Drive G20 M340i, it is very solid and still feels like older BMWs. In think it is one of the last classic looking BMWs that will disappear in the next fewnyears.
The E46 was/is a pinnacle of design and engineering for BMW...it is that simple. The 6's are just sooooooooooooooooooo smooth. The E46 just looks so subtle and understated.
E46 325CI owner here! 2000 topaz blue m-tech manual coupe. My first car and ive had it for a couple of years, still love it a lot. Ive got the M3 interior, mirrors, seats, CSL wheels. Full custom exhaust, bilstein B8 + sportline suspension setup, progressive lsd from racingdiffs. Couple of things i would like to mention; my car suffered from the subframe cracks as well, it happens usually to earlier models that have the foldable rear seats, the later models have fixed rear seats which help with stiffening. If ive had to mention some drawbacks of the car; the standard shifter is quite long and it doesnt have a lot of feeling, you can swap it out for an E60 one for a shorter stroke, the 5th gear is a bit hard to find though. The cooling system needs a lot of attention and usually you have to add some oil to the engine, the M54 engines suffer from a badly designed oil scraper piston ring which makes it use some oil. Probably never selling my car! Each year im restoring/upgrading it a little further, next up is the paint and then the interior headliner which usually starts to hang.
@@mc1703 Then it might be an idea to check the subframe, if the car has driven in a sporty manner once in a while the chances are that its starting/happening. There are kits for sale online with metal plates that you can weld on to the spots. I advice to put some polyutherane powerflex bushings in the rear diff and the sub frame so the rear end feels really tight and you wont have to worry again about the rubbers. I went a step further and added a racingdiffs lsd kit to the diff, which adds to the sporty driving
Different model though same make. Many reasons why I keep my E39 in perfect condition. Just the right combination of power, agility, and looks. I will never purchase a new BMW again. Hilarious to me that so many people need to be seen in something new by complete strangers.
I have a 2001 330Ci convertible auto. Had it 8 years, had lots spent on it, but it shows. It's fast, looks great, easy to drive in traffic and an all round excellent car.
There was a 2.5 litre 323i/323Ci as well, 1998-2000 at the same time as the 2.0 320i (not sold in the UK) and the 328i/Ci. Those had the M52TU engines, replaced in late 2000 by the M54 320i 2.2, 325i/Ci and 330i/Ci. E46's are a good idea on paper but they are very needy in old age and some jobs are ridiculously overcomplicated compared to the E36. An E36 radiator takes 30 minutes to replace including filling and bleeding, the E46 is a pain in the arse with seized on push fit hoses, the separate header tank and the inevitable broken mounting plate. Dead dash pixels, rust, wonky heater blower resistors, rust, knackered driveshafts and diffs (nowhere near as good as E36 ones), window regulators, window switches, front lower wishbones/balljoints/rear bushes and so on. The passenger side rear subframe mounting in the boot floor fails and is a pretty involved job to repair. Oh, and rust. They're a bastard for it. Finding decent quality front wings is getting hard now and even 'genuine' BMW wings (they're not) from the dealer need work to get them to fit and look right. They drive well but there is a very good reason the E36 is worth more money. Lighter, more responsive handling and a lot easier to maintain. E46's are only any good if you buy a really clean one with a stack of history. Trying to resurrect a rough one is a waste of time.
Absolutely agree Jack, E46 is peak BMW, and my feeling is the 325Ci is the "sweet spot" of the range. As a bit of a car nut, about 5 years ago I found a high mileage (circa 220k km), '03 325Ci with M-Sport pack (M sport alloys, subtle body kit, M sport steering wheel, sports suspension) at auction, that had only one owner from new, fully documented history, and was attracting not much bidding interest (probably due to the high mileage scaring people off) and looked to me to be a bargain (it was in amazing condition given the age/mileage) - so I cheekily put in a bid for $2800 (just over $3k with fees), and won it. Gave it a full service, new tyres and new battery, and used it as a second/weekend car for just over 2 years (about 9000km), and it performed flawlessly. It was a pleasure to drive every time, firm but still comfortable ride even with the sports suspension, and just the right amount of power and handling verve to make the drive smile inducing and just special. Sold it (I'd scratched that BMW itch) after just over two years, and having not cost a dime in repairs, for $7000. For car/driving enthusiasts on a budget, I can't think of anything better for the money. Cheers!
