RE: Shed Of The Week: BMW 320ci (E46)
Discussion
MarJay said:
I was trying to work out the value of my 130i yesterday because I am considering freeing up some cash to buy a house... £7500 seems to be the going rate for an 80k mile 130i. Sure, this 320i is not as powerful and doesn't have quite as many toys, but is the 130i £6500 more of a car? I'm thinking maybe not...
130 prices are weird, I picked a top spec low miler with fsh up for 5.6k a year ago. Asking price was much higher but it had been on the market for a while so was easy to knock the price down. In my opinion though, it's worth every penny more than my e46 330, the engine is just night and day better, and the handling... My goodness. Both are incredibly rewarding though, the e46 is incredibly forgiving too, massive amount of feedback and really needs provoking to bite.That said, if I've got a long distance to haul, I pick the 330, it's surprisingly easier on fuel and far more comfortable. The fact it has cruise control is a bonus too, no idea who originally specced my 130 but not ticking the cruise control option was one of those duh moments i suspect.
I thing as a shed of the week, they are great cars for sub £1k outlay.
I bought this 323ci a couple of months back for £650.
137,000 miles with service history, i had to put a new window regulator in, and it needed front ball joints.
Front wings needed sorting for some rust as well.
I quite liked it, but ended up swapping it for a Grand Cherokee!
I bought this 323ci a couple of months back for £650.
137,000 miles with service history, i had to put a new window regulator in, and it needed front ball joints.
Front wings needed sorting for some rust as well.
I quite liked it, but ended up swapping it for a Grand Cherokee!
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 agree by and large. Nothing mainstream has hit the spot for me quite like these; a real drivers machine bestowed with immediate feedback and graceful composure when in extremis. The whole range has sublime balance that could flatter the most ham fisted driver. These really are cars from a period when BMW focussed on driving pleasure rather than Co2 and finance deals - they really should be applauded. 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!
Pre 2000 engines aside they are an utter bloody joy!
The Crack Fox said:
Jesus! Another one! I had a 330 CI Sport - IT WAS BORING!
Don't you people get it? Shed should be interesting. The E46 is as interesting as toothpaste.
Agreed.Don't you people get it? Shed should be interesting. The E46 is as interesting as toothpaste.
I've had an E46 328 Touring which was dull then I was told that the 330 Sport was far better with different suspension etc - it was just as dull.
The E36 was duller than the E30 and the E46 was duller again - OK as a motorway car but dull, dull, dull and this shed is slower too !
A cousin of mine bought a second hand , high mileage e46 320 saloon when they were still the current shape. He had it for a few years and never had an problems. I drove it a couple of times and I was quite impressed. High quality cabin and a smooth engine.
A friend bought a similar model 3 series a while back, but he went for the 330d. He paid just over £3k for it. It spent as much time in a local garage as it did on the road. He put a load of cash in trying to sort out various engine issues. Eventuality he gave up and was happy to get a few hundred pounds from the 'We buy....' mob!
A friend bought a similar model 3 series a while back, but he went for the 330d. He paid just over £3k for it. It spent as much time in a local garage as it did on the road. He put a load of cash in trying to sort out various engine issues. Eventuality he gave up and was happy to get a few hundred pounds from the 'We buy....' mob!
Zircon said:
Whoever labels these as dull cars to drive I fear does not know how to drive enthusiastically!
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!
If you'd filled in your garage section I'm sure I still wouldn't see an MX5, RX7, R32 GTR or 200SX, once you have driven them, you will understand how dull an E46 is.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!
All cars are a compromise between purchase price, performance, running costs, accommodation etc. I doubt you can find a good condition R32 GTR or 200SX for sub £1000, and they are both long in the tooth now, the rx7 possibly which is OK if you are happy with 15mpg and the MX5 is fairly slow and has only two seats. You pays your money and makes your choice.
Strawman said:
All cars are a compromise between purchase price, performance, running costs, accommodation etc. I doubt you can find a good condition R32 GTR or 200SX for sub £1000
Yes - why do you think that these older cars are worth more than the newer one that was probably more expensive when new ?BECAUSE IT'S DULL !
This is PH - dull shouldn't be acceptable.
