BMW E46 318i buying advice
Discussion
Hello all,
A new year and a new question about E46 BMWs on piston heads. Some things never change.
As you will have noted from the title, I'm interested in a BMW 318i SE Saloon. Before you all shout at me to get a 6 Cylinder car, this simply isn't possible. I'm 18 years old with 1 year no claims discount and can just about afford to insure a 318i (£800 /year) and can't come close to affording the insurance on anything with more than 4 cylinders (2.2 320i is £2,300 /year), thanks to the magic of insurance quote algorithms.
I'm currently driving my first car, a 2009 1.2 TCe Clio, but having learned in this car and spent 1.5 years with it, I'm starting to get a little bored. I also do more motorway miles than most people my age because the distance between my parents houses where I split my time. Something larger and comfier to sit at a cruise would be nice, as well as something a little more driver focused. I understand that a 318i isn't the last word in performance driving, but its definitely more interesting for a younger driver than a Clio is. My Clio is worth around £2,200, meaning I could move into a very tidy 3 series that (hopefully) shouldn't have any issues at all.
Ideally I'd hold the 318i for about 18 months again before swapping it with something a little more performance oriented once insurance prices permit.
There's plenty of content out there talking about 6 Cylinder E46 cars, but not as much in regard to the 318i. Is there anything I should look out for in particular when buying and test driving? Any major reason why a 318i is a definitive "no go", aside from being a boring 4 pot? Do you think a 318i will appreciate (more slowly, admittedly) like other E46 BMWs are, if looked after well?
Any feedback and advice will be appreciated, alongside potential (insurable) alternatives if you think the 318i should be avoided like the plague.
A new year and a new question about E46 BMWs on piston heads. Some things never change.
As you will have noted from the title, I'm interested in a BMW 318i SE Saloon. Before you all shout at me to get a 6 Cylinder car, this simply isn't possible. I'm 18 years old with 1 year no claims discount and can just about afford to insure a 318i (£800 /year) and can't come close to affording the insurance on anything with more than 4 cylinders (2.2 320i is £2,300 /year), thanks to the magic of insurance quote algorithms.
I'm currently driving my first car, a 2009 1.2 TCe Clio, but having learned in this car and spent 1.5 years with it, I'm starting to get a little bored. I also do more motorway miles than most people my age because the distance between my parents houses where I split my time. Something larger and comfier to sit at a cruise would be nice, as well as something a little more driver focused. I understand that a 318i isn't the last word in performance driving, but its definitely more interesting for a younger driver than a Clio is. My Clio is worth around £2,200, meaning I could move into a very tidy 3 series that (hopefully) shouldn't have any issues at all.
Ideally I'd hold the 318i for about 18 months again before swapping it with something a little more performance oriented once insurance prices permit.
There's plenty of content out there talking about 6 Cylinder E46 cars, but not as much in regard to the 318i. Is there anything I should look out for in particular when buying and test driving? Any major reason why a 318i is a definitive "no go", aside from being a boring 4 pot? Do you think a 318i will appreciate (more slowly, admittedly) like other E46 BMWs are, if looked after well?
Any feedback and advice will be appreciated, alongside potential (insurable) alternatives if you think the 318i should be avoided like the plague.
Edited by pistonjames on Thursday 6th January 13:49
I'll be the first to offer some advice, if I can.
E46's main concern is rust at this stage. So make any inspection thorough with all the usual other things. I had the M44 engine in my first car (E36 318Ti) and it was decent enough. Reliable, but isn't potent as you have pointed out.
Are you set on the BMW? You would likely manage to get yourself into something a little more entertaining and insurance friendly. Suzuki Swift Sport for example is a brilliant steer and might be insurance friendly? Just a thought.
E46's main concern is rust at this stage. So make any inspection thorough with all the usual other things. I had the M44 engine in my first car (E36 318Ti) and it was decent enough. Reliable, but isn't potent as you have pointed out.
Are you set on the BMW? You would likely manage to get yourself into something a little more entertaining and insurance friendly. Suzuki Swift Sport for example is a brilliant steer and might be insurance friendly? Just a thought.
