Here’s Why The BMW E46 330ci Is The Best Bargain Today 

E46 models are going to be the next modern classic

Nothing is more expensive than a cheap BMW.

Happy 2001 330CI owner for 15 yr.s, 142k miles minimal problems.

Up to downshift and down to upshift is actually more convenient than the other way round for sporty driving. Most sequential gearboxes for rallying do this aswell.

The E46 is definitely the best looking BMW IMO

Bought my teenage daughter a used 2002 BMW 330ci as her first car, in a 5MT. It survived three years with her, and is still running strong, with 174,000 miles!! It is still a blast to drive, still looks cool and modern, handles well...most undervalued car!!

The 330Ci is a very good car if you want a RWD driver's car. Add an LSD, some mild suspension upgrades and make sure the cooling system is maintained and you have a good daily you can do lots of fun skids in. Don't buy an automatic--it ruins the whole reason you are going through the agony of old BMW ownership.

I just recently bought a 325i and I love it. It's a great drivers car and I can really recommend people to buy an e46.

These cars are cheap if you work on them your self easy to work on

I feel you, had similar issues with my 02 E46 325i sedan with 94k. It's worth fixing compared to a rust bucket. I'm actually amazed how the paint is still looking fresh, the door locks work pretty well and everything is in a good shape after three owners. Me and my fathers friend got it running like new after a few oil changes, new vacuum lines, a disa valve, valve cover gasket, front struts, control arm bushings in the front, tires, brake pads and some service.

“I WoUlDve GoTtEn a MaNuAl BuT I CoUldNt PaSs uP tHis GreAt DeAl”

Got an 2004 330ci with every option possible and 228K on the clock for only 3200$ I love her so much... I knew I wanted a well maintained high mileage car and after looking for a few months I finally found one. And after just about a year and a half a ownership, I’ve put less than 1K into and most of it was basic maintenance. Definitely recommend an E46 if you want to work on your car a bit and have one the best chassis to date: BMW for life, hopefully I can get my 335i soon too :P

I agree, E46 has a lot going for it. Excellent driving dynamics, lots of parts availability, good gas mileage, stylish interior. The coupe version is sexy. Former E39 owner now X3 E82 awd

my e46 316 has 661.730 km and still not a single problem at the engine . i love this model

Adhesive spray from Home Depot kept the whole roof liner up in my volvo S70, worked 15 years ago and still today.

Oh God. I loved my E46 M3. I thought I knew what a car was. I didn't before the m3. Handing. Absolutely perfect. Engine sound, phenomenal. SMG? Anyone who doesn't like the m3 with SMG that isn't manual bias is crazy! Literally a Ferrari transmission and for a transmission that old it was nearly if not faster than some Dual clutch transmissions. SMG is literally a manual without a clutch. Love it. But the BMW tax..... O M G. Like omg. Want a intake? 800..... Full exhaust.... $1500.... More power? Bankruptcy... But the worse thing was the Cam bolt that broke and nuked the engine which was $6000 used or more then the car brand new.... Im a little traumatized my German cars now.

Just sold my perfect example 330ci convertible for $3,500 with 161k miles on it. I already miss it😢

i have a 2002 325ci and I honestly love how the i6 sounds, especially as it climbs the revv range

Love an e46 there looks are timeless

You really didn't have to go this hard with your edits, but I appreciate that you did so much.

I love your video. Refreshingly honest commentary, clean visuals and fine editing. Makes me appreciate my 2002 330Ci convertible even more. Thanks!

E46 are very underated and have potential get em while theyre cheap!!

Your content is wonderful man, I'm shocked it hasn't completely taken off yet. Keep it coming!

I have the same one in black here in the Netherlands. Its fun watching younger people still having fun with these cars . Nice video.

Great ride! Everything broke on my fully BMW dealership serviced BMW e46 330i though and it cost me a -fortune- in repair bills. But, you learn from it... I now do all my repairs myself ;)

Great little video on a controversial chassis. I currently drive a converted 2002 330ci which now has all the guts of a 2006 M3 which was totalled at 32000km. So I bought it all swapped over for $9000 Canadian with 68000km on it. Been great car but I had to do all the major maintenance updates like the vanos the rear subframe repair. Love the machine now. Perfect balance etc.

Just bought a 2003 one, My first can and I love it. Already washed and cleaned it.

I've got a 2000 BMW E46 330ci here in Australia. Mine has 145,000kms (90,000ish miles) and I love it. Finished in Fern Green metallic, beige leather and the same wood as in this video, I still enjoy driving it even though it's 19 years old.

Great video! The E46 is a timeless classic, much fun to be had 👍

One of the best designs, body style and interior.

I picked up my 330i msport touring with a 6 speed manual gearbox last year and I absolutely love it !

