Why is the E46 compact so overlooked?
Discussion
Smike said:
Jobbo said:
Hilarious - a thread about the E46 compact descends into a discussion of E30 rear suspension? 
I think it was suggested early on in the thread that the E46 Compact used the same rear-end set-up as the E30 Simon - people getting their models mixed up 
Is it the E46 compact's front end that people object to, or the rear? With Xenons and the facelifted red tail lights, it looks pretty good to me.
Kawasicki said:
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.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
I am always surprised how many pistonhead members put looks before handling/rewarding driving.
While i don't particularly like the looks of the 1 Series it is at least a ground up model to be what it is not a quick fix.
Smike said:
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
In that case I stand corrected. Fronts and backs are easily confused. Right now I'm just off to have wee, oh dear....They had 5 stud bubs on the M3 as well.
The M3 was a lot different at the FRONT compared to the other E30s
Sounds to me like the Compact is a good buy then. If people thing it looks ugly and the second hand price has suffered as a result then it could make an excellent buy.
Epic Winning said:
Kawasicki said:
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.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
I am always surprised how many pistonhead members put looks before handling/rewarding driving.
While i don't particularly like the looks of the 1 Series it is at least a ground up model to be what it is not a quick fix.
The front of the e36 Compact all the way to the A pillar is 100% e36. So was CURRENT when developed. In fact rather new still.
The feast of the body work from the A pillar back is unique to the Compact. It was also available with 4 and 6 cylinder engines and a LSD. And a diesel option. The dash was also unique to the Compact while the rest of the interior was again current e36 parts.
The only e30 part was the rear suspension design (although I suspect using many different parts also). This was used over the Z axle as it was smaller, so alloweds a lower boot floor, bigger boot. Undercar mounted spare and fold down seats.
I don't know for certain, but I suspect there is a lot in common between the Z3, M Roadster, M Coupe and Z3C and the 3 Series Compact than there is between the Compact and the e30 which it shares no other components with.
Cobbled together my arse!
It's no more cobbled together than any other BMW, or Audi, or VW, SEAT, Skoda, etc, etc
300bhp/ton said:
Sorry but I don't agree and think you need to go read up a bit more.
The front of the e36 Compact all the way to the A pillar is 100% e36. So was CURRENT when developed. In fact rather new still.
The feast of the body work from the A pillar back is unique to the Compact. It was also available with 4 and 6 cylinder engines and a LSD. And a diesel option. The dash was also unique to the Compact while the rest of the interior was again current e36 parts.
The only e30 part was the rear suspension design (although I suspect using many different parts also). This was used over the Z axle as it was smaller, so alloweds a lower boot floor, bigger boot. Undercar mounted spare and fold down seats.
I don't know for certain, but I suspect there is a lot in common between the Z3, M Roadster, M Coupe and Z3C and the 3 Series Compact than there is between the Compact and the e30 which it shares no other components with.
Cobbled together my arse!
It's no more cobbled together than any other BMW, or Audi, or VW, SEAT, Skoda, etc, etc
My i bet you're fun to go out with of an evening...The front of the e36 Compact all the way to the A pillar is 100% e36. So was CURRENT when developed. In fact rather new still.
The feast of the body work from the A pillar back is unique to the Compact. It was also available with 4 and 6 cylinder engines and a LSD. And a diesel option. The dash was also unique to the Compact while the rest of the interior was again current e36 parts.
The only e30 part was the rear suspension design (although I suspect using many different parts also). This was used over the Z axle as it was smaller, so alloweds a lower boot floor, bigger boot. Undercar mounted spare and fold down seats.
I don't know for certain, but I suspect there is a lot in common between the Z3, M Roadster, M Coupe and Z3C and the 3 Series Compact than there is between the Compact and the e30 which it shares no other components with.
Cobbled together my arse!
It's no more cobbled together than any other BMW, or Audi, or VW, SEAT, Skoda, etc, etc
The E36 Compact may have had a 6-cyl but it was never over here in the UK.
Epic Winning said:
My i bet you're fun to go out with of an evening...
The E36 Compact may have had a 6-cyl but it was never over here in the UK.
Funnily enough. For car makers like BMW I dont suspect they count the UK as the entire Wolrd Market. The E36 Compact may have had a 6-cyl but it was never over here in the UK.
We don't get the Xi BMW models either, doesn't mean they don't exist.
300bhp/ton said:
Epic Winning said:
My i bet you're fun to go out with of an evening...
The E36 Compact may have had a 6-cyl but it was never over here in the UK.
Funnily enough. For car makers like BMW I dont suspect they count the UK as the entire Wolrd Market. The E36 Compact may have had a 6-cyl but it was never over here in the UK.
We don't get the Xi BMW models either, doesn't mean they don't exist.
Epic Winning said:
Did i say they didn't exist? No, i didn't, i said it wasn't available here which it isn't and if we go back to the original question i was answering the compact (both E36 & E46) is overlooked as, i said in my earlier post, that it simply is cut down, low value way into the BMW badge which you can hardly deny since it being the lowest value & engined BMW of the range, but that's how it's perceived by most people.
