325i E90 vs e46?

[jarance]

Another thing you'll instantly notice is with the improved auto slushbox of the E90 (6 spd) over the E46 (5spd). The new 6 spd auto tranny is significantly more urgent, locks up fast, and feels much less slippage. The autobox on the E46 is best described by one word - Lazy. You'll need to constantly and continuously whack the E46 hard to make the tranny wake up to smell the roses . Not very possible in KL traffic sometimes. The tranny behavior makes a big difference in overall driving experience between the 2 cars.

Bro.. time to change your nick to E90Fanatic lah....:listen:

E46 or E90.. all depend on the budget.. If budget permit, then go for E90... (and makan roti for a year)

 

[E46Fanatic]

Bro.. time to change your nick to E90Fanatic lah....:listen:

E46 or E90.. all depend on the budget.. If budget permit, then go for E90... (and makan roti for a year)

Make no doubt, i did enjoy my E46 325i during the 5+ years of ownership la. Hence I could not get myself to buy a more sensible car such as a Camry for my next car. Totally overlooked the visit to the workshop hassles and fear of the car leaving me stranded issues and ended up with another BMW. Thankfully the E90 ownership experience has been much more pleasant in both fronts, the driving part as well as the maintenance part.

 

[Schwepps]

Well anxious, you've heard from E46F, a guy who has owned and intimately knows both. For me, the E36 was great but had too many failures in 4 years of frustrating ownership. I didn't own an E46, but got to know one pretty well driving it for a couple of weeks. It can't touch the E90 in sensory satisfaction, and my own experience with E90 maintenance has been similar to E46F's - only elective oil changes in 2 years of ownership. No top ups required.

Wait for an E90 and you won't regret it. Prices may drop faster than you think, because the used car market isn't going to improve anytime soon.

 

[glock_8]

How does an E90 which is bigger and heavier plus it has run flat tyre be more of a driver's car than E46? In fact i t hink it's the opposite that is true since the E90 is more spacious and comfortable.

Also E90 is cheaper to maintain than an E46??? U sure or not? lol

Those engineers at bmw would have lost their job if the e46 better than the e90

 

[infinityKL]

yups, i must agree wt this autobox thingy - freaking lazy man!!

 

[viewfinder]

A 5 series never crosses your mind, anxious?

 

[peanut]

In the 3 series history, I don't think E36, E46 or even E90 will be qualified as classic BMW models. E90 may be but we don't know yet. My point is, if they are not going to be a classic, then buy the latest one. If you want classic, get a E30.

I owned E36 328i and my other half 's family has a E46 328i. I like E36 but it is a small car. E46 is neither here nor there - both in size and handling. E90 is bigger (almost same as E39) and handling much better.

Every generation of bimmers have their unique problems. E46 has control arm issue. E90 has the door lock issue. However, E90 so far has been good to me (touch wood) but then my model is only 2 years old. The only issue was the door lock issue. For E90, you don't have to modify the car much for it to handle like a charm. I wasn't very happy with the vagueness of E46. E36 is actually quite fun but I did have a few parts failed on me prematurely - e.g. oxygen sensor, fuel line joint dislocation (which resulted in fuel sprayed all over the road from under the rear passenger seat - scary!, radiator broke, steering rack, etc.)

 

[astroboy]

So far I see the E90 fellas die die supporting their purchasing decision made on the E90.

Can we hear from our E46 fellas supporting the E90 move? or go for E46 for whatever the reason, apart from budget.

 

[Vroom325]

I am driving an e46 325i, 2004 car. Going to be 3months of ownership very soon.

Yes, steering response is still a bit sluggish even compare with my FWD Mazda6(1st gen), the rest are all top notch to me. Suspension also a bit too soft to me, a bit hard to feel if the car has reach it's limit or not like my previous Mazda6... But it's really nice to cruise on hi way now.

A close friend of mine is driving an e90 320i, so I have a lot of chance driving & sitting in his car.

Yes, by all means it's better. Handling, responsiveness on enginee+transmission+steering input, 6th gear, air cond is more suitable for tropical country now, more quiet & spacious(a bit), max torque comes in as low as 2750rpm. Hence better FC too. Even stock suspension also stick on the road when cornering hard. By all means it has a lot of improvement.

