What other model...

[Gavla]

I do quite like the muscle car look of the e46, but is it a car worth owning?

If not an e30, what other model / year can compare...?

Your opinions matter...

[pac1982]

E46 is one of the nicest looking BMW's but is flawed by many faults and common problems, its really not up to BMW's usual standard

[Topblag]

E36 is closest to the characteristics of the E30 (obviously). Didn't like my E46 325Ci Sport (2002) as it was too heavy and lacked the responsiveness of the E36 318is my then wife was running at the time.

The newer you go, the heavier they are and the more electronic trickery involved. It seems that the used market is favouring the 320D variants as they tend to be reliable, provide good MPG and are comfortable to drive.

[Gavla]

E46 is one of the nicest looking BMW's but is flawed by many faults and common problems, its really not up to BMW's usual standard

Examples...?

[polsta]

im not sure the exact car, but i had a quick ride in a very or brand new M sport touring, of some sort, with one of bmws top engineers last week at work, it was awsome to be fair, lovely inside

[pac1982]

E46 is one of the nicest looking BMW's but is flawed by many faults and common problems, its really not up to BMW's usual standard

Examples...?

dodgy electrics cause alot of issues, the big killer is the fact the the chassis is not built very well and cracks mainly in the boot floor and the diff mounts. we not talking hair line cracks either big hefty visible cracks can appear.

Alot will say only the big engine cars suffer this problem but I have first hand experience of this happening to a 316

window regs fail often and trim just seems to fall off over night, especially door seals on the coupe. it would seem alot of bond and glue have been used at the factory instead of proper fixings

although the dash feels nicer and better quality on the E46' than its older brothers over time it is easily scratched and the cars that have the carbon look stuff it just seems to rub off

[Fastroad]

I had none of these problems with any of my E46 M3's, I found them to be great fun (with the traction off obviously). I guess at the little 5-6k mark well worth a rip in one, ok not the same feel as an old E30 but I'm sure you will not have to worry as many of the E30's will never be seen in front of you to admire anyway.

(By the way E30 has always been my favourite shape the reason why I have one)

[capnmchl]

Can't get on with the drive by wire in E46's, although I'm slowly getting even more annoyed with a standard cable throttle on fuel injected cars after using carbs. Nothing matches them for throttle response

They're good cars but they're not the type you can just go and buy the cheapest one and expect it to live on, you've got to be picky about which one you buy and which one has had the most love.

[Morat]

We bought my wife's e46 330 touring with 80k on the clock and immediately changed the front wishbones. Since then it has needed:
Windscreen wiper relay £30 new
Rear screen £70 ebay (connections had gone in the glass affecting rear demist and glass opening switch)
Parking sensor £22 new from ebay
New plugs (solved rough running, probably due to platinum plugs not playing with LPG)
Lots of 0/30 Castrol Edge
Two refurbed front calipers.
One Halfords DIY aircon regas kit £25 or so.
12 tyres (running staggered 17s, no rotation possible)
One wing and two wing mirrors due to crash damage but that wasn't the cars fault.
Car was converted to LPG for £1550inc and now costs 13ppm in fuel and still goes like stink.

Curent mileage: 143k and counting. If the rear subframe goes, we'll get it welded.


Edit: forgot that the glass sunroof is out of sync or something so it just stays shut and the climate control has taken over.