E46 330Ci or 130i?

[JimCross]

Has anyone owned/driven both of these? If so, how do they compare in terms of handling and driver involvement?
Also, I know the 130 has the newer, lighter, slightly more powerful engine - is there much difference in performance and character?

[roofer]

Had both, no contest, 130 romps it.

[ghibbett]

I have also owned both. Agree with roofer - 130i is by far the better drive.

[ghibbett]

Also to add, the newer engine in the 130i is far superior:
Smoother
More lively top-end
Sounds better
Revs high
Better fuel consumption

Roofer - agree?

[edition]

130 100%

[md23]

^ What he said Mine is up for sale in classifieds. PM if interested!

Cheers

m

[JimCross]

Thanks guys, that's pretty unanimous then!

md23 - looks like a lovely car! Unfortunately I'm down in London and really need to p/x. Good luck with your sale!

[Kong]

ghibbett said:

Also to add, the newer engine in the 130i is far superior:
Smoother
More lively top-end
Sounds better
Revs high
Better fuel consumption

Roofer - agree?

I agree with most of that too, 'though certainly think the older M54 engines with throttle body sound better than the newer valvetronic designs.

[ghibbett]

Yes to clarify I mean the new engine being the 130i 265bhp vs the 'old' engine being the 231bhp E46 330i engine.

[H_Kan]

Fair enough if people rate the 130i higher, however it's not really comparing like for like.

130i's don't seem to have dropped below £14k mark, you could pick up a minter of an e46 for half that. Pound for pound, at present I'd say the e46 represents the better buy.

[swanny71]

H_Kan said:

....130i's don't seem to have dropped below £14k mark......

eh?

[snorkel sucker]

swanny71 said:

H_Kan said:

....130i's don't seem to have dropped below £14k mark......

eh?

I think he perhaps means the 135i?? Mine is certainly worth sub £14k!

The 130i is a great car with a peach of an engine. A friend had the E46 330ci and it was also a very good car, certainly no difference in cross country pace, or really when giving it the beans, certainly not in the real world anyway.

The engine in the 130i is really a gem and certainly more characterful than the 330ci. Of course, most 130i's are more expensive than the 330ci and it depends how much value you deem a better engine and a newer car to be.

Dynamically there isn't a lot in it, and I would certainly advocate the run flat tyres as being detrimental to the 130i's ability in this sense. That, however, is an easy fix and, once done, you have a very capable and practical cross country car, which also has a superb ability to cosset and relax you on longer journeys.

[H_Kan]

swanny71 said:

H_Kan said:

....130i's don't seem to have dropped below £14k mark......

eh?

No no, my mistake entirely! I had a quick through PH classifieds and I couldn't see any below £14k, so assumed that was representative. AT shows a selection for £8-9k. Apologies.

A lot of car for the money in that case- probably going to keep my e46 another year or so, will certainly consider the 130i as a replacement if they are hitting the £7k mark or so by then.