RE: Shed Of The Week: BMW 320ci (E46)
Discussion
Nice to see it shifted so quickly, I have a 330Ci to sell for not much more 
.
I have done 30k in mine over 3 years, and in that time its had new front control arms and bushes, ARB bushes and the Steering joint. Everything else has been consumables like brakes and tyres (it eats rear tyres). The diff didn't fall out, the cooling system didn't explode, the DISA valve has yet to disintegrate and lunch the motor and the VANOS still works.
Enjoyed it a lot but 200 miles a week of commuting means I'm off onto the company car scheme for a 1.4 turbo modern car with twice the miles on each of my gallons.... Still tempted to keep the E46 though on a limited miles policy.
.I have done 30k in mine over 3 years, and in that time its had new front control arms and bushes, ARB bushes and the Steering joint. Everything else has been consumables like brakes and tyres (it eats rear tyres). The diff didn't fall out, the cooling system didn't explode, the DISA valve has yet to disintegrate and lunch the motor and the VANOS still works.
Enjoyed it a lot but 200 miles a week of commuting means I'm off onto the company car scheme for a 1.4 turbo modern car with twice the miles on each of my gallons.... Still tempted to keep the E46 though on a limited miles policy.
To add some balance from previous weeks sheds.
Ugh. Wouldn't be seen dead in this.
What a POS
Would rather walk
Kill it with fire
Keep the engine and weigh the rest in
Worst shed ever
Shed has lost its direction
I thought shed was about interesting cars not boring stuff like this
Bring back the Metros
Mitsuoka Viewt was better
Even worse than a MX5
Daily Wail mode... Why oh why oh why does shed feature BMW's? If I bought this my house price would fall....
I'll get me coat. It's hanging up in the shed...
Ugh. Wouldn't be seen dead in this.
What a POS
Would rather walk
Kill it with fire
Keep the engine and weigh the rest in
Worst shed ever
Shed has lost its direction
I thought shed was about interesting cars not boring stuff like this
Bring back the Metros
Mitsuoka Viewt was better
Even worse than a MX5
Daily Wail mode... Why oh why oh why does shed feature BMW's? If I bought this my house price would fall....
I'll get me coat. It's hanging up in the shed...
Boot floor cracking, my brother's 2000 E46 328i Saloon did, my 2000 E46 330i Touring didn't!
I had those alloys on my 330i. Style 68's. Should be staggered widths if they're genuine, fronts wear 225/45-17, rears were 245/40-17.
Best check for worn bushes is putting a wheelbrace on a front wheel nut, tightening it, and seeing how much lateral movement there is in the wheel. Changing them is not a big job.
Shed is bang on the money about running costs of a 320i versus a 325i, or 330i, but the 320i has a certain charm. All the M54 engines have a failsafe Vanos, so even if the seals are duff, there's software to counteract the side effects. The slightly earlier E46 328i (M52TUB28) engine didn't have the software workaround, and they did strange things on idle from a cold start. Changing the seals is a competent DIY job, I've done it, and it made a huge difference to top end power.
Knackered camshaft position sensors are another M54 speciality, an OBD2 code reader will pick them up.
I had those alloys on my 330i. Style 68's. Should be staggered widths if they're genuine, fronts wear 225/45-17, rears were 245/40-17.
Best check for worn bushes is putting a wheelbrace on a front wheel nut, tightening it, and seeing how much lateral movement there is in the wheel. Changing them is not a big job.
Shed is bang on the money about running costs of a 320i versus a 325i, or 330i, but the 320i has a certain charm. All the M54 engines have a failsafe Vanos, so even if the seals are duff, there's software to counteract the side effects. The slightly earlier E46 328i (M52TUB28) engine didn't have the software workaround, and they did strange things on idle from a cold start. Changing the seals is a competent DIY job, I've done it, and it made a huge difference to top end power.
Knackered camshaft position sensors are another M54 speciality, an OBD2 code reader will pick them up.
A strange couple of comments on here from people saying "It looks like a new BMW " or " put a private plate on and people will think its new " The e46 looks nothing like a new 3 series , or the 3 series before that or the E90/91/92 version from 2005 on , okay for a grand but interior very dated now
That was a alot of car for the cash. Definitely good value for money and still a classy looking, original example.
168k miles is nothing if it has been looked after. The interior build quality in these is a huge step up from the E36, and they are well put together.
Agree with the running costs being similar in a 325ci or 330ci, however, it's still more alluring to have a six pot rather than a 318ci!
168k miles is nothing if it has been looked after. The interior build quality in these is a huge step up from the E36, and they are well put together.
Agree with the running costs being similar in a 325ci or 330ci, however, it's still more alluring to have a six pot rather than a 318ci!
leedsutd1 said:
A strange couple of comments on here from people saying "It looks like a new BMW " or " put a private plate on and people will think its new " The e46 looks nothing like a new 3 series , or the 3 series before that or the E90/91/92 version from 2005 on , okay for a grand but interior very dated now
I thought it was stretching it a bit, I must admit.The truth is though, the average Doug or Doris on the street wouldn't be able to tell the difference, whilst the likes of us would be able to pinpoint the facelift details on such motors, let alone E numbers.
Edited by Baz Tench on Friday 21st November 11:16
Good shed. [/biased]
That was my understanding also. 
[/biased]stevesuk said:
Baz Tench said:
How long before 'boot floor cracking' is mentioned? 
It has been a complete non-issue in the three e46 coupes I've owned btw, including my present one...
