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Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
E46 vs E39 as daily driver
- Thread starter calypso
- Start date
msm
Well-known member
calypso said:
Correct. While most of the engines are the same, silly little things like wheels and tyres (amongst other things) cost a bit more and are sometimes a mission to find. Overall though, the E39 is a brilliant car, however the newest one you will find will already by 7 years old BUT if you pick up one in mint condition with decent mileage and lots of extra's go for it.
J
Jandre
Guest
I am sitting here, wanting to reply to this post, and then it hit me: I don't know which one I would choose.
The e46 might be cheaper to maintain yes, and these days parts are a dime a dozen from scrapyards. I am not so sure about the e39. Then again the e39 is bigger, with a very nice size boot, and more comfy.
Me personally, I love the e46 330i, but if I had the choice today, I would opt for the e39 (family of 4, having to cart the pram around etc.)
But... but... the e46 is such an involving drive..... ooohhhhh, I am so glad I don't have to choose.
The e46 might be cheaper to maintain yes, and these days parts are a dime a dozen from scrapyards. I am not so sure about the e39. Then again the e39 is bigger, with a very nice size boot, and more comfy.
Me personally, I love the e46 330i, but if I had the choice today, I would opt for the e39 (family of 4, having to cart the pram around etc.)
But... but... the e46 is such an involving drive..... ooohhhhh, I am so glad I don't have to choose.
msm
Well-known member
Jandre said:
That's because BMW stop building them like they used to after the E46 and E39 ..... choosing between the E46 and E39 is like choosing between the best 2 cars on the planet.
When the E90 and E60 came along it was like choosing between the 2 ugly sisters after Cinderalla (E46/E39) had gone off to live happily ever after :hammerhead:
zaleonardz
Well-known member
depends what you are after dude, I personally (and this is me) do not like the E46 or the E90 cause they are too small for me. "Hi my name is Leonard, and I am addicted to big assed cars"
You are also going to find that the E39 has more standard features that were options on the E46, most E39's have PDC as an example.
Face it, daily drive means highway, traffic, stop start, meaning that you want comfort, as a toy, unless its a 540 or M5 , the E39 is perhaps a bit tooo... erm.. big, but you want a daily drive.
E39 is you shop nicely you may get electric seats, better sound, PDC bla bla bla, and its also better for intimidating taxi's
Guess which one I would choose:slap:
You are also going to find that the E39 has more standard features that were options on the E46, most E39's have PDC as an example.
Face it, daily drive means highway, traffic, stop start, meaning that you want comfort, as a toy, unless its a 540 or M5 , the E39 is perhaps a bit tooo... erm.. big, but you want a daily drive.
E39 is you shop nicely you may get electric seats, better sound, PDC bla bla bla, and its also better for intimidating taxi's
Guess which one I would choose:slap:
M
///M_POW
Guest
Interesting post hmmmm.... Every1 wants to save the kms on the M's :thumbsup:
I must say the E36 is built solid like a tank ... lol
I'm a still confused....
Some of my other run around options..
- Yaris T1
- Corolla 160 GLE RXI shape
- Corsa Bakkie
- Box Merc upto 2000 model
- Audi upto 2005 priced very well...
Maybe sell the M and get a x20d or x30d under motorplan and chip it.....
I must say the E36 is built solid like a tank ... lol
I'm a still confused....
Some of my other run around options..
- Yaris T1
- Corolla 160 GLE RXI shape
- Corsa Bakkie
- Box Merc upto 2000 model
- Audi upto 2005 priced very well...
Maybe sell the M and get a x20d or x30d under motorplan and chip it.....
zaleonardz
Well-known member
Thing is though dude,
You save the KM's on the M, and that car is an investment, one in the condition that yours is with reasonable km's is going to be worth big money soon,
What have you got on the clock.
Yaris is just going to suck, and you will look ghey.
Corolla is a good option for a daily runner, just make sure it has ABS for safety.
Corsa bakkies are not very safe, and the few that i know have all had reliability issues at high km's, i may be wrong
Box merc is a good choice, but same issue as a E39, they will need suspension/other bits looked at, at about the same price.
