BMW Compact - ahead of it's time?

[the_lone_wolf]

Is it just me, or was the old 3-Series Compact released a few years too early?

A little background, we recently bought a 316ti as a run around for the missus to learn to drive in and generally potter about. When they were first released I hated them, the looks weren't so good and I thought it was a cynical attempt to get into the hatchback market. Now I'm starting to warm to it, I think the looks have aged very well, it was cheap, it's fun to drive, obviously a bit lacking in power but an M-Sport version would be hilarious...

Obligatory photo:



Now, I never got the impression that the Compact was that popular, certainly nowhere near as prolific as the saloon and estate versions, yet now you can look down any street in just about any reasonably affluent area and you'll see a string of '06 onwards 1-Series, mostly with the smallest engines and largest alloy wheels

Was BMW just a bit ahead of the game here?

[morgrp]

It might have been if they'd put a bit more effort into designing it

[Shaw Tarse]

It's not a pretty car.(IMHO)

[kambites]

I think the problem with the compact was that was it was so clearly a half-arsed attempt at shoving a platform into a market segment it was never really meant to enter. It was hardly the first hatchback with an upper-midrange badge on the nose. It was a good car, especially in 325i guise, but whilst the 1-series might be rather ugly, the compact just looked silly, which is far worse.

The C-class coupe thing was a far better (visually) attempt at turning a small executive saloon into a hatchback, which also didn't help the BMW.

Edited by kambites on Friday 21st February 22:44

[Northernchimp]

The bespoke front shows their heart wasn't really in it. If they'd meant it, they have put the 3 series nose on and made it proper hatch shape and sold a stload of them.

[Ozzie Osmond]

morgrp said:

It might have been if they'd put a bit more effort into designing it

Quite. Didn't Merc do something similar as well?

[bigunit00]

Bought one for exact same reason and at £2k does what I need it to do and is pretty frugal to run.

[the_lone_wolf]

Interesting comments on the looks, genuinely a decade ago I'd have agreed with them all!!

Only lately, I really am starting to think it's not as bad as I thought, maybe it's because I'm a kind of by proxy owner, or maybe I've just not seen many around in the flesh?

It's obviously still a lot better coming than going but compared to more recent BMWs...

[Maz_uk]

I bought a 53 Plate 325ti Sport from a customer, this particular car had only done 14k miles.

What a car! Handling was just superb just the right amount of power and kit.

[e21Mark]

I've always liked them. Had an s50 powered one that was a blast to drive and thanks to the light weight, would surprise a few people. I always saw them as a modern version of the 02 touring, which was also criticised for its styling.

[Leins]

Great cars, in both E36 & E46 guise, but always suffered from a bad press

In comparison, the only C-Class SC versions that ever really appealed were actually those that didn't directly rival the Compact i.e. the two (LHD) AMG versions

[yzrh]

Both Mercedes-Benz and BMW messed up these cars, the 3 Series Compact and the C Class Coupe. Both bad looking, I know the Mercedes-Benz had a huge number of reliability issues to go with it.

Of course these days we're used to seeing manufacturers release cars to cater for everything. Pretty much 3 doors, 5 doors, hatchback, saloon, 4x4, coupe, cabriolet, but for all sizes from hatchback to luxury car size.

[Patrick Bateman]

I had one. Decent enough car but that'll never change the fact it's ugly as sin. Looks like it's been in a rear-end shunt.

[Escort3500]

Some of them were OK

[Pints]

Escort3500 said:

Some of them were OK

And if you find a picture of an ok example, do let us know.

[GravelBen]

Shaw Tarse said:

It's not a pretty car.(IMHO)

But not as bad as the 1-series, and thats sells well enough! Maybe there was better-looking competition back then.

[s m]

Ozzie Osmond said:

morgrp said:

It might have been if they'd put a bit more effort into designing it

Quite. Didn't Merc do something similar as well?

[Bill Carr]

I think the OP makes a good point.

I really liked my 318ti, was a great little car. It looks no worse than the other e36 variations tbh, they're hardly lookers.

[NelsonR32]

I picked up an 02 325ti for £745 last week. Needed a new cooling system which I fitted myself and clutch is slipping slightly. So all in all owes me £1145.

I'm amazed how good it is to drive. Had a 325i saloon and 330ci cab and the chopped off rear end does make it feel faster and more fun. However, one. Thing it isn't is pretty. I may hunt down some facelift rear lights soon.

[g3org3y]

Love the 2002 touring.