Why is the E46 compact so overlooked?

[300bhp/ton]

MrLou said:

Because it's god-awful ugly?

And the 1 Series isn't????

[300bhp/ton]

davepoth said:

If I remember correctly there's something especially horrific about these - I think the rear suspension came from an E30?

Why would that be horrific???????

[PaulB81]

DR10 said:

It's not the exact same one, is it? Is it a 320D auto non-leather with 18" wheels?

OK Mr Pedantic, mine is a 320td Manual non-leather

[300bhp/ton]

MrLou said:

My problem, apart from the looks as that's a personal thing, is that this car was a cynical exercise by BMW.

I can imagine the scene in Munich as sales of the Golf, Focus and similar started to take a real bite into sales of the 3er. They rushed this car to market without doing a proper job of making a proper car, for that reason alone I can dislike it, the fact that it's a munter (in my eyes) just makes it easier.

The 1 series on the other hand I have no particular problem with, it looks a bit like a shoe but who's perfect.

That's just funny. That some people take it so personally

Loser would be a choice phrase I think

Btw - it's not as if 99% of BMW's are lookers anyhow they are all bit bland with a touch of ugly (exceptions noted; z8 z4mc etc.)

[DR10]

PaulB81 said:

DR10 said:

It's not the exact same one, is it? Is it a 320D auto non-leather with 18" wheels?

OK Mr Pedantic, mine is a 320td Manual non-leather

Just wondered where it had gone in the country was all.

[300bhp/ton]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Have a

Not liking the looks hardly makes it lame and it's truly an idiotic stance to take on it.

[PaulB81]

DR10 said:

Just wondered where it had gone in the country was all.

Oh sorry I see what you meant now? You were asking if I had actually bought THAT car. I thought you were picking holes suggesting I had said the exact car when mine isnt completely identical. Sorry for the misunderstanding

[300bhp/ton]

BDZ said:

Considered a few of these until needs changed and 4 doors were required but the thing that put me off more than anything was the fact that the bonnet looks far too big for the front of the car and massively overhangs it.

I mean seriously, how did the bosses at BMW not pick up on that when they signed it off? The front looks like it's been butchered with a horrible oversize bodykit.

Not bad cars underneath though.

Well they signed off on the e36, e46, nearly every 5 series, the current 7 series, the x3 and the 5 Series GT too. Do reckon it was all done at the same meeting?

Seriously have no idea how some of you guys can call the 3 Series Compact ugly then defend things like the 5 Series, which if honest would only win a beauty contest if it was competing against the ugly sisters.

[300bhp/ton]

Epic Winning said:

I'd say it's biggest problem - apart from the slightly iffy looks - is the girly image it has, same goes with the Audi A3 - these 'posh' hatchbacks.

Real men bought the Ci Coupe

Real men, Ci Coupe

[Mr2Mike]

Deluded said:

Never had any problems with the handling. So, its based on an E30? Nowt wrong with that. Was a very good handling car and the rear end never gave me any hassle!

It's so good they ditched the inherently flawed trailing arm suspension and fitted something with a modicum of camber control.

[NAS]

300bhp/ton said:

Why would that be horrific???????

Indeed. I love the old school BMW feel. And that real axle is what makes it sooooo easy to kick the tail out and hold it into a drift for as long as you want it. The E46 is a bit too grown up. Also, LSDs are harder to find for the E46, whereas the E30 real axle means you can find LSDs for the E36 version on every street corner.

[Smike]

Mr2Mike said:

Deluded said:

Never had any problems with the handling. So, its based on an E30? Nowt wrong with that. Was a very good handling car and the rear end never gave me any hassle!

It's so good they ditched the inherently flawed trailing arm suspension and fitted something with a modicum of camber control.

It only seems to be regarded as good on the back of an M3 though......

[300bhp/ton]

Seems there isn't much of a weight saving with the E46 Compact

Carfolio lists the 325ti @ 1480kg and the e46 325ci @ 1485kg.

So 5kg saving and 8" shorter overall. Still if it's a lot cheaper.....

Thinking on it. I reckon I'd rather have a e36 Compact 323ti and see about swapping in either a modded 2.8 or M3 engine. Smaller still and under 1300kg. Would be like a M Coupe with more subtle looks.

[CrisW]

Smike said:

It only seems to be regarded as good on the back of an M3 though......

I'm pretty sure than the E30 M3 had a different rear suspension set-up to the rest of the E30 range.

[kentmotorcompany]

Heres one I modified earlier.

[300bhp/ton]

CrisW said:

Smike said:

It only seems to be regarded as good on the back of an M3 though......

I'm pretty sure than the E30 M3 had a different rear suspension set-up to the rest of the E30 range.

Nope. Same basic design with a few different parts that can all be fitted to any e30. I beleive it is similar with the M Coupe also.

It's funny how people will happily and blindly shun the suspension on one vehicle and praise or ignore it on another. Still there's nothing quite like ignorance is there

[louismchuge]

kentmotorcompany said:

Heres one I modified earlier.

Looks like Leepu got hold of it?

[DR10]

300bhp/ton said:

Seems there isn't much of a weight saving with the E46 Compact

Carfolio lists the 325ti @ 1480kg and the e46 325ci @ 1485kg.

So 5kg saving and 8" shorter overall. Still if it's a lot cheaper.....

Thinking on it. I reckon I'd rather have a e36 Compact 323ti and see about swapping in either a modded 2.8 or M3 engine. Smaller still and under 1300kg. Would be like a M Coupe with more subtle looks.

Indeed, the diesel was 1,500kg if I remember correctly, which does seem a lot for a three door hatchback of that size.

[Smike]

300bhp/ton said:

CrisW said:

Smike said:

It only seems to be regarded as good on the back of an M3 though......

I'm pretty sure than the E30 M3 had a different rear suspension set-up to the rest of the E30 range.

Nope. Same basic design with a few different parts that can all be fitted to any e30. I beleive it is similar with the M Coupe also.

It's funny how people will happily and blindly shun the suspension on one vehicle and praise or ignore it on another. Still there's nothing quite like ignorance is there

That's right 300bhp - it's still a 15 degree semi trailing arm set-up - just different springs and dampers and a thicker ARB.

They had 5 stud bubs on the M3 as well.

The M3 was a lot different at the FRONT compared to the other E30s

[Kawasicki]

300bhp/ton said:

CrisW said:

Smike said:

It only seems to be regarded as good on the back of an M3 though......

I'm pretty sure than the E30 M3 had a different rear suspension set-up to the rest of the E30 range.

Nope. Same basic design with a few different parts that can all be fitted to any e30. I beleive it is similar with the M Coupe also.

It's funny how people will happily and blindly shun the suspension on one vehicle and praise or ignore it on another. Still there's nothing quite like ignorance is there

Everyone is an expert when it comes to E30s. They are all dangerous you know, except for the M3 or the ones I owned which had fantastic handling and were pretty much impossible to crash if you have a vague idea how to drive.

I am always surprised how many pistonhead members put looks before handling/rewarding driving.