you can't forget the 143bhp E21 323i, this was the granddaddy to your 335i/340i back in the day. For me the pinnacle of the 3 series (non M) was the E46 330Ci with a 6sp M sport pack. Epic car...
I owned an E36, E46, E93, and F30. E90 are good cars but I feel like bmw was having identity crisis during that time because it’s nothing like all the other 3 series, it feels more like a JDM than a BMW. E46 is the last great 3 series IMO
Drove bmw for 35 years even 2002 WITCH was a dream to restore and drive LOVED it painted it Aztec yellow lol and dad drove it for 7,8 years never ever broke down best BMW 2002
I think every 3 series generation has done a great job of representing the "sport sedan" of the time in terms of beautiful design, stout engines, transmissions, and handling. I love the design of each model and they all share the same great DNA. Yes, the newer ones have fallen victim to emissions, aerodynamics, safety, and technology standards bogging down the car, but BMW has kept a laser focus on delivering a consistent experience with each one. There a very few other vehicles that I could say the same about but some that come to mind are the Honda Accord, VW Golf, Jeep Wrangler, Ford F150
I Love the new G20 series - I felt the same way when I saw an E46 3-series for the first time - G20 is so much cleaner than the F30's body-style, and I like the sporty front end - Great job BMW ;)
I still have 05 325xi, it's been done to look very nice, although its not all that powerful, it's a small tank in winter. I've invested good money into new parts and mods that are out there. It's at around 160k miles still running good
This is by far, my favourite video from your channel explaining the differences and insights in BMW generational makes and/or models. I'm making my purchase decision based mostly on this content. Really great information on my favourite car. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
I myself have recently been looking into getting a 330D Xdrive E92 -11 the sound of that 6 cylinder diesel really had me going :), i test drove it and i liked it
If you’re in the USA, E30 325e is IMO the best BMW you can buy for a daily driver. Smallest BMW you can get with an I6, so its nimble and easy to park. E30 is also has incredibly simple electronics compared to newer BMWs. The 325e’s M20B27 engine is undesirable because it only revs to 4800 RPM (its basically a gas engine that emulates a diesel power curve), but are you really going to go beyond that the majority of the time? High revs really shorten the life of the motor. Plus the undesirability of the 325e make it cheaper than the 325i/318i
Totally agree, I had a buddy a bunch of years ago who owned a 325e E30 and I was always impressed at how tractable it was and full of soild torque. It was a great car, he also had upgraded wheel and suspension and it sure handled great too.
This is an excellent overview of the 3 series! Thanks for putting this together. I would love to get your insight and tips for purchasing a used f30. Keep up the great work!
My 2014 bmw 328. ( F30 ) X drive might be the best - purchased new - now has 240,000 km replaced a NAV screen screen and an oil sensor and some pulley belts all under warranty and a waste gate actuator. The car drives behaves like a Toyota Corolla for reliability and the gas mileage , visibility is excellent . I need to move in and get a new one but like a lot of stupid guys - I have bonded with the car ( I love the grey exterior and the red seats ) I just love my F30 ( of course I have done my oil changes way before it needed to be done ). But perhaps that’s why the 4 cylinder is still going great.
Enjoyed video on my third three series . Custom built 1982 320S bought preowned 1990 325 IS and currently driving 2002 330 CI which we had custom built. Keep up the great videos thank you.
I own a F30 since 2017 and now I'm gonna upgrade to G20 but to be honest I still love the body of my F30 more. I wish I had the all new techs on G20 on my F30!
I would like your opinion. Looking at purchasing either 2018 330ixdrive (mileage 64000) or 2014 335imxdrive (mileage 52000). Would appreciate your thoughts.
Mike, keep it up with the good work. I really like your style and comprehensive reviews you make of Beemers. Generally speaking is an F30 320ia 2017 with the B48 engine reliable?
I did see a couple of turbocharged gas-powered E30 M3 Sport Evos in Munich when I was there getting my own '91, but I suspect they were aftermarket conversions. Never got to try them, but I don't like turbos unless they are twin progressive. Nothing like dropping revs through inattention and losing major horsepower as you approach an apex and try to power it out to track out. Supercharged or straight aspirated only.
Some more info about the differences in driveability and reliability through the different genetations would have been really intwresting - steering, handling, suspension etc. 90% of this video is about the design, which everyone can see with his own eyes.