Been driving a 330xi for a year now....Love it! Yes, a bunch of repairs but if you can work on it yourself and get a few special tools....no prob. x-drive really great in snow...I think a must. Mine the only BMW in my little town and all think it's really "high toned".

I used no Iron hemming tape for my saggy pillar fabric, worked like a charm.

I bought a 330ci a couple years ago as one came up for sale in my area with a manual. Very easy reliable car to work on and own. I was a BMW mechanic but that was years ago. I maybe have an advantage in that regard but even for a backyard mechanic they are easy to work on. Mine has 140k miles now.. it sees on average 135-145mph once a week if not more where I live. Average 85-90mph and it just takes it. I am meticulous with maintenance on it though as I know I will drive it hard. If you get one get a manual! They are harder to find in the USA but worth it over the automatic.

I've been on youtube all day, hands on best video I've seen. PLEASE DON'T STOP!

Great filming great, editing, nice video. Thank you!

Great honest review. I myself is a die hard e46 fan. e46s are only good if you know how to wrench or are willing to learn through youtube videos. With that said, it's an incredibly easy car to wrench on. I really can't recommend the car because there are too many suspension parts and gaskets that need to be replaced.

I did think about getting an E46 330Ci, but two things lets it down. 1) It is quite an older car, with associated older car expenses, and 2) it is missing the practicality of 2 extra doors. This is why I selected the E90 330i, which also has more power than the E46 330Ci. But yeah, the E46 Coupe is a beautifully classical shape and that is not to be dismissed.

Loved the review and the in-depth commentary

I love my 152000 mile 330i well maintained and have had minimal problems. (Watch the cooling system worth replacing as precaution) I fixed the side cloth with plumbers plastic pipe glue it worked perfectly.. it was just the strip where it says air bad but looks original now :)

I just put that motor in my E30, added a cam and I got myself a 240rwhp 1000kg rocket ship

I love my 2003 e46 330i. Had it for 5yrs (I'm 23 it was my first car given to me by my uncle who's a cop). Only 125k miles and only had to do regular tuneups and oil changes. Everything stock as an m sport edition. Drove it down to Florida when I was 21 from new york and was the smoothest ride. And for a 2003, it has more features than a 2009 Ford focus lol. Any ideas for mods? Not sure what to do. I love it stock.

Great video! Beautiful car and interesting stories, thank you for sharing this journey!

I bought a 2003 325i. Not the fastest thing on the road at all but it still gives me a smile when I downshift and lay into it

Good luck with it. I've spent alot on parts costs on my e46 but it's soo worth it for that feel.

i just bought a 2001 330ci, immaculate condition 75k miles Oxford green with the cream leather interior, beautiful car, i paid £1100 and its perfect!

Bought a ‘02 330ci as my first car when I was 16. Soon to be 3 years that I’ve had the car, have done lca bushings, ccv, o2 sensors, intake boots, vacuum lines, fuel filter, and more. 5 speed manual makes it a very fun car, and if you’re handy and willing to do the work then it’s perfect

Got an oxfordgreen 320ci, manual, and I can tell you, I have been driving it for 2 years and boy its a joy to drive, no problem soo far, it even gots M sport package, beige interior, and does not even look old when you put on LED tail lights :D

The aftermarket parts available for the E46 are plentiful and extremely recently priced if you shop around. All over Amazon.....all over eBay. The E46 is the last of the BMW's that are really easy to work on and down don't need a computer or diagnostic tool to do almost anything as evidenced in later models. After 2006 you need a computer just to change the battery! There are literally hundreds of do-it-yourself articles, blogs, Forum articles and RU-vid videos on how to work on the E46.

Did you have a gun in your hand When he decided to " get rid of it" cheap ?

great content man!

my first car was a 2001 330i sedan, I loved it so much.

Dude..Switch to automatic mode .. drive 49 miles on hour, and push the accelerator pedal all the way ... you have the last 3 cm at the bottom the hard part..kick down. You'll see how it launches ✌

Just be aware that the Subframes crack, particularly in the 323, 325, 328 early models

I have a very nice 2004 330ci m sport 6sp manual coupe in black. Had it for 5 years and fitted eibach springs and arbs, BMW performance exhaust and intake and Polybushed front and rear bushes, sounds lovely and goes and handles very well, and looks great IMO .

I have an 04 325ci and I love it. I'm a big fan of keeping it as OEM as possible, but one cool thing I learned that if it's a 2002 (I think this is where it begins) model and later on the back of the radio has an empty input to install a factory aux cable that you can buy from BMW.

