2001 BMW 330xi: The Opposite Lock Review

"marshknute" (marshknute) 02/05/2014 at 14:32 • Filed to: None

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The BMW 3-Series is the benchmark of sport-luxury sedans. Countless luxury companies have tried and failed to upstage BMW's hard-hitting wonder child. To many enthusiasts, the E46 represents the peak of the 3-Series lineage. Jalops will argue that it was the perfect blend of analogue engineering and technological innovation.

This particular model is a 2001. That was a special year for the 3-Series. First, it heralded the introduction of two new engines, a 2.5L I6 and a 3.0L I6. This added an extra 14 and 34 horsepower respectively. It was also the first time AWD was available on a 3-series since the E30 325iX was discontinued in 1991.

One noteworthy oddity about the 01' version of the E46 is that it was a half-finished facelift. It got the mechanical upgrades, but not the aesthetic enhancements. It wasn't until 2002 that the facelift body panels made it to market, and it took until 2003 for the 6-speed manual to replace the existing 5-speed.

(Full Disclosure: BMW wanted me to drive the 2001 330xi so badly that it arranged for this particular model to end up at a used car dealer run by salesmen wearing football jerseys. After giving them some money, they let me take the 3-Series home with me, and gave me a Title with the model name misspelled. Much like every 3-Series ever built, this one has silver paint and a black interior, because BMW drivers are colorphobic)

Exterior: 7/10

The E46 3-Series is a handsome car. The short front overhang, flared wheel arches, and 20-spoke rims make it look aggressive without looking like an overwrought ///M car. It also has rubber dent guards along the doors and bumpers. BMW is probably the only company in history to make dent guards look good, which is a seriously impressive feat considering the unfortunate body cladding found on the B6 A4, XC70, Outback, Element, etc.

It must also be conceded that the E46 looks dated, especially this pre-facelift model with its narrower kidney grilles and hood lines which extend straight backwards rather than outwards towards the mirrors. All X-drive models have a 0.75" higher ride height which looks noticeably worse than the standard ride height of the 330i.

photo credit: futureclassicsnj.com

Interior: 2/10

Despite what the diehard Bimmer fans say, the interior of the E46 is lousy. Really lousy. It isn't up to the standards of a luxury car, even an entry-level sedan. Materials are cheap, and the few quality materials are let down by an ugly and uninspiring interior design. The asymmetrical dashboard is ergonomic, but features a hideous plastic panel filled with haphazardly located buttons and readouts. This particular model has BMW's "leatherette" seating surfaces, which is like leather except for in every single way. It doesn't look like leather, doesn't feel like leather, and isn't as comfortable as leather. It's only advantages are that it is more durable than leather and doesn't get as hot in the summer sun (which is admittedly nice since I hate driving with 3 rd degree burns from black upholstery).

The most disappointing part about the interior is the fake wood trim. It looks and feels like hard brittle plastic. Ironically, it isn't fake wood. It's real Myrtle wood with approximately 47 layers of varnish that makes it look like a sheet of clear plastic with a picture or wood beneath it.

While the controls are ergonomic, the overall material quality and unattractive design are inappropriate of a luxury car and therefore drag the final score below average. Further points are deducted for the awkward center console mounted window switches—they should be on the door where the window is.

photo credit: futureclassicsnj.com

Acceleration: 7/10

The 3.0 liter straight six is a gem of an engine. It makes 224 horsepower and 214 lb ft of torque. While fairly average by today's standards, this is a very respectable output for its time. There is plenty of low-end torque, allowing it to climb hills even if it is spinning lazily at 1500 RPM, which is particularly useful when you live in hilly Pittsburgh. It is also buttery smooth and gains revs willingly—none of the tiring growliness that most V6's make at higher revs. This refinement is particularly appreciated on the highway; with only 5 gears, highway cruising occurs at over 3000 RPM, but the engine is smooth and quiet enough that the extra revs don't become tiresome to the driver.

The only real complaint to be had is with the exhaust note…or lack thereof. You have to rev the nuts off of this thing to get any kind of sporting exhaust note.

Braking: 7/10

The brakes are operated by a pedal. Pressing this pedal makes the car decelerate. It does this pretty well. There is more feel than in an equivalent Audi A4 3.0 V6. The only reason it gets a 7/10 is because of the disconcerting steering wheel wobble that accompanies braking when the front control arm bushings are in need of replacement—in an E46, they need to be replaced a lot.

Ride: 9/10

The suspension is very comfortable and soaks up potholes very well. This is a valuable trait when you drive on the potholed lunar landscape known as Pittsburgh. It is certainly enjoyable on long highway cruises especially in tandem with the silent and smooth straight six.

photo credit: awdwiki.com

Handling: 7/10

The E46 handles better than the B6 A4 and W203 C-class.

