Which 6 cylinder E90 or E46 should I buy?

[Rayzor]

Have you considered a 320d and 330d? or do you only want the petrol versions?

 

[KiLLRoYza]

Buddy had a E90 323i from demo, fantastic car and motor. Not the fastest thing ever but a great ride and sound. He ended up selling at 160k km because his mech said his diff was on the way out which I can't believe

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Have you considered a 320d and 330d? or do you only want the petrol versions?

Also agree with this. 320d is the way to go in this day and age with the crazy fuel price

 

[MHN]

I owned an E90 330i. I really really really really loved that engine. I haven't had the pleasure of driving any 6cyl E46's but if the E90 is anything to go by I'm sure it will be amazing. However I have driven the 325i in the E90 and after driving my 330i I felt like the engine was being starved of something in the 325i. Amazing still, however it just didnt have that same kick of the 330i.

Either way they are gorgeous engines and if you can find a clean E46 example id have that. The e46 is timeless in my opinion, and i feel like the pre-facelift E90 has aged a bit in its stock form. However a facelift E90 (If in your price range) is <3.

What about the 6cly diesel variants?

Oh also I found the 330i to use around 10l per 100km's on fuel. But its all dependent on how you drive it.

Totally agree that the E46 is timeless. It still looks like a car that was built today.
I prefer the design of the E46 Facelift over the E90 and even the F30.

I also like the E90 Facelift design, especially the rear lights, which got a good improvement

With diesels, the 330d is the only option and I want low mileage, so that will be even harder to find. I'll most likely end up with a petrol model

10L/ 100km is very good for all that power

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So I've had the E90 323i (lci) and I'm in an E92 325i now. Same motor, same displacement but the 325i feels a lot more nimble than the 323i did. Top end is better as well but IIRC there is a 20kw difference or something along those lines.

If you're looking at it purely from a drivers perspective then E90 330i or e46 330i should be your go to cars.

There's the 35i's but there's just something about the straight 6 NA's that can't be beaten (well... Unless you race the FI car) :roflol:

It would make sense to maybe just skip the 323i and get a 325i one time.

Why does BMW make so many models with small differences anyway? Examples are 323 and 325, 328 and 330

I noticed that you also had a 320i, how much better was the experience going from a 4 cycl to a 6 cycl ?

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Hi all

I'm looking around for a 6 cylinder E46 or E90 Auto

Considering engine quality, maintenance and reasonable fuel consumption, which model should I look out for?

I know the 325i and 330i are the best E46's but is there a E90 model that is better or equal?

I couldn't find a clear answer in some old threads

I keep hearing great things about the M54 engine and I've spotted some great E46 325i's for sale with low mileage but there's also E90's like the 323i in a similar price range.



I'm in the process of upgrading our cars at home, so far I bought a E46 318i Auto and I'm extremely impressed with it because it has a great balance of power and fuel economy - 2L engine getting 400km+ on half of a tank.
I'm expecting the 6 cylinder models to have a great balance also, with lots of highway driving

E46 330i ... No second thoughts

Only issue is Finding the right one at the right price..
All the Good ones people want a Kidney for

Good luck with your Search:thumbs:

Haha. So true.

It's already hard to find the good ones and when you do, you have to pay top prices. It's the same with other models

I was lucky to only spend R38k to get my 318i and then do R6k of maintenance, which I was told about by the seller.
It's silver and has 140 000 km, most sellers want around R65k for something similar.

I saw another 318i yesterday with 80 000 km which is selling for R100k !?!

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On the road, I see more E90 325i than 330i.
:smilebounce:

In general I hardly ever see any of those.

I see mostly E46 318i's, E90 and F30 320i's .

Basically as the engines get bigger, the cars become more and more scarce.

 

[MHN]

Have you considered a 320d and 330d? or do you only want the petrol versions?

I would consider a 330d but it's easier to a find a good petrol one because there's more models available

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325i is very reliable.:fencelook:

How would the 325i be more or less reliable than any other BMw with the same basic engine?


Anyway.

Forget the E46's to find one worth owning will simply cost to much to buy because the owners want to recoup some of their money. There are plenty of cheap E46s around, they are shagged and need their purchase price in repairs.