However, e90 sounds a bit like Japanese car when you slam the door unlike e46. Of course, you don't buy car becuase how the door sound. That just made me feel like driving a more solid car(meaning heavy..., slower response, FC issue, guess it's give & take)

The dash board has too many buttons, but if you are driving a beemer now, won't take long for you to familiarize. All these are small issues, coz I believe most of us buy/stick to our bimmer for the driveability.

Trunk almost the same lah, both car also has to SQUEEZED in order to swallow 2 golf bags...

Go for e90 if you can afford it!

 

[ALBundy]

So far I see the E90 fellas die die supporting their purchasing decision made on the E90.

Can we hear from our E46 fellas supporting the E90 move? or go for E46 for whatever the reason, apart from budget.

The E90 is a much better car than the E46. Its more of a revolution than the evolution witnessed from the E36 to E46.

E90 is large, partly driven by the fact human beings have on average grown bigger and taller over the past 20 years but what never ceased to amaze whenever I drive the E90 on the track is how poise and sharp the car is, with stock standard suspension setups.

This goes to show the progress that engineers have made, likewise the E30 is a fun car to drive because you can get it to slide easily, but it is no longer a fast car in the modern era.

E90 or E46, go with the E90 Anxious, I believe with time it will go down to below 100k just like the E46 now, but then again the new 3 series would be out in a 2-3 years time. It is just a never ending debate.

As for me, I will buy the what I can afford when I want to buy it, that solves the dilemma

 

[t2ribena]

The E90 is a much better car than the E46. Its more of a revolution than the evolution witnessed from the E36 to E46.

E90 is large, partly driven by the fact human beings have on average grown bigger and taller over the past 20 years but what never ceased to amaze whenever I drive the E90 on the track is how poise and sharp the car is, with stock standard suspension setups.

This goes to show the progress that engineers have made, likewise the E30 is a fun car to drive because you can get it to slide easily, but it is no longer a fast car in the modern era.

E90 or E46, go with the E90 Anxious, I believe with time it will go down to below 100k just like the E46 now, but then again the new 3 series would be out in a 2-3 years time. It is just a never ending debate.

As for me, I will buy the what I can afford when I want to buy it, that solves the dilemma

The Presidente has spoken...so anxious I believe you got ur answer liau...

Hail The President....

***cabuts***

 

[Porsche168]

my e90 325 have 3 years maintenance program, so no need to spend a cent. Eversince I got this car I have been driving very fast, the power and smoothness of a 6 cyclinder is superb coupled with the tiptronic gear taking the engine to 7000 rpm....
also got i-drive with gps. so many bells and whistle that it take about 1 mth to get to now everything!

Get the e90 325 excellent car, second to only a porsche!!

 

[BMWs]

I'm not supporting the E90 and why i said that its maintenance is a bit on the high side.

Well on our recent drive down to Singapore to visit the F1 paddock together with our BMW Club members. My E90 decided to overheat on me while we were travelling around 180kmh. The red light came on with a "ting" sound and Imagine the panic i went through trying to pull over to the side of the highway at 180kmh.

Thank you to all our sifu's out there. They concluded that i have a water pump failure and the best solution was to head down to AB JB. Our president manage to arrange a last minute appointment for me when they were about to close and when i arrived to AB JB. It was like a F1 pit stop. All the engineers and managers came out to greet me and my E90. Immediately they took the car for a check up and after 15 minutes they informed me that the water pump and termostat needs to be changed and they also informed me that my warranty just ended on 27th of July.

So i said to them "Wow just after a month of warranty expiry, electronic parts also give way?". Amazing isn't it how BMW calculates when the parts fail. I was being sarcastic. So they proceeded to rectify and change all faulthy parts and no doubt they did a real good job including the hospitality.

The damages came up to RM3400.00 and XXX has suggested to me to ask BMW for a goodwill compensation. Am still waiting for thier feedback.

Thanks to Mr President and all the BMW club members, we manage to reach home safely and didn't have to take the bus.

So i think E46 is still cheaper to maintain then a E90. Cause E46 doesn't an electric water pump or anything electronic thats worth RM3400.00

Cheers

 

[B33mEr]

Also the E90 dashboard looks boring and it's not driver centric ... Looks kinda flat lerrr. E46 is the last generation of BMW whereby the console is more toward the driver But of course the E90 dashboard also looks more modern lerr, the leather seats are better than the E46 ...

 

[peanut]

So far I see the E90 fellas die die supporting their purchasing decision made on the E90.

