BMW E46 325i/330i/330d - talk to me.
Discussion
Thinking about one of these as I need a slighly bigger car and these look like tempting prospects for the money. Are any of these models best avoided/have know problems? I'd quite like the saloon or touring model. Most likely in the sport spec with an auto gearbox.
Opinions appreciated.
Opinions appreciated.
If you're going auto go for the 330. No discernible difference in fuel consumption with the 325 and noticeably quicker.
I've only ever owned the 325/330 petrol models but as far as I'm aware the 330d sits between the two in terms of performance, with predictable better economy.
That said you'd need to be doing serious motorway miles to go for the diesel and the noise of the petrol models is worth it alone.
I've only ever owned the 325/330 petrol models but as far as I'm aware the 330d sits between the two in terms of performance, with predictable better economy.
That said you'd need to be doing serious motorway miles to go for the diesel and the noise of the petrol models is worth it alone.
daveco said:
If you're going auto go for the 330. No discernible difference in fuel consumption with the 325 and noticeably quicker.
I've only ever owned the 325/330 petrol models but as far as I'm aware the 330d sits between the two in terms of performance, with predictable better economy.
That said you'd need to be doing serious motorway miles to go for the diesel and the noise of the petrol models is worth it alone.
Thanks for the info. Defo going auto, I do a fair bit of London driving and get a bit bored of changing gear all the time. Used to have a CLK, and got quite attached to the convenience of it. Don't do many motorway miles other than the occasional trip. Compnay pays for most of the fuel, so looks like it'll have to be the 330i. I do like the look of the touring - a bit of a sleeper.I've only ever owned the 325/330 petrol models but as far as I'm aware the 330d sits between the two in terms of performance, with predictable better economy.
That said you'd need to be doing serious motorway miles to go for the diesel and the noise of the petrol models is worth it alone.
daveco said:
No problem. If possible go for the facelifted models. BMW improved the steering/damping and they don't seem to suffer from the electronic gremlins that plagued that earlier models. They also changed the exhuast so that the BMW trademark 'rasp' is a lot more apparent.
I'll be looking for the latest/lowest mileage one I can find - now they are the older shape 3, none of them are that pricey. A well spec'd one is still a lovely car though!Get an E39 528i/530i instead.
E39's are much better put together, E46's like to rust - from the inside - so you don't see it until it's too late...
If you really must have an E46, check for:
Rust around boot handle / number plate light area.
Rust on lower edge of bootlid.
Rust on leading edges of bonnet, just above lights. (This is usually covered with muck and grime so difficult to see)
Rust on all arches, particularly the leading edge of the rear arches (down at sill level) and top arc of arches.
Check that the rear suspension hasn't ripped out of the body (pre 2000 models I think)
Check for broken rear springs.
E46's also go through lower wishbones - usually these last about 50k miles.
Various bushes around front wear too.
On cars above 80k miles, check that the autobox is in good health - test the manual tiptronic gear seletion - changes should be smooth and fairly quick (less than 1 second). Also check the auto box doesn't hang on to lower gears excessively.
Lots of vibration at idle could mean a knackered torque convertor.
On 100k + check for noisy Vanos - the disa valve can also give trouble (clacking noise at idle).
E39's are much better put together, E46's like to rust - from the inside - so you don't see it until it's too late...
If you really must have an E46, check for:
Rust around boot handle / number plate light area.
Rust on lower edge of bootlid.
Rust on leading edges of bonnet, just above lights. (This is usually covered with muck and grime so difficult to see)
Rust on all arches, particularly the leading edge of the rear arches (down at sill level) and top arc of arches.
Check that the rear suspension hasn't ripped out of the body (pre 2000 models I think)
Check for broken rear springs.
E46's also go through lower wishbones - usually these last about 50k miles.
Various bushes around front wear too.
On cars above 80k miles, check that the autobox is in good health - test the manual tiptronic gear seletion - changes should be smooth and fairly quick (less than 1 second). Also check the auto box doesn't hang on to lower gears excessively.
Lots of vibration at idle could mean a knackered torque convertor.
On 100k + check for noisy Vanos - the disa valve can also give trouble (clacking noise at idle).
Thread hijack alert:
TonyRPH - do the autobox issues not also apply to E39s though?
Back on topic: I found the performance of the 330i was, though good, not as good as expected. So I bought an Alpina B3S (3.4l) which was utterly brilliant. If you can afford the premium for an Alpina, it's like a 330i that has been liberated in terms of noise and power output.
I also had a 330d before that; if you go for one of these make sure it's one of the later ones, mine was a 184bhp and again a little bit uninspiring in terms of performance. A lot of folk get a 330d and remap it.
