BMW E46 vs E90 - Which Car Does The Mechanic Prefer?

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There was a time when the BMW 3 Series was an aspirational car for the young executive. Successful because they were reasonably well put together and sported a German badge, soon enough 2nd hand examples would likewise become popular - and none more so than the iconic M3. These days both E36 and E46's are pretty cheap used cars - but are they worth the hassle? And, for around the same money that an E46 commands, you can find similar condition but newer E90's. So the question is, which model would the mechanic buy? I took the opportunity to interview my own mechanic to see what he thinks, given he has been working on BMW's for 30 odd years. He has seen them all - and knows what to look for when buying one on the second hand market.
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4 окт 2019

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Комментарии : 120

@steventhomas6782 4 месяца назад

Both the E90 and the E46 have full hydraulic steering. Electronic steering was introduced with the F30. Great video

@TheClassifiedMan 4 года назад

E46 is stunning just love them cars

@darkoz1692 2 года назад

I've had my 2001 E46 coupe for 14 trouble free years, one of the best cars I've owned, it now has 250K on the clock. In 14 years, apart from the usual maintenance and service items, I've only needed to replace the expansion tank and battery

@chrissdavey 4 месяца назад

The E46 is a great looking car. The E90 looks heavier and bloated to me. I recently changed some bushes on my E46 and got the alignment done, and it drives like it’s on rails. I also love the hydraulic steering. Mine has the purple steering rack. Nice size too. Not too big. I also love the M Sport bumpers. Lovely cars.

@rexzues3947 4 года назад

Whilst my Mercedes Benz was getting serviced, I had the the opportunity to drive both an E46 318i and 325i for whole days as courtesy cars. Having also test driven an E90, I would have to say the E46 did drive better. Also, the front of the E90 looks to Chinese/Japanese looking with the front lights. The E46 body keeps to the classic BMW design.

@VanquishMediaDE 3 года назад

I think the E90 was around the same time BMW opened a factory in China, Most German cars are not even made in Germany anymore, South Carolina, South Afrika, India, China, Mexico, Brazil, Poland, they are building a factory in Hungary (2023-2024).

@travisxzavier3345 2 года назад

you all probably dont care at all but does any of you know of a method to get back into an Instagram account? I stupidly lost the password. I appreciate any tips you can offer me.

@damaridamien3367 2 года назад

@Travis Xzavier instablaster =)

@BagusGaming05 8 месяцев назад

True

@blairheaton9042 3 года назад

Brilliant content. Just brought a 2000 e46 330i manual touring in great condition. Great car and I appreciate your and Steve's insights.

@Volks2462 Год назад

E46 is a great car , if you find or own a good one keep it

@46god Год назад

i never want to drive another car after e46, just keep getting better e46s lol

@Mattyew 2 года назад

The e46 330i in manual with minor tweaks like exhaust and grippy tires make it a damn fun car to drive. Mine is nearly twenty years old and still drives well with hardly anything changed on it. That being said, preventative maintenance is key.

@uj7110 Год назад

Yeah,great cars,the 330i.I had a 316i 1.9 8v and sold it 2 weeks ago,and i bought a 325i back.What a great car,6 cilinder

@blanchimont5587 Год назад

the chassis alone makes it a pretty fun car; i have a 318i and although it is down on power, when you have good tires and find the right twisty road it is a blast.

@foovapes500 4 года назад

Really enjoy your videos - Great Work

@jim_jam_dseries 4 года назад

Really enjoyed the video! Would be great to see similar video structure comparing other makes and models in the future.

@kamata93 4 года назад

Just a small addition. M3 was introduced with the E30, not the E36 :)

@RedWolfDrift2000 10 месяцев назад

Man, you asked all the right questions. Thanks for a great video!

@malapumpa1605 2 года назад

very insightful video thank you!

