E90 330i SE or E46 330ci Sport

E90 330i SE or E46 330ci Sport

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Sko77y

Original Poster:

361 posts

128 months

Monday 6th July 2015
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Hi All,

Currently in the process of selling my mk3 mx5 for something a little more practical. I've got a small budget of 4/4.5k to spend so what's, on average whats available to me is either an E90 330i SE with 120k+ miles (55 plate) or an older E46 330ci sport with 100k (ish).

I've been sitting reading reviews for weeks now and I'm still undecided.

I average about 6k miles a year, have access to another car for long journeys.

Any help or insight into making a decision would be appreciated,

Cheers
Scott

mboon

955 posts

201 months

Monday 6th July 2015
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Mine is for sale at £4500. 330ci Sport Auto. Has digital tv/radio. Widescreen at nav 2015 maps and speed camera detection. Electric memory seats And mirrors including fold. Bluetooth etc in black. Drives spot on

cerb4.5lee

30,189 posts

179 months

Monday 6th July 2015
quotequote all
The E46 is better looking and has a less bland interior than the E90 but the N52 engine in the E90 is a belter but a E46 is the more sort after car overall I think and the E90 is incredible dull to look at.

I would just try to get the best example I could of either and go from there.

Sko77y

Original Poster:

361 posts

128 months

Monday 6th July 2015
quotequote all
mboon said:
Mine is for sale at £4500. 330ci Sport Auto. Has digital tv/radio. Widescreen at nav 2015 maps and speed camera detection. Electric memory seats And mirrors including fold. Bluetooth etc in black. Drives spot on
Thanks for the mboon, Looking for a manual as not keen on the autos.

Sko77y

Original Poster:

361 posts

128 months

Monday 6th July 2015
quotequote all
cerb4.5lee said:
The E46 is better looking and has a less bland interior than the E90 but the N52 engine in the E90 is a belter but a E46 is the more sort after car overall I think and the E90 is incredible dull to look at.

I would just try to get the best example I could of either and go from there.
Thanks forbade advice, I think that's what I'll have to do, my budget doesn't really let me do much else. Don't think my car will shift either so need to look at px'ing it against something that limits me even more!

Saw a lovely looking e60 sport on the way home, shame it's outta my budget!

Dannbodge

2,160 posts

120 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
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I prefer the E90. In LCI M Sport form it's much better looking than the E46 which IMO hasn't aged well unless it's a decent model.

Vee

3,094 posts

233 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
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Dannbodge said:
I prefer the E90. In LCI M Sport form it's much better looking than the E46 which IMO hasn't aged well unless it's a decent model.
The budget restricts the OP to a pre LCI SE ?

Personally I think the E46 looks much better, but I'd have the newer car. A 2004 design compared to a 1999 design.


Sko77y

Original Poster:

361 posts

128 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
quotequote all
Dannbodge said:
I prefer the E90. In LCI M Sport form it's much better looking than the E46 which IMO hasn't aged well unless it's a decent model.
Thanks Dan, as said below can't stretch anywhere near to an LCI M sport. You weren't on Corsa-C years ago? Username rings a bell...

Sko77y

Original Poster:

361 posts

128 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
quotequote all
Vee said:
The budget restricts the OP to a pre LCI SE ?

Personally I think the E46 looks much better, but I'd have the newer car. A 2004 design compared to a 1999 design.
Thanks Vee, agreed it'd need to be the facelift E46, or at the very least a clubsport pre-facelift. I'm keeping an eye out on what's available, found one nearby and if the car doesn't sell in the next 2 weeks be px'ing against it.

Unless I change my mind, which is more than likely!

Vee

3,094 posts

233 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
quotequote all
Sko77y said:
Vee said:
The budget restricts the OP to a pre LCI SE ?

Personally I think the E46 looks much better, but I'd have the newer car. A 2004 design compared to a 1999 design.
Thanks Vee, agreed it'd need to be the facelift E46, or at the very least a clubsport pre-facelift. I'm keeping an eye out on what's available, found one nearby and if the car doesn't sell in the next 2 weeks be px'ing against it.