My wife has an E46 320ci Cabrio. By far, the best car we have ever had. She only allows me taking the car to the dealer, every two years, compared to other brands that ask for a yearly service. The engine note is adictive. If I had to complain, for the interior, be careful with your nails, to avoid spoiling the soft surfaces. Also the CD changer stopped working. Car still attracts attention, luckily, proper one, since in the past we suffered on purpose paint scratches, even corrosive líquid over a panel. It is such a beautiful car.
@@Number27 Subframe is an issue on even a 316i, mine was cracked in two places, so power is not the problem, it's just a very very bad design on especially the pre facelift model...!
@@Number27 Didn't want everyone rushing out to buy a 330hp E46 330ci - Only to be seriously dissapointed 😉😄 My daily is a 2001 E46 330ci shed - The 3 litre M54 engine has to be one of BMW's all time great engines 😎 23 years on, she can still hold her own against a suprising number of more modern cars (much to their driver's surprise 🙂) As Han Solo said about The Millennium Falcon: "She might not look like much, but she's got it where it counts" 🙂
Wa hey! It's Dan's car! I miss that 325Ci so much. We used to do so many drives with my M240i while i still lived in the UK. Loved how it drove. Probably my most vivid memory was chasing this car through the Southern approach to Black Mountain Pass while on tyres that had way too many miles on them while the 325Ci had fresh PS4s... he'd drop me every corner and I'd reel him in the straights only to lose him again through the next corner. Lovely memories. Cheers for the video mate!
I loved my facelift manual 330ci which i owned ten years ago. She was a little leggy even back then but still a wonderful drive. I've now got an F32 430d which is still infused with the DNA of the classics. Absolutely love it.
I think part of the problems with perceived/real build quality is the constant battle between equipment/safety v the desire to keep the weight down (well on ICE cars anyway). I’ve owned BMW approved E36, E46, E90 and G30. The E36 felt very solid. Heavy doors/panels. The bonnet and boot felt like they were made from granite. The E46 felt tinnier on the panels but the interior was very solid and quality. The E90 felt a little less solid. The G30 was a let down. Panels felt very tinny, dash flex was substantial, everything felt thinner and lighter (I think the car was bigger but was lighter than the previous model despite having more equipment). The search for cutting costs and weight was definitely felt in build quality. Side by side my e90 panels felt more substantial and e36 a tank in comparison!
Have had six cylinder, manual, e46s as my main vehicle for over 12 years - first three years in a 328ci, and nine more in a 330i touring. The touring is a pain to own as it's so difficult to replace - I really should be changing cars regularly to enjoy the rich tapestry of tat that is out there!
@Number 27, today is one year than I have my E46 320 Ci, year 2002 I know than the others engines are better than 2.2 liters, but the feeling drive, the sound, the interior around you when you drive, the seat, the gear feeling, and you can fell all what is under you about the road, it's perfect I know than there are modern cars that are more powerful and better under performance profile, but this car it's still underrated, and this is a shame🥺
330i Touring for me please. They had 236bhp from the factory. Had a few when they when they were new from factory (coupe, saloon & convertible also) and now have one again when they’re old and broken 😂
I love my E39 - 23 years old, with 220,000 miles on the clock, and it's still nicer to drive than modern cars - as a new car delivery driver I think I'm qualified to say that!
That is an extraordinary testimonial, which very much chimes with my thoughts on moderns. The sheer ugliness and bulk is off-putting but for me it's the weight increase that has wrecked driving feel- I prefer a rawer, more analogue connection to the road surface.
I had 2 e46 3 series, a 323i and a 325i m sport. Lovely cars and lovely engines but they left me wanting for more power and torque. That desire was more than satisfied by my present E90 pre lci 330d M sport 6 speed manual which makes 293 bhp and 742 NM. The M57 engine is a beast.
The later ones were a 2.2 i think instead of the 2.0 6pots extra 20hp also the lci models gained a 6 speed manual instead of the early 5 speeds which a mate had many years ago used to feel quick in third and forth because of the long gears . Personally i think the 330 cab in these is one of the prettiest soft tops you can buy they look fantastic with the roof down the lines were perfect
I've not driven the E46 but had an E36 328i touring with was lovely but now have an E61 530i touring which would get my vote over the 3 series. So much effortlessly power, great handling and oh so practical but according to how many left, one of only 7 left on the road in the spec I have.
Best car I have ever owned, E46 330i Touring manual bought used with 36k miles. Did some upgrades to suspension brakes and mapped it. 100,000 totally trouble free miles of fun and practical motoring. Loved that car
Had an E46 330D touring. Dieselness and lardiness considered it was still an excellent driving machine, and 4 up with mountain bikes on the roof and boot full to the roof with baggage it still just about kept up with mates 2-up in their cars with internal load only in some spirited driving through Scotland. Later I had an E90 325i touring which I hated in comparison.
