RE: Shed Of The Week: BMW 320ci (E46)
Discussion
Zircon said:
Whoever labels these as dull cars to drive I fear does not know how to drive enthusiastically!
Don't know what the 320 is like but the 192bhp 325 (mine) and the 330:
Wind the 6 pots up from 3000rpm and they react like you are giving them what they want.
They pull to the red line on a smooth but urgent curve with great noise and drama.
The chassis gives you confidence whilst you throw it around - the balance is superb.
The driving position is bang on.
The gear change is slick and doesn't hinder fast driving.
The steering is precise and enjoyable.
You can get the back end out if you desire without much effort, but if you don't want to, it behaves itself.
The only reason people label these as dull is that they were so good that they sold in their millions. Hardly a reason to put it down!
The thing is, you (probably) won't be able to wind up the revs in a morning/afternoon/evening's rush hour. Don't know what the 320 is like but the 192bhp 325 (mine) and the 330:
Wind the 6 pots up from 3000rpm and they react like you are giving them what they want.
They pull to the red line on a smooth but urgent curve with great noise and drama.
The chassis gives you confidence whilst you throw it around - the balance is superb.
The driving position is bang on.
The gear change is slick and doesn't hinder fast driving.
The steering is precise and enjoyable.
You can get the back end out if you desire without much effort, but if you don't want to, it behaves itself.
The only reason people label these as dull is that they were so good that they sold in their millions. Hardly a reason to put it down!
Zircon said:
Whoever labels these as dull cars to drive I fear does not know how to drive enthusiastically!
Don't know what the 320 is like but the 192bhp 325 (mine) and the 330:
Wind the 6 pots up from 3000rpm and they react like you are giving them what they want.
They pull to the red line on a smooth but urgent curve with great noise and drama.
The chassis gives you confidence whilst you throw it around - the balance is superb.
The driving position is bang on.
The gear change is slick and doesn't hinder fast driving.
The steering is precise and enjoyable.
You can get the back end out if you desire without much effort, but if you don't want to, it behaves itself.
The only reason people label these as dull is that they were so good that they sold in their millions. Hardly a reason to put it down!
We don’t all like the same things, no need to go forcing your fannboyism on people. IMO they’re about as interesting as a Fridge Freezer.Don't know what the 320 is like but the 192bhp 325 (mine) and the 330:
Wind the 6 pots up from 3000rpm and they react like you are giving them what they want.
They pull to the red line on a smooth but urgent curve with great noise and drama.
The chassis gives you confidence whilst you throw it around - the balance is superb.
The driving position is bang on.
The gear change is slick and doesn't hinder fast driving.
The steering is precise and enjoyable.
You can get the back end out if you desire without much effort, but if you don't want to, it behaves itself.
The only reason people label these as dull is that they were so good that they sold in their millions. Hardly a reason to put it down!
Zircon said:
Whoever labels these as dull cars to drive I fear does not know how to drive enthusiastically!
Don't know what the 320 is like but the 192bhp 325 (mine) and the 330:
Wind the 6 pots up from 3000rpm and they react like you are giving them what they want.
They pull to the red line on a smooth but urgent curve with great noise and drama.
The chassis gives you confidence whilst you throw it around - the balance is superb.
The driving position is bang on.
The gear change is slick and doesn't hinder fast driving.
The steering is precise and enjoyable.
You can get the back end out if you desire without much effort, but if you don't want to, it behaves itself.
The only reason people label these as dull is that they were so good that they sold in their millions. Hardly a reason to put it down!
I would highly doubt most of what you said still stands for what is a pretty leggy 13-14yr old 170k mile car ... And he fact the sold in the "millions" is exactly the embodiment of dull to me as they are restrained and easy to drive and hardly vaguely interesting ... Trust me I'm an Audi driver and can attest to dull-ness lolDon't know what the 320 is like but the 192bhp 325 (mine) and the 330:
Wind the 6 pots up from 3000rpm and they react like you are giving them what they want.
