G20 M340i xDrive specification. Equipment and output varied during the G20 lifecycle.
That gives the new car another 69hp and 80Nm before an owner has touched it. For us, that immediately changes the order in which a sensible build should develop.
With a G20 M340i, engine software, intake and exhaust modifications were often among the first changes owners considered. With 443hp from the factory, the M350 already has enough performance to make brakes, tyres, chassis setup and temperature management the more interesting first steps.
What stays familiar
- Six-cylinder petrol performance
- xDrive traction
- Eight-speed automatic transmission
- Front-engine, rear-biased saloon proportions
- A platform likely to attract a large aftermarket
What we will not do is assume G20 parts fit the G50 simply because the mechanical concept looks familiar. Mounting points, electronics, brake hardware, cooling routes, wheel clearance and exhaust packaging all need to be verified properly.
BMW has done more than add power
BMW says the combustion-powered G50 receives revised front and rear axle settings, stiffer chassis and anti-roll bar mountings and newly developed lift-related dampers.
The M350 goes further again with Adaptive M suspension as standard. That matters because the best suspension upgrade for this car will need to work with the complete chassis rather than simply chasing the lowest possible ride height.
For fast-road use, our expectation is that the sweet spot will be a modest drop in ride height, better alignment control and a wheel and tyre package that improves response without damaging ride quality.
Wait for verified applications
We will be watching KW, Öhlins, Nitron, Eibach, Millway and Powerflex as dedicated G50 applications are released and properly confirmed.
Fitment over diameter
BMW fits 19-inch wheels as standard and offers 20-inch wheels. We would prioritise wheel weight, width, offset, tyre support and brake clearance over simply fitting the biggest diameter.
Use the tyre properly
A carefully developed alignment can often unlock more confidence and consistency than adding another headline-grabbing part.
The xDrive car can send its engine power to the rear wheels
One of the most interesting enthusiast features is BMW's new Drift Moment function.
BMW says Drift Moment is activated through the Central Display and sends the engine's power exclusively to the rear wheels. The feature is due during 2027 and BMW says cars delivered before its introduction will be able to receive it through a software update.
That gives the M350 two very different personalities. xDrive still makes sense for year-round UK road use and brutal traction out of slower corners, while a rear-drive mode gives the car another dimension in a controlled environment.
For the first time, the M Performance 3 Series does not have to choose between xDrive security and rear-drive character.
That makes tyres, rear axle setup, alignment and heat management even more relevant for owners planning to use the car on circuit or at drift events.
How we would modify an M350 xDrive
If an M350 arrived with us tomorrow, we would not start by chasing another 100hp. The car already has 443hp. We would make the chassis capable of using it repeatedly.
Tyres, fluid, pads and geometry
Start with the contact patch and braking consistency. High-quality tyres, a proper alignment, suitable brake pads and high-temperature fluid will give the car a much better foundation for fast-road or track use.
Once dedicated fitment is confirmed, we would expect compounds from Pagid, Endless, Ferodo and EBC to become relevant depending on use.
Suspension and wheels
Improve body control and alignment range without removing daily usability. Then choose lightweight wheels around correct offset, width, tyre support and brake clearance.
Track braking and cooling
For circuit use, two-piece discs, higher-temperature pads, braided lines, dedicated brake cooling and repeatable tyre pressures become more valuable than a dyno figure.
Engine, intake and exhaust
Only once the platform is understood would we move into engine calibration, induction, cooling and exhaust development. BMW has not identified the engine by B58 code in the UK launch material, so we will not assume existing G20 hardware transfers directly.
The G20 has not suddenly become obsolete
If anything, the launch of a new generation makes the older M340i easier to appreciate as a fully developed aftermarket platform.
The G20 M340i now has years of proven development behind it. Suspension choices, brake upgrades, wheels, exhausts, intakes, chassis parts and servicing products are already widely available, and fitment is far better understood than it will be for the G50 during its first months on the road.
A well-sorted M340i on good suspension, tyres and brakes is still a seriously capable road car. The M350 is not a reason to write it off. It is the next version of the same idea.
M340i G20 / G21 parts
Browse the complete current M340i range while the G50 aftermarket develops.
M340i suspension
Coilovers, springs and chassis components for the established G20 / G21 platform.
M340i braking
Brake pads, discs, fluid and supporting hardware for fast-road and track use.
The biggest visual leap may be the cabin
The new 3 Series uses BMW Panoramic iDrive with BMW Operating System X, a 17.9-inch Central Display and the Panoramic Vision display across the lower windscreen area.
It is a major move away from the G20 cabin. Whether existing M340i owners prefer the more digital approach will be personal preference. For us, the more important detail is that the hardware underneath still centres around a six-cylinder engine, xDrive and a chassis designed to be driven.
BMW M350 xDrive questions
The key details from BMW's UK launch material, with the modification questions we expect owners to ask first.
Is the BMW M350 replacing the M340i?
Yes. The M350 xDrive is the six-cylinder M Performance flagship of the new G50 3 Series and effectively succeeds the G20 M340i.
How much power does the BMW M350 xDrive have?
BMW UK quotes a provisional 443hp and 580Nm.
How fast is the M350 xDrive?
BMW quotes 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds and a 155mph electronically limited top speed.
Can the M350 xDrive run in rear-wheel drive?
BMW's Drift Moment function can send the engine's power exclusively to the rear wheels. It is due during 2027 and BMW says earlier cars can receive the feature through a software update.
When does the BMW M350 arrive in the UK?
BMW says petrol-powered G50 deliveries begin in January 2027.
Will BMW M340i G20 parts fit the M350?
Do not assume so. The M350 is a new G50-generation vehicle. Brake, suspension, wheel, exhaust, induction and chassis parts need to be verified specifically for the new platform.
We will build the M350 range around verified fitment, not guesses
As manufacturers confirm G50 applications, Nineteen72 Performance will build out the BMW M350 xDrive range across suspension, brakes, wheels, chassis, exhaust, induction and track preparation.
Until then, our existing G20 / G21 M340i catalogue remains the place to shop the proven platform.
Specifications and launch information are based on BMW UK's 30 September 2026 press release. Performance figures are provisional. BMW Group PressClub UK.
