In fact, they are so bad, that if I knew 7 months ago what I knew now about the car, I would have never darkened the doors of a BMW dealer

Can’t agree more – I was SO happy to return my 2006 Z4 and repeatedly kicking myself for not getting an S2000.

Car still looks good and get lots of compliments on it. I recommend it without reservation. Can’t comment about other years, though.

The E46 was launched in 1999, and today you want the technological advancements they made in the meantime, especially in terms of safety and arguably reliability. For that reason, the E90/91 (2006-) is the way to go.

I’m not completely sure about the US engine range for the 3, because in Europe it’s quite different, but the I6 petrols are always good IMO, I believe the 330i is the same as the European one and that’s never a bad option, probably one of the best engines ever built.

Since it would be used as a family car I would say a Touring might be nice, although I believe in the US you can’t get a 330i Touring for some reason…If the children are tall you might even consider a 5. They usually aren’t that much more expensive used because of the huge popularity of the 3 series (at least that’s the case in Europe).

Anyway, unless you are in a snowy area I’d not go for the xi models. Although BMW did a good job to limit the effects of AWD to the driving experience, it’s a BMW, and you want that pure RWD experience, no traction interference in the steering feel. Plus it adds a little weight and lowers mileage. Also, it’s a BMW, and you must honour that by getting a stick shift.

One last possible advice; they just launched a facelift of the E90 model, so maybe you can use that as some extra leverage to pick up a pre-facelifted used one.

i think the previous body style BMW was much nicer than the “new” version . . . not to mention it’s lighter. if acceleration is not your main focus the 230 odd hp you get in the 330ci/i is more than enough. the new twin turbo v6 is exceptional, but that’s if you’re into hp wars . . . id much prefer to go sub 3000lbs. than 300+ hp. but that’s just me.

You get 80% of the performance, 90% of the handling, and 95% of the driving fun/road feel…at a 50% discount, both in purchase price and maintenance costs.

Given Don’s limited performance needs, he’ll never miss the 60+ hp he’s giving up (unless he gets a Mazdaspeed 3).

We recently picked up a one year old loaner car from Bellevue BMW (2007 328i, bright blue, CPO with 8700 miles) with Seat Heat and the six speed auto as the only options. Fantastic! My wife and I love driving it and the added room in back is a real bonus for our kids (currently 7 and younger). The minivan is our main family hauler. This is the “other” commuter car. No iDrive, no power seats to break. Also, don’t let the plethora of negative comments about the run-flat tires scare you. I was dubious but after driving the car, I really don’t see what all the fuss is about. I’ve run performance Bridgestones for most of my life on one car or another and these have excellent on-center feel, stick well in corners and are not particularly noisy (nor are they particularly quiet). Drive a base E90 with a few options and see what you think. No problems so far (touch wood). A wonderful car! Averaging 24 MPG in mixed driving. When I put the automatic in DS mode, it really feels like another 30 HP has come online…really changes the character of the car. My $.02.

PS> My first car was 1974 2002 my father and I restored in 1986ish. Ah, sweet memories. The E90 is not that car, but I do miss it for the nostalgia. Not for the asthmatic defroster or 4 speed transmission…

I’ve seen some ‘06 325i’s sold on Ebay for around $20,000; dealers will want several thousand more for a CPOed car. I also have a 2000 528i that I bought as a CPO. The CPO premium was probably worth it, as there were enough minor problems (mainly engine and ABS sensors) that needed replacement at 40,000 – 50,000 miles. That car is approaching 80,000 miles now, and I’m concerned about it needing a lot of non-routine maintenance repairs soon. I’m not as familiar with the previous generation three-series’ reliability record but I assume they have their own issues as they get into that mileage range.

None of the E46 BMWs fall within the ordinary definition of “reliable.” As was pointed out above, while you’re unlikely to be stranded, you are likely to encounter a stream of small, but annoying problems. If you choose this model, pick the most recent year available with the lowest mileage, preferably with a CPO warranty. Do not buy an M3. It’s requires frequent and clockwork upkeep, parts wear twice as fast, and anything M3-specific costs twice as much or more.

