Proof BMW ONCE Made "The Ultimate Driving Machine" - BMW E46 325Ci

In 1999 owning a BMW 325Ci was a sign you'd made it. Sadly today owning a BMW does not have quite the same effect. Today I drive This 24 Year Old 325Ci and explain why it is Better Than Most Modern BMWs.
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/ @number27

[@danielz8905]

Thanks for reviewing my car Jack! Glad you liked it

[@Aurum458]

Hi Dan; Dan from Singapore here 🫡

[@Number27]

Thanks for bringing it down Dan.. really enjoyed it!

[@andrewfrancis3591]

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

[@kevinoconnor7684]

Nice one Dan, Thank you for allowing us all to get a review from Jack, he has a great way of presenting... It's a beautiful 325 too.

[@richies6898]

The E46 and E39 BMW'S are just sublime This era was the absolute pinnacle in BMW design and performance that they'll sadly never replicate

[@simonh870]

Before the bean counters took over and cheapened up the build quality.

[@hamomamo9867]

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.

[@manekdubash5022]

Still think the E36 looks better...

[@Schlipperschlopper]

No BMW lost any quality and reliability after the E30....

[@stevedickson5853]

E30 and E36 arse ends just look better

[@davyboy888]

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.

[@drivelaughing7905]

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.

[@keithposter5543]

@@drivelaughing7905 +1. Not always, but quite often it's this simple

[@mikebader3863]

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” 😂😂😂

[@davyboy888]

@@drivelaughing7905 Yes that's exactly it. The cap fails and causes the plastic to 'expland' [which it can't] and eventually crack.

[@davyboy888]

@@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.

[@rafaellastracom6411]

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.

[@frankb5603]

All the guys who produced those fantastic cars retired.

[@evansisgreat]

E90 is a good drive, it's just not as good looking. I've heard F30s are bad both as a drive and in quality.

[@royfontaine5526]

@@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 😂

[@JoakimLaine]

I think the e92/93 M3 would also count. Bangle was way ahead. the E60 M5 and E92/93 M3 look really stunning still in 2024 and are amazing cars.

[@Rocco532]

@@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.

[@damianl3]

Just bought an e46 last week. 325i 5 speed sedan in HellRot with 135,000 miles, no accidents, shiny paint and a pristine interior for $1. It has a bum clutch and has not moved in 6 years, prior owner just wanted it out of the driveway. My son and I have started coaxing it back to life.

[@timk3939]

Change oil every 10,000 miles not 15,000 worth getting LL01/LL04 synthetic if you can. Check for rusty rear brakes lines around the fuel tank, it could save your life. For the engine running, vacuum pipes like to perish, and rubber vacuum caps on the inlet manifold too, which cause poor fuel economy and sometimes an engine light. An OBD diagnostic tool can show the LTFT fuel trim and if there's any problem. A new set of O2 sensors can help economy quite a lot, I gained 4 mpg on my 330Ci on a commute, which had about 140,000 miles, the exhaust smelt rich, that was a telltale sign. They may help prolong the cat. life too. Always buy genuine engine sensors though, in this case they're Bosch, about £200 for a set of four, and one of them is a pain to replace, I bought a set of O2 sensor removal sockets and you may need a flexible wrench extension or O2 spanner to get it out, I can't remember now. It's worth keeping the rear arches clean on the inside to delay rust, mine had a rubber coating on them (a 2004 Convertible), and were fine. For the front wings then removing the wheel arch lines and applying sealant might delay the inevitable.

[@stephencurry8552]

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.

[@michaelXXLF]

The late 90's and beginning 00's were zenith BMW! Double E39 owner here.

[@AndreasMartinLaute]

That era was just glorious. A happy e39 523i owner from Spain (300.000km, no rust, no oil leaks). Your channel is great! Keep up the good work!

[@ericlessault8006]

Hello from an other e39 1999 523i happy owner with 163000k on the clock ! Love the e46 and e38 and naturally the e31

[@AndreasMartinLaute]

@@ericlessault8006 All great cars from a bygone era. Greetings!

[@ewanturner4381]

I'm an E36 guy generally, but I still love these.

[@agaafear]

Interior quality, seats and comfort aren’t as good as the E46

[@user-tv2bz2ci6b]

The design that just DOES NOT AGE! Timeless, especially pre-facelift like this one. Launched in 1997, when I was still in primary school.