@jagunar Год назад

subbed mate, love the production - very unique and fresh

@davidzebar6876 7 месяцев назад

Very helpful video thank you lads

@SiddharthBhatt11 2 года назад

Hi Guys! Greetings from SE suburbs! Thanks a lot for making this video and providing real insight into an E46 ownership in Australia. I am thinking of getting an E46. I have found some good examples online, but before I fully commit myself to the cult, I wanted to get a clear idea of the running/operating costs of this vehicle. If you can make a follow-up update on this E46, and talk about what all services and major/minor part replacements has this vehicle had during its lifetime, that will be great! I love your content! Please keep making more videos like this!

@captainkilos 4 года назад

Amazing video!

@Duncangafney1 3 года назад

Hence why I bought a mint, low mile, full history E46 330CD. Absolutely love it. Yes you spend more in maintenance, but depreciation is zero.

@tsmgguy 10 месяцев назад

Bought my E46 325i new in 2001. After about six years or so I developed an itch to replace it with something more up to date. Glad I resisted the urge! Today, the car is a one owner, 76K miles, dry climate delight. It's been reliable. The intake valve VANOS sensor did go out, but this was easily replaced in my own driveway in about two hours. The car has had new belts, hoses, and brake pads, and it's on its third set of Continental Sport Contact tires.

@alcolaco2042 3 года назад

Such a well put together interview video! A clear perspective on a comparison between both generations. Thankyou Sir, as this is good help for me deciding on upgrading my e46 to a e92.

@fregyt Год назад

Downgrade

@VanquishMediaDE 3 года назад

In 2004 I was the young executive driving my 330i, forward the time I am a middle-aged CEO being chauffeured in my 750i. I still kept my 2004 330i E46 after all these years and it still drives just as good as the day I bought it from the showroom floor. Older BMWs age like fine wine, the newer models made after 2014 are garbage.

@davecom3 3 года назад

Absolutely. I had a 330 in my early twenties and ended up buying a 330 again in my late 30s. The quality of the materials in the e46 are significantly better than the e90 series.

@VanquishMediaDE 2 года назад

@@davecom3 I agree, the build quality went to hell by around the F30.

@hassankhan384 2 года назад

Also the desighns of new ones are just ugly, just look at that e46 its beautifull and somthing I can't take my eye off, it might be 20 plus years old desgin but it's still new to me and the new ones out date much quicker due to the technology and the hideous desghins.

@moiv8 3 года назад

Love the E46!

@lazyhuy23 Год назад

Great talk

@jorgemiranda822 3 года назад

I have both e36 318is coupè and e46 330ci , the first one is a 1992 and over 350 k and just normal maintenance , great fun car no major problems other than the normal fails , stored since 2010 still in good shape . The e46 330ci is M sport with smg gearbox, 19 inch weels and now over 280 k on the clock and still a Wonderfull and fun car to drive , a bit of a nightmare to maintain due to is age , but the good thing is i can do almost avery thing in my garage its easy to repair with the wright tools , my original bmw batery last until 2014 ( almost a miracle ) . All and all , i would never change an e46 for a e90 ! It's just not the same feeling on the road anymore . Cheers from spain mate .

@loukenthompson2365 2 года назад

This is so true, bmw has done a great job of keeping serviceability. Both the e46 and the e90 cars are serviceable. The materials are not that great in the e46, but they’re worse in the e90. If you are focused on driver experience, both cars are wonderful for that.

@Floateritos 2 года назад

How do you like the e36 vs e46

@raptor1772 5 месяцев назад

Nice Video😎👌

@robertjooste4911 3 года назад

If you have an e46 you can look forward to replace control arms and bushes, steering coupler, driveshaft center bearing, cooling system expansion tank, water pump, radiator and hoses, thermostat, crank case ventilation valve and hoses, valve stem seals, valve cover gasket, altornator regulator, v drive belt and tensioner pulleys, oil filter housing gasket, oil level sensor, internal cockpit fan resistor, window winder mechanisms, interior loof lining. Had the car for 9 years now 2002 320i, 174 000km. $$$, Great car though

@ppppugh7892 3 года назад

+Rust. BMW decided to strategically use cheap steel brackets on the rear side skirts, on the fuel filler pipe, meaning that the rust will begin on them and carry over onto the body panels. Naughty BMW.

