I own both, so i guess i can give a non-biased opinion. I purchased a E39 528i 4 years ago and just recently bought a E46 323i. Both cars have the same engine block, but you'd be surprised at how different they are actually are.
Noise, Vibration, Handling: The E39 wins in all aspects except handling. You cannot hear the engine cruising at high speeds and it will stay at speed effortlessly, while you relax in complete comfort at 1500rpm on the open road. The steering is also precise and you always remain in control even with road imperfections that are faced such as potholes, bumps etc. The suspension rides a little firm, but is still supple enough. Potholes, bumps and other imperfections are handled with confidence and do not disturb steering.
Road and wind noise is non-existent at speed.
The E46 on the other hand lacks any steering feel and you are basically isolated from the road leaving you with no feedback. Not only that, at high speeds it feels very insecure and you have to grip the steering wheel with both hands otherwise bumps and uneven surfaces can upset the steering which leads to the steering wheel leaving the centre and requiring continuous corrections. It just doesn't have the 'tank' like glued to the road feeling. With the E46, wind noise is evident, although minor. Engine noise is also constant and not quiet as the E39.The E46's suspension is also on the hard side and you will feel every bump, imperfection, ant etc. It also can become unpleasant at times, but i have 17" wheels on mine. I'll give the E46 one thing: it's more nimble and you can take corners faster.
Comfort and trim - E39 wins in both aspects. Both my cars have leather trim as standard. I find the bigger chairs in the E39 to be more supportive and supple. The rear bench in the E39 also provides ample room and is extremely comfortable. I'll go on a long road trip with the E39 no problems but the E46 feels cramped in comparison.
Fuel consumption - E39 again. Despite being a heavy car, you'd be surprised. I get near 600km out of every tank . That's not too bad considering the gross vehicle mass. The E46 on the hand has a hard throttle which requires it to be pushed down a fair bit to get it to move and doing so throws fuel consumption through the roof. I need to get the thermostat checked on mine because it is stuck open and in cold weather the temp gauge goes down. This could explain the extra fuel consumption, in saying so both would be about the same.
Safety - Both essentially have the same safety features such as numerous air bags and electrical aids: abs, ASC+T. The braking capabilities on the E39 are far more superior, just a slight tap on the brake pedal and the car slows down.
Luggage space - E39!!! It has a bigger boot. Although our E46 comes with fold down seats. Still, in standard form the E39 boot is bigger.
Maintenance cost - Both are about the same. After 4 years of owning the E39 i have only had to do regulating servcing and replacing wear and tear items.
resale value - E46, simply because it is more sought after for.
Finally: My E46 sits in the garage and doesn't get any attention. I'll always take the E39 over the E46. The only exception would be an M model. But then again, I would take an E39 M5 over a E46 M3.
I love my E39 :love: and wouldn't take any other car.
FastFred;437032 said:
hi
There are lots of second hand E39 and E46 out there .
Would like to get some opinion on the difference between say 525i and 325i
Here's my understanding from all that I have been reading
Performance - about the same , E46 maybe slightly quicker due to lighter body
Noise,Vibration Handling - same
Comfort and trim - E39 better
Fuel consumption - E46 ?
Safety - E39 ?
Luggage space - E39
Reliabililty - E46 ?
Maintenance cost - E46 ?
resale value - about same
Pls note that maintenance cost and reliability have difference. Maintenance cost is monthly average cost to change parts (wear and tear parts or other engine parts/electronics gadgets ) and reliability is the breakdown frequency or Time to failure (say every year one major breakdown while driving).
Is the E46 more reliable that the E39 given that it is newer ?? The E46 was a best seller for BMW from 1998 to 2004 but E39 530i was given a perfect score (best car ever) in a consumer review some years ago .
Thanks for sharing your experiences
