E46 - Any good?

[aj_mckay]

Alright people? I'm loosely thinking of upgrading my E30 318is to something a little newer and less rough around the edges. Mainly as my missus hates my car and won't drive it so i want something a little more refined that we can both drive. She thinks it's too old and unreliable (although it's never given me any problems in that area!). I think really she just wants something more cosy and less noisy!

I was looking at a 318i se 2002 plate which I believe is an E46 (?) Does anyone have any experience of these and know if they're any good?

This is the sort of thing I'm looking at ...

[Blitz]

There good but compared to a 318is its

[e30topless]

i have owned that exact model but a very high spec 2001 51 plate excellent on the motorway for a 318i good overtaking/top end acceleration but boring anywhere else! I could never get the hang of the clutch for some reason

[Joshy]

Keep the iS and Get her a recent reg Rover 25 for under a grand, then ask what she thinks of new car's reliability

[e30topless]

Keep the iS and Get her a recent reg Rover 25 for under a grand, then ask what she thinks of new car's reliability

[m4xos]

lol, yea rover 25!! tell her its right up her street!!

i like the e46's, but would only have the m3, although you probly want the cheap insurance etc.
i like the broadside sideways action and would be afraid of the e46's pop up roll bars behind the rear headrests that puncture the roofs!! they trigger out if the car thinks its going to roll!!

[aj_mckay]

Keep the iS and Get her a recent reg Rover 25 for under a grand, then ask what she thinks of new car's reliability

haha, like your style...

Hmm, I know what you all mean about it being a bit boring compared to the iS. One to mull over for a while me thinks! I'll take a few different ones out and see what's what.

[Blitz]

For some reason I've always loathed 316i and 318i E46, I'm really sick of them. Maybe because we've got one at home.

[Morat]

Head over heart the E46 is a better car in all respects (as you'd expect!) but the E30 is more fun, and you have to be doing ludicrous speed in an E46 feel like you're pushing it. Oh, and DIY on an E46 seems a lot more daunting.
Why don't you sit her down with Excel and explain the concept of depreciation?

[madaboutthe30]

For some reason I prefer the e46 as oppose to the e36.

[Alex]

lovely cars my dad had one 323i 1999 2 door in topaz blue and cream leather, i prefer prefacelift personally i would have an e46 over an e36 anyday they look smarter Imo

my dads is now owned by his mother in law with 250k on the clock she scares the shit out of me driving it

lovely motor, gets serviced every 1000 miles now

[aj_mckay]

Oh yeah, there's no way I'd have an E36, they just scream council to me for some reason! E46 would definitely be the car to drag me away from my E30. I'm still not 100% sure I will actually change my E30 for ANYTHING yet but if I do it'd be an E46.

[fozzymandeus]

Check which engine the 318i is. It could be the 8 valve M43, which is a bit wheezy in the E46 body (only 115hp). Or it could be the valvetronic 16v 2ltr engine that came in about 2002 which has 150hp and is a bit better! (Albeit I think it's unlikely it's a DIY servicing type car, but I could be wrong).

OK E36s ARE undeniably a bit naffer than E30s, but an M44 engined late 318is is a better car than an early M43 engined E46 IMO.

[aj_mckay]

Yeah, I wouldn't settle for anything less than the 16v 150 bhp 2.0l engine - does anyone know what engine code that is?

[aj_mckay]

Surely this is too good to be true or am I missing something really obvious here...?

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/ww ... RegLetter=

[E30Mark]

Surely this is too good to be true or am I missing something really obvious here...?

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/ww ... RegLetter=

It's a scam, if you like giving your money away to third world scammers then go ahead!

[aj_mckay]

What makes you say the then? Just the money being asked for the type of car? On first sight it looks like an honest ad...

Got to be too good to be true though, I agree.

[E30Mark]

If things are too cheap / good to be true then step back and take a moment to think why?

Believe me it's a SCAM, you can't contact the seller by phone, only email, then he'll ask you to send a deposit etc and you'll never see your money again or the car. Feel free to prove me wrong!

[aj_mckay]

No no, I'm not questioning your judgement, don't get me wrong, I'm sure there's something 'fishy' going on too but I was just curious to know if you'd spotted something on the ad. or had heard of this sort of thing going on.

I will be steering clear of this

[JazzMan]

I think they really good cars, but then I would say that as I have a 2002 320Ci (6 pot 2.2 ltr, 170bhp). It's fast enough for my daily commute and you can still got quick cross country if you want. The E30 is certainly a more raw experience. I've had an E36 as well (Compact) - the E46 is quieter than all of them inside.

[E30Mark]

I was just curious to know if you'd spotted something on the ad. or had heard of this sort of thing going on.

http://pictures.autotrader.co.uk/imgser ... =854969822

If you ever see a picture with the contact details on it i'd be very suspicious.

I quite like the E46, looks modern and you can pick them up for cheap money these days. Local to me there was a very nice condition X or Y plate 318i for sale in Nov, they struggled to get £2k for it

[kieran325]

This is my E46 320d Sport, Ive had it from new and in that time all its had is a broken rear spring replaced, I did em both for £100 supplied and fitted

It's still under the service and maintainence package so all my services are free.

It's a great car and more comfortable than the E30 and I own 3 E30's, the E30 is good for a weekend toy now, whilst the E46 is a good all round car.

[GBE30]

The only think with newer BMW's is lower spec cars do look a lot lower in spec. If you are lucky enough to find one with an MTEC pack good interior option etc then it would make it a nice prospect.

Would be nice to keep the E30 for weekends!!

[JazzMan]

The only think with newer BMW's is lower spec cars do look a lot lower in spec. If you are lucky enough to find one with an MTEC pack good interior option etc then it would make it a nice prospect.

Would be nice to keep the E30 for weekends!!

On the coupe I prefer the non-sport bumpers and skirts

[Morat]

You've got to go for the 330 - the engine is so sweet. Powerful and silky smooth. Its a real treat and its the same engine in pre 2001 cars so you can pay the old road tax rate.

[robbo86]

Why don't you sit her down with Excel and explain the concept of depreciation?

That involves numbers and stuff, a concept scarey enough in its own right!

[ah]

If you look on E30 chat -(I finally found them both).The E46 in the picture is my wife's and the proper BMW is mine.The E46 is a great car 318ise 2000.Cream leather interior, wood everywhere, climate,and every other toy you can think of.We have had a few probs with it,but I think there all sorted now, apart from needing a new thermostat.The only thing with the E46,it does what it seas on the can!It has no soul, unlike the E30.I hope this is a bit of help to you.

[aj_mckay]

I'm thinking for the price of E46's at the moment I can probably justify keeping the E30 and using it as my toy - Happy Days

[SamiS]

I had one, great car. But it wasnt the best example!

http://www.e46zone.com/forum/index.php? ... e46+buying

(Mods, its my site, but its a guide to "problems" and what to watch out for on E46's)