@robertjooste4911 3 года назад

@@ppppugh7892 No issues with rust yet and I stay by the coast. Just annoyed by the plastic parts they use on the cooling system and some other places. Went through two original BMW cockpit fan resistors, ended up replacing with and aftermarket part and it has lasted for years. They should upgrade these weak parts, like the stupid plastic wheels on the window winder machanisms.

@asmushyer-nielsen8873 2 года назад

The same largely goes for the E39. I have owned one for more than 2 years now, and I have spent thousands on parts. It is an AMAZING car when it is sorted though...

@fregyt Год назад

Also DISA. And then you have a tank

@lfrrealtors7623 Год назад

Can you do a video on the interior and new infotainment and additional speaker you fixed under the seat so we know how you did it..thanks

@voornaamachternaam5745 Год назад

GOOD VIDEO

@friguy4444 3 месяца назад

I'm really surprised that all those regulators failed so early. I've owned my 2005 E46 M3 for eight years now and I've never had one window regulator fail on me. I've had a broken window button break because the plastic is not very strong or the design is poor. But that's it. Also the blower motor and regulator for that went on BOTH my E90 335XI and My E46 M3. Replaced them both myself as I do all my own work on those cars.

@ads998 Год назад

I'd love to know where you got the headlights. I'm struggling to find similar ones for my 325i E46!

@nicholastoo858 9 месяцев назад

Got a 2004 E46. The design is timeless.

@tcaudiobooks737 8 месяцев назад

If you have the Induktiv wireless charger/cupholder installed, and get a Carplay conversion done on the original factory nav unit by Carphonics, you wouldn't miss a single thing from the newer 3s.

@465painkiller465 4 месяца назад

First thing to bring up about the e46 should probably be the RACP failure that’s so common. Also rear wheel speed sensors

@IsaacGbornor-vx8yn Год назад

I will choose the E46 over The E 90

@NessBlock Год назад

I am looking to buy a 2003 E46 330i M-sport at the moment. It has a 6 speed manual, which I believe is pretty rare (at least in the Netherlands). 195K km and a good price. Engine runs smooth and makes good noise. I'm first trying to find a buyer for my 2007 E87 118i, which is difficult in present time (fuel costs in the Netherlands are high)...

@spencerydc 4 года назад

Please do more comparisons like this

@UniqueCarsandParts 3 года назад

I would, Spencer, but I have trouble as it is responding to all the hate mail I receive

@efraimk1673 3 года назад

@@UniqueCarsandPartsMan that really sucks... I really enjoyed the video, was a great watch and having a proper mechanic giving his 2 cents was a great idea too! Good job mate!

@TheDoctorBoy 2 года назад

@@UniqueCarsandParts ignore the hate. Do your thing. I really enjoyed the video!

@DiscoFang 3 года назад

So the mechanic would take the E46 because of the way it drives and handles. Nothing in the decision to do with the actual repairs, longevity, reliability, relative complexities or technologies. Purely subjective personal preference.

@davecom3 3 года назад

The e46 is more complex and better built than the e90 series, but it will rust. The chassis on the e90 series is also more suited to track driving. But in the right hands a 330 zhp will be the match of the 335 on a twisty track. Look at their straight line performance-little in it despite the 70hp discrepancy.

@cockshield 2 года назад

The E46 is so much better looking it hurts.

@abinam2255 Год назад

My wife's 323i had the same issue with the plastic windows regulator parts. Both rear windows failed after only 60k km! Had to import from Germany during the Pandemic. Good old reliable duct tape held up the windows for 3 months - until replacements arrived. Nice car - shame about the crappy plastics.

@spc98075c 3 года назад

what headlight and angel eye did you put on the e46?

@steven-6217 11 месяцев назад

4:28 VTEC kicked in yo

@AapVanDieKaap 10 месяцев назад

Beautiful E46 Individual

@michaelsmedley7519 3 года назад

First M3 was the E30

@DIRAVIdude 2 года назад

Actually the M3 was introduced with the E30, not the E36.

