Looking to buy an e46

[kelevra]

Hi there guys. I am wanting to buy one of the following but need some advice.

It would be a manual.

What is the average mileage you get from a full tank for each of them.

318ti - Is it very sluggish?
325ti - Is it very thirsty?
320d - How reliable are the turbos? I've read some terrible stories. What are the service intervals?
330d - Same as above.

Just looking for something with comfort and style that wont drink up all my money like my 2.0 Sentra, which is currently giving me 350km of a full 45l tank on average.

Thanks guys

 

[freerider]

318ti - Is it very sluggish? YES
325ti - Is it very thirsty? NO
320d - How reliable are the turbos? They arent, period I've read some terrible stories. What are the service intervals? every 15k kms petrol cars is 25k
330d - Same as above. much better, but they do sometimes swallow the butterfly valve

 

[kelevra]

Thanks freerider, so the 318ti and 320d are bad ideas? I would then think that the 325ti is then the best car to go for.

Any owners of the cars mentioned here that can add some fuel consumption figures?

 

[freerider]

Well my 320i is doing pretty mucht eh same consumption as a 330i at 10.2lt/100km

If I were in your position, I would go straight for a 330i. Go and have a look at 45 cars in main road plumstead, they have VERY neat cars there.

 

[Hellas]

Ok, ok, ok, stop dissing the diesel. You do get some surprizes and yes, you would probably change the turbo somewhere around 200k, depending on drivestyle, but you cant beat the torque and the smiles it create... I know I'm sounding biased, but if you need a car for life, the diesel will probably give you a knock some time...

 

[freerider]

My old 320d emptied my wallet good and proper! Sold it on 160k kms.

 

[kelevra]

Thats interesting. I know about 45 cars, there is a black 318ti there that I went to check out, which got all this started. what is the km's you get on average of a full tank? I have never worked out my l/km on the current car I have so cant really compare.

 

[freerider]

I drove that black ti at 45 cars, is it still the one with the 2 tone black/brown interior? 100k kms on the clock?

Look at the 325i that they have there and also Tony's 330i individual :drool:

 

[kelevra]

Yep, thats the one. What did you think of it as an overall daily drive? I should still go and test drive it.

 

[freerider]

Very nice as a daily driver, not a powerful car AT ALL, but a fuel saver and extremely neat.

I love the interior Its got a nice feel with those colours.

 

[kabal]

45cars FTW, both of my bimmers came from them

 

[kelevra]

Thanks for all the help. I'm thinking its between the 318ti and 325ti, depending on how much heavier on fuel the 325ti is and how slow the 318ti really is. I am wanting to sell my sentra because it is too heavy at 350km on a 45l tank. I want a more economical car but not if its going to struggle.

If anyone can add figures for these 2 cars on average driving, please do. Thanks again.

 

[freerider]

you looking at about 9lt/100km for the 318 and 11lt/100km for the 325

 

[kelevra]

Not bad for a 6cyl compared to the 4cyl.

 

[Hellas]

My colleague get 10l/100km with his E46 325 sedan. With some careful driving, the ti should give more. Power to weight ratio.

 

[Jandre]

I hated my 318ti with such a passion that I sold it after only 11 months. I had one of the first ones to leave Forsdicks's lot in late 2001. I had starting problems and rattles. Fuel consumption varied, and my best was in excess of 13km to a litre. In 11 months it went back 8 times. (I never had to wash my car. The dealer cleaned it nearly once a month)

Power??? Well uhmm yeah. Let me put it this way.. If you want to overtake a truck doing 90, you have to send the car an e-mail the previous day just to prepare the car for the onslaught.

Take the 325, enjoy the power, screw the slightly heavier fuel consumption.

 

[kelevra]

WOW! That sounds horrible man. Looks like it has to be the 325. Will see what happens over the next 2 - 3 months. Hope I find a nice one.

 

[///Marksman]

Well my 320i is doing pretty mucht eh same consumption as a 330i at 10.2lt/100km

If I were in your position, I would go straight for a 330i. Go and have a look at 45 cars in main road plumstead, they have VERY neat cars there.

weird:thinker: best i got out of the 330 was 14l/100km - note: conserving

BUT, i have to agree, it is a fairly long term decision, take the 330 and be happy... u live only once

---

Power??? Well uhmm yeah. Let me put it this way.. If you want to overtake a truck doing 90, you have to send the car an e-mail the previous day just to prepare the car for the onslaught.

lolol...

 

[freerider]

well if you look at De@no's 320i's fuel consumption up there at the reef, its also sitting on about 13/100 I think he said.

You can ask anyone who has driven with me, my 320i does not get driven with a light foot :mmm:

 

[Jandre]

Nah, more like heavy feet. (Note plural.)