They pull to the red line on a smooth but urgent curve with great noise and drama.
The chassis gives you confidence whilst you throw it around - the balance is superb.
The driving position is bang on.
The gear change is slick and doesn't hinder fast driving.
The steering is precise and enjoyable.
You can get the back end out if you desire without much effort, but if you don't want to, it behaves itself.
The only reason people label these as dull is that they were so good that they sold in their millions. Hardly a reason to put it down!
Baz Tench said:
J4CKO said:
Apparently does sixty in 8 sec so its not that slow.
I think the 'dull' comments are due to the driver being quite cocooned in them.It's a cliche with these, but they do hide their speed well.
I still really like teh E46 (and the E39 for that matter). I think they're the best looking of the series with good proportions.
I love my 325 but it was a bit of a money pit - bushes, wishbones, snapped springs, thermostat, radiator, water pump, corroed brake lines etc. It felt pretty solid - I always thought that it felt better made and more substantial than the E90 but having had an E90 for a while now, it is a better car. Can't quite put my finger on it, it just is.
For a grand through this is pretty cheap - even more so if the arches are in good nick. Most I see locally had pretty rotten arches which is a shame.
I love my 325 but it was a bit of a money pit - bushes, wishbones, snapped springs, thermostat, radiator, water pump, corroed brake lines etc. It felt pretty solid - I always thought that it felt better made and more substantial than the E90 but having had an E90 for a while now, it is a better car. Can't quite put my finger on it, it just is.
For a grand through this is pretty cheap - even more so if the arches are in good nick. Most I see locally had pretty rotten arches which is a shame.
I have an '01 325i saloon and really love it, loads of niggly little issues but most are easily sorted and the engine sounds lovely. I can't help but think that any other less powerful engine in it would make it very dull. Not driven the 2.2 so can't really compare.
Oh and arch rust is this cars biggest killer, such a shame.
Oh and arch rust is this cars biggest killer, such a shame.
Zircon said:
Whoever labels these as dull cars to drive I fear does not know how to drive enthusiastically!
Don't know what the 320 is like but the 192bhp 325 (mine) and the 330:
Wind the 6 pots up from 3000rpm and they react like you are giving them what they want.
They pull to the red line on a smooth but urgent curve with great noise and drama.
The chassis gives you confidence whilst you throw it around - the balance is superb.
The driving position is bang on.
The gear change is slick and doesn't hinder fast driving.
The steering is precise and enjoyable.
You can get the back end out if you desire without much effort, but if you don't want to, it behaves itself.
The only reason people label these as dull is that they were so good that they sold in their millions. Hardly a reason to put it down!
I had a company 325 Saloon at the time they were new, build quality was great as was the sound, but I also remember I couldn't carry anything of any size because the back seats, it never had 192Bhp in a month of Sundays, any blown Golf or VRS would simply pull away from you, it had zero torque and just as it got into a decent stride it hit the limiter.Don't know what the 320 is like but the 192bhp 325 (mine) and the 330:
Wind the 6 pots up from 3000rpm and they react like you are giving them what they want.
They pull to the red line on a smooth but urgent curve with great noise and drama.
The chassis gives you confidence whilst you throw it around - the balance is superb.
The driving position is bang on.
The gear change is slick and doesn't hinder fast driving.
The steering is precise and enjoyable.
You can get the back end out if you desire without much effort, but if you don't want to, it behaves itself.
The only reason people label these as dull is that they were so good that they sold in their millions. Hardly a reason to put it down!
Frustrating is how I remember it.
I currently have a '05 330ci and am very pleased with it. I don't find it boring to drive at all and am not sure how a powerful in-line petrol 6 and RWD in combination could ever be considered so in a world of TDI saloon ubiquity... but each to their own. I came from and FN2 Civic type r so didn't necessarily expect the BM to live up to that driving experience on a country road, but now i'm used to it i find it engaging for spirited country drives but relaxing and easy to drive when doing the day-to-day town/motorway stuff, an area where sometimes driving the Civic could become tiresome.
