BMW introduced the 340i nameplate for the 2016 model year as part of the F30-generation 3 Series family. It replaced the 335i and marked a fresh naming shift within BMW’s updated engine-era badging, with the new “40i” designation tied to BMW’s revised six-cylinder turbo powertrain strategy. The 340i was offered first on the 3 Series Sedan and Sports Wagon, and BMW later extended the badge to the 3 Series Gran Turismo as well.
As a model, the 340i occupied the upper end of the standard 3 Series range without being an M car. That made it a popular choice for buyers who wanted a traditional BMW straight-six and rear-drive character, or available xDrive all-wheel drive, in a more discreet package than the full M3. It also helped preserve the long-running BMW tradition of inline-six 3 Series performance models that sat just below the full Motorsport halo car.
The nameplate remained in use through the end of the F30/F34-era 3 Series life cycle, with the sedan and wagon ending before the next generation arrived and the Gran Turismo continuing a little longer in some markets. BMW then moved the 3 Series performance spotlight to the new M340i badge on the next-generation 3 Series, leaving 340i as a distinct, discontinued chapter in the 3 Series story.