Opinions on BMW Compact (e46)

50/50

50/50

50/50

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What do you'll think about the Compact?

If you had a choice out of a BMW 325ti or a Mini Cooper S, what would you choose?

Im sort of in this position, and Im swaying towards the compact.

2nd had they cost about the same, so thats irrelevant.

The BMW is RWD, has a nice 2.5 straight 6, and has the chassis from Z3 + other bits from the E46. It has a great interior, and drives well. But is ugly, and maybe doesnt have the best reputation.

The Mini is FWD, pretty rough 1.6 supercharged engine which is rubbish compared to the BMWs, has an OK interior, but not as nice as the compact IMO, but it looks great and has a great reputation.


Is the compact really that much worse than the E46 saloon/coupe?


Tough decision!
 
in this case i would prolly take the compact, however i would seriously be looking at a front end transplant as that bonnet and light combo is horrific.

how much do you have to spend? surely a normal saloon is in range.
 
50/50 said:
What do you'll think about the Compact?

If you had a choice out of a BMW 325ti or a Mini Cooper S, what would you choose?
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Mini.

Prettier, will hold its value better, and is an utter hoot to drive.
 
50/50 said:
Is the compact really that much worse than the E46 saloon/coupe?
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Yeah, it is. Get a Coupe. It's superior in every way.

If someone put a gun to my head and said that I absolutely bust buy one of those two cars, I'd have the mini as it's a hoot to drive. Don't quote me on this but I think the E46 compact is based on a 20+ year old platform. The saloon and coupe are much better cars, the obvious choice being the coupe if a compact would have been suitable.

What's your budget? A 325/328/330Ci will be better than both of the cars you mentioned and they're in abundance.
 
Morba said:
in this case i would prolly take the compact, however i would seriously be looking at a front end transplant as that bonnet and light combo is horrific.

how much do you have to spend? surely a normal saloon is in range.
Click to expand...

I definately dont want a saloon, and the Coupes are pretty expensive compared to the compact. If they are essentially the same except for the size (big assumption), then surely the compact would be a better choice?

I think the residuals for both are pretty good, but the minis will probably be better.
 
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if its a z3 chassis then its not entirely an e46, it would be e36 related due to Z3 being E36-3 iirc!
 
Scuzi said:
Yeah, it is. Get a Coupe. It's superior in every way.

If someone put a gun to my head and said that I absolutely bust buy one of those two cars, I'd have the mini as it's a hoot to drive. Don't quote me on this but I think the E46 compact is based on a 20+ year old platform. The saloon and coupe are much better cars, the obvious choice being the coupe if a compact would have been suitable.

What's your budget? A 325/328/330Ci will be better than both of the cars you mentioned and they're in abundance.
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Budget is around £10k max, but I dont want to spend all of it. 325Ci is tempting, but is too common compared to the 325ti sport, which actually looks alright.

I think the old compact was based on the E36 platform, but im pretty sure the E46 compact isnt.
 
You will get an absolutely mint 328Ci for under £10k. I was looking at one up for £8k which was fully loaded, full sport kit, full service history and in absolutely immaculate condition.
 
According to Wikipedia:

"The BMW Compact was a compact car / small family car, basically a shortened BMW 3 Series, produced by the German automaker BMW between 1994 and 2004. It was only available as a 3-door hatchback and initially based on the BMW E36 platform. Since 2001 the BMW E46 platform was used. Production of BMW Compact ceased in 2004 when it was succeeded by the 1 Series."

Also:

"The BMW Compact shares similar suspension geometry to the BMW Z3, M Coupe, M Roadster, and the rear suspension from the older E30 3-series. From front bumper to A pillar, the Compact is identical to the E36 318i sedan."

Which im assuming means the old compact?
 
50/50 said:
Budget is around £10k max, but I dont want to spend all of it. 325Ci is tempting, but is too common compared to the 325ti sport, which actually looks alright.

I think the old compact was based on the E36 platform, but im pretty sure the E46 compact isnt.
Click to expand...

There's a good reason the coupe is common and also a good reason the ti isn't :) Good cars sell in volume, crap cars don't.
 
please stay clear of the compacts mate....

if you cant afford an E46 Coupe/Saloon with a 6 pot engine then get an E36 323/328 Coupe....

cheers :)
 
50/50 said:
I think the old compact was based on the E36 platform, but im pretty sure the E46 compact isnt.
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From '01 onwards, it used the E46 platform. Still say the MINI Cooper S would be a much better buy.
 
325Ci is tempting, but is too common compared to the 325ti sport
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Theres a reason for that! This is why they made the 1 series, a 3 series with the rear choped off just looks plain wrong in every way.
 
Would have to be the Mini.

This poster sums up the BMW:

bmwposter.jpg
 
The 3-series compact is one of the few cars I can honestly say I wouldn't buy due to 'image'. Definitely get a Coupe if you're going for a 3.

The MINI is nice though, great fun to drive and much 'cooler' than the BM and as Nozzer said, it's much more likely to get you laid :cool:.
 
I honestly don't know why people pick on compacts - I still think the old compact looked very, very good and was top notch for the Escort sized car, the ride I thought was very good if not in par with old 3 series. I haven't driven the new one but it has more space and can't imagine its road manners being far off 1 series. The Rover lookalike front was definitely a let down but I can think of many worse looking things on the road.

bmw_compactschnitzer.jpg


It's not like new Mini doesn't have serious image problems, right?
 
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Ignoring the Coupe, even after considering that the compact is based on the e46 chassis, is RWD and has a 200bhp straight 6 2.5, would you still go for the Mini CS?
Im not convinced the reputation is bad enough to get an inferior car (on paper).
 
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