Do you know what. I actually think you would want your Clio 1.2TCe back after a while in an E46 318i. It isn't going to be significantly faster, is going to be older and being an E46 is likely to be rusting.
The 1.2 turbo in the Clio is an excellent engine and assuming it is behaving itself I vote run it for a couple more years, get the NCD up and then go hunting for a 6 cylinder E9x.
I appreciate this probably isn't what you wanted to hear but a 4 cylinder E46 will likely leave you more frustrated than the Clio.
The 1.2 turbo in the Clio is an excellent engine and assuming it is behaving itself I vote run it for a couple more years, get the NCD up and then go hunting for a 6 cylinder E9x.
I appreciate this probably isn't what you wanted to hear but a 4 cylinder E46 will likely leave you more frustrated than the Clio.
KTMsm said:
Personally if you're wanting RWD fun I'd be looking at an MX5 or a 318is compact
I don't see a 318 E46 appreciating, same issues as larger engined cars of this age - rust, entire cooling system and bushes
The coupe was the is and the compact was the Ti. But good advice, wondering if a 325ti compact would be slightly more insurance friendly than the coupe/saloon being fairly scarce? I don't see a 318 E46 appreciating, same issues as larger engined cars of this age - rust, entire cooling system and bushes
KTMsm said:
Personally if you're wanting RWD fun I'd be looking at an MX5 or a 318is compact
I don't see a 318 E46 appreciating, same issues as larger engined cars of this age - rust, entire cooling system and bushes
Ideally I need the space of the Clio at the very least. I'm the designated driver very often within my group on days out/ weekends away (a role that I enjoy). A 4 door saloon is going to carry 4 lads, tents and beach towels and hiking books etc a whole lot better than an MX-5 I don't see a 318 E46 appreciating, same issues as larger engined cars of this age - rust, entire cooling system and bushes
! Not so sure on how much an MX5 is to insure for someone my age too? M.F.D said:
The coupe was the is and the compact was the Ti. But good advice, wondering if a 325ti compact would be slightly more insurance friendly than the coupe/saloon being fairly scarce?
Call me a fake car enthusiast, but I don't know if I can stomach the looks of the compact, even if it is more fun to drive. Not to mention the grief I'd get from my mates for driving such a gawky thing . pistonjames said:
Call me a fake car enthusiast, but I don't know if I can stomach the looks of the compact, even if it is more fun to drive. Not to mention the grief I'd get from my mates for driving such a gawky thing .
They shut up when you throw it sideways . 
If you're not a RWD fan there are far better cars than a 318 E46
If you are a RWD fan there are far better fun cars
It really was just to impress the neighbours when BMW were perceived as better cars
KTMsm said:
They shut up when you throw it sideways
If you're not a RWD fan there are far better cars than a 318 E46
If you are a RWD fan there are far better fun cars
It really was just to impress the neighbours when BMW were perceived as better cars
Ideally I want something reasonably fun, golf or 3 series sized, petrol, good on the motorway, reliable and reasonable to insure. For someone at my age on my budget (£3K all in), I'm asking quite a lot. The only car that comes close to answering the criteria was a 318. Maybe I'll end up with a jack of all trades but a master of none. If you're not a RWD fan there are far better cars than a 318 E46
If you are a RWD fan there are far better fun cars
It really was just to impress the neighbours when BMW were perceived as better cars
RWD would be ideal, nothing smaller than an '09 Clio and nothing more than £800 to insure (swift sport is £1250). What motors were you thinking of when you said better rwd cars or just cars that are more fun in general?
What we're trying to point out is, the 318i will be a bit blah. Dated car now, and may be a serious disappointment.
I remember the days of sitting on comparison websites for hours and hours to see what I could, and could not insure. You need to play about with it as there are so many variables involved.
Lexus IS200 is another RWD car that may be worth checking out for your budget.
I remember the days of sitting on comparison websites for hours and hours to see what I could, and could not insure. You need to play about with it as there are so many variables involved.
Lexus IS200 is another RWD car that may be worth checking out for your budget.
