E46 vs E90

[funcrew]

Is the the E46 substantially simpler and cheaper to maintain than an equal-miles E90? I'm looking around for a comfortable daily that needs a bit less love than my ragged-out E30.

[Eecen]

E83. Brah

Sent from my SK17a using Tapatalk

[JeST]

Having worked on both. E46 hands down. Tons easier to work on. Amongst the mechanics at the dealer we all have the same opinion that the e46 was one of the last bmw's a diy'er can really work on.

[Vince30]

E46s look cooler, that's the only input I can give.

[imsotyerred]

e90s are ugly as fuck and should cost more (equal milage-wise) and they are bloated pigs, even compared to an e46

did i mention that e90s are ugly as fuck?

[HarryPotter]

IMO the e46 is my second favorite chassis next to the e30. Strikingly similar to the lines of the e30 the e46 is quite sexy. I would definitely go for the e46. Just beware the build quality is not on par with the e30. Cars built more recently just don't have that last forever engineering.

[ohthejosh]

Having owned both, e46 being my first car and the e90 being a current car. I would prefer my old e46 over the e90. For a few of the following reasons;

1. No factory warranty on my e46 lol I have a warranty on everything on the e90 and it is horrible, cant remove the headlight to change bulbs because it has a "if torn" warranty label on the headlight casing.
2. e46 was built with lego's compared to the e90 with all the shrouds and coverings it has.
3. Gas mileage sucks ass on my 328i cant even imagine how bad the 335is are.
4. Driving the e46 made you feel a lot more connected to the engine and the car itself. Whereas the e90 feels disconnected somewhere.
5. Interior does not differ drastically between the e46 and e90 in my opinion. I wish the window controls were in the traditional spot on the e90.
6. This certain point is just a personal thing. iDrive is cool and all but sometimes a traditional radio and a touch screen navi is better. You know how big of a bitch it is to type in an address using iDrive is. (One good thing about it is if you use the search function for restaurants, hotels, etc it finds it quicker than a smartphone can lol)
7. The ride between the two is almost the same but I would say the e46 felt better by a tad bit.

So, I would say get the e46. It'll save you bundles in gas & maintenance.

[mikeedler]

I would say go with the E90.

unlike most of the worthless posts here (except ohthejosh)
I think the age of the e46 vs. e90 will have alot to do with problems that will come.
The e90 is no harder to work on than the e46!
there is just as little maint. to do on the e90, except the rear brake pads WILL need to be replaced more often.
if you have the money, get the newer one and don't get a no options car if it is going to be a daily.

that being said, my wife drives my old E46 every day, it has 270,000km on it and has had no large maint on it since new- tires-brakes- a few wheelbearings,ect.
I like the e46, but the E90s I drive are alot nicer to drive IMO.

[ohthejosh]

I would say go with the E90.

unlike most of the worthless posts here (except ohthejosh)
I think the age of the e46 vs. e90 will have alot to do with problems that will come.
The e90 is no harder to work on than the e46!
there is just as little maint. to do on the e90, except the rear brake pads WILL need to be replaced more often.
if you have the money, get the newer one and don't get a no options car if it is going to be a daily.

that being said, my wife drives my old E46 every day, it has 270,000km on it and has had no large maint on it since new- tires-brakes- a few wheelbearings,ect.
I like the e46, but the E90s I drive are alot nicer to drive IMO.

teehee.

[naplesE30]

I'm in the same position as op. Looking to get an e46 touring. I have seen a few that were leaking oil with less than 55k on them. Is that a common issue with the e46? My wife e90 has been flawless, other then when it locked her in the car thanks to a bad control module.

[CrusherCurtis]

Test drive any e46 you'd like then test drive e92 335i. If you can afford it you'll got right for the e92. I agree with a few other posters e90 sedan is ugly, but then again so is e46 sedan.

[nrubenstein]

The E90 is a great highway covering appliance. The 335 kind of sucks to drive because it has way too much torque for an open diff. This means that you basically have to leave at least some part of traction control on at all times.

Personally, if I were in the market for a new car, I would wait and lease the new 328i with the turbo 4-banger. I'm actually kind of tempted to ditch the E46 M3 for one.

That said, if you plan to buy out of warranty, the E46 is your hands down choice. The hassle factor in servicing a new BMW is way higher.

[kway]

I'll shamelessly repeat what I've said on here and elsewhere numerous times:
A 4 door, 2 wheel drive, manual transmission e46 is one of the easiest cars you'll ever work on.

Easier than an e30, there I said it. I own an '06 330i (best kept secret in the e9x world, BTW) and it's an awesome car, but I'd rather work on the above mentioned e46 any day of the week. Each one has their strong and weak points (e90 suspension parts seem to last longer for instance), but in my opinion the e46 is a lot more DIY friendly.

I've been riding a nice easy wave at work the past few years with the e46 being the majority of what our customers drive. Now more and more e9x's are starting to filter in; eventually the transition will be to those making up the majority. I'm not looking forward to it.

Test drive any e46 you'd like then test drive e92 335i. If you can afford it you'll got right for the e92.

Yeah, they're practically giving them away for free these days. There's a reason for that.

[ohthejosh]

Seriously gas mileage is horrible on e90s. No matter how much you baby it its a guzzler

[gwb72tii]

I would say go with the E90.

unlike most of the worthless posts here (except ohthejosh)
I think the age of the e46 vs. e90 will have alot to do with problems that will come.
The e90 is no harder to work on than the e46!
there is just as little maint. to do on the e90, except the rear brake pads WILL need to be replaced more often.
if you have the money, get the newer one and don't get a no options car if it is going to be a daily.

that being said, my wife drives my old E46 every day, it has 270,000km on it and has had no large maint on it since new- tires-brakes- a few wheelbearings,ect.
I like the e46, but the E90s I drive are alot nicer to drive IMO.

i owned a 328i e46, and currently a e92 328xi
^^^
what he said
the e92 is more luxury, not as connected feeling, but is definitely quicker/faster than my e46 was