I've become an "old" BMW convert after purchasing a salvage 01 M5 with only 80k on the clock for $12k. Car was pretty solid, interior in great shape, and lots of history to prove it had been cared for. I've probably put about $6k into it over the past 2 years and 12k miles, including tires, rotors and brakes, an RMS, and some odd fixes. Expensive? Yes. Some annoying and unexpected? Absolutely. I'm in an area saturated with old american antique muscle cars and 90s / 00s pony cars. And these builds regularly cost $30-50k! And at the end of the day, my M5 gets just as much "street cred", has better performance (it turns), it is comfortable as hell, and honestly is just as reliable as any modified / built project. I think most people just look at these cars with the wrong glasses on. Seen as a fun cruiser / weekender / light daily driver, they are just as "reliable" and as expensive as these other project car builds.

Great car if you're up to the task. Just bought a $600 325i sedan to make into a drift missile and I'm really hyped to take it out on the track in a couple weeks

Really like the production and change of scenary. Keep it up.

I just recently bought a 2003 330i sedan zhp with the 5spd and am actually considering making RU-vid videos documenting my journey to fixing all its small issues and some modifications to the car soon! Super exited to see what the 330i brings to the table iv been driving it for a bit now and it feels amazing

I had one amazing power mines i use to gap 5.0s and camaro ss with my mods Performance Cams Air intake Full cat back exhaust Headers With a tune

Disconnect the butterfly valve from the tail pipe will make it sound better. I have the E46 330ci 2002 convertible and love it. Spent shed loads on it with vacuum leak problems. Had it re-leathered and wheels re-coated. Wouldn’t sell it but wouldn’t buy another one.

I want you to know this video encouraged me to look at E46s. As a result. I just bought a beautiful 06 330ci ZHP coupe also in auto trans. It's no Grand Am, but I am very pleased!

Recently bought a 330ci, it’s identical to this except RHD because I’m in the U.K., Nice cars

My 2002 E46 330ci was the best car I have ever owned. I miss it so bad.

I have a 2004 330ci that I was going to sell when i get my Cayman S but now me thinks i should keep it!

Hello from Europe. I drive E46 330d Touring manual and its the best purchase I have done. Bought it at 229k kilometers (about 140k miles) in mint condition for little bit over 2k € and still loving it after 2 years of ownership. M57D30 is great engines. Only changed fuel hoses and doing regular maintance.

Just bought my first BMW last week. It's a 2008 328xi 6spd Manual with 80k miles, all service history done at the dealer, it was a 1 owner car (a woman in her 50's). I paid $7600 and I could not be happier!

This makes me miss my 2000 328ci. That car was so pure. I just wish it had a manual but it was optioned to the T and extremely fun to drive. I liked the 330ci and ZHP model. If I were to ever go back to the E46 I would get an M3 convertible. I replaced the E46 with an LCI E92 and I absolutely love it.

A high flow cone intake filter will make the engine sound great above 3k in my experience. I've had 2 330i's, and ready to get back into one

I've gotta e46 330i mtech 1. The sedan version, it had 114k km and I bought it last year for just under 7 grand. I've done good tires and a uuc exhaust and it roars. I love the way it sounds. The stock muffler is so restrictive. Love the video

All my family loves cars, and loves doing some proyect cars but keeping them stock (not me) ass soon as I get my bachelors degree and get a decent paycheck, this is the car I’m buying as my proyect car. My first car was an e46 330d and I freaking loved it, it was a BEAST! It had a K&N sports intake and a borla complete exhaust and a M3 front bumper (no fake rebadging) , it was a pretty cool car. It also had slotted and drilled rotors and akebono pads.

I agree 100% Just a great looking car great engine, I dont like the steering wheel though, I have an E36 325i coupe , its rare too , but i would like an E46 330ci , Great cars to own and keeeeeeeep

CDs are great, they provide some of the best sound quality out of anything still. I don't know why people are so quick to disown them just because it's an older technology. I feel they've aged just as well as this car.

I bought a friends garage kept 2004 330ci convertible last year with 15,000 miles. What a find. Original tires. Valve stems came out in my hand first time I added air. Needed a few hoses and a fan clutch, that's it. Its blast to drive. Best looking BMW ever imo. Best grill ever. Everything you said in your review was spot on except the back seat. No room back there even for grandkids.

I have a 2004 330ci Convertible and I absolutely love it. She has 171k on the clock, but runs amazing. Definitively a highway beast.

E46 are the best hands down 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

I LOVE my 2002 titanium sliber 330ci sp, and IDC what people say, if you ever owned a real sorted 330ci then you've realized how much fun BMWs were meant to be from its inception era to current day! Cant wait to buy the 2004 E46 M3 csl when they are legally able to be shipped state side. XD

Just bought a 2001 325Ci coupé. Still looks and drives incredibly well. I always have a grin on my face when I'm driving it, especially when that 6 cylinder engine growls at me! 😊 Give me this naturally aspirated engine over the 2.0 turbocharged engine of the Mini Cooper S I previously had any day!

