e30 vs e46

[BMWerke]

i had a 2000 323i before my '90 325is, my e30 would have eaten my e46 ALIVE. yes the e46 is nice just like the new BMWs they are very numbed out unless its a 330 zhp or M3. I say an e30 with new but STOCK suspension is just as comfortable as an E46. my 2 pennys.

[Wh33lhop]

I was drinking and working on the E30 when I posted that, so I felt like being pretty brutally honest with my opinion. In my opinion (everyone has one) the E46 wasn't better in any of the areas that you mentioned than my E30. But, that could just be my car. It's a great E30.

I don't hate them or anything, but I haven't given them a real "chance". With springs and a diet they might be a lot of fun. I wouldn't mind picking up an E46 325i to use as a track car. A lot of us local track junkies with E30's have talked about how much sense that would make because they are getting so cheap and it wouldn't take much to have a car that is very competent for mixed street/track duty.

But again, I don't really like driving them as a strict street car. My brother has one and I drive it every time I have to work on it. It still does nothing for me in stock form-- feels very "pedestrian". When I had both I would drive the E46 to pick up girls for dates or whatever. I figured that they would appreciate that even if they didn't outright ask me to drive it. Every time they would ask where my old car was, which bewildered me.

/my opinion on the matter.

Really? Really now. A 25 year old noodle frame E30 on coilovers has just the same amount of squeaks and rattles as an E46? The same level of sound insulation? And you are going to claim that the stock stereos are the same and that the camel hump M20 has the same torque curve as the dual vanos M54? Look, there is no denying that the E30 is the more FUN car to drive and that most of us prefer it, but in terms of amenities and luxury the E46 blows it out of the water.

I am not trying to be disrespectful here but it is just frustrating when something seems so blatantly obvious. Yes I'd rather an E30 than an E46. Yes, in comparison the E46 is shoddily built, has more bullshit to go wrong, is numb/a porker, is more expensive to buy and maintain, etc, but it is all a tradeoff for a newer car with more tech behind it. Just because it doesn't particularly tickle your fancy, doesn't mean that there is nothing else good about it to acknowledge.

[///M42 sport]

my dads M3 had more problems and was in the shop WAYY more than my E30 but im a mechanic and can fux a problem with one of these on lunch ;) not pay 1800 for the rear cat that takes the dealer a week to fix and it still doesnt fix the problem... haha

Yeah, but for example, by fucking driveshaft is needing replacing. For a DIY it'll prob take me a weekend. Good thing I have the time to spare now. But shit like this is just not worth it. The better alternative is have both a e30 and e46 for DD.

[Nairb]

I have a 2001 325xi Touring with steptronic, 117k miles.. I must say, it's a great damn car. I replaced the control arms and tie rods, water pump, and just about 15 minutes ago, the brakes.. other than that, it has been very very little in maintenance on my part in the 16k miles I've driven the car. It's quiet enough to be a baby hauler, and fun enough to swing into an occasional corner and drive it a little hard.

Honestly, I could easily (but I'd be seriously brokenhearted) get rid of the e30 and daily drive the e46.. that's how great it is.

Also, I'm averaging 23-25 mpg (mainly city, OBC calculated) on 93 octane and I haven't replaced any fuel delivery components.

My only real complaint is the stock stereo system. I can't even play MP3 CD's or use an AUX cable without shelling out like, several hundred dollars. Also, the stock speakers are paper and they are garbage.. the subs rattle pretty hard at a medium-loud volume.

[rThor432]

Meh, I work on E30's and E46's every day so I guess that has some influence on my opinion.. Sorry, but my E30 doesn't have any squeaks or rattles and the sound system certainly rivals the system in the old E46 I had. Oh wait, the passenger rear speaker blew in the E46 (along with the cooling system; typical)-- none of which have been an issue on my [24 year old] E30's stock components. And the 'noodle frame' comment really doesn't mean much-- it's a non issue at the track between two comparable cars. Doesn't matter on the street a bit (except for some peoples cars, which are rattle traps).

^Again, opinion-- you don't have to mind me.

[Wh33lhop]

I have a 2001 325xi Touring with steptronic, 117k miles.. I must say, it's a great damn car. I replaced the control arms and tie rods, water pump, and just about 15 minutes ago, the brakes.. other than that, it has been very very little in maintenance on my part in the 16k miles I've driven the car. It's quiet enough to be a baby hauler, and fun enough to swing into an occasional corner and drive it a little hard.

