BMW E46 - go for a 16v 318 or go bigger?

[[TW]Fox]

What's actually wrong with a 1.6 or 1.8 3 series? Is it because they're too heavy?

Whats the point in a slow BMW?

 

[InvaderGIR]

Whats the point in a slow BMW?

Which is why I'm looking at the larger engined e36s rather than a small engined e46.

 

[BigglesPiP]

I just plain can't afford a large engine yet, regardless of the age of the car.

If only I didn't have to pay for rent and food, wouldn't have to settle for one of the most powerful of a small engine size.

 

[merc190]

143bhp 318i model is actually a 1995cc 4 anyway....More than a E30 2.0 6pot used to put out, but heavier of course....

 

[Jez]

I dont understand the dont get a 4 pot comments. The 318i is a good car and serves its market very well. Not everyone gives a toss about the benefits of the 6pot models.

 

[mrk]

The 2 litre 4cyl also has valvetronic/vanos so sits happier at higher revs easily and sounds nice above 4000rpm

 

[Tom|Nbk]

The seats on the compact didn't seem to go back as far as on the standard one.

I'm just looking at the 323/325 now

Finding it hard to find one with mileage under 80k tho. Altho should I be worried about getting a 323/325 that is over 100k?

What about a 320i?

With a 323 you get a slightly more torquey engine than the 320i but essentially the same sort of thing not a lot between them. All E46 320i are facelift so you also get a more modern looking BMW.

 

[Adam_D200]

325/330, screw economy the bigger engines dont need to be thrashed and can tick over in higher gears using their torque.

 

[[TW]Fox]

The 2 litre 4cyl also has valvetronic/vanos so sits happier at higher revs easily and sounds nice above 4000rpm

No it doesn't - sound nice that is

 

[mrk]

For a 2litre engine it does sound nice(er than other 2litre 4cyls of similar power)!

 

[Jez]

325/330, screw economy the bigger engines dont need to be thrashed and can tick over in higher gears using their torque.

Disagree with that, the 3.0 definitely does need to be thrashed to get real performance from it, it only comes alive at high rpm's.

 

[paradigm]

For a 2litre engine it does sound nice :O

No, for a 2.0 litre 4-pot engine, an Alfa GTV 2.0 Twinspark sounds nice.

 

[Tom|Nbk]

For a 2litre engine it does sound nice :O

No

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=92Bp_BdEY6w

 

[mortals]

What about a 320i?

With a 323 you get a slightly more torquey engine than the 320i but essentially the same sort of thing not a lot between them. All E46 320i are facelift so you also get a more modern looking BMW.

The 320i seems very similar might have a look.

The economy seems very similar aswell.
The only thing which is off-putting atm is 30mpg combined

 

[Tom|Nbk]

The only thing which is off-putting atm is 30mpg combined

Pff. Apparantly im getting just over 26 at the moment

 

[mrk]

:/ OBC shows 28.9MPG for me for the last half tank (done 165 miles on that) with 250miles range left according to it too but that's with an average speed of less than 20mph

I wish my workplace tomorrow said to me "hey you can come in at 10am instead of 9!" because that would instantly put 10MPG onto my average!

 

[[TW]Fox]

All E46 320i are facelift so you also get a more modern looking BMW.

Not true - there are prefacelift 320i's as well. The 320i was introduced over a year before the E46 facelift.

 

[Tom|Nbk]

^ Oh right didn't know that. Haven't seen many about so always thought the facelift 320i replaced the 323i immediately.

:/ OBC shows 28.9MPG for me for the last half tank (done 165 miles on that) with 250miles range left according to it too but that's with an average speed of less than 20mph

I wish my workplace tomorrow said to me "hey you can come in at 10am instead of 9!" because that would instantly put 10MPG onto my average!

That 318 now makes absoloutely no sense then. Time to chop in for a Sport 330i