wikk3d88 said:
Gizmo said:
325i is far more reliable than the 318i, the N42 and N46 motors in the 318i are problematic and very expensive to fix when they go wrong. The M54 motor in the 325i is brilliant and never goes wrong. The 325i touring will get the same if not better gas mileage than the 318i touring.
Any real reason why the 4pots in the E46 seem to be so much more troublesome compared to the E36 4 pots?
The N42 and N46 were the first 4pot vanos/valvetronic motors and they hadn't got the build quality right just yet for such new technology. The M42, M43 and M44 motors were pre-vanos/valvetronic so nothing to go wrong at the end of the day.
Bee Em said:
Gizmo said:
325i is far more reliable than the 318i, the N42 and N46 motors in the 318i are problematic and very expensive to fix when they go wrong. The M54 motor in the 325i is brilliant and never goes wrong. The 325i touring will get the same if not better gas mileage than the 318i touring.
why is this?puzzling that the consumption is same or better ?
what do i need to look out for when viewing these cars
and what is a realistic/good price to pay for a decent specimen?
thnks for input thus far peeps
The touring is 150kg heavier than the sedan so when you try move a big heavy car with a small engine with no torque you tend to floor it every gearchange and this leads to higher fuel consumption. When you have a bigger engine with more torque you don't need to floor it ever unless you are overtaking, less fuel is burnt.
A small engine @ 100% throttle is going to use more fuel than a bigger engine @ 50% throttle.
If you are STILL dead set on wanting an underpowered touring that will be reliable then look for a pre-facelift one with the M43 8 valve engine in it, no vanos or valvetronic to go wrong...
