E90 vs E46 Ride Quality

[D200]

Quick question please

Can someone tell me is the ride in an E46 330i/Ci Sport [or 325i - but but a pertol model] – much better than an E90 M Sport Saloon?

I have a E90 316d M Sport and looking rid of it to free up some cash and I also don’t do that many miles anymore so no real need for a diesel. I’m thinking of buying a cheapish E46 330i/Ci – i.e. around the £3.5-4k mark. I would buy a saloon but the coupes seem to be a lot more common in 3.0 Petrol guises. All 330Ci coupes seem to have sports suspension, even SE’s – is the correct?

I think the M Sports E90s are quite stiff – mine has 18” wheels and ideally I would like a 330i Sport with 17” wheels but most seem to have 18 wheels.


So, my question is to anyone who has owned both a E46 Saloon or coupe Sport model with standard 18” wheels AND an E90 M Sport on 18” wheels [non run flat tires] – is the ride much better in the E46 in comparison to the E90? I want a car with a more pliant ride on bad surfaces.

But I do much prefer the looks [inside and out] of the BMW Sport models hence I want a sport [I hate the flat seats in non sport models especially] but don’t want a car that is too stiff – but I also don’t want a car that too soft and wallowly

I am also half considering an IS200 – I know they are slow in comparison to a 330i etc but I quite like them and they are supposed to be good handling car [though I have never drove one] and reliable and they have a smooth 6cyl engine. Again I would want the Sport model [with the LSD] – does anyone have any experience of IS200’s in comparison to an E46 and E90 M Sport in terms of ride quality

Thanks

[Fox-]

Yes, all 330Ci have Sport Suspension as standard. I'd take the time to seek out a 330i SE saloon if you dont particularly want a Coupe. They are rarer, yes, but they are also less desireable and more likely to have been owned by the sort of person you'd actually want to buy a used BMW from.

The chances of picking up a tidy 1 owner SE Saloon are greater than the chances of doing the same with a Coupe at this budget.

[D200]

Yeah, a 330i SE could be a good option. Though as stated I do like the Sport models interior - esp the nice seats but then again I could try to hoke out an SE with Sports seats, as I you do see the odd one spec'd as such.

Cheers

[Ruxpin]

My father used to own a 2002 E46 330d sport saloon running 18" MV wheels (I drove this regularly and probably drove 10-15k in it - great car)

I now have a 2006 E91 335d m-sport touring running 18" wheels and runflat tyres.

The E91 is far more compliant than the E46 over bumps and poor road surfaces.

The ride in the E46 was totally unacceptable IMHO - my elise was more comfortable on B-roads!!.

I think BMW got a lot of UK complaints about the ride quality of the E46 sport (and sports in general). I was advised that suspension setting were revised on later cars but not sure if true or dates of changes?? Definitely take one for an extended b-road drive before committing if you are concerned about the ride.

[D200]

For some reason I expected the E46’s to have better ride quality than the equivalent E90’s, I thought I read this somewhere but I must be mistaken

Yeah, for sure I do plan to get a good test drive in a few of them and will do my best to seek out poorly surfaced roads! But also wanted to get owners opinion who have driven the car on all conditions of road for longer periods.

Thanks

[Luca Brasi]

On bumpy roads, E46 Sport ride quality is not so great, and mine is on 17inch 68M's.

[petrolveins]

I've got a E46 Saloon Sport on 18" and the ride is firm, not bad most of the time, but on bumpy or broken surfaces it is rather harsh.

[Fox-]

The ride on my E92 with 18's was beyond awful.

[Dino D]

In my experience the ride of a 335d was 'bouncier' at high speed motorway driving than my e46 330i and just as firm, if not former as the e46.
Just get a sport and change the rims - probably be easy to get a swap for 17s or sell them on eBay (after winter though as everyone looking for smaller used rims now for winter tyres).

[Patrick Bateman]

Fox- said:

The ride on my E92 with 18's was beyond awful.

Due to run flats more than anything?

Plenty of folk seem to suggest removing them transforms the ride. I've never driven a car with them, or been in one I don't think, but a friend from BMW said it was like driving with no suspension.