[F30lolz]

Had a 2003 325xi a long long time ago and it served its purpose well in the harsh NY winters. Drove maybe 100k miles in my ownership in 5-6 years and was reliable AF. My f36/e90 interior’s obviously offer more room but I don’t see myself getting into another e46 unless it’s a M3/6 speed.

[jvit27]

Originally Posted by dmaxdmax

The f30 is amazing--too amazing.

I drive mostly 'boring' on highway, or 'most I can' in and around suburban NJ. With the E46 and its light front end, nice gearing in the 5-spd, I could work the engine though its range. I could stay in 2nd all the way to 69 mph and the engine sung. The f30 in 2nd sort of screams...and she tells me she wants 6th. 6th? Already?

It's too comfortable--I feel secure, got tunes, power, handling, heated seats, hud...even automatic revmatching. I am riding, not driving.

E36's nimbleness? Every day was an adventure to see if I'd take my hands off the wheel and bump into a tree while trying to light a cigarette and shift at the same time. Death was around every turn. Driving was fun, exciting, engaged. Me and the car were one.

Me and this f30? We're not one yet. The jury is still out.

Speaking from experience, this is just a classic case of "the grass is greener.."

If you went backwards, there is a strong chance you'd appreciate some of the refinement or improvements made to the newer car. I suggest driving some other cars outside of the brand for more context. Skip the E36/E46 and go find yourself an old 996 or Cayman if you want to go there - without much difference in cost if any.

Originally Posted by toddwalton

Yeah, that's it in a nutshell. As a public service to others:

As the F3X transitions to preowned buyers, some of whom don't do their homework before making a purchase and are trying to save money, it needs to be stated that each suspension is uniquely different than another and for the lifespan of the F3X generation, the X-Drive is generally thought to be the least sporty and least nimble by enthusiasts. This is the pecking order:

RWD Adaptive-M
RWD Sport
RWD Luxury
AWD Adaptive-M
AWD All Other Trims

Just a head's up to those considering an F3X. If you want the type of ride closest to the old days, you must find an example that is an LCI, RWD, with the Adaptive-M Suspension option. Any X-Drive version, even with the M-Sport package, will not provide the type of handling you seek as that doesn't have an M-Sport suspension or a Sport suspension, it has the X-Drive Suspension.

The F3X gets a bad reputation because if configured in its cheapest iterations it rides and handles like a Camry. Not very many people got the Adaptive-M Suspension in the early days of the F3X. And while some positive changes were made for the LCI, it's still about the Adaptive-M Suspension.

BMWNA has had an ugly habit of crippling the xDrive cars; it still baffles me why they like to delete Sport suspension on US spec cars without telling anyone in spite of the customer optioning it. Unfortunately my car had just about every option except the Adaptive dampers. It was a perfect spec otherwise and one of the very last new ones anywhere to be found, so I wasn't too upset since I knew i'd eventually have to upgrade the rest of it anyway; it still aggravates me to the point I question why we keep rewarding BMW with our business though.

At least the foundation is there though to sort a good car into a great car. Guess the engineers clocked out early on this platform...

Originally Posted by jnj2455

Partially I think it's a case of human nature and wanting what you can't have.

Not directly related, but ever since I sold my GTI for my 440 (RWD, adaptive struts), I found myself sometimes wishing for the lighter, more tossable, "carefree" nature of my GTI. I will admit that it felt lighter on its feet and the steering had more feedback but truth was, it was showing its age by the time I sold it. Whilst there wasn't one single catastrophic thing wrong with it, there were several little things starting to break that was wearing on me.

I also think the human mind tends to glorify a lot of things from the past with the passage of time, and perhaps the E46 cult following is not much different.

GTI was/has been on my short list. I actually think the MK7 feels more like an old BMW than the new BMW's do.

Agreed on the glorification 100%. Great car to drive, but it's not always rainbows & butterflies. As you get older life happens. Priorities shift, time is more valuable, and constantly fiddling with an old car on eventually becomes a losing proposition. The tradeoff of just accepting the compromise becomes more appealing within the application of a daily driver you have to rely on.

Originally Posted by toddwalton

The problem with romanticizing the E46 in 2021 is that it's a 23 year old car, 15 if you got one from the last year of production. They're no longer safe as daily drivers, I don't see the upside of a slight increase in steering (if that, I don't think there is any) compared to the downside of old seat belts, old airbags, old traction control and all the other safety features compromised here compared to those found in modern BMW's.

The E46 is now an antique. It's a car you drive 10x a year on weekends, maybe take to a car meetup or a car show. It's not something that should be compared to an F3X or a G2X, its no longer in the same league as far as safety, reliability, and driving experience. Hell, the E9X too for that matter.

^^^^
What people forget when they romanticize the hydraulic steering feel is that most of us have gone to varying lengths to 'fix' it on the old BMW's too! I've swapped out the racks for faster ratios, replaced/deleted rubber bushings, and decreased the assist on the pump just to make it feel pretty good. People who shit on EPS need to remember this and be more objective - steering on the newer cars IS more precise whether we like the weighting or not.

[erickonphoenix]

I miss my E46 touring only because the steering was a little more precise and I liked the sharp fenders vs the slab type on the F3x.
The M54 engine was also smoother than the N20 even though the N20 has more power. I also think the F31 has a beefier appearance than the E46 and from the back the rear fenders make it look way more aggressive. But those are just small subjective reasons. In general, I'm very happy with the F31 and the increase in size has made it slightly more practical for road trips.

[Desertnate]

Originally Posted by toddwalton

The E46 is now an antique. It's a car you drive 10x a year on weekends, maybe take to a car meetup or a car show. It's not something that should be compared to an F3X or a G2X, its no longer in the same league as far as safety, reliability, and driving experience. Hell, the E9X too for that matter.

