E46 Sport & M Sport - fool proof way to tell the difference?

[dooosuk]

What's the easiest way to tell these apart? I'm assuming the log book will state explicitely but is there any way to tell from looking at the car as the Sport has some M badging doesn't it?

Just trying to pick my way through the minefield of adverts which seem to indicate Sport in the title but then say M Sport or M-Tech Sport in the blurb.

Thanks,
Andy

[Vee]

Sport and M sport are the same thing ?
E46s were Sport until around 2005, when BMW started calling them MSport.

[dooosuk]

Vee said:

Sport and M sport are the same thing ?
E46s were Sport until around 2005, when BMW started calling them MSport.

Can anyone confirm this?

I'm new to BMWs but I'm sure I read somewhere that the Sport didn't have the M suspension.

Parkers also lists Sport and M Sport on this link http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/specs/summary.aspx?m...

[PartsGuru]

dooosuk said:

Vee said:

Sport and M sport are the same thing ?
E46s were Sport until around 2005, when BMW started calling them MSport.

Can anyone confirm this?

I'm new to BMWs but I'm sure I read somewhere that the Sport didn't have the M suspension.

Parkers also lists Sport and M Sport on this link http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/specs/summary.aspx?m...

I recently bought a 330ci 2000yr(I work at a BMW dealer) and was getting confused by the same problem. A trader that buys parts from me told me that the M sport didn't come in until 2001. All I did was put the reg number of anything I liked the look of thru the BMW system and checked the spec. If you see anything you like and you want to double check it I can do that for you.

[Vee]

E46 Sports came about in 2001 - Y reg onwards.
MTech suspension, staggered (wider rear) MV alloys, M plates, sports interior, black headlining, sports steering wheel and body kit.
Prior to 2001 it is possible to get an E46 with Sport seats and sports suspension but it is not what is known as a Sport as it doesn't have the MTech bodykit and other bits.
Around 2005 BMW started branding sports as MSport - absolutely no difference in spec afaik and there was NOT a Sport option still available when MSports were on sale.

[PartsGuru]

Vee said:

E46 Sports came about in 2001 - Y reg onwards.
MTech suspension, staggered (wider rear) MV alloys, M plates, sports interior, black headlining, sports steering wheel and body kit.
Prior to 2001 it is possible to get an E46 with Sport seats and sports suspension but it is not what is known as a Sport as it doesn't have the MTech bodykit and other bits.
Around 2005 BMW started branding sports as MSport - absolutely no difference in spec afaik and there was NOT a Sport option still available when MSports were on sale.

The one I finally bought is an ex BMW staff choice car and has sports suspension and a few other bits but they didn't go for the sports seats!! It's still a great car to drive tho!!

[dooosuk]

PartsGuru said:

dooosuk said:

Vee said:

Sport and M sport are the same thing ?
E46s were Sport until around 2005, when BMW started calling them MSport.

Can anyone confirm this?

I'm new to BMWs but I'm sure I read somewhere that the Sport didn't have the M suspension.

Parkers also lists Sport and M Sport on this link http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/specs/summary.aspx?m...

I recently bought a 330ci 2000yr(I work at a BMW dealer) and was getting confused by the same problem. A trader that buys parts from me told me that the M sport didn't come in until 2001. All I did was put the reg number of anything I liked the look of thru the BMW system and checked the spec. If you see anything you like and you want to double check it I can do that for you.

Thanks PartsGuru, I might well be in touch or paying a visit to the local dealership to ask.

Andy

[PartsGuru]

No Probs Doo,

I've just done the same on another topic on PH but if you can get your local dealer to do it then that would be good. I would try the parts guys first for that as they use that area all the time.

[kentmotorcompany]

dooosuk said:

Vee said:

Sport and M sport are the same thing ?
E46s were Sport until around 2005, when BMW started calling them MSport.

Can anyone confirm this?

Yes he is spot on. Sport and M Sport are the same thing on e46. Only pre 2001 cars were the Sports slightly different.

[dooosuk]

Thanks people.

[Tim330]

My log book shows my car as a 330I Sport, registered Sep 2000. It has the sports interior, suspension (judging from the ride), wider rears, MV1's, black headlining, no 'm' gear knob though. Not sure about the m tech bodykit, here is a photo

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/4435/s5030679.j...

[Davidonly]

My 330i was X plate 2000, and was called a 'Sport' in the service book. Had the Staggered MV alloys, different front spoiler, sports seats and suspension. They have that suede stuff on the seats as standard and (but mine was leather).

Was a great car actually did 50K in that in about 2 years, soaked up miles...Even got a good resale with 99K on her in 2006 before getting my M3

[Allanv]

My 320D is listed as a sports in the log book but has the M sills, gear stick and wheel markings and the gear stick is shorter than normal on par with a M series.

The rest of the stuff like suspension and stuff is beyond me as it involves oil and dirt and so I am not going to look.

Sorry its a 2003 model.

have a pic

[0836whimper]

Yep, 'Sport' in 2003 has all the M stuff on it (sills, gearstick, steering wheel, wheels etc), it's just the official designation for all that changed to 'M Sport' in 2005. Otherwise is exactly the same, inc suspension.
The log-book/reg doc will say which is recorded as which.

[Fox-]

Just to back up some of the people in here (Seems odd the chap working for BMW is the one who got it wrong?) Sport and M Sport are the same spec wise. There is no difference - it was simply a rename in early 2005 and nothing more.

Nothing else changed.

[Spandex]

The only different specced model AFAIK was the 330 Clubsport. That had unique Clubsport alloys, spoiler and front splitters... Also was supposed to have slightly lowered suspension and reduced sound deadening in the engine bay, although there seems to be some disagreement as to whether or not this was actually the case (it was certainly mentioned in some BMW literature when it launched.

I had one, and loved it...

[PartsGuru]

Fox- said:

Just to back up some of the people in here (Seems odd the chap working for BMW is the one who got it wrong?) Sport and M Sport are the same spec wise. There is no difference - it was simply a rename in early 2005 and nothing more.

Nothing else changed.

Not so much "wrong" as wasn't sure in the first place!! The trader that tried to give me a pointer appeared to be close but not as exact as the well informed members who have posted on here. Hence the reason why the OP came in here to ask the question in the first place. I didn't bother at the time I bought mine because all the M sports I looked at were either to much money or mileage was to high so I was happy to settle for the car I now have.

[dooosuk]

Well, I found my way through all the mis-advertised ones and ended up with a 330 CI Sport, 02 plate with 64k miles on it for a few hundred quid under £7k. What do you think?





PartsGuru - can I take you up on that kind offer of a reg. check?

Thanks
Andy

[LordGrover]

Looks pretty much identical to mine. Nice car for wafting to the office.

[PartsGuru]

Enquiry done and replied via your email