Someone talk me through the 3-series range ...
Discussion
Chaps,
Contemplating a 3-series. (Having contemplated a 5-series, an SX200 and an MX5 recently as well ... )
The E36 became the E46 at around 1999, but I am slightly confused by the various different models there are available. There seems to be a "Compact" (shorter, 2-door), a "Saloon" and a "Coupe", as well as a "Sport".
I am guessing that the "Sport" was a trim level (probably with better suspension etc). Is the "Saloon" the only 4-door one? (Apart from the estate, obviously.)
Also, there seem to be a bewildering range of engines. 318, 320, 323, 328 and 330. What sort of performance do each of these offer? And what sort of economy?
Also, the Parkers website suggests that the E46 is not as good a drive as the E36 - indeed "Dull" is the word it uses to describe the driving experience. I know they improved it around 2001, but how bad are the 1999 -2001 cars?
My budget is around £8-£10k. What sort of car would I do better buying? An older one with more miles but a bigger engine, or a newer one with a smaller engine? I would quite like leather seats, and air-con, and certainly a manual gearbox.
Suggestions/Advice?
Oli.
Contemplating a 3-series. (Having contemplated a 5-series, an SX200 and an MX5 recently as well ... )
The E36 became the E46 at around 1999, but I am slightly confused by the various different models there are available. There seems to be a "Compact" (shorter, 2-door), a "Saloon" and a "Coupe", as well as a "Sport".
I am guessing that the "Sport" was a trim level (probably with better suspension etc). Is the "Saloon" the only 4-door one? (Apart from the estate, obviously.)
Also, there seem to be a bewildering range of engines. 318, 320, 323, 328 and 330. What sort of performance do each of these offer? And what sort of economy?
Also, the Parkers website suggests that the E46 is not as good a drive as the E36 - indeed "Dull" is the word it uses to describe the driving experience. I know they improved it around 2001, but how bad are the 1999 -2001 cars?
My budget is around £8-£10k. What sort of car would I do better buying? An older one with more miles but a bigger engine, or a newer one with a smaller engine? I would quite like leather seats, and air-con, and certainly a manual gearbox.
Suggestions/Advice?
Oli.
Relatively limited BM experience but I have had a 328 E36 coupe which I enjoyed very much and now have a E46 330 sport saloon which, although early days (only got it at the weekend), I love. I don't think you can compare them personally. The 330 is a much better car. Everything my 328 did well my 330 seems to do better. Have a go in as many as you can and see what yer fancy - lots of choices to be made (especially with your budget - although you might struggle a bit for a good E46 330) as you have already identified! 
Edited to add.. performance wise, the 330 goes a lot better than my 328, and I'm thinking, unless someone corrects me, the engine in the 328 E36 and the 328 E46 is the same. For your budget you could also get an E36 M3, and I'm sure there are many on here who would wax lyrical about them! So - how many doors and how much 'go' do you want?
>> Edited by jimjob on Thursday 22 September 23:49
Edited to add.. performance wise, the 330 goes a lot better than my 328, and I'm thinking, unless someone corrects me, the engine in the 328 E36 and the 328 E46 is the same. For your budget you could also get an E36 M3, and I'm sure there are many on here who would wax lyrical about them! So - how many doors and how much 'go' do you want?
>> Edited by jimjob on Thursday 22 September 23:49
zcacogp said:
I am slightly confused by the various different models there are available. There seems to be a "Compact" (shorter, 2-door), a "Saloon" and a "Coupe", as well as a "Sport".
The saloon is the plain version. Coupe is 2 door variant.
All variants available in Sport or SE trim. SE has bit more plastic and softer suspension, Sport has firmer suspension.
Everyone's opinion is different, but I found the SE suspension way firm enough for UK roads.
zcacogp said:
I am guessing that the "Sport" was a trim level (probably with better suspension etc). Is the "Saloon" the only 4-door one? (Apart from the estate, obviously.)
Yes.
zcacogp said:
Also, there seem to be a bewildering range of engines. 318, 320, 323, 328 and 330. What sort of performance do each of these offer? And what sort of economy?
