Originally Posted By: mpvue
Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Were you looking for pros and cons of the E46 3-series as a whole? Specific model years? Specific models?
yes
Alright, here goes. Remember, this is based entirely on my own opinions and understanding, which are incomplete; I have had a lot of friends who were E46 owners over the years, but I haven't done a huge amount of research myself beyond talking to them, driving their cars, and reading reviews.
E46 3-Series Pro:
- Best-in-class handling dynamics, hands down.
- Deceptively fast on the highway.
- More comfortable than anything that even approaches it in terms of overall handling.
- Good balance of proven technology and new stuff; just the right amount of modern gizmos to make the car better without sacrificing reliability or ruining the experience of driving it.
- Available with AWD, but even RWD models handle snow just fine with the right tires.
- If treated well in the first 50,000 miles or so, tends to last a long time with reasonable upkeep costs.
E46 3-Series Con (common to most BMWs):
- "Normal person" driving and maintenance habits don't always work. You must be proactive with maintenance, and not be offended by the idea of paying for BMW OE parts when "OEM replacements" cost half as much. You also need to be willing to find a highway and give it the beans (as in WOT to redline) on a fairly regular basis.
- It is crucial to find one that was treated well early in its life. If you don't, upkeep can get annoying and costly.
- Because it's so capable and stable at speed, but doesn't provide all of the sensory feedback of a true sports car, it's more likely than many cars to make you act as though you own the road.
- Sometimes consumes oil between changes.
- Requires synthetic oil that meets certain specs.
Individual Models:
- Later model years are always better.
- As far as I can tell, the only reason to buy a coupe is if you like the look. Sedans are equal or better otherwise.
- If you test drive a 323 or 325 and don't like it, try a 330. Even though the chassis is the car's party piece, more power can improve the overall experience.
- Avoid the M3 unless you plan to go to the race track regularly or engage in felony speeding (obviously I'm not endorsing the latter option).