E90s the 6cyl's are good, but the 330i is probably the sweetest of the bunch. Manual or auto. Just understand a 323 is not a rocketship. Auto will be 15-25k to fix and the manual will be 10-20k for a clutch and flywheel.

Find one that doesn't have a FSH with the dealers find one where the owner changed the oil more regularly. 25k change intervals are devastating to the topend of that motor.

Honestly find one free of Sportspax. It just ruins the ride and makes it scrape everywhere. Find one with Sportseats and yummy wheels and be happy.

The E46's are not that expensive except the 330i. The best ones in most models will cost around R65k.

It can't really be sold for much higher unless it has extremely low mileage because you get E90's for around R75k or R80k +

 

[VinceM]

OP didn't mention body type (preference).

So, I have a 325ci manual (e46 coupe), spirited driving 10l/100km,
As a daily to work and back (freeway 60%/traffic 40%), gets around 8,7l/100km. Sheer driving pleasure. smile like a hotel car each time I push it to 6000rpm, I wouldn't sell it anytime soon.

Then I have a sedan (auto) with a 325i motor, slightly thirtier so pointless to buy a 325i if you can get a 330i, issue is the 330i sellers are starting to price their vehicles up, you pay way more than book/retail.

I drove a 330i e46, the sound is amazing, the torque is good.
Fuel consumption 12l/100km. If fuel costs are not an issue - I would recommend this vehicle. Finding a clean one is a mission of its own.

I have a 330ci convertible (auto), I would NOT recommend this vehicle unless you have another FUN car to drive. The handling is nowhere close to the coupe or sedan. Very heavy as well (kg and consumption), it's a nice Sunday cruising car.

Still on my wish list : e90 330i lci, the power delivery is somewhat better than e46, on paper it has more power too ... 200kw vs 170kw, it's also newer....
Purchase price is between 1,5x to 2,5 times the price of an e46 330i.

I guess budget would be a dictator between the two. My 2cents worth.

 

[Dewald Basson]

My e46 325i gives me 12l/100km but I drive like an idiot. I have only ever managed to get 10l/100km in traffic for two weeks but I got bored of driving in such a way:smilebounce:

Maintenance is about R20k doing about 18k km per year. (Excluding labour as I DIY most things).

Even the few time it was really pushed hard around the few tracks I took it(open track days). The one and only cheap after market cooling pipe on the car failed. Which I replaced with a BMW pipe like the rest. Lesson learnt.

If i had to replace my e46 now I would get another e46 330 or 325ti(dream would be to build a 330ti). They have the all the basics with non of the modern drama. From the little bits that I have read about e90's etc. it just seems like unnecessary electronics which in all honestly you dont need.

It even made 136 flywheel kw at the dyno day just 9kw down on the book value with 220xxxkm on the motor.

 

[momo1]

If its worth anything, i have the same E90 N52 engine in my Z4 and its an absolute peach! Can be a bit heavy in traffic but then again my daily is a 320d... But still under 10l/100km
The N52s are super reliable with just the cooling system an issue, albeit i had no trouble until 175000km and i only changed it as preventive. The sound and response is glorious.
Excluding M cars Il also be right in saying its the most powerful NA 6 cylinder from BMW.
195kw of bliss!

 

[MHN]

OP didn't mention body type (preference).

So, I have a 325ci manual (e46 coupe), spirited driving 10l/100km,
As a daily to work and back (freeway 60%/traffic 40%), gets around 8,7l/100km. Sheer driving pleasure. smile like a hotel car each time I push it to 6000rpm, I wouldn't sell it anytime soon.

Then I have a sedan (auto) with a 325i motor, slightly thirtier so pointless to buy a 325i if you can get a 330i, issue is the 330i sellers are starting to price their vehicles up, you pay way more than book/retail.

I drove a 330i e46, the sound is amazing, the torque is good.
Fuel consumption 12l/100km. If fuel costs are not an issue - I would recommend this vehicle. Finding a clean one is a mission of its own.