Not exactly ...I got E90 because that is what I can afford. Give me more money I will buy a Porsche. With less money, I will get a Golf GTI.

 

[BlackE90]

Also the E90 dashboard looks boring and it's not driver centric ... Looks kinda flat lerrr. E46 is the last generation of BMW whereby the console is more toward the driver But of course the E90 dashboard also looks more modern lerr, the leather seats are better than the E46 ...

Thanks to Chris Bangle for the change in his design (interior & exterior) of the modern BMWs.
A new challenge now is to look forward to the upcoming F series.....

 

[Schwepps]

In the 3 series history, I don't think E36, E46 or even E90 will be qualified as classic BMW models. E90 may be but we don't know yet. My point is, if they are not going to be a classic, then buy the latest one. If you want classic, get a E30.

Actually, I think the E90 will be a classic by virtue of the fact that it breaks new ground, like the 2002 and E30 did in the history of this series. And while we look forward to the next iteration in 2012, I think that will turn out to be an evolution of the E90, to borrow Al Bundy's words.

Some of us may choose the E90 because it's within budget at the moment, but I deliberately choose the E90 because the 3 is an iconic series, with a character and persona that other marques cannot mimic. :wink:

 

[anxious]

Thank you all for your comments. I really appreciate it.Your input has definitely guided me and I am sure all those who face my predicament.

Thanks to all of you, I am definitely leaning towards the E90 in a couple of years time or so.

For now I'll continue to enjoy my E36 which todate has done almost 40k km in the 2.5years I have had the car.My E30 did 50k km in the 4.5yrs I had it.

Nothing smells better than a brand new BMW, priceless! :top:

Totally agree. Thats why I plan to get a new 5 series BMW before I hit 50. I'll probably keep that until I retire. I am 38 now, probably get a 3 year old E90 in a couple of years time and keep it until I am ready for my new smelling BMW.

Anxious, buy the E90 now and enjoy your ride for another 3 years (BMW M'sia pays for your maintenance), then, upgrade to F30 in 2012. You'll never go wrong. Ask Astroboy.

No budget yet.

A 5 series never crosses your mind, anxious?

I plan to reward myself with a new 5 series when/before I hit 50. I still aint ready for the 5 yet.

 

[3er]

I've owned and used the E36 325i for 7 years then moving onto the E46 325i for another 7 years. Now, E90 325i. Opinions on the E90 coming up soon when i get more driving time behind it but so far it has been quite positive. Where E36 vs E46 is concerned it echoes very closely to what E46F mentioned earlier.

 

[glock_8]

I'm not supporting the E90 and why i said that its maintenance is a bit on the high side.

Well on our recent drive down to Singapore to visit the F1 paddock together with our BMW Club members. My E90 decided to overheat on me while we were travelling around 180kmh. The red light came on with a "ting" sound and Imagine the panic i went through trying to pull over to the side of the highway at 180kmh.

Thank you to all our sifu's out there. They concluded that i have a water pump failure and the best solution was to head down to AB JB. Our president manage to arrange a last minute appointment for me when they were about to close and when i arrived to AB JB. It was like a F1 pit stop. All the engineers and managers came out to greet me and my E90. Immediately they took the car for a check up and after 15 minutes they informed me that the water pump and termostat needs to be changed and they also informed me that my warranty just ended on 27th of July.

So i said to them "Wow just after a month of warranty expiry, electronic parts also give way?". Amazing isn't it how BMW calculates when the parts fail. I was being sarcastic. So they proceeded to rectify and change all faulthy parts and no doubt they did a real good job including the hospitality.

The damages came up to RM3400.00 and XXX has suggested to me to ask BMW for a goodwill compensation. Am still waiting for thier feedback.

Thanks to Mr President and all the BMW club members, we manage to reach home safely and didn't have to take the bus.

So i think E46 is still cheaper to maintain then a E90. Cause E46 doesn't an electric water pump or anything electronic thats worth RM3400.00
;
Cheers

u have a breakdown in the middle of nowhere and managed to get it fixed in jb ab eventho it was late....i'd say the m3400 is well worth it...imagine if u had to tow the car back to kl and leave it overnight....the amount of hassle is just not worth it....

btw look on the bright side...any high performance car is expansive to maintain...even the japs...funny how peeps in contis forum whinning about maintenance when guys on other forums like evo/subi are spending like mad on their cars...they not even fall under luxury category.