Yet another BMW thread

[Judge664]

Hi all, just poking at afew thoughts other than my own for a moment.

Currently driving a 2008 Octavia Vrs diesel and find myself urging to be back into a BMW.

Looking at an E46 2006 (55) 320ci with super tidy bodywork, super low miles, perfect history.
Or
An E90 325i (also 55 plate) with slightly higher miles but still low (under 90k) with good history. Bodywork isn't as good, but certainly isn't bad, the E46's body is perfect so stands out. But ofcourse the e90 has a much better engine.

The E46 has most of the kit I'd actually care about, I've had both an E46 and an E90 before. The E90 is fabric seats, but tidy.

Before anybody suggests getting a 330 instead cause same costs more power etc. Finding a real nice example is getting hard todo, and this 320ci is in perfect shape and the right price.

The difference in price between these two is negligible so not really a point of the thought process.

Any thoughts apreciated. Hoping to seal a deal by the end of the week.

Heart is leaning on the E46 cause the engine might be less powerful but I prefer the tone of the M54, and I have much fonder memories of my E46's & 36's than I ever did my E90. Plus it's so tidy it stands out!

[Chestrockwell]

Manual or Auto? Is the E46 a sport?

I think E46 is your best bet. E90’s aren’t very appealing to me in SE guise and with fabric seats, guessing you’re looking at 3-4 grand, it definitely isn’t worth it. The fabric seats in BMW’s are really bad unless it’s an M sport that has alcantra with better quality fabric.

[Judge664]

Both manual. Not a fan of an auto outside of the 5 series at work lol.

You make a good point to be fair, the E90 is not as appealing at all. And any petrol head appreciates a tidy E46 more than an average E90

[Chestrockwell]

I’ve only driven a E90 once and that was a 320d in 2012 so I can’t remember how it was but I have experience with E46’s and they’re brilliant.

If the E90 325i was an M sport, I would have gone for it as it is a newer car with a better engine but as an SE with cloth interior. Hmmm not sure

[Judge664]

My E90 was also a 320d tbh. Lovely car. I do have abit of an urge for the 325i based only on the engine really!

The E46 is the only perfect example I've seen for ages. Only downside it has, is the 2.2 lump. But everything else. Perfect.

[JamesRR]

I’d get the E46. To my eyes at least, an E46 coupe is a fresher looking car now than a pre LCI E90. E46 is still a straight six too in 320 format, and as you’ve said it has more kit you’d like to have.

[Judge664]

Yeah I mean it's not a bad engine just will have the soundtrack of my old 330i without the go Haha.

But you are right, late e46 looks way better than any pre lci E90.

Yeah E46 has got every bit of kit on my kit box. It's not fully loaded. But everything I actually want. Is there.

[Chestrockwell]

My brother has a 1998 E39 523i manual and I adore it. Has 170 bhp (same as the 2.2 in the E46 I think) so it’s not that quick but certainly feels quick enough to me. And I drive a 430d.

I think the reason I enjoy it is because of the car I’m used to, automatic diesel with loads of torque, just easy to go fast in where as the E39 needs to be worked and it makes a lovely noise while doing so and you’re never going that fast either. You can enjoy going through the gears without reaching silly speeds. The 2.2 in the E46 will be a lot more refined and will make a nicer noise I reckon with the same benefits I see from the E39 albeit in a compact coupe with a sporting nature.

I think, the E46 is your best bet. It may not be as quick as your Skoda but it will be more engaging.

[DailyHack]

Chestrockwell said:

Manual or Auto? Is the E46 a sport?

I think E46 is your best bet. E90’s aren’t very appealing to me in SE guise and with fabric seats, guessing you’re looking at 3-4 grand, it definitely isn’t worth it. The fabric seats in BMW’s are really bad unless it’s an M sport that has alcantra with better quality fabric.

Completly with you on the standard cloth seats, easy retrofit though - bought an entire m-sport Alacantra seats and interior for £110 online, 1hour to fit

But disagree with SE statement, far more classy than M-Sport guise, unless it's a proper M car, prefer the Alpina look over M sport look also.

E90 facelift far better than the pre's, I really like E46's also, but they getting a bit long in the tooth now, when was the last one produced...2006, my god thats 12/13 years ago

Edited by DailyHack on Tuesday 20th November 20:04

[JamesRR]

DailyHack said:

Chestrockwell said:

Manual or Auto? Is the E46 a sport?