Cheaper fun cars with lower running costs - Puma 1.7, Clio 172, MX5
Fun RWD 2+2/3 gets harder because few are this cheap - RX8 (admittedly a brave choice) less fun but better than the E46 - E36 and E30
V8RX7 said:
Strawman said:
All cars are a compromise between purchase price, performance, running costs, accommodation etc. I doubt you can find a good condition R32 GTR or 200SX for sub £1000
Yes - why do you think that these older cars are worth more than the newer one that was probably more expensive when new ?BECAUSE IT'S DULL !
This is PH - dull shouldn't be acceptable.
Cheaper fun cars with lower running costs - Puma 1.7, Clio 172, MX5
Fun RWD 2+2/3 gets harder because few are this cheap - RX8 (admittedly a brave choice) less fun but better than the E46 - E36 and E30
I see a n/a straight six, mated to manual box driven through the rear wheels in a very competent chassis.
I don't like FWD so Puma and Clio are out for me. MX5 is powered by a wheezy hairdryer. I do plenty of motorway driving so refinement is important as is a decent amount of torque for easy progress.
RX8? Better in what way? Certainly at using oil. Regardless I dislike the styling and have little interest in faffing around with a wankel engine.
Vive la différence and all that
Edit to add:
SOTW should imo present a variety of cars. Some 'eccentric' choices (though I note when these crop up rarely does anyone actually put their money where their
Edited by g3org3y on Saturday 22 November 19:00
V8RX7 said:
g3org3y said:
Your opinion of dull of course.
And the car buying public's hence the low price.
The 320 will always struggle against its larger engined siblings at the cheaper end of the market as the enthusiasts will typically gravitate to the more performance orientated models (325, 330). However, the rest of the fundamentals that make up a very good car still hold true.
As an all round car that can do the motorway grind with ease but entertain in the twisties, you'd be hard pushed do better. I suppose it depends what you're looking for. If a cheap daily driver with RWD and a manual box is important to you, what's not to like?
I remember the days when E36 328s were easily sub 1k, now finding a decent example at <1.5k (if not 2k) is difficult. Perhaps over time they became 'interesting'.
V8RX7 said:
And the car buying public's hence the low price.
Cheap shot. The facts are;internet said:
The highest selling year for the E46 was 2002, when 561,249 vehicles were sold worldwide.[3] For every year of its production, the E46 was named in Car and Driver Magazine's "10 Best Cars" list (see Car and Driver Ten Best)
I've got a 330ci (2003 model) and have had it a little over 5 months. Absolutely adore it. It's coming up to 140k miles now and needs a few bits and bobs, front wishbones and bushes etc but all in all a great car. Always puts a smile on my face. I think the pre-facelift ones are starting show their age, more so the non M-sport models, however I still love a nice specced tidy one. Mines a facelift and still looks fairly modern imo.
Lots of off the cuff comments here, I don't believe they've had much first hand experience.
I think some are missing the point.
Here is something as common as a Golf & as dependable as one yet far nicer to drive.
Refinement to shame most modern machines and in six cylinder form one of the smoothest
Mass produced engines around.
People scorn their lack of torque but honestly, you are comparing a 15 year old unit to the current
Crop of 230 lb/ft + diesels.
In their day the M54's had a very competitive blend of power vs performance & economy.
We still have an E36 in the family and I currently have a 6 pot E90.
The E46 I had for 3 years was one of the best cars I've ever owned.
Great handling balance, supprising economy, rolling refinement and a nice compact size to park anywhere.
Despite the lack of LSD, given a wet roundabout it would oversteer for England.
Much as I appreciate the attributes of it's replacement, the E90, I still miss my E46.
A classic everyman car.
Boring..? Boring ??
No way.
I think some are missing the point.
Here is something as common as a Golf & as dependable as one yet far nicer to drive.
Refinement to shame most modern machines and in six cylinder form one of the smoothest
Mass produced engines around.
People scorn their lack of torque but honestly, you are comparing a 15 year old unit to the current
Crop of 230 lb/ft + diesels.
In their day the M54's had a very competitive blend of power vs performance & economy.
We still have an E36 in the family and I currently have a 6 pot E90.
The E46 I had for 3 years was one of the best cars I've ever owned.
Great handling balance, supprising economy, rolling refinement and a nice compact size to park anywhere.