That said, this particular car has a huge handicap: X-drive. Specifically, the 2001 beta version of X-drive. In theory, an AWD system provides extra traction, which is nice when you live in an area that gets winter. BMW's engineers have pulled off some serious wizardry with car's AWD system. They have managed to combine all the extra weight and decreased fuel economy associated with AWD systems, with absolutely zero appreciable improvement in traction . In snowy weather, a B6 A4 3.0 will grip, rotate, and claw its way through the slush. The 330xi is nowhere near as sure-footed. You can coax a bit of oversteer, but unlike in the A4, the front wheels don't provide enough grip to let the driver point the car in the direction they want.

Gearbox: 1/10

Let me begin by saying that the gearbox itself is fine. It changes gears willingly and smoothly, has great clutch feel, and a bit more clutch travel than would be expected of such a popular driver's car. Everything else associated with changing gear is terrible.

The manual shifter is slightly more tactile than a butter churner. There is almost no feel at all. Imagine sleeping on your right hand until it loses feeling, then trying to change gear with your unresponsive blood-deprived limb. That's how numb and uncommunicative the shifter is.

The worst part of all, however, is the Drive by Wire system. Here's how it works: 1) You decide to accelerate so you press the gas pedal. 2) The electronic throttle decides to hit the snooze button because it just isn't ready for action yet. 3) Eventually, the electronic throttle can no longer ignore your pressing the gas pedal and it attacks the driver like a groggy Snorlax. 4) It instantly dials up every bit of torque the engine can muster, lurching the car forward and slamming its occupants back into the headrests.

This pause-lurch combo happens every time you touch the gas pedal, which occurs each time you change gear. The Drive by Wire comprehensively ruins the entire experience of driving the car. Hopefully this problem is specific to 2001 models, and was remedied on later model E46's.

Audio: 7/10

The Harmon Kardon sound system is actually fantastic. There's a little button on the dash that makes small variations in the frequencies. This creates the impression of your head being the acoustic center of the stereo system, instead of hearing sound coming from the speakers themselves. It's witchcraft, and I'm not sure why anyone wouldn't use this function.

I must, however, deduct points for having a single-disk CD player. It's very distracting and dangerous for the driver to change CD's manually while driving 80 mph down the highway. It should have a 6-disk CD changer. Yes, I still live in the 80's.

Toys: 3/10

This particular car doesn't have any toys. None. It doesn't have the ZHP Package, or the Sport Package, or the Premium Package, or the Cold Weather Package. Instead it has stupid and unnecessary standard features like a strange stalk to the left of the steering wheel, and a button to make the audio sound worse.

I give it 3 points for some seriously awesome seat heaters (their importance will become clear in the next category).

Value: 2/10

This car only cost me $7502 (resumably the dealership found $2 in quarters buried in the center console). When new, it cost some $35Kish. That's a lot of car for very little money.

In the first month of ownership it cost me $3900 in maintenance to repair a massive oil leak, replace the front control arm bushings, replace the brake pads/disks on all 4 corners, replace a faulty oil sensor, and install a new washer fluid reservoir.

After those repairs, I brought the car to campus for 4 months and only put 700 miles on it (the drive to campus was 430 of those miles). I drove home for winter break in a blizzard. On that 11 hour journey from Hell, the windshield washer nozzles broke so I couldn't see through the grime and glare. The check engine light came on and the car was down on power. THE HEATER BROKE—in a fucking blizzard, on an 11-hour journey, with a gunked up windshield that I couldn't see out of, and an AWD system that just wasn't up for the task . Oh. My. God.

The only thing that kept me going were the seat heaters that go up to 11. There's a special place in Heaven for the engineer who designed them.

My mechanic quoted me at $4200 to fix everything. I sold the POS the next day.

Nothing's more expensive than a cheap BMW. Because the purchase price was so low, I'm giving it 2/10 points.

Final Score: 52/100

Ultimately, BMW never should have tried to update the 2001 models. By choosing to release a half-assed refresh, the 2001 models lacked many of the features that graced later model E46's, and suffered from clunky beta versions of new technology. They should have stuck with the 323i and 238i and taken the extra 12 months to finish developing the X-drive and drive by wire.

It's disappointing because the E46 has many great characteristics. Sadly, the woeful reliability and awful electric throttle are too much to overlook. If you have to have an E46, make sure it is a late model, and make sure not to buy it from salesmen wearing football jerseys.

Engine: 3.0L I6

Power: 224 hp at 5900 RPM, 214 lb ft at 3900 RPM

Transmission: 5-speed manual

0-60 Time: 6.9 seconds

Drivetrain: All Wheel Drive

Curb Weight: 3527 lbs

Seating: 4.3 people

MPG: 18 city, 25 highway (21 combined)

MSRP: $35,740 new, $7502 used 12 years later (and $8100 in maintenance)

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > marshknute 02/05/2014 at 14:56

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Wow.....that 0-60 time......I know they come with RWD and the AWD adds weight but it's telling that cars like the FR-S, Focus ST, GTI, and others can go just as fast as an E46 from a numbers standpoint while also being cheaper and using less gas and still being daily driveable. What a difference 10 years has made.

marshknute > marshknute 02/05/2014 at 15:11

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BTW, has anyone done an Oppo review of Kinja yet?

