Buying a 2001 E46

[arcon]

i'm looking to buy a 2001 E46, my old '96 318is is likely to sell soon.

i'm looking at 318i / iA, 320 and above. The only thing which really turns me off the 318 is the rubber trim around the windows which i think looks cheap, and it can't last as long as the chrome featured on the 320 and above series and Audi A4s. I'll also test drive an A4 1.8T and 2.0MU, but not having driven an Audi ever have no idea what to expect.... Merc doesn't appeal, just don't like the look of that time.

4 or 6cyl doesn't bother me, its all city driving and i like reasonable fuel economy. but i will want at least as much power as my old 318is (which wasn't huge but noticeably better than a 318i of the time). i also like the sports suspension on my car.

i know everyone says get a 325, however its *really* hard to find a 2000 / 2001 325 here in New Zealand. also harder to spot a 320, i've never driven one... are they the same cabin size as a 318i...? or just a 6cyl version of the 316 with its tiny cabin...?

any advice welcome... i think the purchasing process will be a lot easier this time now that i've owned one and know some issues to check, but i'm still an E46 newbie

 

[Bullfrog]

I'm an Englishman living in the U.S. who just got back from NZ - spent a total of 3 months there in 2006. What a wonderful part of the world, and so many BMWs in Auckland, land of the JAFA!
Anyway, I think you'll be happy with any of the e46 line to be honest, as long as you find one that's been well taken care of. Yes, all e46 models have the same cabin size. It's not that small, is it?
I would go for the largest engine you can find in a good condition car that you can afford. I'm sure you know what to look for, the potential issues on an e46 of this age are well-documented.
And by the way, that e36 of yours looks pretty nice.

 

[arcon]

cheers mate - heh it just sold yesterday - i got to within $1000 of what i paid for it so pretty happy with that

yeah i live on Auckland's North Shore in Takapuna, bimmers pretty much grow on trees here.

good to hear about E46 cabin size, i remember sitting in a 316 and it was very slim, felt like a rat in a cage lol. i will probably end up with a 320 'cause they're quite affordable and after 2000 had better quality finishings than the 318i, but i'll see how i like the test-drive next week

 

[Bullfrog]

Good deal. Let us know when you find the new one, and post some photos.