[@4rephill]

".......and the 330 had a nice little bump up to 330" 🤨 Errrrrr.......No! The 330 versions made 231PS/228 HP - Not 330 HP!

[@Number27]

slip of the tongue, i did of course mean to say 230..

[@SuperWhiteBarry]

@@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...!

[@kay8d]

@@Number27 Please pin this comment or a note in the video to correct that.

[@keithposter5543]

Don't quote Jack on numbers, I'm sure he'd agree 😉

[@4rephill]

@@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" 🙂

[@Czechbound]

My dad is 2nd owner of a 1986 coupe 318i since 1989. The heavy "clunk" when you shut the doors just speaks of quality. I remember seeing a new E46 in Vienna in I think Nov. 1998 and thinking that it looked much better than its predecessor

[@drivelaughing7905]

I had an e46 325ci almost identical to this. It is probably still the best car i ever owned and i still miss it now. 10 years i owned it. It was just like the one you tested, but it was loaded to the brim with every option from new. It even had the sat nav system from 2001 which even included a TV. Unfortunately when they turned off the analogue signal and went to digital only, i couldn't watch anything again, unless I installed a digital receiver conversion. I adored my e46, but please don't be fooled into thinking these cars are German engineered, faultless, hastle free motoring. The 6 cylinder engine is absolutely bullet proof! And a joy to drive. Although a bit lacking in power on paper, it never feels underpowered. From the sound, to the power delivery, to the sublime smoothness, it is one of my all-time favourite engines. Unfortunately cost cutting had already started at BMW. So anything with an electrical component, or is made from rubber will almost certainly break. Also, some coupe and soft top specific parts were hard to get and expensive 10 years ago. I dread to think what it would be like now. The e46 325ci is a brilliant car, i definitely recommend owning one. BUT, be prepared to spend some money keeping it on the road.

[@JoakimLaine]

luckily now you can get a carplay unit in place :)

[@martinbcooper]

I bought my own E46 touring about a year ago, I was just an IT guy with a passing interest in cars. It has transformed me into an obsessive car tinkerer with permanently dirty nails, I love it. Even the Touring drives so well on a spirited drive and cruises effortlessly on a motorway distance journey. They are so well made and easy to work on as a beginner, with a good fanbase there are plenty of howto's, forums and resources online. I could not recommend an E46 highly enough to just about anyone.

[@phillipevans9414]

Welcome to "the sickness"...may you never be cured. Cheers!

[@DjNikGnashers]

I preferred the E36, superbly built, lighter than the E46, and imo better looking. I never liked those headlamps on these. They are very good cars though I agree, but more comfortable and more of a luxury car than the E36. The fact so many E36's ended up as track / drift cars, kinda proves they were better at that sort of thing. The E36 325 M50 engine was very strong, reliable, and quicker, with the same 192bhp, as the E36 was lighter, and more nimble with a better steering feel. I had an M140i, and I can understand your feelings about your M135i.

[@MLC...]

E36 still very much under appreciated. I also think the styling is more beautiful, though E46 is also a looker.

[@garethmcrae668]

Agreed, he's unusually off the mark here. I think the E46 is very handsome but it's clearly not pretty. The E36 is sharper, less plumped up and the coupe design is ageing so well. Mind you, I've got a Z3M coupe so what do I know about beauty?

[@idokwatcher2062]

Sadly no wide body on E36, if E36 M3 had the wider arches it would've been coveted much more today as an object of art and desire.

[@garethmcrae668]

@@idokwatcher2062 I'm lucky enough to have the lesser spotted AC Schnitzer CLS widebody, which was a carbon/ Kevlar kit. Really pumps out the wheels in box arch stylee! Gives it a bit of an 8 series look from the rear...

[@fatkev1983]

I agree. I only had an E36 318iS as my first BMW and that 1.9 engine was fun to rev out. Then got an e46 328Ci. The E46 had far more rust issues than my older E36 ever had. It just never felt as durable, despite having a much nicer interior. Then I had an E39 M5 and an E39 530d Touring auto - my two favourites I've had despite being two very different E39s. An E65 730d Sport which was a very comfortable car when it was working. Then E90 330d SE with so many optional extras, M Sport suspension, and manual. Then an E91 335d M Sport Touring which was the best balance of performance and fuel efficiency I've had from any BMW . Now I have an F30 330e... yes, the e90 335d was more fuel efficient and faster (when re-mapped). I have wanted an E36 coupe or Touring with an engine swap... M62 manual or M57 35d. I'd say I would prefer an E30 with such a swap but E30s are just too expensive now. Hmm E36 Compact... that E30 derived rear suspension could make it "fun". Reality is, an E81 or E82 with the M57 35d swap is probably the most practical for a fun engine swap.