Audi also very nice call, but same issue as above.
Your going to laugh at me, but something else to look at is the nissan maxima, or even the old toyota camry's... good value for money to be found there...
You save the KM's on the M, and that car is an investment, one in the condition that yours is with reasonable km's is going to be worth big money soon,
What have you got on the clock.
Yaris is just going to suck, and you will look ghey.
Corolla is a good option for a daily runner, just make sure it has ABS for safety.
Corsa bakkies are not very safe, and the few that i know have all had reliability issues at high km's, i may be wrong
Box merc is a good choice, but same issue as a E39, they will need suspension/other bits looked at, at about the same price.
Audi also very nice call, but same issue as above.
Your going to laugh at me, but something else to look at is the nissan maxima, or even the old toyota camry's... good value for money to be found there...
M
///M_POW
Guest
looking to spend
- Yaris T1/T3 +- R55K this car is solid but looks ugly... so i wont get hijacked loll
- Corolla 160 GLE RXI shape +- 55K
- Corsa Bakkie +- 55K
- Box Merc upto 2000 model +- 55K
- Audi upto 2005 priced very well... depending on model and features +- 75K
on i E39/E46 i'm looking around R125K for late models,low kms and nicely spec'ed a bit out my range...
nissan maxima - parts are to expensive and hard to come by..
- Yaris T1/T3 +- R55K this car is solid but looks ugly... so i wont get hijacked loll
- Corolla 160 GLE RXI shape +- 55K
- Corsa Bakkie +- 55K
- Box Merc upto 2000 model +- 55K
- Audi upto 2005 priced very well... depending on model and features +- 75K
on i E39/E46 i'm looking around R125K for late models,low kms and nicely spec'ed a bit out my range...
nissan maxima - parts are to expensive and hard to come by..
zaleonardz
Well-known member
well E34.. 15k + 20k preventative maint = 35k and you got a solid stable runner, and thats being really rich.
E34 525 are a dime a dozen, with manual boxes being plenty, you dont need to even go for the 540... but i would.
20k buys you new reconned suspension, water system, decent serivce, and a new set of tyres, if/when the auto box craps out, you will look at about 5/10 for a manual conversion.
And if those motors do not overheat, they are bullet proof.
E34 525 are a dime a dozen, with manual boxes being plenty, you dont need to even go for the 540... but i would.
20k buys you new reconned suspension, water system, decent serivce, and a new set of tyres, if/when the auto box craps out, you will look at about 5/10 for a manual conversion.
And if those motors do not overheat, they are bullet proof.
J
Jandre
Guest
"Yaris your Idols finalists." :lmoa::lmoa:
msm
Well-known member
M_POW said:
Mini Cooper ??? The non-S version should fall within your budget .... and it's great for shopping - just trust me on this one. When you and the wifie go shopping, you got the perfect excuse for her to limit the amount of stuff you buy. Put in a 12" sub or 2 and it's even better
ANiMOSiTY
BMW Car Club Member
M_POW said:
I drive my E39 M5 every day. That's what an M-car is all about.
The E46 and E39 are some of the most fantastic cars that have ever been built.
They're equally good. Find a model you like and go with that.
I thought I'd never enjoy driving a big car, but the E39 is an absolute pleasure. It shrinks around you when driving it and it's super comfortable as a daily.
If you get a 540i or M5, it'll still be more than enough for a weekend hoon.
calypso
///Member
msm said:M_POW said:
Mini Cooper ??? The non-S version should fall within your budget .... and it's great for shopping - just trust me on this one. When you and the wifie go shopping, you got the perfect excuse for her to limit the amount of stuff you buy. Put in a 12" sub or 2 and it's even better
I dunno, I know they great cars, drive well, ect. But they still scream hairdresser to me. I guess the right colour (black) hardtop made to look like a Darth Vader helmet would be ok though.
ANiMOSiTY said:
I would love to get a E39 M5, but then I would also feel bad about ramping up km's for crap. Also they getting hard to find liek e36 M3's. But I do think I'll get an E39 M5 sometime.
firaz said:
Dont need such a big engine. Got the E36 M3 for when I want to have a blast.