I have a 330ci convertible (auto), I would NOT recommend this vehicle unless you have another FUN car to drive. The handling is nowhere close to the coupe or sedan. Very heavy as well (kg and consumption), it's a nice Sunday cruising car.

Still on my wish list : e90 330i lci, the power delivery is somewhat better than e46, on paper it has more power too ... 200kw vs 170kw, it's also newer....
Purchase price is between 1,5x to 2,5 times the price of an e46 330i.

I guess budget would be a dictator between the two. My 2cents worth.

You've got an awesome fleet of cars!
The best I've ever seen.

I'd prefer a sedan or coupe.

The 330i prices are not that bad. I've spotted three auto's on Gumtree with around 200 000 km , all between R65k and R75k.

I would prefer less mileage though

 

[KiLLRoYza]

Best option might actually be going to see a couple of examples and choosing the one you like most.

These cars are all getting on now, and getting a great condition e46 over a good condition e90 could make sense.

Ey, you know how easily one falls in love with a car if it ticks all the right boxes

 

[Riaad]

OP didn't mention body type (preference).

So, I have a 325ci manual (e46 coupe), spirited driving 10l/100km,
As a daily to work and back (freeway 60%/traffic 40%), gets around 8,7l/100km. Sheer driving pleasure. smile like a hotel car each time I push it to 6000rpm, I wouldn't sell it anytime soon.

Then I have a sedan (auto) with a 325i motor, slightly thirtier so pointless to buy a 325i if you can get a 330i, issue is the 330i sellers are starting to price their vehicles up, you pay way more than book/retail.

I drove a 330i e46, the sound is amazing, the torque is good.
Fuel consumption 12l/100km. If fuel costs are not an issue - I would recommend this vehicle. Finding a clean one is a mission of its own.

I have a 330ci convertible (auto), I would NOT recommend this vehicle unless you have another FUN car to drive. The handling is nowhere close to the coupe or sedan. Very heavy as well (kg and consumption), it's a nice Sunday cruising car.

Still on my wish list : e90 330i lci, the power delivery is somewhat better than e46, on paper it has more power too ... 200kw vs 170kw, it's also newer....
Purchase price is between 1,5x to 2,5 times the price of an e46 330i.

I guess budget would be a dictator between the two. My 2cents worth.

You've got an awesome fleet of cars!
The best I've ever seen.

I'd prefer a sedan or coupe.

The 330i prices are not that bad. I've spotted three auto's on Gumtree with around 200 000 km , all between R65k and R75k.

I would prefer less mileage though

I know of a clean 330i mtech 2 auto with lots of maintenance done, car has low mileage as well...however is slightly more expensive...Pm if interested?

 

[akash]

From the E46 to the E90 inline 6, from the 325i to the 330i, you wont go wrong in terms of the engines.

However in terms of interior build quality the E46 has it in the bag for me

 

[VinceM]

OP didn't mention body type (preference).

So, I have a 325ci manual (e46 coupe), spirited driving 10l/100km,
As a daily to work and back (freeway 60%/traffic 40%), gets around 8,7l/100km. Sheer driving pleasure. smile like a hotel car each time I push it to 6000rpm, I wouldn't sell it anytime soon.

Then I have a sedan (auto) with a 325i motor, slightly thirtier so pointless to buy a 325i if you can get a 330i, issue is the 330i sellers are starting to price their vehicles up, you pay way more than book/retail.

I drove a 330i e46, the sound is amazing, the torque is good.
Fuel consumption 12l/100km. If fuel costs are not an issue - I would recommend this vehicle. Finding a clean one is a mission of its own.

I have a 330ci convertible (auto), I would NOT recommend this vehicle unless you have another FUN car to drive. The handling is nowhere close to the coupe or sedan. Very heavy as well (kg and consumption), it's a nice Sunday cruising car.

Still on my wish list : e90 330i lci, the power delivery is somewhat better than e46, on paper it has more power too ... 200kw vs 170kw, it's also newer....
Purchase price is between 1,5x to 2,5 times the price of an e46 330i.

I guess budget would be a dictator between the two. My 2cents worth.

You've got an awesome fleet of cars!
The best I've ever seen.

Thank you Sir, you are so kind.