[@josephsu95]

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.

[@christopherriley1187]

My 323ci is topaz blue. Look gorgeous don’t they!

[@christopherriley1187]

My 323ci hardly ever needs oil but the 330ci probably uses a litre every thousand miles

[@mc1703]

Mine is a 2006 325ci and has foldable rear seats?

[@christopherriley1187]

@@mc1703 I have a w reg (2000) 323ci & a 05 plate 330ci & they both have fold down rear seats

[@josephsu95]

@@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

[@wertywerrtyson5529]

I’ve always thought this car was peak BMW design. Glad I’m not the only one.

[@mrcarpenter2008]

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.

[@keithposter5543]

Spot on, sir

[@agaafear]

The E46 was, in my view, the second best car BMW ever made. The build quality, looks, driving dynamics and six cylinder engines were outstanding. I owned several of them and could never warm to the models that followed. The coupe is still a beautiful design. Virtually perfect.

[@mc1703]

What is best? 635csi?

[@stephenricketts7764]

I think you got it 'spot on' these cars are BMW when that means something to own such a car.. Such a beautiful design and great lines from any angle and the interior is well appointed. I can't think of anything of the same era that can better this car off the top of my head. As for modern BMWs, why? I think it was you that said they look like something out of a computer game and I agree 100%. It is nice to hear that this car is owned by a young person, it goes to prove that young people do have an interest in older cars so well done Dan. A great video Jack thank you for bringing it to us. 👍👍

[@mc1703]

Spot on

[@huwprice881]

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!

[@garethmcrae668]

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.

[@DouweBuruma]

I have been driving E39 for over 13 years.

[@phillipevans9414]

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!

[@berwhaletheavenger]

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.

[@alexporteousheath1817]

Ive had mine 55 plate since 2018 and it still amazes me, I'm not letting it go!

[@r.weaver3769]

Favorite BMWs E46 and E39. Love the 3liter inline 6. love the comfort and handling of both these cars. Plus I'm old school.

[@georgec7899]

i owned a 330 in Silver with almost white Leather Trim.Drove all over southern Norway on holiday a truly GREAT CAR not like what BMW produces now. Having owned quite a number of BMW's including a Ravalia M3 the 330 was my FAVOURITE of all of the BMW's i have driven Thank you for your Post brought back happy memories of vehicles that were so much less complicated

[@richardscott4631]

Back in the day BMW were ‘The ultimate driving machine’ for ‘car people’ who appreciated the quality engineering. Now they’re just the ‘ultimate bling machine’ for people with no car knowledge or taste.

[@negrusz]

Yep. I have a E39 and maintained it since 2007. Before that i had an E30. 528i M sport(with M pack) sedan, manual, rare colour (montreal blue) and i dont think i ever sell it.

[@bobfrankish8883]

Great cars Jack. My daily drive is a 2003 325Ci M Sport in Imola Red. At the moment, it still looks totally mint, no rust anywhere, lots of times when I'm out in it people stop to admire it and have a chat about it.

[@haegor1877]

I have had my 1999 328Ci since 2002 and have kept it pristine. Its also my daily driver and gets properly maintained. I almost cannot go on a shopping trip without someone remarking on it, which wouldn't be the case if I had the absolute latest model. Seems people really are starting to appreciate just how good this styling was.

[@mc1703]

Which alloys has it got? Those early 328Ci's were awesome. There was an aero kit which is now super rare and the top spec wheels were style 32s. It was a look that had shades of alpina and provided a stylistic bridge from E36.

[@189625]

I have a 2004 325Cic that I drive every time I want to remember what made BMW great, before the company was taken over by marketing people. They need to give BMW back to the engineers.