Completely agree, BMW at that time were excellent and have now lost their way. Cannot beat an E39 for a brilliant all-rounder, had a 540i followed by a 530i Msport, loved the 530. Followed by 645 then 640d, looked at newer BMWs when ready to change the 640d but for me they had lost their appeal. Now on an F-type Jag P380, what a hoot!
Superb cars that have really stood the test of time in terms of design and quality. I've had three E46s starting with a 4 cylinder saloon and then getting a 330i convertible but my favourite was a 2005 M3 coupe SMG ( I know these boxes are marmite but I liked mine..). I also had an E56 335i coupe but although its performance wasn't far off the M3 it didn't match the solidity and quality of the earlier model car.
I have a 2001 325ci manual convertible with just over 100,000km, a garage queen and hopefully future classic. Sounds so awesome at 6000rpm with the top down. Also a good solid 2001 e39 530iA with virtually no market value ... diy manual swap planned for that one😊
Sorry to self reply. Had to add, did a purple tag steering swap on the 325ci from the original orange? Or green? Easy diy job and definite improvement at minimal cost.
Love an E46 coupe - I have had them all when you could pick them up for little money: 320, 323, 325, 328 and a couple of 330's - all manual gearboxes . The 323 engine was super revvy and almost impossible to find now. Sadly my last one a 330 in exclusive trim and paint was written off last year by being rear ended on the motorway. This has got me yearning for one again. Thanks Jack.
Had daily use of on of these though work back in the day and loved every minute of it. Of all the cars I've been fortunate enough to drive, this stood out head and shoulders as the best all rounder. Thought they could still be had for beans, seemingly not!....
Loved my e46 330i manual 4 door. Bought it 3 years ago, one owner from new, 11k miles. Was amazing. Sold it as took it to 18k in a year and thought I was ruining it. Its now for sale again and I've been offered it back 🤔 I prefered it to my e39 M5, comfy, quick, economical, luxurious, spacious, well built and small. Perfect in other worlds. And mine had cloth seats, just missing a sunroof to be perfect.
@Number27 I'm completely the opposite, I just can't abide leather seats. All I need from a car is cloth, sunroof and a real handbrake! Anything else I don't care 🤣
imho bmw stopped at 2012 with the end of the e series. I won an e82 ansd it is such a gem. Very analogue feel and enjoyable to drive. there is not a lot of power. yet it is WAYY motre fun than a m140i with 450bhp i drove recently. just way more visceral
Yes, I have dreamed about the BMW E46 325/330Cia convertibles for a long time, and especially the Alpina B3. Incredibly beautiful and still affordable.
@@Car-gx6zx A: that 2.0 never was never in a coupe, only a short lived run in the saloon, and B: its still badged a 320 - so there were only 5 model variants. (and the 2.2 was available in prefacelift too)
I am going to assume you are American or from somewhere other than Europe, but in Germany and EU domestic markets the 320i coupe existed, both pre 2.0 and post 2.2
@@Car-gx6zx no, I’m not. Im in Ireland - we get the same models as the UK - and this is a UK RU-vid channel, so I hardly expect Jack to know or list obscure euro only models. Entry level 6 pot coupe in the UK on release was the 323i. The M54 engines quite obviously arrived prior to the facelift - you might have noticed the car he’s driving for twenty mins in this video is one of them
Wait until you drive a well sorted one with all new lemforder bushes control arms etc they are phenomenal handling cars.also the purple tag steering rack transforms them. The sweet spot for a non M car is the 328i 330i power with a map and more can be had easily. Being less stroke than a 330 or 325 they rev more freely and being an m52 not 54 they are even more bombproof
I have a new M440i Gran Coupe, and I'd say it's at least as solid as anything else and more so than most. Streets ahead of Merc. You're welcome to a drive.
You make me hate myself for selling my 1st hand e46 330xi Touring. We called it the Wagner-Room because of its heritage, but such a veautiful driving machine..(yet rust and age took their tolls)
Yes Jack, and the E46 330i is even better. Mine has 102k and I see that they are good for 180k. Its very solid and reliable. I find that its fast enough for me so I dont need an M3. (one small correction, the 330i puts out 230bhp not 330bhp.)
The E46 are great cars. The firs series had issues with the rear wishbones. They were replaced by BMW. 2nd series (LCI) was better.Take the 328 or 330. Great engines. Had the 320D with 150hp until 330000km great car!
