After we reviewed the then-new E46 BMW | #TBT | Articles

The New E46

The brand new 3 Sequence–designated the E46 chassis–appears only a bit higher than the automotive it replaces. Not one million instances higher, nevertheless: when vehicles get this good, it’s arduous to see massive modifications.

For those who already personal an E36 3 Sequence, will the brand new automotive knock your socks off? In all probability not; the brand new automotive represents extra of a logical development of the design, moderately than a radical new idea. The E46 is barely bigger, stiffer and safer than the E36, though there’s just about no enhance in weight resulting from additional use of aluminum suspension elements. The brand new automotive’s dealing with and energy are additionally barely higher than its non-M predecessor.

One of many E36 automotive’s only a few weaknesses, lack of rear passenger room, has additionally been addressed within the new automotive, which is extra snug for these relegated to the again seat. BMW engineers inform us the E46 can be 50-percent stiffer and has 10-percent shorter stopping distances . Our testing confirmed that the automotive will cease from 60 mph in about 120 ft.

Engines have additionally been barely retuned. Energy is up two horsepower within the 323i and 323Ci fashions, (now 168 horsepower) and three horsepower within the 328i and 328Ci (now 193 horsepower). On the larger-engined automotive, you possibly can count on sub-eight-second 0-60 instances with no drawback.

The BMW press package says that the suspension has been “extensively developed,” which in laymen’s phrases implies that they picked up on the concept of aluminum decrease management arms from the E36 M3 and put them on all the brand new E46 vehicles. Efficiency tuners will probably be saddened to listen to that, in keeping with BMW engineers, tuning gadgets like anti-roll bars, shocks and street springs are usually not the identical items as these discovered on the outdated E36 vehicles.

Sadly, as is typical of BMW, the plain vanilla sedans got here first. Which means that solely the E46 sedans debuted in 1998, however the coupes are already right here for 1999 as 2000 fashions. Each physique types are available in 323i and 328i guises. Whereas not formally introduced, count on to see an M model someday quickly.

Attending to Drive

Since their launch in the summertime of 1998, now we have spent various time with these vehicles. (In fact, not sufficient.) We totally exercised the 328i sedan round some desolate mountain roads in central California, then ran the brand new 323Ci and 328Ci coupes at BMW’s new South Carolina take a look at facility in addition to up via the winding mountain roads round Asheville, N.C. Lastly, we sampled the sedan at our autocross take a look at monitor.

Energy from these child sixes is clean and easy–the shifting is smoother than on nearly any BMW ever made. The seats are snug and supportive, whereas the controls are laid out completely. The dealing with and brakes really make you’re feeling like you might be in an excellent automotive, simply with out the uncomfortable trip. There have been complaints that the brand new 3 Sequence is simply too plush, however we didn’t suppose so.

Getting the E46 across the autocross course takes a fragile contact–this can be a automotive that can kill you with understeer should you push it too arduous. The chassis feels competent and whereas the automotive feels bodily massive due to the expansive roomy inside, it truly proves to be fairly nimble and responsive when pushed correctly.

There’s quite a lot of physique lean, which means that you may’t rush the transitions. Truly, that’s the automotive’s normal nature–should you rush it, it goes gradual. The secret is to let the automotive work at its tempo. As soon as the E46 takes a set in a nook (once more, so long as it’s been allowed to take that set at its personal tempo) it’s fairly impartial. Including aggressive throttle may even get some late-corner rotation taking place, and the character of the inline six makes this rotation simply controllable.

In a slalom, the brand new BMW feels nicely balanced, with no pendulum motion and good transition restoration. Because of the aforementioned physique roll, transitions are usually not lightning-quick, however a light-weight contact on the wheel can get the automotive to vary instructions with some authority.

It did appear to have an inclination to over rotate throughout path braking, which means that you simply needed to brake a bit earlier and straighter to get the automotive slowed down. This was its solely actual unfavorable dealing with trait.

Total the E46 3 Sequence is a rewarding autocrosser so long as the motive force will not be a monkey-fisted wheel-sawer. It ought to compete favorably in SCCA G Inventory Solo II class.

Each vehicles additionally did nicely of their straight-line checks. The 328i sedan took 7. 1 seconds to speed up to 60 mph regardless of a slipping clutch. Halting from 60 mph required 122 ft. Our 323Ci take a look at automotive got here with BMW’s Steptronic computerized transmission, which wasn’t as horrible because it sounds. Zero-to-60 acceleration runs with the gear selector in Drive took 7.8 seconds, whereas within the Sport-mode took 8.2 seconds. Manually shifting the gearbox allowed 8.1-second 0-60 runs. Just like the 328i, the 323Ci did nicely underneath braking, requiring 118 ft to cease from 60 mph.