[@bogusienombre355]

For those who want smooth shifting,that don't want to throw a stick shift, drives like a solid dream city/highway. 325i is not the car for gas peddle jockies but for the feel, it's solid. Slam a door on any modern car , feels like a tin can. 46 feels like a tank. Solid heavy doors. Great gas milage still gets 25/35! Buy pilot point 4s or all seasons and ride a curve. It's planted, responsive. You know your safe. Replace the bushings, gaskets with better qualiy ones, changed ccv, and coolant hoses. Buy one that's not abused, spend the parts money, save 30k compared to new car and enjoy no debt for the next ten years. 89.5k miles on mine. Could have bought used honda or others, i chose a quality engine with a fun factor.

[@PaulMartin-s3o]

I think your comments about the older BMWs being more solid, just rings true for all the manufacturers. Plastic parts on Merc engines, for example. Unheard of , back in their quality days. The BMW you’re driving is very nice, wouldn’t mind one. I like the older stuff, myself. Just feels right.

[@jameskrell4392]

I drove BMW from 1986 to 1997. I had a 318, 323, 520 and a 320. All were geeat cars and better made than most cars of that time. Now BMW have weird designs and could be designed and built in Malaysia or Korea. The best BMW I ever had was the 323 but the best cars I have ever owned were Alpha Romeo.

[@patricebaumel]

Which Alfa models were your favourites?

[@ericdunn555]

​@@patricebaumel Mine was an Alfasud Sprint Veloce TI Quadrifoglio (Green Cloverleaf) - SOO much fun in one small car.; rocket sled on rails. Did have a GTV 2.5 coupe too, but struggled with slightly off-centre displacement of steering wheel and petals - stunning looking car though (both were in Rosso - obvs).

[@patricebaumel]

@@ericdunn555 I like your taste!

[@CraigK80]

Don’t dismiss the auto either especially when mated to the 330ci engine, that pairing is also incredible, smooth refined and rapid!

[@dRew-something]

Couldn't agree more,I have the same car,rock solid,a bit of rust which is to be expected. A keeper. Best review of the E46 I've watched yet

[@TJohnsonLLC]

Thanks again for an informative review. My wife adores her '07 328xi sport wagon 6sp manual. My bimmer is a K1200LT. We dread the day it can no longer be driven as a daily driver. Please help your followers like us that suffer that conundrum.

[@dwn2634]

A sweet spot. I owned an E46 330i MSport manual saloon in 2008 when it was then - 8 years old, and it was fantastic both performance wise and ergonomically. There's a lot to be said for those models that are just under the halo cars in a manufacturers range.

[@voodoocars2134]

I’ve never had a 3 series but I did have a E39 525i which was a really good car. I’ve owned an E53 now for the last 10 years.

[@mustangj0hn]

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.

[@JoakimLaine]

I still have my 2001 330 convertible manual. Wear items replaced in time. A lot more fun than modern cars and a lot cheaper as well.

[@GodmanchesterGoblin]

Thanks for the memories. Loved my 1999 323i. A wonderful drive.

[@vittoriostoraro]

My first BMW was a black 2003 330ci manual. I ordered it and waited 3 months for it. I REALLY miss that car. I even drove it from NYC to SF and back. I loved everything about it. None of the subsequent 5 I owned came close 😢

[@rafsport7702]

Bought myself recently a 320ci E46 and adore it. Build quality, sound and steering are amazing

[@jarradmann3357]

Thanks for the review. Love my 330i. She's 22 years young with low mileage, had owners from new, and still looks and drives like new. Regards from Oz.

[@thomasshepard6030]

My brother had a black one it was a 2002 325i and I had the E39 528i se individual riptide was a 1998 on an S loved that car traded it in for a E60 525i bought that in 2017 still got it only done 90 thousand miles it was a one owner car from new with a full BMW service history drives perfect to this day never failed an mot

[@ck270]

I've owned every 3er from E30 to F31 bar the Bangle era E90. Thoughts as follows: E30 320iA 4dr - very solidly built - probably the best of all the 3 series IMO. Slow off the mark but creamy smooth on the cruise. Excellent cabin ergonomics and all round visibility. Watch the tail though. E36 320iA 4dr - sharp looker when it was launched and the shape has aged well (again subjective) but cost cutting evident in the interior plastics. Not as refined as the E30 on the move but not as eager to slide its tail either. E46 320iA 4dr, 318iA 4dr (Valvetronic), 330d Touring A, 330iA Touring A - agree with Number 27's comments. Handsome design that has aged well and the best looking of all the 3ers to date. Chassis struck the right balance between sportiness and comfort. F31 320d Touring Auto - not as sharp to drive as the E46 but much more comfy and refined. This is the car I kept the longest - almost 9 years with nary any issues despite being rear-ended twice and hitting a possum once that necessitated a new turbo unit. The current 3 has grown too much in size and its design leaves me cold, outside and in. Ridiculously hideous grille, profile is a mishmash of lines that makes it look like different designers did the front, rear and mid sections and then tried their best to make it work, Lexus like rear end. Inside, the recent LCI (facelift) moves more functions to the touchscreen (bad!) and I never liked the modern BMW instrument layout with the counterclockwise rev counter and absence of proper, round dials. BMW have, indeed, lost their mantra of being The Ultimate Driving Machine.