The E46 really is an excellent car whichever variant you end up going for.
TonyRPH - do the autobox issues not also apply to E39s though?
Back on topic: I found the performance of the 330i was, though good, not as good as expected. So I bought an Alpina B3S (3.4l) which was utterly brilliant. If you can afford the premium for an Alpina, it's like a 330i that has been liberated in terms of noise and power output.
I also had a 330d before that; if you go for one of these make sure it's one of the later ones, mine was a 184bhp and again a little bit uninspiring in terms of performance. A lot of folk get a 330d and remap it.
The E46 really is an excellent car whichever variant you end up going for.
sam303 said:
Thread hijack alert:
TonyRPH - do the autobox issues not also apply to E39s though?
Back on topic: I found the performance of the 330i was, though good, not as good as expected. So I bought an Alpina B3S (3.4l) which was utterly brilliant. If you can afford the premium for an Alpina, it's like a 330i that has been liberated in terms of noise and power output.
I also had a 330d before that; if you go for one of these make sure it's one of the later ones, mine was a 184bhp and again a little bit uninspiring in terms of performance. A lot of folk get a 330d and remap it.
The E46 really is an excellent car whichever variant you end up going for.
Yes indeed - the same gearbox and engine caveats apply to the E39 (530i and others which use the M54 engine).TonyRPH - do the autobox issues not also apply to E39s though?
Back on topic: I found the performance of the 330i was, though good, not as good as expected. So I bought an Alpina B3S (3.4l) which was utterly brilliant. If you can afford the premium for an Alpina, it's like a 330i that has been liberated in terms of noise and power output.
I also had a 330d before that; if you go for one of these make sure it's one of the later ones, mine was a 184bhp and again a little bit uninspiring in terms of performance. A lot of folk get a 330d and remap it.
The E46 really is an excellent car whichever variant you end up going for.
The 530i uses the same (M54) engine as the 330i.
The 528i (I'm working from memory here) uses the M52 engine - which IIRC still can have VANOS problems (but oddly enough I haven't heard of many VANOS issues with the M52 - and this is where others attack and tell me how wrong I am!).
There are just so many "stock faults" with the E46, that the E36 / E39 / E34 (plus others I'm sure) do not suffer from...
If you want a 3 series - personally I would go for an E36 - good ones can still be found for very little money - although they do rust around the arches too!
Horse for courses. Just trying to help.
Sam303 - I hope you didn't think I was hijacking the thread?
Edited by TonyRPH on Monday 17th May 15:31
I just picked up This last week as my daily beater and bike carrier. I'm liking it a lot and it's condition belies it's mileage. Prop shaft couplings can wear which I guess manifests itself as driveline shunt and rear springs are prone to snapping. Rust can be an issue as per post above but I've just got a tiny bubble on mine near the number plate. I'm getting close to 30mpg with a mix of town and country driving and that's with a manual 'box but if I wanted decent mpg I would have gone for a diesel. I love holding 2nd and 3rd just to hear the straight six at high revs.....lovely 
Pablo16v said:
I just picked up This last week as my daily beater and bike carrier. I'm liking it a lot and it's condition belies it's mileage. Prop shaft couplings can wear which I guess manifests itself as driveline shunt and rear springs are prone to snapping. Rust can be an issue as per post above but I've just got a tiny bubble on mine near the number plate. I'm getting close to 30mpg with a mix of town and country driving and that's with a manual 'box but if I wanted decent mpg I would have gone for a diesel. I love holding 2nd and 3rd just to hear the straight six at high revs.....lovely
Like that a lot! I really am leaning towards a touring - lovely looking thing - i think they look meaner than the saloon, and the reason i'm swapping cars is cos i'd like the extra doors, so the coupe doesn't make sense. I can confirm that when healthy, the E36 is the better car to drive, although I rate the actual ride and handling of the E46 better. I think for most people the E46 is the better car though - it's more refined and modern looking and feeling.
I can confirm that the facelift is worth going for. My car was an x plate model and riddled with problems, most if which were fixed or improved with the facelift.
I can confirm that the facelift is worth going for. My car was an x plate model and riddled with problems, most if which were fixed or improved with the facelift.
If you go for the "D" watch out for the dreaded swirl flap issue, there is virtually no difference between later pre facelift and post facelift except the lights, it was only the early 330's that had the single exhaust pipe splitting into two, fuel consumption is not drastically different between the 325 and 330 but the 330 has a lot more umphhh in it.
Good luck with your purchase
Good luck with your purchase
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