e30 vs e46

[Jean]

^ agreed. e46 just plain and simply is a nicer dd. newer, better ac, not as loud, etc etc. vs e30 with a "raw" feel w/o many electronic gizmos.

[brutus87]

A nice E46 will get you more waffleswaffleswaffleswaffleswaffles. That's what ultimately counts, she don't care about your s50 swap or coilovers, bitch wants to ride in a nice AC car ;)

[Hey-U]

My wife drives an e46 and it is very pleasant. Everything works better and is very pleasant. It's faster, quieter and the seats heat up faster you don't have to turn on lights or the wipers, Hell you don't even have to shift gears (if you don't want to???) and you guessed it, all that is very pleasant. If I tell people I have a BMW they all think of…. Yup e46.

I drive an e30.

[bloodshot-e30]

the E46 has all these weird things like traction control and working abs and shit like that man its just weird lol

[Mike]

A nice E46 will get you more waffleswaffleswaffleswaffleswaffles. That's what ultimately counts, she don't care about your s50 swap or coilovers, bitch wants to ride in a nice AC car ;)

Well said! Couldn't agree more...

[VinniE30]

e30 is a raw driving experience. e46 is more closed off from the exterior like a lexus. e46 has all the intrusive electronics like stability control and traction control. No thanks, I dont need those electric nannies to help me drive. Electric systems are prone to fail in time, even very basic functions like whats in the e30, so just think of the problems e46's will be having 20 years from now.(my brother's e46 already has a weird problem with the DSC system)

Electronics and technology in cars are advancing and changing very fast just like computers. You can buy an e46 now and all the technology in it will be old, outdated, and most likely failing in 20 years. On the other hand look at the e30... it's praised for lacking those amenities and it's weight, simplicity, etc. That will never change and it will only become more valuable to have a car like that in the future.

Also, the e30 has no major problems or weak points like the subframe, vanos, cooling system, window regulators, control arm bushings, and so on that the e46 has.(tons of little things too) If you buy an e30 that was maintained well and take care of all the normal ware items and maintenance it will be more reliable than any new car.

You would think they would be able to build parts like water pumps and window regulators, etc that last longer than ones made 20 years ago. Nope, in fact, a lot of parts have gotten worse in quality.

[rThor432]

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.

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.

[herbie]

I apologize for a long reply, don't read it if you don't like.

I have an e46 and obviously an e30. I had the e46 before the e30 and if I may speak from experience, specially since I still drive them both, I'd say they are different in many ways. the e46 feels more comfortable, smoother, and easier to daily drive. but as for the maintenance, i have spent over 6500 on repairs alone. oil separator, sun roof, window regulators are to mention a few. the e30? So far, just one rear wheel bearing, valve adjustment, and then next are csb, guibo, and the timing belt stuff. Nothing major, nothing minor. As far as reliability goes, in my experience at least, the e30 is more reliable if maintained well. The outside ambient temperature sensors in both cars don't

I use the e46 to work when It's raining, it feels safer, more stable and quieter. I drive the e46 in stressful situations when I don't really want to be driving. Times when I have other things to worry about. But during the weekends, I use the e30, it is simply more fun, it makes me smile just looking at the dashboard. it has that pleasant E30 smell, the sound of the m20, and the blinds spots that are not there. In short, I drive the e30 whenever I actually want to drive. Word of advice, don't accidentally spin it out of control when your wife/girlfriend is with you.

As for picking up girls, I didn't on both since I have been loyal to my girlfriend, and now that we are engaged, I don't think that would happen. But the E30 has started more conversations and looks from other guys. My fiancee likes the e30 more than the e46. my brother wants my e30, not the e46.

The only things that are stopping me from getting rid of the e46 are the airbags and other safeties. When I have kids, I would like to be able to transport them safely, and oh, it's a 4 door.

[mach schnell]

Ditto what Herbie said. E46's are good cars, comfy, relatively easy to work on, not as reliable as E30's, but they are good when you need to drive something more modern.

E30's are awesome, that's why we're on this board. But E46's are a solid #2 car. I will always have to have an E30 in my garage, I know that.

[evandael]

You guys serious? ZHP wins all day long. Now if the E46 in question is a 325, an auto, or some fugly color, I could see a well sorted swapped E30 as preferable, but..


.. with heated seats, great a/c, great classic/modern looks, great stereo, good gas mileage, faster, smoother, and still easy to work on with comparable aftermarket support, I'll take an E46 ZHP please.

[bloodshot-e30]

You guys serious? ZHP wins all day long. Now if the E46 in question is a 325, an auto, or some fugly color, I could see a well sorted swapped E30 as preferable, but..


.. with heated seats, great a/c, great classic/modern looks, great stereo, good gas mileage, faster, smoother, and still easy to work on with comparable aftermarket support, I'll take an E46 ZHP please.

faster than what? a stock E30? only one E46 that i kno of that was acctually faster than my E30

[rThor432]

^^ I like the ZHP's, but wish the had just put the S54 in at the factory. Maybe that's why I'm disappointed with E46's, no 4-door M cars.. I would retract my comments if there was a 4-door M car because I'd be driving one daily..

[bloodshot-e30]

^^ I like the ZHP's, but wish the had just put the S54 in at the factory. Maybe that's why I'm disappointed with E46's, no 4-door M cars.. I would retract my comments if there was a 4-door M car because I'd be driving one daily..

the ZHPs do look pretty sweet but just feel like a regular 330i to me...

yes 4 door Ms would have been SWEET! but it was a no go :(


id like to see BMW redesign the E30

[///M42 sport]

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.

[bloodshot-e30]

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.

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