For those who don't know, click on "expand" and the image will become visible in full screen.

M54B30 > marshknute 02/05/2014 at 15:22

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I have an M54B30 myself and love it. Interesting that don't like the interior - which the exception of stupid window switch placement it's similar to my E39s. I don't mind it - I like the simple layout. Your pictures aren't showing up for me, but I bet a lot of the buttons you have are not on mine since I have the 16:9 Nav.

I concur on the wood trim. It's real, looks fake, had a lot of glare and reflects lots of sunlight. I'd prefer nearly anything else.

I have the ZF 5 speed auto, so can't really comment on the gearbox.

Do the E46s have the two red lights that shine onto the middle console to give everything a subtle red glow? I like that, that's sweet.

marshknute > M54B30 02/05/2014 at 15:35

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Yeah, Kinja's a bitch. If you click "expand" they usually show up in full screen after a few seconds.

Party-vi > marshknute 02/05/2014 at 15:49

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The best thing about the interior is that it's built tight. my '02 doesn't have any squeaks or rattles and the switch gear has held up very well. Too much plastic? Sure, but it's very well built.

Also I LOL'd at your colorphobic comment as it is indeed true.

Poundingsand > M54B30 02/13/2014 at 11:25

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I have an '05 330i, and have to say I love the interior; it's simple, clean, ergonomic. However, I have to agree on the wood trim. I may need to swap it out for the brushed aluminum that was available on the ZHP. Also, I like the window switch location, but I always find myself reaching for the door armrest first, because that's where it's located on my other cars.

I've got the GM slushbox, and it's taking a lot of getting used to. It's slow to respond with light pedal pressure, but kicks in quickly enough when you stand on it. Being used to manual gearboxes, I'm not sure if mine lags more than most, or if my torque converter is suspect, but it seems a bit sluggish at first acceleration from stand-still.

The red glow...seems to come from near the clown nose. I've got it, and think it's pretty cool. haha

wabbastang > marshknute 02/13/2014 at 11:42

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It's funny that you bought a base-model car that was obviously used up and traded in for a reason, and then score it low because it has no options and is broken :P

The colorphobic comment was funny. It's 90% true, and then there's the mustard yellow and bright blue ones with red interiors.

marshknute > wabbastang 02/13/2014 at 12:54

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Pheonix Yellow (now Austin Yellow)! Estoril Blue (now Yas Merina Blue)!

I think it was a fair review. I sold the car two months prior to writing this specifically to let any heat-of-the-moment passions/emotions diffuse. I took every opportunity to specify which features are specific to 01' model years, as well as which features are specific to my personal car.

Plus, I think it important that my 3er was a base-model 330xi, rather than a well-optioned car. Jalops always clamor for a cheaper, stripped-down version of performance cars, which is understandable given how all press cars come with every option and an inflated purchase price. In reality, a stripper model just makes the car worse to live with.

As for the Value category, the most important variable with used cars is their maintenance costs. My 3er was very cheap to buy, but prohibitively expensive to maintain. I'm not the only one to have that kind of relationship with a used BMW. So, yes, I did score it low for being broken, but that is only appropriate given that it is was a 12-year-old car, not a freshly-warrantied showroom model.

wabbastang > marshknute 02/14/2014 at 00:16

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You could say I'm biased because I have had a couple of 3-series, but at the same time I have had a couple of them because they've done me really well. Both needed lower control arms at 150k ($300 and about two hours), one needed a squeaky idler replaced and a thermostat at some point, and both got belts and all the normal service junk at 125k or so. But both went to nearly 200k before being reluctantly sold for a new model (wife puts on a lot of mileage), and were about as good to go on the last day as the first. They were fantastically fun to drive, solid as a rock, free of squeaks and rattles and aged (or lack of) wonderfully. Granted I also bought good cars to begin with, but that was done by being picky and finding ones that were taken care of as anyone should who knows that when you go cheap, skip the maintenance, and beat the shit out of something, it's going to wear out fast and need help...Those cars end up at used car lots where they wear football jerseys :P Parts are definitely more expensive, but mostly from the standpoint that you don't have a plethora of junk off-brand parts to choose from like you do a honda or toyota. Your choices are typically OEM or high end replacement, and the same seems to go with the service. I don't know why I care to somewhat defend any particular car as I don't have one anymore and I have owned and can appreciate just about anything for what it is, but I guess it's because german stuff in particular gets a rap for things like expensive maintenance when it's really all pretty relative.

So from a jalop perspective then, should a lack of toys equate to higher points? Perhaps so...But I think that you are exactly right in that it doesn't add anything to the driving factor but does make them less fun to live with. I'll keep buying loaded cars for every day and save the base model thing for rental car hoonage.