e30 vs e46

[clydesdale]

My wife picked up an e46 330i with the zhp package and damn, I must admit, it is a pretty damn cool car. Makes me wonder if I should even bother with a motor swap in my e30 or if it is time to trade up. But, hardly anyone around me drives an e30 and I like that fact. How do you feel about the e46?

[blefevre]

This has been talked about a lot. Many people on here have owned both. Search around for multiple threads. I went from E46 to E30 and I have mixed feelings. All depends if you want a quiet, fancy car or old school driving pleasure. All up to the owner.

[QUKBMER]

Compaired to an e30 POS. We service these cars all day along. Once they fall out of warranty thats when the fun starts.:down:

[Wh33lhop]

Enjoy ZHP-specific VANOS issues and subframe self-destruction. It is hard to fault the E30 because there are no major issues like this, even with a car so old.

That said there are two sides to every story and the ZHP is a great car if you can look past the issues.

[blefevre]

If the car is stock BMW will fix the subframe.

Vanos is something you will have to deal with, but whatever.

[clydesdale]

Yeah, I am aware of the coolant issues as well. The vanos issue has a fix and the zhp is post subframe issues. I love the simplicity of my old e30 325is, but damn is that zhp sweet. But, I also the love the idea that I get the headlights flashed at me from distant e30s and 2002s. I like being part of the old bimmer club. An engine swap might freshen it up. But, what I really need is paint, but I think that will cost an arm and a leg.

[MikeK]

Personally, I think a S50 swapped car is a much better car overall compared to a ZHP.

But I am just a 800lb gorilla, who really cares.

[bloodshot-e30]

compareing to a regular 3 series E46 and comparin it to my last E30 i would MUCH rather have my E30 compared to my dads M3 DROOL lol
but do a 24v swap M52 or S52 OBDI swapped with some good suspension and u cant go wrong ;)

[kway]

Bastard, I loves me an e46 ZHP sedan! Have fun w/it. I have one more e30 to use up after this, then I'll be getting an e46 NON Xi sedan as a dd. Super easy to work on, modern enough, but not over the top. The e46 what the e36 should have been all along. Seems like they learned from all (or most of) the fail of the e36 and refined it into the e46.

The only thing is you probably want a good way to read and reset fault codes. I have access to an autologic so no problem for me. I dunno what's out there for DIYers, but I could see that being a real PITA. I think that would be the biggest issue.

[rThor432]

I had a facelift E46 and an E30 at the same time. The only plus to the E46 is that .. well I can't think of one. I'll edit this post if I ever think of an upside. Oh wait-- here's an upside--> BF.c guys will give you 'props'.

[rThor432]

compareing to a regular 3 series E46 and comparin it to my last E30 i would MUCH rather have my E30 compared to my M3 DROOL lol
but do a 24v swap M52 or S52 OBDI swapped with some good suspension and u cant go wrong ;)

You don't have an M3.. Your dads car?

[bloodshot-e30]

You don't have an M3.. Your dads car?

FIXED my dads M3 lol

[Wh33lhop]

I had a facelift E46 and an E30 at the same time. The only plus to the E46 is that .. well I can't think of one. I'll edit this post if I ever think of an upside. Oh wait-- here's an upside--> BF.c guys will give you 'props'.

Well don't say there's nothing better about it. Obviously it's a newer car, there will be less rattles, clunks, better powerband, stiffer chassis, nicer stereo, another gear for you to play with, etc. Saying the E30 is the better car outright, hands down is a bit ignorant IMO. There are tradeoffs and everyone has their preferences.

[uofom3]

the e46 feels more solid - not doubt.

The e30 feels more like its a drivers car - no doubt.

I don't love one m3 more than the other, but I would take the e46 over the e30 all day for a daily driver. The e30 will require a LOT of work and updating to make it "feel" as well put together.

that said, the e46 will require a lot of fixing to keep it reliable and solid feeling.

[F34R]

Drove an e46 M3 and it was amazing =) But I don't get the joy that I do with my e30 for some reason.