I think E46 is your best bet. E90’s aren’t very appealing to me in SE guise and with fabric seats, guessing you’re looking at 3-4 grand, it definitely isn’t worth it. The fabric seats in BMW’s are really bad unless it’s an M sport that has alcantra with better quality fabric.

Completly with you on the standard cloth seats, easy retrofit though - bought an entire m-sport Alacantra seats and interior for £110 online, 1hour to fit

But disagree with SE statement, far more classy than M-Sport guise, unless it's a proper M car, prefer the Alpina look over M sport look also.

E90 facelift far better than the pre's, I really like E46's also, but they getting a bit long in the tooth now, when was the last one produced...2006, my god thats 12/13 years ago

Edited by DailyHack on Tuesday 20th November 20:04

Whilst SE vs M Sport styling is very much a matter of personal taste and some may well prefer the more subtle SE, the seats in the SEs are just awful. They don’t improve from generation to generation either. I’d personally only ever consider an M-Sport because of this.

Edit: I did not read the post I replied to properly. I’m an eejit. Please carry on as you all were.

Edited by JamesRR on Tuesday 20th November 22:28

[Judge664]

DailyHack said:

E90 facelift far better than the pre's, I really like E46's also, but they getting a bit long in the tooth now, when was the last one produced...2006, my god thats 12/13 years ago

Edited by DailyHack on Tuesday 20th November 20:04

Yeah the E46 certainly isn't getting any younger, however the e90 I'm looking at is also an identical age, so suspension for example will be the same age, aswell as electronics etc.

However age is often just a number, how many of us would drop kick our grans for a nice E30? I would

When most of the time it's just me in the car or perhaps my youngest aswell. A tidy old coupe to show some love to would be nice. The wife has a 2006 Focus ST... even with my skoda we use that as the family car lol

[Mr Tidy]

Not quite the same, but after 3 years I sold an E46 325ti Sport in February and replaced it with an E91 325iSE.

(Like the OP I couldn't justify nearly doubling the budget just to get a 330i).

If the E46 320Ci really does have good bodywork I'd go with that - E46s just feel more involving to drive. My E91 goes well enough, but so refined you can hardly hear it's got a straight 6!

An E46 Coupe is a real looker, whereas an E9* is a bit "meh" IMO. I wanted an E46 Touring ideally but couldn't find one without crusty wheelarches.

I would have kept my Compact, but wanted the extra practicality of a Touring. But despite what others have said I don't find the SE seats an issue in an SE Touring - mind you mine are full leather and heated!

The other bonus with the E46 is you'll never need one of those silly priced electric water pumps - my E91 has already needed one.

[vsonix]

I used to have an E46 320i and compared to a 325i or 330i they're not that great on fuel considering they lack the pace. The engine is silky smooth and sounds great but you need to hustle it along a bit harder than the bigger sixes and in my experience (and I'm a fairly economical driver most of the time) that came back as fairly disappointing fuel economy compared to the larger displacement lumps.

[Judge664]

vsonix said:

I used to have an E46 320i and compared to a 325i or 330i they're not that great on fuel considering they lack the pace. The engine is silky smooth and sounds great but you need to hustle it along a bit harder than the bigger sixes and in my experience (and I'm a fairly economical driver most of the time) that came back as fairly disappointing fuel economy compared to the larger displacement lumps.

Your completely right like I said in my OP, I'm completely aware the 325/330i engines offer far more bang for buck, which is the reason for my hesitation. However as I'm sure you can appreciate, for a truly tidy example of either a 325/330 towards the end of their production, they're not only hard to find, but when they do come up they're rather pricey. This 320 is in perfect condition inside & out, for the right price.

I could go get a 330 for 3-4k but it wouldn't be anywhere near as tidy. And the sub 3k examples are often abused and abit of an eye sore to an enthusiast.

[GreatGranny]

If it's the black M Sport on Atrader it is very nice and as you said bodywork looks very tidy.

The E46 would be my choice.

[Judge664]

I have seen that black one but no, it's a different car with less miles, for more money & it's that kind of, lush metallic grey. Just been out for a test drive. Yes slower than my Vrs but I still loved it.

Some unfortunate scratches on the bonnet but the dealers have promised to rectify them (looks like a cat scratch tbh) still havent been to see the E90 but, I dont think I will now tbh

[Mr Tidy]

Well it looks like you have decided!

I think I would have done the same - an E46 is just so much more involving to drive. Whereas the E9*s just seem too refined for any fun!

My E91 325i is also stupidly long-geared, so doesn't pick up very quickly in 6th on motorways - even at 80ish it would be revving at less than 3,000 rpm, which seems daft when it has a red line at 7,000!