Be aware that BMW is not the only company with cars that can handle. The Lexus IS300, G35 sedan, and ‘03-’07 Cadillac CTS are highly capable, less maintenance-intensive, and often available for a song. The IS most closely resembles the BMW combination of ride and handling. The CTS, a bit softer, and the G35, a bit harder. Given that the SC400 was always more of a GT than a genuine sport coupe, you may find that the difference in handling between “the best” and “very, very good” is not worth the premium.

I noticed that models with more options tend to be the ones with electrical problems. Also, earlier models tend to be the ones with worn bushings, torn subframe mounts, etc.

Cost of ownership for an E46 should be somewhat lower than an E90 in the long run, especially if you perform your own maintenance.

@ guyincognito:

My parents bought a preowned Lexus a few years ago and it was the least reliable car we’d ever owned.

You want to get a 330i or xi. The cost difference is less now. go for the spring 2003 revision or later. You get better radio, and a bunch of other stuff.

You get the sport suspension stock, and the bigger discs with the 330i. Try for a sport package…the seat is amazing.

Avoid the Zhp, because while it has a few more beans there appear to have been some camshaft issues you don’t need.

You will not regret it. The E46 is bulletproof. You avoid the run flat tire issue, and I drive. The satnav system is rare, but good if you can find one.

From crawling through manhattan to searching for the speed limiter in wide open spaces, nothing compares. This car is basically set up like the E36 M3, sans m motor, in a comfier (some would say fat, with an “f”) package.

OK, I’d trade for a 335i Sport sedan, but thats about it.

The E46 will be easier to have repaired at an independent and most of the bugs were either worked out or easy to diagnose by 2004/2005. (Fan’s acting up? It needs a final stage resistor. For example.) I’d stay away from an E90 for a couple years yet.

Actually the ‘03 wagon is pretty awesome too.

The e90 was the first sedan I seriously considered buying since my ‘92 e36. If my job required a commute, it would have been my daily driver.

We ended up with an ‘05, e46, manual, 325ci with the (removeable) hard top option. I doubt if we will ever sell this car. A classic look and a great driving experience.

repair:
1 water pump impeller
1 exhaust camshaft position sensor
1 valvetrain cover gasket
1 climate control resistor
4 front turn signal bulbs (should replace sockets instead)
1 set rear shock mounts
1 door seal (right side)

maintenance:
1 set front rotors, 1 set rear rotors
2 sets front pads 1 set rear pads
6 plugs
17 oil filters
6 air filters
8 cabin air filters
1 rubber carpet
2 alignment checks
4 sets of tires

Other than alignmet and diagnosis of camshaft sensor, everything else was DIY. This car has been cheaper to maintain (and way more reliable) than previous GTI, Mondeo SHO, BroncoII and ML320.
Which is not saying much, of course…

Wife’s 4Runner only replaced a battery and brake pads in 5 years of farm work towing horses…

I suggest that you get a certified pre owned. BMW’s are not the most reliable, but they are really nice. Usually, its little bugs, unless you get an engine other than the inline six.

Still, the CPO will allow you to get the car with a long enough warranty that you can either become confident you got a good one with few bugs, or be ready to sell again.

If you, or your kids are very tall, the later models offer more back seat room.

It can sometimes be harder to find the sticks, so you can’t be too picky if you want one. That will narrow the field. You can use the web to search for CPO’s in nearby dealerships.

Enjoy.

Personally, my only regret is getting an all wheel drive model. The added traction may come in handy some day, but the added cost, weight and complexity do nothing add to the driving enjoyment one bit.

More details about the ZHP package here:

the only one i bought new was a ‘94 318is which i used as my daily driver until just last year, when it finally died. i found it to be a very pleasant, though somewhat underpowered, car. if you go for one with a small motor, try to get a stick – it’ll deliver far more of that spirited bmw driving experience owners seek.

do want to mention a couple of things regarding service and longevity. i have found bmw cars and bmw dealers notoriously expensive; so line up a good, trustworthy, independent mechanic before-hand and be sure to have the car carefully inspected before you purchase it.

also, for what it’s worth – several years ago i was talking with my independent mechanic about three-series cars and he mentioned something i’ve never forgotten. he told me that i would probably get no more than 15 years and/or 150k miles out of mine before it would begin to implode. and he was right. mine was almost 14 years old and had 161k miles on it when became seriously, expensively problematic.

in the end, the car wouldn’t even start. the best i could do was donate it to charity and take the tax write-off for $2400. but it was fun while it lasted.