One could argue the same about the 1-series and indeed about the 3-series during those periods when there wasn't a smaller model being made. Every car maker has to have a cheapest car. Epic Winning said:
Did i say they didn't exist? No, i didn't, i said it wasn't available here which it isn't and if we go back to the original question i was answering the compact (both E36 & E46) is overlooked as, i said in my earlier post, that it simply is cut down, low value way into the BMW badge which you can hardly deny since it being the lowest value & engined BMW of the range, but that's how it's perceived by most people.
Not saying it isn't/wasn't the cheapest way into a BMW. But that's pretty standard for any entry level car into a brand. As kambites said, what about other BMWs such as an e21 or e30. At the time they were both entry level models being the cheapest, most basic and slowest BMWs you could buy. My only real point is the e36 Compact was no more cobbled together than almost any car in history. I admit the looks might be a bit more challenging than the 3 Series of the same period, but I'd hardly say the 3 Series was a real looked either. And I'd certainly say the Compacts look better than a 3 door Astra of the same period.
300bhp/ton said:
Not saying it isn't/wasn't the cheapest way into a BMW. But that's pretty standard for any entry level car into a brand. As kambites said, what about other BMWs such as an e21 or e30. At the time they were both entry level models being the cheapest, most basic and slowest BMWs you could buy.
My only real point is the e36 Compact was no more cobbled together than almost any car in history. I admit the looks might be a bit more challenging than the 3 Series of the same period, but I'd hardly say the 3 Series was a real looked either. And I'd certainly say the Compacts look better than a 3 door Astra of the same period.
Yes i agree with all of that, the point i'm making - if you look at the thread title! - is, whether or not the Compact (both E36 & E46!) was 'cobbled' together or not, that's how it's perceived by most of the buying public. The 1-Series gets past this by being a stand alone model with it's own number - Not a bottom-rung, chopped down 3-Series which most people, i'd imagine would think the Compact was, thus making it overlooked, which it is. My only real point is the e36 Compact was no more cobbled together than almost any car in history. I admit the looks might be a bit more challenging than the 3 Series of the same period, but I'd hardly say the 3 Series was a real looked either. And I'd certainly say the Compacts look better than a 3 door Astra of the same period.
Ok
Back on topic, and having owned a 52 plate 325ti for the past 11 months and 8k miles, I personally think it has little direct competition for the money. At the time of purchase I wanted a rwd hatchback for me and the dog and occasional passengers now that my 4 kids had grown up and had their own cars.
I got the same response from my brother - a Jag XF SV8 owner - as seen above...ugly, looks like it's been in an accident, a shopping car etc, etc...
However, on test driving the car I was smitten immediately. Moderately quick, good chassis, ride a little firm - even on the 17" M Sport alloys - but with an engine note to die for. All in all a little roller-skate. The gearbox ratios are very sporty in that it will rev out in top which means that fuel consumption is not its strong suit. However, my days of doing 35k miles pa are over so it's a lesser consideration.
I'm told that it's not the most comfortable car for rear seat passengers over a distance but, again, it's not used as a people carrier very often.
To anyone in a similar position who wants a fun hatch with good build quality and equipment levels, reasonable handling and one of the sweetest engines on this planet - drive one . My brother loved it on first drive and it still makes him smile every time he jumps in it. Me, I'm a typical parent - I think my little baby is beautiful
Kev
I got the same response from my brother - a Jag XF SV8 owner - as seen above...ugly, looks like it's been in an accident, a shopping car etc, etc...
However, on test driving the car I was smitten immediately. Moderately quick, good chassis, ride a little firm - even on the 17" M Sport alloys - but with an engine note to die for. All in all a little roller-skate. The gearbox ratios are very sporty in that it will rev out in top which means that fuel consumption is not its strong suit. However, my days of doing 35k miles pa are over so it's a lesser consideration.
I'm told that it's not the most comfortable car for rear seat passengers over a distance but, again, it's not used as a people carrier very often.
To anyone in a similar position who wants a fun hatch with good build quality and equipment levels, reasonable handling and one of the sweetest engines on this planet - drive one . My brother loved it on first drive and it still makes him smile every time he jumps in it. Me, I'm a typical parent - I think my little baby is beautiful
Kev
Mr2Mike said:
It's so good they ditched the inherently flawed trailing arm suspension and fitted something with a modicum of camber control.
I never said it was the best thing they could have possibly used, just that I never had any troubles and to say the car is crap because of the rear suspension setup is stupid.I bet you have never driven one?
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Not liking the looks is fine. But you didn't, you called it lame. It's ability has nothing to do with the way it looks. So you forced your "subjective opinion" as a fact about the cars ability which simply isn't true. Objectively it is well made, handles well, goes well and is good value, which doesn't sound like a lame car to me.
Maybe I'm in the minority as I like the E36 compact, E46 Compact and the 1 Series Hatch in 3 door form, Coupe and Convertible!!
In fact, looking at the 04 plate 325ti in classifieds at the moment is making me want one!
Inside the e46 compact... dash etc same as the coupe?
I think an e46 compact with gen CSL's would look awesome!
In fact, looking at the 04 plate 325ti in classifieds at the moment is making me want one!
Inside the e46 compact... dash etc same as the coupe?
I think an e46 compact with gen CSL's would look awesome!
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