323i or 328i? Coupe or Sedan?

Good questions. After we deliberate our 323i versus 328i comparability take a look at, we figured that the two.8-liter automotive would destroy the smaller-engined 323i, however that didn’t occur. You wouldn’t make the incorrect transfer with both engine.

Each vehicles are powered by twin-cam, 24-valve, inline six-cylinder engines geared up with BMW’s double VANOS steplessly variable valve timing system. The 328i and 328Ci have a 300cc benefit,

because of their engines’ 2793cc displacement, however this differential will not be as nice as you would possibly count on. Keep in mind, the 323i and 323Ci are powered by a 2.5-liter engine, not a 2.3 as indicated by the mannequin designation. Apparently BMW’s advertising and marketing folks determined that for the larger price ticket, you should get what appears like a a lot greater engine.

Horsepower and torque numbers between the 2 engines are considerably totally different, however by some means the 2 don’t really feel that totally different in day-to-day driving. The 323i and 323Ci engine places out a most of 170 horsepower at 5500 rpm and makes 181 ft.-lbs. of torque at 3500 rpm. The 328i and 328Ci engine has 23 extra horsepower on the identical 5500 rpm and 25 extra ft.-lbs. of torque on the identical 3500 rpm. Once more, although, whereas the 328 could look like the winner on paper, don’t rely out the 323, particularly should you’re on a finances.

As for coupe or sedan, the selection is generally a matter of your individual preferences. In our opinion, the sedan is beautiful wanting; not like so many different BMW lovers, we predict Mr. Bangle and his group of stylists have hit close to perfection with this design.

They merely outdid themselves with the coupe. Whereas we perceive that the brand new styling of both of those vehicles will not be revolutionary glitzy, we admire BMW’s conservative styling strategy with these vehicles.

Whereas there are two distinct trim ranges between the 323i and 328i sedans, each coupes undertake the upper trim degree discovered on the 328i. In widespread with the upscale sedan, each coupe fashions have the nicer chrome vertical grille slats, body-colored cowl air consumption, roof-seam strips and trunk grips, and chrome-outlined aspect home windows. Consequently, aside from the wheel types and mannequin script on the trunk, the 2 totally different coupes look practically equivalent. Coupe or sedan, the vehicles weigh the identical.

Each coupes additionally come customary with 16-inch wheels and tires in addition to the lowered, firmed-up sport suspension that’s a part of the sedan’s Sport Bundle. Seventeen-inch wheels are an possibility on each coupes, too

Closing Determination

Whereas these vehicles are fairly spectacular, we nonetheless have two complaints: The trunks could possibly be greater, and no less than one of many costs could possibly be smaller.

At 10.7 cubic ft for the sedan and 9.5 cubic ft for the coupe, neither trunk will swallow an additional set of tires.

As for the value, we really feel that in right now’s world, the 323i could be very realistically and pretty priced at $27,560. In reality, we’d even go one higher and say that it’s a cut price. A loaded 328i, however, strikes us as overpriced at practically $40,000. This worth would possibly evaluate favorably to the competitors from Volvo, Lexus and Mercedes, but it surely appears a bit of stiff after you worth the 323i. You simply don’t get into the 328i and say, “Rattling, this seems like $13,000 extra automotive.” (True, the 328i truly begins at $33,970, however that’s with out the moonroof and leather-based seats, gadgets often thought-about pretty customary on this class.)

We perceive that extra energy is best and that the 328i comes customary with extra tools than the 323i (nicer trim, largely). And sure, general, we just like the 328i higher than the 323i, however we simply can’t abdomen a minimal of $7000 extra for what is basically the identical engine, simply punched out a bit of extra. Apparently that is simply our opinion, although, because the vehicles are promoting like hotcakes.

The identical thought course of leads us to proclaim that at $29,560, the 323Ci coupe appears to be the recent ticket: you routinely get the game suspension, massive wheels and tires and nicer trim for less than $2000 greater than the 323i. Add one other $1000 for the Sport bundle, and 17×8-inch wheels, 225/45ZR17 tires, energy Sport seats, fog lights and an M three-spoke sport steering wheel include the automotive. That’s principally a child M3 for $30,560. Yeah, you quit the bigger engine, however you pocket a number of thousand {dollars} within the course of.

Irrespective of the way you slice it, we actually like these vehicles in each method, in each configuration, and for almost any objective.