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?
grenpayne said:
I read the same thing re the rear suspension from being from an E30 which apparently made them quite tail happy? No idea if it's true but if so then for £3k then why not!?
davepoth said:
I think it's more E36 based than E46 based, but I couldn't be sure.
NO NO NO!The E36 Compact used E30 rear suspension. The E46 compact uses E46 rear suspension - in fact you can swap E46 M3 bits in there.
Well thanks everyone for confirming the only reason is that they are an ugly duckling compared with the E46 saloon/coupe.
It seems to me they are bit of a performance bargain. If they E46 saloon/coupe didn't appear first then I bet we would all love them
OP here....Seems it is a bit of a controversial motor...!
Sit it next to an E46 Coupe/Estate and yes its clearly not as good looking. But I think its a victim of the other models good looks. The Compact is not "bad looking", on its own its quite cool - its when you compare to the other that you see its not quite so resolved.
Personally I would rather have a 2 door compact hatch than a 4 door saloon for the same money. Its a shame they didn't fit the 330 or 330d engine to the compact!!!
Compare a 325ti or even a 320td to the same price Golf GTI (mk4!!!) and you get a newer car, RWD balance, a superb 6 cylinder petrol (or the best of that generation 4cyl diesel) and faster....
Its seems nuts that they are off the average petrolheads radar purely because it has a slightly better looking and more powerful sibling.
Sit it next to an E46 Coupe/Estate and yes its clearly not as good looking. But I think its a victim of the other models good looks. The Compact is not "bad looking", on its own its quite cool - its when you compare to the other that you see its not quite so resolved.
Personally I would rather have a 2 door compact hatch than a 4 door saloon for the same money. Its a shame they didn't fit the 330 or 330d engine to the compact!!!
Compare a 325ti or even a 320td to the same price Golf GTI (mk4!!!) and you get a newer car, RWD balance, a superb 6 cylinder petrol (or the best of that generation 4cyl diesel) and faster....
Its seems nuts that they are off the average petrolheads radar purely because it has a slightly better looking and more powerful sibling.
Edited by was8v on Thursday 17th March 09:54
Edited by was8v on Thursday 17th March 13:33
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