As someone else said it might be better to save for a couple of years as long as the Clio is reliable. There’s not that much around for that kind of money, it’s a gamble on a car like a BMW. If you do still want to do it how about things like Saab 9-3, Hyundai Coupe, Megane Coupe, Lexus IS, Volvo C30, Laguna Coupe..think outside the box and you might find something with a bit of performance is ok to insure
M.F.D said:
I remember the days of sitting on comparison websites for hours and hours to see what I could, and could not insure. You need to play about with it as there are so many variables involved.
Lexus IS200 is another RWD car that may be worth checking out for your budget.
Decent manual IS200 are probably out of his budget, a 170k (but nice) just sold on ebay for £2600Lexus IS200 is another RWD car that may be worth checking out for your budget.
pistonjames said:
Ideally I want something reasonably fun, golf or 3 series sized, petrol, good on the motorway, reliable and reasonable to insure. For someone at my age on my budget (£3K all in), I'm asking quite a lot. The only car that comes close to answering the criteria was a 318. Maybe I'll end up with a jack of all trades but a master of none.
RWD would be ideal, nothing smaller than an '09 Clio and nothing more than £800 to insure (swift sport is £1250). What motors were you thinking of when you said better rwd cars or just cars that are more fun in general?
I think you’re expecting too much from the 318i: it’s not going to be particularly fun, good on the motorway (compared with many more modern machines for similar money) or reliable necessarily. Rust can be a problem, too, though it’s less of an issue with the Compact.RWD would be ideal, nothing smaller than an '09 Clio and nothing more than £800 to insure (swift sport is £1250). What motors were you thinking of when you said better rwd cars or just cars that are more fun in general?
I’m a massive BMW fan, but i wouldn’t bother with a four-cylinder E46; they’re old cars now, so the equipment isn’t great - even the Harmon Kardon speakers are supposed to be pretty rubbish - they’re not particularly economical, quick or reliable and yes you get decent traction with rear-wheel-drive, but there’s no need for that with 143hp. You can get that from a 2005-on 2.0 Focus, which will probably drive better, be cheaper to drive, more practical and less rusty, I’d imagine.
Don’t worry about what your mates say; if you want a decent BMW, check out insurance for the 325ti Compact, if you haven’t already. I had one when I was 23 and I loved it. Far better value than equivalent E46 coupes with the benefit of a hatchback and cheaper insurance.
It was comfy, practical and relatively cheap to insure, sounded amazing and because it had nice short gears (get a facelift one and you’ll have a six-speed gearbox, which is more suited to cruising on the motorway) it felt faster than you’d expect. Might be worth considering, insurance-dependent…
pistonjames said:
Ideally I want something reasonably fun, golf or 3 series sized, petrol, good on the motorway, reliable and reasonable to insure. For someone at my age on my budget (£3K all in), I'm asking quite a lot. The only car that comes close to answering the criteria was a 318. Maybe I'll end up with a jack of all trades but a master of none.
RWD would be ideal, nothing smaller than an '09 Clio and nothing more than £800 to insure (swift sport is £1250). What motors were you thinking of when you said better rwd cars or just cars that are more fun in general?
At 3k including insurance I really don't think you'll be getting anywhere near a 318i, you could get a nice Hyundai Coupe (they're FWD but a decent car) for 2k leaving 1k for insurance:RWD would be ideal, nothing smaller than an '09 Clio and nothing more than £800 to insure (swift sport is £1250). What motors were you thinking of when you said better rwd cars or just cars that are more fun in general?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201041...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107084...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201061...
Just a thought but might an E46 320td be insurance friendly?
That was the first BMW I bought in 2005 and I loved it - until I bought a 325ti in 2014 and realised what I had missed out on!
Maybe time to look for some more insurance quotes! The petrol straight 6s are just so much better in every way but if insurance is an issue I think I'd keep what you have for another year or two.
That was the first BMW I bought in 2005 and I loved it - until I bought a 325ti in 2014 and realised what I had missed out on!
Maybe time to look for some more insurance quotes! The petrol straight 6s are just so much better in every way but if insurance is an issue I think I'd keep what you have for another year or two.
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