Unless I change my mind, which is more than likely!
Sorry, I meant I'd have an E90 over an E46, even though I think the E46 Sport (pre facelift) looks better.
When the E90 came out there was a lot of noise about how good it was compare to the outgoing car.



Sko77y

Original Poster:

361 posts

128 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
quotequote all
Vee said:
Sorry, I meant I'd have an E90 over an E46, even though I think the E46 Sport (pre facelift) looks better.
When the E90 came out there was a lot of noise about how good it was compare to the outgoing car.
Ah I see, I'll need to go look at reviews then. Only option within my range is a high mileage example (120k+), any reports on how they handle the miles?

I've read they deal with rust better, and after an mx5 thats music to my ears!

nitrodave

1,262 posts

137 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
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I went from an e46 325ci vert to e92 330i msport and the newer car is light years ahead of the last.

I've driven a few 330ci e46's and although they're great, there is no comparison between them and the e90 versions. The e46 is extremely dated in comparison.

If you got e90 330i you will be very happy. It's much nippier, especially the n53 engined ones, and the road tax is cheaper too. I pay £205 a year.

If you get a n53 engine check it's had the coil packs, injectors and hpfp replaced for the updated versions and you'll be fine.

Sko77y

Original Poster:

361 posts

128 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
quotequote all
nitrodave said:
I went from an e46 325ci vert to e92 330i msport and the newer car is light years ahead of the last.

I've driven a few 330ci e46's and although they're great, there is no comparison between them and the e90 versions. The e46 is extremely dated in comparison.

If you got e90 330i you will be very happy. It's much nippier, especially the n53 engined ones, and the road tax is cheaper too. I pay £205 a year.

If you get a n53 engine check it's had the coil packs, injectors and hpfp replaced for the updated versions and you'll be fine.
Was that a call-back on the n53 engine? or just recommended fix to avoid future problems? Rough guess on price if it's not been done?

I'll start having a look into an e90, it'd be an SE spec, but you can get a few lips and spoilers for it and I like the look of one set of stock alloys smile

The thing is with the e46, they are getting to an age were up-keep is getting into the 4 figures on a good example. Putting me off a wee bit.

nitrodave

1,262 posts

137 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
quotequote all
I don't think they are recalls on they injectors, coil packs and hpfp, but bmw will swap them through good will.

I've only had mine a few months, but rang bmw to find out what's been done on mine. Between 3 years and 18 months ago all of mine have been changed through good will and the car is early 2008, so out of warranty.

I've been reassured that updated parts were used and resolved any issues.

The SE is still a great car, i sometimes think i should have gone for one as the msport is very bumpy and harash which isn't great where i am with all the speed humps. The only thing that i bugs me about the se is the skinny steering wheel. You could always swap it out for a msport one later though.

They are pretty economical too, for what they are. I'm averaging 32mpg mostly town driving. I struggled to get above 20mpg in similar conditions on a 325ci e46 and the 330ci is slightly worse.

Dannbodge

2,160 posts

120 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
quotequote all
Vee said:
The budget restricts the OP to a pre LCI SE ?

Personally I think the E46 looks much better, but I'd have the newer car. A 2004 design compared to a 1999 design.
Didn't catch that part.

In that case go for the E46.

The majority of Pre LCI E90s look terrible


Sko77y said:
Thanks Dan, as said below can't stretch anywhere near to an LCI M sport. You weren't on Corsa-C years ago? Username rings a bell...
Yeah that's me. I was quite active on there. I'm still on there but only to sell parts (and a car)

stevesuk

1,345 posts

181 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
quotequote all
We've owned both (two E46 coupes, and one E91 estate) all with 6 cylinder petrol engines.

My experience would suggest that the E9x is better built body-wise (no sign of any rust anywhere yet on ours, despite it being 10 years old in October). Both E46 were showing signs of rusty wings, rust on the underside of the bonnet, around the boot area etc. This would be my main concern with getting an E46 - if I was bothered about keeping it in mint condition. BMWs from that era seem to rust - even if most of it is superficial.