These numbers are available in any car comic. Just pick were you want to be on the price/performance curve.
zcacogp said:
My budget is around £8-£10k. What sort of car would I do better buying? An older one with more miles but a bigger engine, or a newer one with a smaller engine? I would quite like leather seats, and air-con, and certainly a manual gearbox.
Get a newer car with more miles. AFAIK, BMWs are able to cope with more miles easily.
Basic spec is poverty spec. Leather & A/C are both optional extras. If you are going to get leather, I recommend getting heated seats.
Better still, get a 5 series. Tend not to be driven by chavs, oiks and middle managers.
Chaps,
Lots of good replies - thanks. Very helpful.
5 series instad? Possibly, although they are a bit too big (London driving, and there's only me and Mrs zcacogp ... so no need for anything that large.)
I'd love an E36 M3, but insurance would cripple me. And work is pressing me to get something less than 3 years old (I'll stretch it a bit, but an E36 would stand out as being a bit older.) Fantastic cars tho' ...
Jimjob - how old is your 330? Did you buy it new or second hand? How good are the earlier E46 330's, 'cos these are the ones I am tempted by. May have to wait another few months tho', for the prices to dip a little. Also, what sort of real-world mpg do you get from it?
are those technical terms?
Oli.
Lots of good replies - thanks. Very helpful.
5 series instad? Possibly, although they are a bit too big (London driving, and there's only me and Mrs zcacogp ... so no need for anything that large.)
I'd love an E36 M3, but insurance would cripple me. And work is pressing me to get something less than 3 years old (I'll stretch it a bit, but an E36 would stand out as being a bit older.) Fantastic cars tho' ...
Jimjob - how old is your 330? Did you buy it new or second hand? How good are the earlier E46 330's, 'cos these are the ones I am tempted by. May have to wait another few months tho', for the prices to dip a little. Also, what sort of real-world mpg do you get from it?
RobbieM-Evo said:
M3 3.0 or M3 3.2 Evo - coupe or vert or loon
are those technical terms? Oli.
zcacogp said:
Jimjob - how old is your 330? Did you buy it new or second hand? How good are the earlier E46 330's, 'cos these are the ones I am tempted by. May have to wait another few months tho', for the prices to dip a little. Also, what sort of real-world mpg do you get from it?
Got mine secondhand and it's a 2000W. I've only had it a week but so far it's all good! MPG looks like it will be mid to high twenties, with a bit more on a long run.
zcacogp said:
M3 3.0 or M3 3.2 Evo - coupe or vert or loon
Coupe, convertible or saloon.
jimjob said:Helpful, thank you. If it's not a rude question, how much did you pay for it, and was that from a dealer or private? And what else did you consider at the time?
Got mine secondhand and it's a 2000W. I've only had it a week but so far it's all good! MPG looks like it will be mid to high twenties, with a bit more on a long run.
jimjob said:Thanks for clearing that up as well!
Coupe, convertible or saloon.
Oli.
dcb said:
Better still, get a 5 series. Tend not to be driven by chavs, oiks and middle managers.
...And tend to be better value as considered less desirable in second hand market - often you get higher spec in a 5-Series (Cruise/Multifunction Wheel/Climate/EWx4) - and the E39 is a good drive...
zcacogp said:
Got mine secondhand and it's a 2000W. I've only had it a week but so far it's all good! MPG looks like it will be mid to high twenties, with a bit more on a long run.
Helpful, thank you. If it's not a rude question, how much did you pay for it, and was that from a dealer or private? And what else did you consider at the time?
Hi Oli. If you don't mind, I'll be coy about the price I paid but suffice to say I don't think the guy I bought it from, as a private sale, quite knew what he had..
As as choices? Well, I needed four doors and a big motor with good performance, with a dash of reliability and longevity and reasonable resale properties. V6 4Motion Bora or Golf was about it! Alfa 156 V6 look and go great but wouldn't have ticked some of my other boxes.. Didn't want a 5 series because it'd be too big I'm not over 40..
j44esd said:
often you get higher spec in a 5-Series (Cruise/Multifunction Wheel/Climate/EWx4) - and the E39 is a good drive...
and memory seats and CD and park distance control and child safety controls on the rear electric windows and adjustable child friendly locks on the rear doors and ...
Agree about the E39, though. Mine's surprised me a few times with how well it has coped with daft things I've asked it to do.
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