E36 vs E46 BMW
 

I'm thinking of giving our son my 1991 BMW 318is while I get a E36 or early E46 for a DD.

I've found a pretty comprehensive list of issues to look out for or might need attention, but wanted to get the PPOT thoughts on the E36 and the E46.

I like them both, but probably prefer the E36 coupe or sedan over a vert.

Thoughts...

E46 hands down. More modern looking inside and out and some of the quality issues were resolved. I recently bought an E46 M3 and so far I am very impressed. I know it's a complety different animal but has a nicer interior than an E36.
I am looking at this for my son too:

1999 BMW 318is SPORT E36 Coupe Private Cars For Sale in VIC - carsales.com.au

E46 hands down. I bought a 99 328i used and flog it 170 miles a day. Its got 202k on it and keeps chugging along. All BMW cooling systems suck, slap some hoses, t stat, expansion tank, and radiator in it when you get it ( less than $500 if DIY) and keep cruising.

Just bought my 17 yr old a 98 318i. 5 sp, air, cosmetically in good shape. Needed front tires, we are actually doing an entire brake job this weekend, next weekend front struts and rear shocks. Paid $2500 with another $1000 in parts. he's learning and I'm enjoying spending time with him.

i have an e36 vert. good idea not to get the vert atleast not the e36, plastic window. the e46 atleast has a glass one. the e36 with the obd 1 is easy to work on. no issues but agree with replacing the plastic cooling parts.. time bomb if you don't.

Cooling and gas related parts were the first things I replaced on my 91 318is. Lots of old dried up parts. We plan on doing the same with whatever we get.

Are the 2000-2003 models good to get?

What about transmissions? I say manual, but the wife wants an auto so she can drive it occasionally. Any car I get will have 100-150k miles most likely.

I think these are 'fill for 'life' transmissions. It's BS as you know. Just a fluid and filter change and it'll be good.

E46 all the way.

Had an E36. Never again.

I've had my e36 M3 for five years as my daily driver. It's solid all the way around. That being said, with the exception of the e36 M3, I would not consider an e36 over an e46.

I had an '03 330i and loved it. If it's an auto, the tranny flush is not a simple or cheap job and everyone knows the lifetime fluid is total BS. I'd search for a manual one that's had regular, documented fluid changes.

I've got 165k on my wagon and it still runs great and everything works. Much to my surprise the car is very easy to work. BMW must have made a fortune servicing these things. E36s are also great cars but I think the E46 interior holds up much better.

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4148/5...e1116bf3_z.jpg
325iT by willtel, on Flickr

E36 all the way. Just my opinion. I have spent many many hours working on and driving both, I have never owned an E46 and have no desire to but I would own another E36.

In my opinion the E46 was the last of the DIY BMW's. That said, any E46 with more than 100K miles needs the cooling system rebuilt. Will run you around $800 and most of a Saturday to do. Window regulators go out with an annoying frequency, but a fairly cheap and easy fix. If you get an automatic, try to find a car where the transmission fluid was changed out every 30K miles. The E46 automatic seems to have a very short lifespan after 100K miles if the fluid has not been changed on a regular basis. Yes many do last much longer than that, but many don't.

I own an e46 and I am happy with it. I have not owned an E36, but I concur with the above. Poke your head inside an e36 and e46 and you will come to the same conclusion.

I also contributed to a thread on the BMW side of this board (yes there is one!) where folks were listing out there "asks" for documented DIY's. That will also give you an idea for what people work on in these cars.

I agree that the e46 is DIY friendly, and the car has enough of a following that you can find info on how to do just about anything you'll need to do.

That said, there are some hack-mechanic DIY's out there, who document shortcuts. Ignore those of course :)

I'm very happy with my e46 wagon. It's really fun to drive with the manual trans and sport package. I did spend 3 years finding the right one though.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1349015372.jpg

^^^ A wagon I could go for!

I've had two E36s, after the first one I said "never again" but I was lured back. So this time for good - "never again".:)

Both were nice driving cars, but the interior is an embarrassment. Cheap materials and poorly assembled, they creak and rattle like an old Chevy. That is, when parts don't just break and fall off. Having looked at multiple higher mileage E46s I would say that they hold up much better.

I thought the same thing about how they were just totally cheap alltogether. Coming from 80's Porsches you just expect things like stainless exhaust and nice interior materials. There were just a bunch of "what were that thinking??" things all over the car like putting vinyl on a concave surface. The E46's seem nicer but it will be interesting to see how they hold up down the road with even more computer junk and plastic stuff.

People were always telling me German cars were only designed to make it through the warranty period and when I owned Porsches I had no clue where they were coming from. Within the first week of E36 ownership I knew exactly what they were talking about.

That's really GREAT of you.
I hope he deserves it. :)

I think the E36 was the first BMW really designed to a price point. As such, they were just learning how to cost cut and not every good at it. Having an E34 and then an E36, the E36 was significantly cheaper in materials and assembly. In my opinion (as well as many others) the E30 and E34 were the last of the well built classic BMWs. The rest are just mass produced cars, even though they do drive well.

Fwiw, the 97 E36 M with 110k miles had a nicer, tighter interior with less rattles than the 30k mile 09 Kia that replaced it....


I've heard a lot of gripes about the E36, but id buy another in a heartbeat.

I have owned both e36 and e46 both 325's, the e46 is much improved over the e36, however I really liked my e36. I thought the e36 was a better looking car, and was a better driving car when I really wanted to drive the car. the e46 is more refined, quieter, simple, and a better daily driver.

I owned a '95 M3 that was a weekend toy. With the exception of the interior and the power steering hoses and reservoir, the car was bullet proof. It was simple, quick and a real joy.

The leaky power steering issues was a simple DIY fix... part of that fix was replacing a reservoir that seems to be a common part to many German cars. My 944S, 924S, M3, 740iL, and I believe M-roadster (not all owned at the same time and all purchased used) all used the same crappy part. Good news, it was less than $20.

My M3 was nearly perfect cosmetically and as such, I spent some money to fix up the interior. IMO, it wasn't the vinyl material that was crappy, it was the glue that affixed it that sucked. Between two front door panels and a headliner, I think is was $1k but it was factory-fresh, brand new looking. Certainly, there are less expensive ways to fix those issues too.

As far as rattles, the M3 had its share but not surprisingly, most went away when I replaced the worn-out, noisy tires.

I have not personally owned an E46 but have a couple of family members that have. Interior materials and assembly is arguably better but they have their own issues. My brother has an '00 323iT, sport M/T that he bought with 116k and now has close to 170k. It is in need of some good maintenance but seems to chug along just fine.

My point: E36 and E46 cars both have quirks, most of which are in the eye of the beholder. Give them a little love and you can't go wrong with either. E36s are simpler, E46s offer more creature comforts.

Well said.
I've owned 3 E36's. A 318is and 2 M3's.
Compared to the rest of the cars built in the late 90's I think they are at the upper part of the list as far as quality ride etc.
Not sure where the comments are coming from making them sound like a POS.
I'm currently looking for an M46 M3, but that is because as a DD I need a newer car (and 333 HP :D )

And you will not be dissapointed. Had mine for about three weeks or so and love it. It can be extremely docile around town. I have an SMG and in 'auto' mode the car just purrs along, you would'nt even know that it was a pure animal underneath. And the sound of the motor winding up to 8K is...well.....