I'd also question whether in fact the E46 has a better interior smile I think its very dependant on specification. Our E91 is an SE, but the original owner sprinkled it with many items from the options list (leather sports seats, iDrive/Professional Nav, Logic7 sound system etc.). I find it far more pleasant and comfortable than the E46. It is also full of little extra touches that you didn't find on the E46 (unless they weren't available on the coupe), like the rear passengers having their own air vents on the back of the centre console, with temperature adjustment. It feels like you're driving a much more modern car.

External looks as well - in the right colour and with the right wheels, and I think the E90 looks fine. Xenon headlights smarten up the front end (and make it look modern). Although I will admit that my last E46 (a topaz blue "sport") did look the business biggrin

bigalx

135 posts

119 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
quotequote all
I had a 330ci Sport about 6 years ago - brillinat car - was an auto but loved it. Just got a 2005 e90 se manual - put the msport kit on it and have to say it a cracking car which is very easy to drive - bit thirsty and i feel a little "distant" from the engine - no dip stick for oil, no temp gauge to let me know when its safe to give it some beans - and stuff like that.

If you are getting it as a "fun/second" car i would get an E46 330CI sport - they really do look nice - especially when they have been looked after - could possibly stretch to the clubsort version as well in your budget? If its like me and you are using it as your "worr" car then an e90 all the way!

Either way BMW dont make a straight 6 NA anymore so get one before its too late.

Sko77y

Original Poster:

361 posts

128 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
quotequote all
stevesuk said:
We've owned both (two E46 coupes, and one E91 estate) all with 6 cylinder petrol engines.

My experience would suggest that the E9x is better built body-wise (no sign of any rust anywhere yet on ours, despite it being 10 years old in October). Both E46 were showing signs of rusty wings, rust on the underside of the bonnet, around the boot area etc. This would be my main concern with getting an E46 - if I was bothered about keeping it in mint condition. BMWs from that era seem to rust - even if most of it is superficial.

I'd also question whether in fact the E46 has a better interior smile I think its very dependant on specification. Our E91 is an SE, but the original owner sprinkled it with many items from the options list (leather sports seats, iDrive/Professional Nav, Logic7 sound system etc.). I find it far more pleasant and comfortable than the E46. It is also full of little extra touches that you didn't find on the E46 (unless they weren't available on the coupe), like the rear passengers having their own air vents on the back of the centre console, with temperature adjustment. It feels like you're driving a much more modern car.

External looks as well - in the right colour and with the right wheels, and I think the E90 looks fine. Xenon headlights smarten up the front end (and make it look modern). Although I will admit that my last E46 (a topaz blue "sport") did look the business biggrin
Thanks Steve, certainly some interesting information. So a sport E90 is almost a must.

I'll keep an eye out and see what I can find.

Sko77y

Original Poster:

361 posts

128 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
quotequote all
bigalx said:
I had a 330ci Sport about 6 years ago - brillinat car - was an auto but loved it. Just got a 2005 e90 se manual - put the msport kit on it and have to say it a cracking car which is very easy to drive - bit thirsty and i feel a little "distant" from the engine - no dip stick for oil, no temp gauge to let me know when its safe to give it some beans - and stuff like that.

If you are getting it as a "fun/second" car i would get an E46 330CI sport - they really do look nice - especially when they have been looked after - could possibly stretch to the clubsort version as well in your budget? If its like me and you are using it as your "worr" car then an e90 all the way!

Either way BMW dont make a straight 6 NA anymore so get one before its too late.
Thanks Bigalx, I do about 6k a year in my car currently, put more miles on the gf's car in a year - so it is more like a second/fun car. I'd want to keep it a while as saving for a house.

Seems if I can get a E90 with the sport kit then it'd be the main choice, but if I can find a decent E46 then it's equal.

Still undecided, but it'll depend on what's available!

MrMT

90 posts

188 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
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I always felt the e46 330i manual that I had was a little flat and breathless at the top end of the rev range. The e90 330i that I now have (and its an auto) has a real zing and serious pull when extended to the red line. Much more satisfying and feels significantly faster than the old e46.