Why is the E46 compact so overlooked?
Discussion
Looking round for my next car, has to free up some capital, be more practical than the 350z (mountain bikes mainly) yet still offer sporting thrills when taken on an occasional track day.
Aside from Hot FWD hatches for £3k there sits the maligned E46 compact.
RWD and a choice of the glorious 325ti petrol engine or 320td (remapped) diesel (much loved when the 1 series came with it), and whole chunk cheaper than the equivalent 325ci or 120d.
Can the E46 compact chassis hold a flame to the 1 series chassis? The 120d was raved about as a diesel hot hatch with RWD handling - so why not the E46 compact? The 325ti has the fabulous 6 cylinder......
Is it just down to the stigma of "the cheapest bmw" or "cut price" 3 series, surely a lighter weight 3 series can only be a good thing?! The 1 series doesn't have the "cheapest bmw" stigma - is it because it is a more sorted car?
Aside from Hot FWD hatches for £3k there sits the maligned E46 compact.
RWD and a choice of the glorious 325ti petrol engine or 320td (remapped) diesel (much loved when the 1 series came with it), and whole chunk cheaper than the equivalent 325ci or 120d.
Can the E46 compact chassis hold a flame to the 1 series chassis? The 120d was raved about as a diesel hot hatch with RWD handling - so why not the E46 compact? The 325ti has the fabulous 6 cylinder......
Is it just down to the stigma of "the cheapest bmw" or "cut price" 3 series, surely a lighter weight 3 series can only be a good thing?! The 1 series doesn't have the "cheapest bmw" stigma - is it because it is a more sorted car?
They're not very common.
Evo rated it when it came out- http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/2559...
It is ugly but it's no slouch, especially with a remap.
Evo rated it when it came out- http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/2559...
It is ugly but it's no slouch, especially with a remap.
I've got a bit of a soft spot for the 325ti. Apparently really good fun (more so than any other E46 (non M of course)) and I probably would've bought one had I not stretched to a 130i.
Admittedly not great lookers, although the facelift Sport is rather nice, if you can stretch to one.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2391562.htm
Admittedly not great lookers, although the facelift Sport is rather nice, if you can stretch to one.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2391562.htm
I'm not referring to the change from E36 to E46 - that wasn't a facelift, it was a new model.
There was a facelift to the existing E46 compact around 2003 comprising of the following:
- Red rear lights (rather than the Lexus style ones on earlier cars)
- 6 speed 'box on the 325ti sport
- Different side skirts (maybe just the Sport, not sure)
- Wider boot lift handle
There was a facelift to the existing E46 compact around 2003 comprising of the following:
- Red rear lights (rather than the Lexus style ones on earlier cars)
- 6 speed 'box on the 325ti sport
- Different side skirts (maybe just the Sport, not sure)
- Wider boot lift handle
Heathwood said:
I've got a bit of a soft spot for the 325ti. Apparently really good fun (more so than any other E46 (non M of course)) and I probably would've bought one had I not stretched to a 130i.
Admittedly not great lookers, although the facelift Sport is rather nice, if you can stretch to one.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2391562.htm
No doubt a biggish engine in a relatively small car is going to be fun, but the reason it is overlooked is because it's ugly. I used to drive an e36 compact and thought it looked quite nice. Imo the e46 compact is one of the worst looking cars that BMW has made in recent times. Compare the look of that to a 325ci sport and you'd be shocked that they are meant to part of the same model range.Admittedly not great lookers, although the facelift Sport is rather nice, if you can stretch to one.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2391562.htm
Great value
Once had a 325 sport 02 was a very Nice little car was hard to sell people just don't like them - which is a good thing because it makes them a bargain for those in the know.
It's hardly ugly not if parked next to one of those god awfull 1 series coupes it looks positively svelte!
Once had a 325 sport 02 was a very Nice little car was hard to sell people just don't like them - which is a good thing because it makes them a bargain for those in the know.
It's hardly ugly not if parked next to one of those god awfull 1 series coupes it looks positively svelte!
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