I don't know why I watch these reviews of classic cars - I've begun to realise that I like modern technology too much - give me the screens, radar cruise, lane keeping, dsg transmission, etc - I love it 😮 😆
So why are you here? Also, none of those things you mentioned have anything to do with the driving experience. In fact, many of them detract from it. 👋
I loved my E46. I replaced it with an E92 325i which I still have today. The E92 does pretty much everything well, but the E46 feels better put together, especially the interior. After that BMW lost the plot. Sad thing, really.
The E92’s body is more streamlined than the E46. But the N46 was available with the N54 engines. However, with the E90 series comes with the N52 engine, unless you want diesel & if you don’t want turbos. The N52 is just not as durable as the N54. The bulletproof N54 is only available with turbos in the E90, 92 & 93s. Those turbo engines are money pits.
The 330ci has almost 230bhp. Not 330bhp. I wish. I have a w reg 323ci & a 05 plate 330ci. I think they’re both beautiful but think the facelift is slightly more aggressive looking
If they launched that model today people would sigh relief and be queuing at the dealership door trading in all their newly acquired bmw junk - svelte and timeless always thought this was the one to go for 👌👌👌🧑✈️
I have an e85 from 03 and couldn’t agree more. Have also had an e92 coupe, e92 m3, m235i, 340i, 428i and sadly an X5 as well. My Z4 is not as fast as any of the others but its still better to drive. Will never let go of this one.
I think you're a bit harsh on the E90. They definitely don't look as good as the E46 but they are just better in every other way. No issues with the frame cracking, engines have even more power and a very solid feel overall. The E90 is peak BMW in many ways.
The zf came in the 328 and 330 and the e39 523 touring everything else got getrag nothing to do with the year 😊. Whole front end is different on facelift wings Bonnet lights bumper different rear lights And rear bumper. Different metal on facelifts they rust worse. Different cluster and obd2 was added
That generation was certainly more reliable than the 3 series that came after it, but it had a major structural problem that could result in the car breaking in half! The last BMW 3-Series that was truly great with zero issues was the E30 which was produced from 1982-1994. It was the epitome of combining German engineering and Japanese-like reliability.
Bought our 330ci coupe brand new in 2001, not realizing then it was to become such an iconic purchase. Glad to say we still have it with only 120k on the odometer. This is my wife’s baby and she would not part with it for any price. Our other summer car is a 2013 Porsche Boxster “S” and I’m at a loss as to which car I enjoy driving the most…..they both are endless fun machines!
Interesting video Jack, I had a 328Ci a while back, and while I couldn't exactly fault it in any real way, it didn't really excite enough to make me want to get up on a Sunday morning and hammer it for the sake of it, which is odd in a way given its RWD, 6 cylinder engine and accomplished handling. Perhaps I was a little harsh on it? Although I did get a shock when you said you were looking at £5-10k for one, I paid £1800 for mine back then, although it was 10 years ago 🤣 Good cars but I don't know if I could pay £10k for one.
They look great and drive well but also the headliners fall and the interior glue is sub-par, plus the introduction of under-hood brittle plastics led to maintenance hell.
Other cars to look at . A friend has an Infinity GT350 .. gormless looking car but the engine power 220kw plus ..is awesome and it drives great too ..although it has limited rear seat room and NO full size spare wheel .. yes I think the E46 330CI is for what it is almost perfect
I've owned a 2001 E46 330ci automatic for over six years (bought in 2018 at 39k milage) Great car...but a troublesome car, and I've probably spent as much,if not more,on it than what I paid for the damn thing.The factory OEM parts are of poor quality like the thermostat (failed around 50k) As for the Ate brake calipers,terrible things that seize up.Serphentine belt failure at 42k,drivers window regulator failure at 44k,...now at 61k the ZF transmission is starting to play up despite having a fluid and filter change by BMW maindealer at 50k at a cost of over £600.Nice cars, but would I ever touch another one...NO WAY!
Clearly not a bmw or e46 owner as he would know there is 5 inline 6 engines for e46 and that the 330 engine doesnt have 330hp as thats the s54b32 m3 engine... also the steering rack on the 330 is better as its a 2.5 turn purple tag full lock rack and not all e46 came with them. My 323ci doesn't have it but i believe from Memory the 328 and 330 and some 3e5 came with them depending on the year model.
I gave up on BMW. I'm just waiting for their Neue Klasse EVs. It seems to be the only way they'll make lighter, smaller, fun cars in order to stand out from the competition.