[@user-rv7rq4nw8n]

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!

[@ahtigrannskap8058]

You are doing really good job of showing cars that i have owned, and cars that i still want to own at some point.

[@t2216]

Drive 330Ci for past 10 years already. It really drives better than most new ones, but does need work once a year at least.

[@GTAMADDOG]

I have an E46 330d manual with 212k miles on it. I bought it in 2014 with 93k miles on the clock and had I the usual M57 quirks sorted soon after, since then I have barely touched the engine outside of servicing. It is now a bit crusty on the rear arches, but even with the mileage it still gets down the road with little effort, but am just cruising around in it 9 times out of 10. Ok, it isn't a petrol variant that everyone wants, but I think the only way to separate me and the 330d will be me or the car facing an untimely death. I bought an E92 335d last year and while the extra power and torque of the 335d is nice, I think I prefer to be behind the wheel of the E46. Certainly, in the corners, I have a bit more faith in the E46, but maybe it is the ditch finder tyres (dealer fit) on the rear of the E92 mentally stopping me from pushing it a bit more. However, I do like the fact that I shouldn't need to worry about rust anywhere near as much on the E92...

[@AutomoTom]

Love my pre facelift 2003 325Ci Convertible. Just clocked over 226k miles and still going strong!

[@jamesohanlon7119]

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!....

[@MrAndyS]

imo e36 was way better than e46

[@robinhatwell194]

Hey mate, I have a 2003 E46 facelift 330Ci convertible that I love to bits. It's auto so not quite as nippy as the manual, but it's a thing to drive. I can't wait for hot days to get the roof off and just go for a run. For me, this is the best convertible I have owned. Don't knock it. Happy for you to take it for a spin if you so desire and go to prove that it's a great drive, and possibly one of the nicest looking soft tops about.

[@TwizyMan]

We have a 2000 E46 328Ci Auto which is in mint condition with only 41K miles from new and it makes me smile everytime I get into it. A car from BMW when at it's peak, in my opinion.

[@adambrowning9215]

I had a ultra low mileage E46 Coupe in Gelb metallic with the 2.2 6 pot engine. It was a magnificent car, BMW UK used it to launch the new model 3 a few years ago. I swapped it for an 2007 Alpina D3 MT E90. I'm told it's one of the best in the country. Would you be interested in doing a review on my Alpina Jack?

[@johnytun]

Had one these for 12 years .. best car I’ve owned.. I can see the door trim missing ..mine was the same .. brilliant drive

[@chrischarman1043]

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

[@dappergent9422]

Many thanks for posting the video. A car I aspired to own but never happened. This E46 along with the E30 model was one of the best shapes in the BMW' portfolio. I had three E30's one 325i and two MTECH 2 sports. The six-cylinder engines were sublime. As for the latest design abominations of the BMW, we'll leave it there.

[@NiceCakeMix]

I love my e46 325i 2004 Saloon. I love the fact it can be a normal saloon when i need it to but it can also give me spirited driving on the backroads when i need it to. Being the saloon its a little less desirable than the coupe but i needed a car with back seats for ease of access to the rear seats. I must admit it is one of the best cars i have driven.

[@kkiwi54]

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 😮 😆

[@keithvers569]

The E39 5 series took some beating

[@guy4469]

ive just written above ,you will find it ,

[@bobz1736]

I agree it's great lines and chunky styling make it one of the most handsome cars ever made. It's like will never be seen again. Great review as always 👍

[@Aurum458]

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!

[@anticalgary]

Really appreciate you and your videos

[@mikebader3863]

This really was golden era for BMW. Completely agree about the design, absolutely timeless, still looks great 25 years on! Having previously owned 325s/330s and now have an M3 I will say the M3 is a completely different prospect, however as you say if you can’t quite stretch to M3 money the 325/330 are great cars in their own right!