@nonikita Год назад

We have a SHIT TON of e46 and e90s in Eastern Europe imported from Germany/Swiss with 200k+ km, if we are able to maintain them with shit salaries, I don't understand what people in USA are doing that they spend thousands of dollars on them.

@bradcomis1066 4 года назад

The E90 has a belt driven hydraulic PS pump.

@DiscoFang 3 года назад

It’s not straight forward. Electric was introduced round 2008 (LCI) but it wasn’t a cut & dry changeover and some models (335 & diesels) remained hydraulic. It also depended on whether the car had active steering & “effective dynamics” which had both a mix of electrically driven hydraulic pump (rather than engine pulley driven) and purely electric. This mechanic doesn’t know his sh*t. Maybe Aussie only got a very narrow model range but, then again, the diesels all had hydraulics before & after LCI so it’s inexperience with the models.

@RoobehTunes 3 года назад

@@DiscoFang Sounds like there's not many diesels in AUS.

@campbellreither550 Год назад

Great video which I just discovered. I have a low km e90. The ride is firm, but it was designed for run flats, so I actually find it solid. Apparently, the E90 chassis is first class. The noise suppression is flawless, it feels like a new car. In looking at crash tests, the E90 is a modern car, the E46 doesn't compare. Just my thoughts. I also think the E90 looks timeless. Many current models are still taking cues.

@AndrewTate-nf2id 5 месяцев назад

U had both of them? E46 and e90?

@campbellreither550 5 месяцев назад

@@AndrewTate-nf2idno. Just the E90.

@LoStorm44 3 года назад

I was thinking about upgrading from my e46 to a e90 now Idk what to do 😅

@UniqueCarsandParts 3 года назад

Keep the E46

@DiscoFang 3 года назад

I own both - a 328i & a 330d, both wagons. The E90 is objectively a better car with better suspension & trans etc. and features. As it ages it will definitely be more expensive to repair with the CAN-BUS & module based electrics but the wreckers yards are getting flooded with E90s, 91s & 92s so parts will be getting cheaper & cheaper. Drive one and see if you prefer it. Like the mechanic’s conclusion it completely comes down to preference of fit & feel.

@JohnTaylor-bd1uy Год назад

@@UniqueCarsandParts Are new parts hard to find for the e46?

@46god Год назад

@@JohnTaylor-bd1uyno and the after market is huge for the e46

@feryardiansah8975 3 года назад

What is the exactly color name or code of those e46? Blue something...?

@UniqueCarsandParts 3 года назад

Estoril Blue

@elemar5 5 месяцев назад

1:51 Ummm, probably the most sought after M3 is the E30.

@haydensteinz2268 24 дня назад

I dont think this guys knows what he's talking about. Both the e46 and the e90 have hydraulic steering electric steering, which was introduced on the f30s 😂

@christianmarcussen6093 2 года назад

I can tell you are in a area where rust is not an issue😮.

@MaxAndreas Год назад

The e9x series had hydraulic steering.

@egenerationegeneration 2 года назад

E30 was the collectible an Introduce the m3 not e36

@stickmove1493 Год назад

330 replaced the 328i but the 323i & the 320i have the same power figures so it's silly to say the 323i was replaced by the 325i when the 325i has the same power as the 328i ... 328i had more torque but a rubbish chassis and a head gasket leaking motor ! m54b25 is the best M54 engine built

@somedudeinatunnel3102 3 года назад

E36 isn't the most collectible, not even close. You can still pick up an E36 M3 for under $5k. Meanwhile you won't find an E30 M3 for less than $40k, and many are going for $70-100k+

@jayhussain6959 3 года назад

Where? I’d buy multiple e36 m3 if they’re under $5k

@somedudeinatunnel3102 3 года назад

@@jayhussain6959 I mean they're used and abused but they exist, I've seen several on my local Craigslist.