This 320ci looks great for the money... can't help thinking for that price there must be some problem lurking though it is now sold so maybe not.
This 320ci looks great for the money... can't help thinking for that price there must be some problem lurking though it is now sold so maybe not.
This brings back memories...
Back in Nov 2004, I bought a 320ci very similar to this, right down to the same wheels, but it was in silver:
It was lovely but, comparatively the most unreliable car I've owned. Snapped rear spring, cam sensor, heated rear window failed, door seal failed, cruise control failed.
It drank fuel for my not-so-deep wallet, but when it was working it drove beautifully.
Took it to Scotland and back one summer and despite the tank of fuel each way, it was lovely and smooth on the motorway.
Back in Nov 2004, I bought a 320ci very similar to this, right down to the same wheels, but it was in silver:
It was lovely but, comparatively the most unreliable car I've owned. Snapped rear spring, cam sensor, heated rear window failed, door seal failed, cruise control failed.
It drank fuel for my not-so-deep wallet, but when it was working it drove beautifully.
Took it to Scotland and back one summer and despite the tank of fuel each way, it was lovely and smooth on the motorway.
I think whether you view the 3-series as dull or great simply depends on what you expect.
It's a big heavy saloon car; it's not going to be as agile as a Caterham or even a good hot hatch. It is, however, significantly better than its direct competition. If you want a car which will spend 90% of its time cruising on motorways but can still provide a modicum of entertainment of a B-road, it's quite hard to beat the 3-series.
It's a big heavy saloon car; it's not going to be as agile as a Caterham or even a good hot hatch. It is, however, significantly better than its direct competition. If you want a car which will spend 90% of its time cruising on motorways but can still provide a modicum of entertainment of a B-road, it's quite hard to beat the 3-series.
Big fan of the E46's, Having had about 40 BM's over the last 10 years, Mostly E36's and E46's
The 320 isn't that bad at all... Considering the said car is £1000 what else can you get in terms of quality, reliability, practicality all within reason for a Bag of Sand??
Just bought my folks a new daily runner which happens to be a 2001 320i Velvet Blue Edition 150k.. for £625, Last owner owned for 12 years... I've been driving it for the last 3 weeks as a daily, just making sure everything is OK and I can't fault it all, It's not as fast as old 325 or 330's but did I expect it to be, Nope... Am I disappointed, Hell No... It Silky Smooth to drive and the 6 pot is smooth as usual..
Before giving it them, I thought I'd give it a once over
So around £300 Later, I've done the following... (Most of it as precautions)
Window Regulator
Rocker Cover Gasket
Air Filter
Brake Disks
Brake Pads
Oil Filter
Pollen Filter
Fuel Filter
Spark Plugs
Brake Fluid
Gasket Sealant
Engine Oil
Rear Sport Springs
Tensioner Pulley x2
2x Drive Belts
I think it will owe me around £1000 in the end... Once I've replaced the rear shocks
The 320 isn't that bad at all... Considering the said car is £1000 what else can you get in terms of quality, reliability, practicality all within reason for a Bag of Sand??
Just bought my folks a new daily runner which happens to be a 2001 320i Velvet Blue Edition 150k.. for £625, Last owner owned for 12 years... I've been driving it for the last 3 weeks as a daily, just making sure everything is OK and I can't fault it all, It's not as fast as old 325 or 330's but did I expect it to be, Nope... Am I disappointed, Hell No... It Silky Smooth to drive and the 6 pot is smooth as usual..
Before giving it them, I thought I'd give it a once over
So around £300 Later, I've done the following... (Most of it as precautions)
Window Regulator
Rocker Cover Gasket
Air Filter
Brake Disks
Brake Pads
Oil Filter
Pollen Filter
Fuel Filter
Spark Plugs
Brake Fluid
Gasket Sealant
Engine Oil
Rear Sport Springs
Tensioner Pulley x2
2x Drive Belts
I think it will owe me around £1000 in the end... Once I've replaced the rear shocks
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