[@michaelmccann4706]

Who needs TV motoring programs and reviewers who sound so similar when we have No.27.

[@mrnicktoyou]

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.

[@1andrewclayton]

Great review on the E46, I now only use mine as a second car, but wanted another newer model for my daily, but couldn’t find anything that gave me the perfection that is the E46, their true value, I believe will come in time as fewer examples become available, oh and the replacement daily? Well it had to be the back to old school manual 2013 135i

[@johnfrei9057]

This was when BMW WAS truly special. The current BMW’s have become a feature-laden appliance that you’ll eventually replace with no regret.

[@alaricbragg7843]

Thank you for this video. There are still a lot of these cars around in New Zealand!

[@barfmeister8509]

I’m a big lover of e46’s having owned a 323 saloon, 328 touring, 330ci, 2x 325ti’s, 3x 318ti’s and 2x m3’s one of which I still have 14 years on. You did miss out the 323 which came online with the 328 and as you say were followed by the 325 & 330 with the 320 slightly later with its sweet M54B22 lump. Loved the vid dude 😘

[@michaellavictoire1384]

Still have my 320ci E46 with 245,000 miles on it. Love it, perfect driving position and looks great. I don't think for the money there is a better car!

[@PB200559]

On the money Jack. Old versus new BMWs no comparison.

[@f1shf1ngers24]

Three hundred and thirty horsepower, miles out there that figure back then was in rocket ships

[@rossbethell4187]

It was E36 M3+ filter + exhaust 😂

[@thetruthwillout3347]

I've had many BMW's over the last 25 years and all have been brilliant cars! I had a 5 speed manual e46 330i m sport touring for 5 years and also an auto 325ci. Both fantastic cars and very well put together. My only gripe was the auto felt a little under powered compared to the manual 330i. Great review and good to see you behind the wheel of a nice e46.

[@kelvinmillis9720]

I have a saloon and a cabrio, both 2.2's, neither perfect but fit and the art can't be denied !

[@protestagain]

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.

[@keithposter5543]

Oh man, I've been saying this about these for years. Lovely example here - the mv1 BBS style wheels are much nicer and more subtle than the facelift mv2's. This shape is just sublime, and better for not being an M3 or even the 328/330 with the more aggressive chin spoilers. I recommended one to a friend, pretty much identical to this but an auto and with the lovely grey leather interior, and only 55k miles young. Heads turned wherever it was taken, but sadly it was killed by the floods in the southwest a few years ago. He was traumatised by the whole thing as he'd invested a fair amount of time making it almost perfect so I won't share this vid with him just yet 😉 Absolutely spot on with your analysis Jack, they really are special cars although I wouldn't discount the very common autos and even the four pots if the body/colour/wheels are right. Stupidly cheap for what they are but let's keep it under our hats shall we? 😉

[@petersteen4014]

I bought an E30 'sleeper' some twenty years ago - a 325E of the mid-'80's - from a friend who was being deported [long story] for the princely sum of $400. Now, it didn't present the aquamarine blue finish in an enthralling light - being left outdoors for 6 months in the blazing Cambodian dry season - but it drove impeccably for all of its 127hp. I kept it for five years and only needed to change the clutch plates, a $100 outlay. A lovely car to drive on degraded road surfaces, and the first vehicle in which my young daughter didn't get car-sick - later, an embassy official snatched it up for a 'fair' exchange of $1500! After, I went Mercedes, but the Beemer will always have a warm place in my heart - a great review, Jack

[@stevedickson5853]

E30s gone crazy price wise these days

[@user-lj5yh2nx7t]

After this generation the BMW styling department went mad, and have never recovered.

[@andrewachholz7922]

Im stuck in the 00s so I still drive my 530 E39 and 320ci E46 just because of the feeling for it. I cant find it in never BMWs. When everything turns do digitized clusterborards, suspension's, engines etc, I still like the age of mechanics just tuned to almost perfection.

[@MLC...]

I also like the E46 a lot. I would not buy a BMW after this generation. I differ from you with regards to the E36 - I like them a lot and prefer their sharper body styling. The E46 interior is more stylish though, especially the dash.

[@kdevitt]

325ci is lovely - but 330ci is better again. Anyway - the 6 pot E46's were the 320ci, 323ci, 325ci, 328ci and 330ci - so 5 in total.