@somedudeinatunnel3102 3 года назад

@@jayhussain6959 That being said, you can still get an excellent example for $6-8k

@jayhussain6959 3 года назад

@@somedudeinatunnel3102 what area? Here in Canada there considered collectibles and go for lowest 10-12k on a good day

@lollol-xp4mc 3 года назад

@@somedudeinatunnel3102 no you cant. E46 m3 is superior cause usa got weak ass e36 version so in usa the e46 is much more desirable

@stickmove1493 Год назад

E36 Did not Introduce the M3 the first M3 was the E30 M3 so that's who introduced the M 2 the 3

@netsecurityregulator 2 года назад

e90 has hydraulic steering

@ziggassedup 4 года назад

Run and run as fast as you can from both of those things mate...BMW doesn't =" Broke My Wallet" for nothing bud...I see many at work with fairly low K's that need extensive repairs...Even simple stuff needs you to get in up to the armpits to complete..Just sayin'....It's an excellent E46...today...Just a note...We only use genuine BMW parts because barley any aftermarket parts fit properly so they'll fail soon enough too...Great for us mechanics but a raw deal for the owners...I don't know of any mechanics here who own a BMW...Love the show mate.

@Rockit181 4 года назад

It's definitely a car you either have to be willing to spend quite a bit on maintenance (a couple K every few years) or be willing to really learn to do them yourself

@voornaamachternaam5745 Год назад

Small problem no airco ? That makes the car useless in the summer !!! Foggy windows in winter !

@voornaamachternaam5745 Год назад

Kilowatts ? You mean PK !!!

@maychellah9032 2 года назад

Tire are replaceable

@josephbriffa120 3 года назад

E90's both a better driving vehicle and more reliable due to e46's subframe issues over time.

@josephbriffa120 3 года назад

Dudes got a clear bias.

@davecom3 3 года назад

E46 subframe issue is overblown. I have been lucky enough to own 9 of them and none have had issues with the subframe.

@josephbriffa120 3 года назад

@@davecom3 9. Bloody hell. I'm assuming you have enough money to purchase the ones that have been well maintained.

@davecom3 3 года назад

@@josephbriffa120 I've bought a few that were badly taken care of and they did require work around the 100k mark. The biggest issue with them is rust and plastic components in the engine going bad. Gaskets will go if not properly warmed up. They really don't like being left idle!

@Volks2462 Год назад

Nonsense

@voornaamachternaam5745 Год назад

Just replace the tyres of the e 90 !

@davidullrich9905 2 года назад

Which he picked? Dont want to watch it 😂

@hater8812 2 года назад

Isnt e90 better to drive?

@ultrasoundviolet Год назад

Easilyyy I own one and I’ve almost had it for a year. best years in my opinion and a little more modern

@hater8812 Год назад

@@ultrasoundviolet e90 is better than e46

@JohnTaylor-bd1uy Год назад

@@hater8812 E46 is funner to drive.

@hater8812 Год назад

@@JohnTaylor-bd1uy why john rodriguez says that e90 is better?

@JohnTaylor-bd1uy Год назад

@@hater8812 John Rodriguez is bias. I've driven both and as a mechanic who pays very close attention to detail, the E46 was a better design. When BMW went with Electronic steering, it eliminated the shaft which numbed the driving experience. The e46 has better road feedback/driver connection. But it also looks better than the e90. And most enthusiasts agree. You think Rodriguez knows better than the European BMW master mechanic in the video ?

@moesizlac2596 4 года назад

As a space traveller who has just arrived to your world, I am surprised by your species predatory nature and yet also surprised that members who prey on their own kind are not torn to pieces. Perhaps makers of these cars live in very secure places? And I cannot understand why so many of you seem to want to expose your surplus wealth to such predatory behavior. I shall study you more, but clearly you do seem to lack even low level abilities to manage your impulses.

@zayanmendoza4506 4 года назад

Further explanation please

@UniqueCarsandParts 3 года назад

Thanks, Moe. Now would you kindly remove the probe

@nikolakarovic5964 27 дней назад

E90 over e46 any day. This guy is a wannabe mechanic and speaks only misinformation..

@brightenupcc Год назад

The M3 was introduced during E30 not E36. Such an amateur error. Production quality is non existent. Don’t quit your day job mate, RU-vid ain’t for everyone.