E46 BMW

"Logansteno: Bought a VW?" (logansteno) 05/09/2014 at 16:08 • Filed to: None

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Up until recently I didn't like the E46 3-series.

I don't know what about it I didn't like, I just didn't. Maybe it looked weird?

But lately I'm finding myself wanting one. Either a 328 or a 330. Coupe or Sedan. Probably black over tan leather.

offroadkarter > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/09/2014 at 16:10

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dont buy a 328

just don't

jkm7680 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/09/2014 at 16:10

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The "M Sport edition" models did it for me. I never really liked the base and standard models. They looked a little strange to me always. I'm not the biggest fan of that generation though.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > offroadkarter 05/09/2014 at 16:11

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Unreliable POS or because of the stigma it has?

TheCraigy > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/09/2014 at 16:11

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Skip them and squeeze all your pennies together and get the M3.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > jkm7680 05/09/2014 at 16:13

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I haven't ever been a fan of this generation, but recently something clicked in my brain and I fell in love with it.

jkm7680 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/09/2014 at 16:15

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Just to make sure that all is well. Just in case.

Sometimes things just click with me also. I used to hate Maybach, then suddenly five years later I fell in love and wanted one.

Imirrelephant > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/09/2014 at 16:16

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I had a '02 325i black over tan. I would go black over black, personally. That tan carpeting is hard to keep clean.

offroadkarter > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/09/2014 at 16:16

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no just don't buy a used low end bmw, for the most part when you go years back down the range you can get a high end model for a few bucks more than a low end model.

Shoot for a 330ci or if a sedan, a ZHP

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Imirrelephant 05/09/2014 at 16:18

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I think tan seats in an otherwise black interior would work well. That way you still get black carpet and plastics on the lower dash, but you get the tan seats.

Party-vi > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/09/2014 at 16:19

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330i/330Ci or nothing. The 328i is too old (came out as a stop-gap before the 330i) and the 325i has no balls. Plus with each 330Ci after 2002 you get the sport package as standard, with fancy seats and stereo!

newton > offroadkarter 05/09/2014 at 16:21

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ZHPs are awesome except the fact most of them are priced at E46 M3 prices.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Party-vi 05/09/2014 at 16:21

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That'd be the one I'd most likely get. The 330Ci with sport pack is like a poor man's M3!

newton > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/09/2014 at 16:22

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In my experience, the M52 is a bit more stout than the M54. I love my M54, but it's not without oil consumption and various other small issues.

offroadkarter > newton 05/09/2014 at 16:22

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if thats the case, buy an M3!

Party-vi > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/09/2014 at 16:22

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I can confirm this, because it's what I drive. Just, uh, don't use the manual shift option in sport mode - it'll make you tear your hair out.

Imirrelephant > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/09/2014 at 16:23

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That would probably be a DIY thing. IIRC all tan interiors were black on the top of the dash and tan everywhere else. Tan seats, door panel, door pillar covers, console, carpet and headliner. That car actually turned me off to light colored interiors.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Imirrelephant 05/09/2014 at 16:28

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It would definitely be a DIY deal. But I think the results would look amazing.

Devlin Munion > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/09/2014 at 16:32

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Get a ZHP which is the performace package....that is a the real poor mans M3/4door M3

cabarne4 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/09/2014 at 17:06

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The E46 was always my favorite 3 series. After that, and there's too many electrical systems tied into the running gear to make it practical to work on your own. Before, you've got the cheap plastic interior of the E36 (though the exterior styling finally grew on me), the old-car issues of the E30 (read: body parts are expensive, cabin is noisy compared to later cars), and the wait the E21 counts as a 3er ?

It's that middle balance between good looks, and still drives well. They're fairly reliable (except the pesky water pump, and VANOS and rear subframe issues on earlier ones), easy enough to work on, and classy enough inside to still feel newer.

That said, my favorite combination is the steel blue metallic on a grey interior, with the wood trim option. Pre-facelifted ones need clear corners.

(random pictures found on Google Image search)

N51fanatic > offroadkarter 05/09/2014 at 18:48

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you can get a ZHP coupe too

mumblese > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/10/2014 at 02:27

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Don't listen to the 328 hate, it is a great engine, comfortable highway cruiser. As long as you don't pick up the 150hp 320i from the early e46 models which had fuel consumption of 330 and power of 316, all choices are good.