[@Car-gx6zx]

Actually 6, the 320i pre restyling is a 2.0 while the 320i post restyling is a 2.2

[@kdevitt]

@@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)

[@Car-gx6zx]

⁠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

[@kdevitt]

@@Car-gx6zx no, I’m not. Im in Ireland - we get the same models as the UK - and this is a UK KZbin 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

[@Car-gx6zx]

@@kdevitt oh, so you are saying that Jack videos are aimed at UK and Ireland only. I see, makes perfect sense.

[@pinkstickynote1]

I've had 2 E46s. I want one again. You'e right - there's nothing better for the money. Period.

[@freaknoutful]

I had a facelift 325i manual touring for 3 years. Went up and down the UK without fault. Just brilliant. Replaced with an E60 545i which was HUGELY more capable and probably the best saloon at the time. Ulitmately revealed to be quite flawed, reliability, build quality, ride with runflats and sports suspension in London. Urghhhhh!

[@erwinzeeland9390]

Owning a 2005 Z4 with the M54B25 engine I can confirm it's a delight to drive because, as you said, it's very smooth and has just enough power to entertain you without getting ridiculous. However, because of it's age the costs of keeping it running are quite high and electronic gremlins have found their home and apparently are there to stay. Still I am not letting the car go because of the almost perfect balance between usability and sheer joy, thanks mostly to that engine.

[@2V8s]

You brought back memories! The 330ci sport is the one to have though. They are 234bhp by the way. I had a 2002 e46 330ci sport manual in that same silver colour. Best car i ever owned. Before that i had an e36 318is coupe and after the 330ci i had an e39 5 series 530i sport, same engine as the 330. All great cars. Those 3 litre engines did drink oil though! According to Munich headquarters anything up to 1l per 1000 miles was normal 😮

[@eminzide]

I like the looks of the pre facelift 4 door E46..... It has some elements from the E34 and the E32.....

[@spencerbarratt7421]

Looks great in silver!

[@sebastiend.5335]

My absolute favourite car to play in Grand Turismo at the time. Albeit a CSL. ;) Thanks Jack. Greetings from the Netherlands

[@jeffb9010]

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.

[@mc1703]

Amazing to think that in one model/ shape BMW ran 4 different 6 cylinder configuarations (320 325 330 and M3)... 6 if you count 323 and 328!

[@user-ed3yb3dh2t]

Love the sound of the car ✌️

[@gregchristofi1318]

Fully agree, peak BMW era this. I have a couple of e46s, love them both and untouchable in their price brackets. One is 330Ci automatic convertible picked up for very little £££££ and the perfect summer cruiser.. the other is a 330i saloon but with a rotrex supercharger conversion, 375 bhp, 600NM and totally bonkers!

[@russellbryan2288]

Thanks Jack. I miss my long gone lowered E46 Estate car.

[@jonathanperry4189]

I test drove one when choosing a company car, great driving position, a bit legs straight out in front if I remember. I do remember the feeling of solidity, seemed to run deep. But being young I went for hot hatch excitement & got a gen 1 Leon cupra R instead. It's interior felt Audi minus 1 on solidity of an almost identical dash ! New BMW have faces for not just Europe now, the Chinese market is massive and they like a BIG grile

[@mickstereftb]

Had one of these in blue about 12 years ago. Currently in a 320cd with 170k on the clock which I've owned for 9 years.

[@samcourt6228]

The E46 is very very pretty and whilst it felt more solid that the E9x cars, my experience is that the E9x cars. Re better built and don’t rust…plus yikes can get the N52 which is a cracking engine. The E9x cars need to be in M Sport trim to look. My E46 325 was a car I loved but it was a pain in the bum. The E90 330i that replaced it was an easier car to live with.

[@johnnoble1790]

I have a 2007 M 130i double clutch gearbox auto with paddles. I love this car handles great on our twisty hills here in NZ, with plenty of power.

[@melaniezimmermann-jv7th]

Nice swap. 👍😲

[@ianelliott229]

I had that exact model and it was the car I’ve loved most! BMW went downhill from then on. Ab Fab. It was beautiful to drive and look at - and so practical. Room for 4, decent boot etc. unfortunately it became a real money pit after 90,000 miles.

[@jestubbs69]

2003 330i M Speed. Best of both worlds. Trying to work a deal on one now. One owner car.