Cars with build dates after February 2000 were modified to prevent the problem from occurring (extra spot welds and a slightly different design). I know that the M3 still has the problem on later cars, but for non-M cars the problem was mainly apparent on very early 323i and 328i.It has been a complete non-issue in the three e46 coupes I've owned btw, including my present one...
leedsutd1 said:
A strange couple of comments on here from people saying "It looks like a new BMW " or " put a private plate on and people will think its new " The e46 looks nothing like a new 3 series , or the 3 series before that or the E90/91/92 version from 2005 on , okay for a grand but interior very dated now
For the average person on the street, if you stuck a private plate on the car and asked them to estimate the cost I'd wager their guesses would be WAY more than 1k. I'd also apply that the E39 5 Series, especially in Sport trim.And Shed averts a mutiny from those with a lack of appreciation for real tat that was surely incoming if a Talbot Tagora or Nissan Cherry had been presented, whilst protesting weakly to those with more eclectic/masochistic tastes that not that many nice German things you would actually consider driving are actually featured.
If another weird oddity from motorings Dog turd and burger carton gutter strewn had been featured there would be a mutiny akin to telling a UKIP meeting at Butlins that the Stella was off.
So, a very safe and placatory shed today, a tidy, nice looking E46 coupe in a decent colour with decent alloys, only the neither here nor there powerplant and cloth seats to add a little tinge of disappointment to proceedings just to keep it plausible and honest.
I expect next week, nothing less that a Princess 2220 HLS, Ital 1.7 SDL or Pug 309 automatic.
If another weird oddity from motorings Dog turd and burger carton gutter strewn had been featured there would be a mutiny akin to telling a UKIP meeting at Butlins that the Stella was off.
So, a very safe and placatory shed today, a tidy, nice looking E46 coupe in a decent colour with decent alloys, only the neither here nor there powerplant and cloth seats to add a little tinge of disappointment to proceedings just to keep it plausible and honest.
I expect next week, nothing less that a Princess 2220 HLS, Ital 1.7 SDL or Pug 309 automatic.
Motorrad said:
AC43 said:
Incredibly cheap.
I'd forgotten about the 320 CI.
What a gem.
Best to forget about a 320 ci and then buy a 330 instead. I loved mine. The straight six is one of the best engines BMW ever made IMO.I'd forgotten about the 320 CI.
What a gem.
Apart from the specific problems mentioned already is this the best built 3 series? I've read a few bits and bobs about more recent BMW's being a bit flakey as far as interior trim is concerned etc. It looks like a cracking car for under a grand, not the biggest BMW fan but would be seriously tempted by something like this
J4CKO said:
And Shed averts a mutiny from those with a lack of appreciation for real tat that was surely incoming if a Talbot Tagora or Nissan Cherry had been presented, whilst protesting weakly to those with more eclectic/masochistic tastes that not that many nice German things you would actually consider driving are actually featured.
If another weird oddity from motorings Dog turd and burger carton gutter strewn had been featured there would be a mutiny akin to telling a UKIP meeting at Butlins that the Stella was off.
So, a very safe and placatory shed today, a tidy, nice looking E46 coupe in a decent colour with decent alloys, only the neither here nor there powerplant and cloth seats to add a little tinge of disappointment to proceedings just to keep it plausible and honest.
I expect next week, nothing less that a Princess 2220 HLS, Ital 1.7 SDL or Pug 309 automatic.
True! If another weird oddity from motorings Dog turd and burger carton gutter strewn had been featured there would be a mutiny akin to telling a UKIP meeting at Butlins that the Stella was off.
So, a very safe and placatory shed today, a tidy, nice looking E46 coupe in a decent colour with decent alloys, only the neither here nor there powerplant and cloth seats to add a little tinge of disappointment to proceedings just to keep it plausible and honest.
I expect next week, nothing less that a Princess 2220 HLS, Ital 1.7 SDL or Pug 309 automatic.
It is a nice, sensible car for one thousand pounds though, so a good Shed of the week - if not an especially interesting one.
daytona365 said:
I would imagine a 330i is a tremendous 'bang for the buck' ? Is there anything we should know ?
That they're incredibly boring.I owned one for 7 weeks (incl the 2 weeks it was up for sale). No fun to drive, not engaging and sounded average. Didn't feel that quick either.
I realise i'm in the minority but hey, good to hear both sides.
J4CKO said:
And Shed averts a mutiny from those with a lack of appreciation for real tat that was surely incoming if a Talbot Tagora or Nissan Cherry had been presented, whilst protesting weakly to those with more eclectic/masochistic tastes that not that many nice German things you would actually consider driving are actually featured.
If another weird oddity from motorings Dog turd and burger carton gutter strewn had been featured there would be a mutiny akin to telling a UKIP meeting at Butlins that the Stella was off.
So, a very safe and placatory shed today, a tidy, nice looking E46 coupe in a decent colour with decent alloys, only the neither here nor there powerplant and cloth seats to add a little tinge of disappointment to proceedings just to keep it plausible and honest.
I expect next week, nothing less that a Princess 2220 HLS, Ital 1.7 SDL or Pug 309 automatic.
I expect a Daewwoo Matiz
If another weird oddity from motorings Dog turd and burger carton gutter strewn had been featured there would be a mutiny akin to telling a UKIP meeting at Butlins that the Stella was off.
So, a very safe and placatory shed today, a tidy, nice looking E46 coupe in a decent colour with decent alloys, only the neither here nor there powerplant and cloth seats to add a little tinge of disappointment to proceedings just to keep it plausible and honest.
I expect next week, nothing less that a Princess 2220 HLS, Ital 1.7 SDL or Pug 309 automatic.
I expect a Daewwoo Matiz
hwajones said:
the 318 is a much nicer car to drive...
albeit sounds crap!
Really? Honestly? And which "1.8" - the 118hp variant, or the equally gutless 140bhp N44?albeit sounds crap!
I drove a few 318Cis a few months back and the engine was not a selling point. Smooth, but gutless. Massive diference from the M44 in the 318iS I had years before.
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