Used to have a 330ci a couple years ago. I'm about to get another one soon I cant wait

I couldn't get over with the transmission…can't settle on an auto on this baby

I got one in excellent condition for under £2000 best car I've ever had

3m fabric glue is what I used, youll want to brush off the old adhesive and it’s pretty easy

Great video man, 😀 proud owner of an '01 330ci manual transmission euro version, lots of fun with it.

Like a sequential gearbox...they knew what the real drivers wanted. :)

Its extremely hard to find a 330i sedan with a manual under 100k miles for any price.

Probably not where you live but here in the wet UK we suffer from rusty front wings on the wheel arches, I've just this week replaced both of mine so should be good for a few years now. Next up in 2 weeks time is getting my wheels refurbished which will make a noticeable improvement visually to the car.

The auto manual mode transmissions we’re done properly at the time (up for downshifts and down for up shifts)… like a sequential setup

Yo that’s crazy, I just bought a 330 ci TODAY not knowing much about it, for $2,500! Then searched the car up on RU-vid and found this video.. 😂 guess I got a good deal

I personally enjoy the inline 6 sound, but imo the harmon kardon system in this car is the true gem...could be the cabin acoustics but it's a very balanced, full sound with punchy bass that blows the upgraded bang & olufsen system in a family member's modern AMG as well as the base system in a modern S class out of the water...and I'm pretty picky with sounds. I would highly recommend installing an AUX-in port to play off your phone if you don't have one, only costs about $30 on ebay irc. I have a 2005 (facelifted viersion) 330ci coupe thats been well cared for with all the options...only 83k miles...its such a great daily and has had really few real issues over the years. Unfortunately will need to sell it at some point this year as I need a bigger car for the next stage of my life :( will be a sad day

hey dude great video, really well edited and put together as well. I agree the 3 series is a bonkers bargain, i love mine! Well done!

My 2002 330ci is straight piped from the cat & back, sounds very beautiful with all the crackles & pops, best decision I made & yes it’s manual. Recently took it up to 145mph. ;)

You got this with 99k for 2500 wut

You must be a V6/V8 guy if you don't like the inline 6. My friend likes better his VR6 VW than sound of his 330i E46. VR6 is kind of nissans VQ35 aka Chubaka 😃. Anyway inline 6 is my favorite, toyotas JZ, nissans RB sounds delicious, BMWs sound great too , just a bit more brute. Now about the E46 - high coolant temperature is what killing those cars (basically anything after E36). Make sure you have metal water pump and put colder thermostat, (oem one is 97*C ). Weak points are are coolant system and rear subframe mounting points Otherwise E46 is solid lovely to drive platform for petrol heads. If you want reliable car buy toyota or honda, wel the downside is they don't feel solid, nice and quiet.

THE QUALITY ON THIS VIDEO IT'S AMAZING !

This video is really well made nice job

i think i'll go e36 personally

Should i cop a used 2003 330 ci coupe for 2500? It has 110k miles and has been well cared for

Happy owner since new of a 2004 E46 330i. Came equipped with a SSG trans, but that broke. Now it’s a manual. Yey!!! 200k miles of many things going bad, but fixed those things because that is love.

E46s are great value for money. My previous 328ci cost £1250 to buy and would still be going strong had it not been written off when it was crashed into whilst parked. I made £500 on the purchase price after 3 years use when the cheque arrived and in that time all I did was replace a rusty wing (£50) with a used one in the correct colour, replace the bushes the front arms sit in (£40), had the wheels refinished (£120) and recovered the gear knob (£10); beyond tyres and regular servicing that is. I have been running a 330i touring for over four years, I paid £1000 for it. Early on the water pump bearing collapsed but I got away with it £100ish for a pump, a tensioner and some belts, the alternator that had done 175000 miles failed so was replaced with a used one that cost £25 and one of the original front calipers went bad so I rebuilt it with a kit for about £20 oh and it's needed the same bushes the 328ci needed! Other than that I have done the Disa rebuild and CCV replacement, the latter of which is a swine but well worthwhile if the potential damage this can cause is to be believed. Like many M54s mine uses oil so I use a lower spec thicker oil as it isn't in anywhere like as long as BMW specced originally. Recently I was reversed into by a supermarket delivery wagon, I wanted the firm to repair it but they said it was uneconomical and gave me the damaged car back along with a cheque for £1400. If you do the work yourself these are very cheap to own.No doubt if you're paying labour it can get expensive but that's true of many older vehicles. I have had seven years with two wicked manual BMWs for arguably zero cost other than some of my time; albeit as a result of unwanted situations that worked out well in the end.