I've owned 4 generations of 3 series from E30 to E90, The E30 was a bit meh, the E36 M3 Evo I owned next was a great car although I admit the E46 330Ci I had was better looking and handled better I unfortunately bought a pup with a bad engine. My current E90 330 M-Sport I absolutely hate, its been so unreliable it is untrue, its also over assisted so the steering feels dead its been so bad i'm considering selling it even now that its all been fixed.
Great car, you have to go to the rare to get as good. My Toyota MK2 Blit vs the 325 touring, close call. The only reason I didn't get the 325 was I drive auto's
I bought my first E46 brand new in 2003 - an 325Ci Sport manual with Alcantara trim and not long after bought a second one [one owner 325i Sport Saloon manual with alcantara trim]. I still have the saloon to this day - so over 20 years of continuous E46 ownership. The saloon is immaculate - 80K miles and has had wanted for nothing all its life. I think I'm qualified to give a verdict on these - they are the best car money can by bar none ! They are everything you said in the video here Jack and more. They're easy to work on, parts aren't expensive. They drive like nothing else and the music that M54 sewing machine makes is to die for. If you're in the market to buy one, buy the most expensive one you can afford as it'll still be cheap for what it is and will appreciate over the years. The most desireable from a buying public perspective seems to be the 330Ci Sport manual with leather. However in my opinion the best one to get is the 325i Sport saloon manual with alcantara trim. The saloon has a stiffer body [it was the one BMW used in touring car racing], is less prone to leaks than the convertibles and is more practical etc... Steer clear of high mileage diesel automatics and convertibles. The number one issue with the non-M3 cars is rust on the rear arches. Every one of them will have rust and it's up to £3K to have them properly taken care of by a bodyshop that knows what they're doing. If the car's leaking oil it will be the oil filter housing seal it will go on every one of them and is an easy fix... just make sure you get a genuine BMW gasket, it's only around £5. The other thing that breaks is the coolant expansion tank - again, make sure you replace the cap as well as the tank when you do it. Other than that, they're bullet proof. One final thing to bear in mind with these gorgeous M54 machines is the fuel economy. It can be thirsty if if you've a leaden right foot ! However nothing else comes near what a great car these are.
A little tip on the coolant cap. The reason the expansion tank (and sometimes the actual radiator) split, is because of the coolant cap. A lot of people don't realise that BMW built a pressure release into the cap. People just tighten the cap as hard as possible, but you have to tighten the cap then back it off slightly. The cap will jiggle slightly, but it is designed to do this. This is also why they recommend cap replacements as they can become faulty, especially when over tightened. Hopefully This will stop pressure build up and stop this issue.
Main issue I took with the M54 powered cars I’ve owned was oil consumption 😂 I was pretty shocked when BMW told me that 1L/1000miles was “acceptable” 😂😂😂
@@mikebader3863 Well yes that's correct. They told me the same when I bought the first one new. But I've always ignored service intervals on cars and my E46 gets an oil change and new oil filter every 3000 miles - gearbox every 10,000. The car drives like new. I guess years of working on racing cars has led me to go overboard with this stuff.
E36 and E46 are peak BMW. It all went downhill from there. Between Bangle aesthetics and plastic-fantastic interiors modern BMW´s have taken the credit amassed over 50-60 years of excellence and flushed it down the toilet in a few years time. BMW is still lost in the wilderness with no end in sight.
@@evansisgreat I’m in the market for an F32 as I’d like something that’s not old. But I was truly disappointed when I actually drove one. Lifeless steering compared to the e46 I’d driven to the showroom in. I’ll still get one though 😂
@@evansisgreat After having 3 Z4’s with both 2.5 and 3.0 version of M54’s engine, 1-series coupe, and an F36 GC I can say by far the most reliable was F36 Sport (not M-Sport), in 10 years not even a light bulb went, interior was like new after 128k km, and only rear discs and all 4 pads were changed on a car in that time. Of course service schedule was done every 10-12k km not what Bmw recommends. Perfect, as both a GT doing 220km/h on a Autobahn all day long or as a sports car on Dolomiti passo-s. And as a hotel, my wife and I used it as our vacation accomodation at Adriatic sea for 12 nights, you just put down the rear seat backs and you have a comfy queen size bed and an easy entry due to hatchback. The things I didn’t like were 4 doors, personally I don’t like cars with 4 doors and electric steering sometimes. But that’s all. On all other Bmw there were some niggles on Z4’s window regulators going, expansion tanks, oil leaks etc., but on a F36 not a single thing from 2014.-2024. Amazing car.