You have a point with the reliability, but I'd still daily drive an E46 again in an instant because I found it such a great driving experience. It was small, light, great sport suspension, fantastic steering, and a nimbleness you don't find in today's cars.

I moved on to my F32 thinking it would bring back the experience. It hasn't. The F32 is good car and it's fast enough for me, it just isn't the laugh my E46 was.

[Sigge]

I miss my 2001 330 coupé ! Sold in 2010

[dmaxdmax]

My 1999 328i 5-spd...

[celsdogg]

lost our E46 when a minivan rear ended my wife on the highway in 2017. it protected her really well.

replaced with an F30. still miss the E46.

some folks almost visceral reaction to someone else feelings toward an E46 makes me wonder how a chassis wronged them so much.

I miss crayons.

[toddwalton]

Originally Posted by celsdogg

some folks almost visceral reaction to someone else feelings toward an E46 makes me wonder how a chassis wronged them so much.

It's over. It's an antique. Let us move forward without ever mentioning the E46 again. All we elders will do is confuse the F3X younglings needlessly.

[celsdogg]

Originally Posted by toddwalton

It's over. It's an antique. Let us move forward without ever mentioning the E46 again. All we elders will do is confuse the F3X younglings needlessly.

my guy, are you calling me old? get any closer and my walker will do the talking!

[therealm3]

Originally Posted by toddwalton

It's over. It's an antique. Let us move forward without ever mentioning the E46 again. All we elders will do is confuse the F3X younglings needlessly.

Please. E46? I long for my e30's. Had two 91 318is, an 89 325, and an M3. The M was by far the coolest but also the most annoying to own. Constantly spending money on it. My first 318is was the most fun. Sold it with 256k miles on the original motor and transmission. It had 30+ track days too. Great fun car to really learn how to drive on.

E46 content: had a 2001 325 MT with a nice suspension. Good car. But my f30 is better. Now if I were presented with an excellent condition 2005 zhp 6MT sedan, I might jump ship to it. And I still regularly browse e46 m3 for sale ads. Would love an 06 6mt comp in interlagos.

Oh well. Reality is the f30 is still probably the better car for daily and having some fun vs any of these aforementioned cars. But doesn't mean we can't pine over them and long for the good ol days. Hahaha

[toddwalton]

Originally Posted by celsdogg

my guy, are you calling me old? get any closer and my walker will do the talking!

LOL, not you, the car.

Got rid of my E46 330ci and it's been the best 18 months of my life. That thing was costing me $2K and more every year for the last 5 years, always something going wrong with it. Leased a nice Honda as our 3rd car instead. Nice and dependable. Fully warranted. Kids nice and safe.

The E46 vs. E90 wars were epic, and the F30 vs. E46 wars were charming. It's over now. E46's belong in a junkyard or a museum. They're not daily drivers.

[heifetz17]

What I don’t miss is the garbage GM transmissions.

I did love my e46 (and e83), but my favorite was my e36. My f30 is right up there though, but the e36 still holds a special place in my heart. I’m looking to sell my e30 to get an e36 but they’re getting hard to find in decent condition, at least in my area!

[Desertnate]

Originally Posted by heifetz17

What I don’t miss is the garbage GM transmissions.

I did love my e46 (and e83), but my favorite was my e36. My f30 is right up there though, but the e36 still holds a special place in my heart. I’m looking to sell my e30 to get an e36 but they’re getting hard to find in decent condition, at least in my area!

Funny you mention the transmission. The auto's were pretty bad. I almost didn't get my E46 because the dealers didn't happen to have any manuals and I was really disappointed by the autos. Fortunately, the dealer managed to let me take a slow, round-the-block, test drive of a manual car they traded in for another customer. The manual made a huge difference.

The E36 was amazing as well. It was an overnight test drive in an E36 325is that got me hooked and pushed me towards buying my E46. That was a very memorable drive. What a great car.

[jvit27]

Originally Posted by heifetz17

What I don’t miss is the garbage GM transmissions.

I did love my e46 (and e83), but my favorite was my e36. My f30 is right up there though, but the e36 still holds a special place in my heart. I’m looking to sell my e30 to get an e36 but they’re getting hard to find in decent condition, at least in my area!

Grew up on E36's. It's one of the most fun, and the S52 actually makes the M3 a better daily driver than most. Sad state of affairs to look for a nice E36 these days though. Don't be afraid to travel for one if you qualify it first. I bought mine in 2009 and drove it home cross-country!

Originally Posted by therealm3

Please. E46? I long for my e30's. Had two 91 318is, an 89 325, and an M3. The M was by far the coolest but also the most annoying to own. Constantly spending money on it. My first 318is was the most fun. Sold it with 256k miles on the original motor and transmission. It had 30+ track days too. Great fun car to really learn how to drive on.

E46 content: had a 2001 325 MT with a nice suspension. Good car. But my f30 is better. Now if I were presented with an excellent condition 2005 zhp 6MT sedan, I might jump ship to it. And I still regularly browse e46 m3 for sale ads. Would love an 06 6mt comp in interlagos.

Oh well. Reality is the f30 is still probably the better car for daily and having some fun vs any of these aforementioned cars. But doesn't mean we can't pine over them and long for the good ol days. Hahaha

My 318ti (e30 style suspension) was probably the most fun BMW of the 17 i've had. I've driven some E30's in various configurations and while they are fun too, the real charm is in it's lack of weight/size.

E46 M3 on a significant diet (300lb) is about as good as it gets though. The S54 isn't as nice to daily but it's what also makes the car special. Skip the competition package as it's overrated & overpriced now IMO. I just sold my '06 and kept the '04 non-ZCP.

Won't post the entire car to spare triggering todd!