Bmw Serie 3 E46 2001. IntroductionModelsHistoryWhat You GetWhat to Look ForReplacement Partson The RoadOverallSo far ahead of the chasing back was BMW&#39s E46 3 Series when it was first introduced in 1998 that it seemed as if it would enjoy an extended period of dominance BMW&#39s rivals however had other ideas The facelifted version of the 3 Series saloon and Touring models aimed to keep the model fresh and sales were indeed revitalised but a fresh crop of tough rivals meant that the 3 Series&#39 slice of the compact executive pie was being steadily eroded This increased competition kept BMW prices manageable and these savings have in turn been realised by used buyers of the post 2001 BMW 3 Series The 3 Series has garnered a reputation as one of the most bulletproof used buys around so although prices are reasonable don&#39t expect any ridiculous bargains You get what you pay for even in these competitive times Models Covered Facelifted E46 3 Series Saloon Coupe Touring Convertible (316i 318i 320i 320d diesel 325i 330i 330d diesel M3 M3 CSL) This generation 3 Series is very much a car defined by the talents of its rivals First introduced in 1998 it enjoyed some time in the limelight as undisputed market leader until the allnew Mercedes CClass arrived in 2000 This was rapidly followed by Audi&#39s new A4 and Jaguar&#39s XTYPE BMW&#39s response was to introduce a raft of new engines the 170bhp 22litre 320i and the 192bhp 325i followed by a summer 2001 revision to the styling steering and suspension set ups of the saloon and touring models The 318i got a 20litre 143bhp engine whilst the 320d also benefited from a power boost due to new common rail technology The coupe and convertible models carried on as before At the same time the 19litre 316 was quietly dropped from the range Spring 2002 saw the reintroduction of the 316i this time round with a worthwhile 115bhp Valvetronic engine A wider selection of value added ES and Sport versions were added in early 2003 and a stonking 204bhp version of the 30litre di Owners of the original 1998vintage car will notice that the curvy headlamps are slightly curvier still on this model They may also appreciate the revised front grille and deeper front and rear valances plus the restyled rear light clusters and the way that this car&#39s side repeaters are tucked into the swage line just behind the front wheel BMW reckon this adds up to a more muscular look You may disagree What isn&#39t up for debate is that the current 3 Series benefits from the sweeter suspension settings and steering rack that you&#39ll find in the Compact version a model much praised for its pinsharp handling And sure enough after a hard drive in this improved 3 Series Saloon you may wonder how it manages to be so much better than the apparently peerless version that sired it The answer comes from the surprising direction of the US Apparently US customers called for lighter steering and softer seating on the 3Series and apart from spy planes and Cuban cigars what the US w The latestshape 3 series is still too new for any major problems to show up so check the usual clocked odometers body nicks and scrapes damaged trim cellphone mounting holes in the dashboard and a castiron full BMW dealer service history It&#39s worth being fussy (avoid dull nonmetallic colours low exrep specifications and gloomy interior trim colours) so that when resale time comes you&#39ll get a lot more for your part exchange than you might expect Inspect M3s for crash damage nonstandard parts and evidence that they&#39ve been thrashed as track day specials With the convertible models you&#39ll need to ensure the hood is free from rips or discolouration and that the electric folding mechanism and seals are in tip top shape Be suspicious of cars that have had many owners in a short time (this could be a sign of ongoing problems) If you really want piece of mind buy from a BMW dealer but be prepared to pay the premium (approx based on a 318i) A clutch assembly is around £130 Front brake pads are around £40 a full exhaust about £360 an alternator around £100 and a tyre around £40 A starter motor is about £120 A headlamp is about £165 Settle behind the wheel and it will feel good to be at the helm of a Three series The solid quality feel of the controls and the silkysmooth performance are just right One of the advantages of buying a well cared for example is that the engine should be nicely runin so you can enjoy all of the performance right from the start Available on the 325i and 330i is an SSG (sports sequential gearbox) a clutchless fivespeed &#39box based on the M3 model&#39s SMG unit which offers a choice between automated manual modes and the fullon sequential operation The engines also come in for some attention over the course of their lifetime The popular 318i for example received a 143bhp 20litre unit far superior to the originalfit 118bhp 19litre powerplant This Britishbuilt engine features BMW&#39s revolutionary Valvetronic system which does away with a conventional throttle in the name of improved economy As much as 45mpg in fact which owners of the original 318i will notice is about Although it&#39s now faced with a more accomplished set of rivals than ever the main impediment to 3 Series sales is over familiarity Its excellence means that there are now so many of them on the UK&#39s roads that some may see the 3 Series as lacking exclusivity Having outsold the Ford Mondeo for some periods in 2003 it would be hard to contest that point With a great deal of supply from new picking up a decent used post2001 3 Series in exactly the trim colour and condition you require shouldn&#39t be difficult There&#39s not a weak link in the entire range and reliability has proven very good It really is hard to go wrong here.

Bmw E46 Occasion Used Search For Your Used Car On The Parking bmw serie 3 e46 2001
Bmw E46 Occasion Used Search For Your Used Car On The Parking from The parking

2001 Bmw 3 Series E46 average fuel consumption is 323 MPG or 89 litres/100km and average CO2 output is 2169 g/km based on 83 models CO2 (carbon dioxide) mileage fuel economy and other emissions data for Bmw 3 Series E46 cars.

BMW 3 Series (2001 2005) used car review Car review RAC

BMW 3 Series Touring (E46) (2001 2005) Updated 28 May 2021 Body style Wagon (station wagon estate combi touring) Segment Lower Premium BMW introduced a facelifted version of its 3Series.

BMW 3 Series E46 [9806] cars for sale PistonHeads UK

20 cars for sale Gold BMW 3 Series E46 [9806] 2 cars for sale Green BMW 3 Series E46 [9806] 2 cars for sale Red BMW 3 Series E46 [9806] 2 cars for sale Silver BMW 3 Series E46 [9806] 17 Offer Count 68Price Range £1495 £37095.

BMW 3 Series Compact (E46) specs & photos 2001, 2002, 2003

BMW 3 Series (E90) The BMW E46 is the fourth generation of the BMW 3 Series range of compact executive cars which was produced by the German automaker BMW from 1997 to 2006 and was the successor to the E36 which ceased production in 2000 First introduced in November 1997 the E46 was available in sedan coupé convertible station wagon Length 4470 mm (1760 in) (sedan) 4480 mm (1764 in) (wagon) 4490 mm (1768 in) (coupe/convertible)Production December 1997 – August 2006Model years 1998–2004 1999–2005 (North America)Transmission 5speed 6speed manual 4speed 5speed automatic 6 speed.

Bmw E46 Occasion Used Search For Your Used Car On The Parking

Bmw 3 Series E46 MPG (Fuel Consumption) 2001

BMW 3 Series (E46) Wikipedia

BMW 3 Series Touring (E46) specs & photos 2001, 2002, 2003

BMW 3 Series Compact (E46) (2001 2005) Updated 6 August 2020 Body style Hatchback Segment Entry Premium To attract more customers on its side BMW introduced the 3Series compact in 1993.