Honestly, I could easily (but I'd be seriously brokenhearted) get rid of the e30 and daily drive the e46.. that's how great it is.

Also, I'm averaging 23-25 mpg (mainly city, OBC calculated) on 93 octane and I haven't replaced any fuel delivery components.

My only real complaint is the stock stereo system. I can't even play MP3 CD's or use an AUX cable without shelling out like, several hundred dollars. Also, the stock speakers are paper and they are garbage.. the subs rattle pretty hard at a medium-loud volume.

Do you have the premium stereo?

[Nairb]

Do you have the premium stereo?

I don't think so.. I have the premium and cold weather package, but I don't think I have any special stereo package.

[Wh33lhop]

Meh, I work on E30's and E46's every day so I guess that has some influence on my opinion.. Sorry, but my E30 doesn't have any squeaks or rattles and the sound system certainly rivals the system in the old E46 I had.

Maybe you have only listened to cars with standard stereos, or you listen to music with no bass... between my E30 with premium sound and my friend's E46 with premium sound there is zero comparison. The E30 premium speakers sound good for what they are--25 year old speakers. But there is zero bass extension.

Oh wait, the passenger rear speaker blew in the E46 (along with the cooling system; typical)-- none of which have been an issue on my [24 year old] E30's stock components. And the 'noodle frame' comment really doesn't mean much-- it's a non issue at the track between two comparable cars.

It is not just the track where you notice chassis rigidity. Put comparable suspension on both cars and the E30 chassis will crash and oscillate over every rut in the road, whereas in the E46 you'll just get a nice solid thump.

And again, the rest of the things I mentioned have gone unaddressed...

[herbie]

I think real chicks, the really hot ones dig e30's more than e46's. just my opinion. e30's have that certain appeal that e46's don't. now, in laws are a different story.

I think e46 is more reliable. If you have a real job, you cant be calling in to work saying your e30 broke down.


Chicks dont give a shit about smoked smillies, remus exhaust, mtech II cabrios, if they see it sitting next to a e46 m3 cabrio haha.

[slowboat]

I like to think of it this way: The e46 is a better car but the e30 is a better BMW.

[Dozyproductions]

I like to think of it this way: The e46 is a better car but the e30 is a better BMW.

/thread

[clydesdale]

My wife's ZHP has aftermarket sways, CABs and a bmw performance exhaust. She has the Alcantara interior and AW exterior. I love my e30 and it truly is a raw old school ride. But, damn the ZHP is nice. I will be driving it in 5-7 years when we start looking for something better for her. But, I don't think I could ever sell the e30. I would like to motor swap it and make it a sleeper.

[bloodshot-e30]

Yeah, but for example, by fucking driveshaft is needing replacing. For a DIY it'll prob take me a weekend. Good thing I have the time to spare now. But shit like this is just not worth it. The better alternative is have both a e30 and e46 for DD.

lol a drive shaft replacement is like a 2 hour job (on the ground) and a 45 min job on the lift.

my E30 was my daily for ever and it only went down when i snapped the center of the clutch out...
my new E30 is a pile and its gonna be down untill i get the rest of the stuff for my M52..

Maybe you have only listened to cars with standard stereos, or you listen to music with no bass... between my E30 with premium sound and my friend's E46 with premium sound there is zero comparison. The E30 premium speakers sound good for what they are--25 year old speakers. But there is zero bass extension.




my E30 sounds WAYYYYY better than my dads E46 M3 sorry i also have $600 in speakers alone though.


It is not just the track where you notice chassis rigidity. Put comparable suspension on both cars and the E30 chassis will crash and oscillate over every rut in the road, whereas in the E46 you'll just get a nice solid thump.

And again, the rest of the things I mentioned have gone unaddressed...

u sure? mine seems to do better than half of the E46's i work on anyways.

[matias88e30]

i might get a e46 by the end of the year, but honestly i would be happier with a clean,a/c ,mint conditions 4-6K e30..

[Fusion]

Driving pleasure / money ratio = E30 win.

My brother envys the fact that I can toss around the E30's back end, not caring if something breaks. Nothing ever does anyways. He has an E46 328Ci.
I could afford a nice 330i but I'd rather do an S50 swap. The E46 is more solid, feels heavier, not as responsive. Coupe doors are fukn heavy. A good car, but not something I crave.