Despite the lack of LSD, given a wet roundabout it would oversteer for England.
Much as I appreciate the attributes of it's replacement, the E90, I still miss my E46.
A classic everyman car.
Boring..? Boring ??
No way.
E46 is too complicated, often just for the sake of it AFAICT, I'd go back to an E36 if I was buying that cheap.
I will forget a few bits, but in 3.5 years with my 51 plate touring (ended with 130k miles):
Front brake caliper seized.
So did the replacement.
Aircon compressor packed up.
Rad fan packed up.
ABS pump packed up. (2nd hand replacement had the wrong software on it for my car, leaving the TC off all the time and 2 amber warning lights on - maybe not BMW's fault as such, although they refuse/"can't" to reprogram them - a new ABS pump and possibly ECU makes more profit, I guess... but a 318 really doesn't need traction control anyway, it's not powerful enough!)
Drop links.
Front wishbones.
Heater resistor.
Both front window regulars failed.
Passenger seat occupancy airbag sensor failed.
OBC button wiring broken on purchase.
Rear glass release switch filed (random boot opening).
Main tailgate switch failed.
Oil usage and occasional blippy revs from CCV.
Rear brake pipes corroded.
Leaked if parked facing uphill (driver's door).
Back box went through (ok, this is a consumable, but it's basically a one piece system unless you get creative with an anglegrinder).
Driver's door open/closed sensor packed up.
Packing sensor(s) failed.
Final straw: throwing water out of the top of the rad somewhere. Only bright side was you could refill the expansion tank without having to wait for it to cool.
Now sold as spares or repair, advisories on the latest MOT were rear shock on the way out, rear brake pipes rusting again, rear sills and floor rusting. I think at least one of the rear track control arms needed the bushes doing, too.
Never had this sort of trouble over 5 years, ending at 160k-odd miles IIRC, with my 325 E36 - I just killed the cylinder head with track days on that one
I will forget a few bits, but in 3.5 years with my 51 plate touring (ended with 130k miles):
Front brake caliper seized.
So did the replacement.
Aircon compressor packed up.
Rad fan packed up.
ABS pump packed up. (2nd hand replacement had the wrong software on it for my car, leaving the TC off all the time and 2 amber warning lights on - maybe not BMW's fault as such, although they refuse/"can't" to reprogram them - a new ABS pump and possibly ECU makes more profit, I guess... but a 318 really doesn't need traction control anyway, it's not powerful enough!)
Drop links.
Front wishbones.
Heater resistor.
Both front window regulars failed.
Passenger seat occupancy airbag sensor failed.
OBC button wiring broken on purchase.
Rear glass release switch filed (random boot opening).
Main tailgate switch failed.
Oil usage and occasional blippy revs from CCV.
Rear brake pipes corroded.
Leaked if parked facing uphill (driver's door).
Back box went through (ok, this is a consumable, but it's basically a one piece system unless you get creative with an anglegrinder).
Driver's door open/closed sensor packed up.
Packing sensor(s) failed.
Final straw: throwing water out of the top of the rad somewhere. Only bright side was you could refill the expansion tank without having to wait for it to cool.
Now sold as spares or repair, advisories on the latest MOT were rear shock on the way out, rear brake pipes rusting again, rear sills and floor rusting. I think at least one of the rear track control arms needed the bushes doing, too.
Never had this sort of trouble over 5 years, ending at 160k-odd miles IIRC, with my 325 E36 - I just killed the cylinder head with track days on that one
Forgive me but it just sounds like you unfortunately bought a lemon.
I totally agree about the robust simplicity of the E36 (great car).
If I were faced with the choice of an E36 or E46 tomorrow (for the same money)
I would choose the later car, simply because it's more modern to drive and far far better
In an accident (my E46 had six air bags, not bad for 2001).
I do love the older machines, I've owned E28/E34's continuously since 1991 !
I totally agree about the robust simplicity of the E36 (great car).
If I were faced with the choice of an E36 or E46 tomorrow (for the same money)
I would choose the later car, simply because it's more modern to drive and far far better
In an accident (my E46 had six air bags, not bad for 2001).
I do love the older machines, I've owned E28/E34's continuously since 1991 !
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