The E-30 4-cylinder & 6-cylinder cars were exquisite machines, especially the "iS" sport models. My wife had two (she is Skip Barber trained and can drive the hell out of a car). Even better by a mile or 10 were my "perfect cars" the E-30 M3s. Only 17,000 were ever built and 5,000 were imported into the US between 1988 and 1991 (about half are still on the road). I had an '88 with a 2.3 or was it a 2.4L, inline 4 ( they were shortened from the original M-1 motor) at about 195 HP stock and a Getrag 5 speed that was virtually a track car. The power band was 4750 to 6750 RPM, so to drive it "on the cam" you had to drive it at high revs, the sweet engine screaming back at you.They came ONLY normally aspirated and only with the 5 speed manual transmission. The European version was a different, even better, engine and an even better aero package. Even though they were nominally E-30s, they were built entirely from the frame up at the Motorsport division and shared only the hood with standard E-30s. A no-frills, pure go-fast car for back roads and road tracks. Mine was totally set up by DINAN (Steve Dinan's aftermarket tuner company) for track use. I later got a '91 E-30 M3 Forza in Munich, had it federalized & brought it to DINAN for the full treatment. It already had the adjustable 3-position rear-wing Sport Evo aero package when I picked it up and I left that in place. With that car, if I finished a race, I was on the podium. It's virtually 50-50 balance made it easily throttle-steerable and it could be pushed beyond 10-10ths and recover easily, so you had total confidence pushing the car to and over its limits from the day you got it. My only two complaints were that the shift lever was a bit too long and it needed a short-shift conversion and the damn BBS-style basket-weave wheels took an hour with a toothbrush to detail. I switched quickly to 5 spoke 17" for the road and 18" for the track with R-gummy racing tires from Kumho or Hudson. Even with no aftermarket tuning, the E-30 M3 (especially the European Sport Evo) absolutely danced when being driven hard in wet or dry conditions. The front went exactly where you pointed it and the back could be easily adjusted to counter push or oversteer with a touch of throttle steer. In an understeer corner, a touch of drop-throttle oversteer increased the slip angle perfectly and it was like the feeling you get in serious white water in a kayak. The car was literally wrapped around your body like a kayak. You felt like you could rotate your hips a few inches to control it. I still can't rave enough about that model. Nothing since even comes close - even with all of the extra horsepower & other trimmings. I had an E-36 Lightweight with the BMW catalog racing aero package (which voided the warranty even though it was right out of the official catalog!), also later DINAN tuned. That was almost as much fun to drive as my E-30s, but a bit heavier under the hands. It didn't quite dance. I was on the original waiting list for the first E-46 M3s, but got to drive a sample car from the dealer and promptly took myself off the list. It was far more muscular, but just wasn't the perfect scalpel in the corners the older cars were, but more like a sledge-hammer and I like a tight, technical momentum track like my home track at Lime Rock. I dare anybody to drive that to its limit without the traction control on. My last M-car was a 2000 M-Z3 Coupe with 313 HP stock (also sent out to DINAN for the works). Stock, it surprisingly had negative downforce under the tail and most of them ended up ass-end forward in ditches at one time or another (more reason to get an aftermarket suspension and aero package). That had the magnificent oddball 6-speed Getrag tranny. The M Roadster had a different rear suspension and was dangerously loose enough that you really wanted to have it totally replaced before you even took it home. After that, I switched to primarily SCCA Solo II autocrossing and had a 2003 supercharged Mini Cooper S (I don't like the turbos). I later moved to a 2005 with the Cooper Works and a few years ago bought another 2003 Mini S from a guy who is a Mini pit mechanic on the national racing team, completely modded out for autocross. They also came with the Getrag 6-speed shifters I love. I ran over something on the road several weeks ago, tore up the whole undercarriage and my insurance company called it totaled! 17 years old, fully tricked out and only about 103,000 miles on it. What a crime. I had to replace the custom parts with the original parts and sell them separately because they were worth more than the entire book value payout from the insurance company for a totaled 2003. If you can find one of the gen 1 supercharged, it's like driving a rocket-propelled roller skate. Anybody want $2700 front Mini coilovers that let you easily adjust camber (up to 2% negative) and ride height? I have an offer on them, but haven't finalized the deal yet. I also have an aftermarket radiator that provides about 40% better cooling, but I think the potential buyer is a lock on that. I just bought an old 2007 E-90 328i 230 HP sport package 5-speed with 17" alloys, hand-stitched leather & burled walnut trim in almost concourse condition for an incredible $3,000 cash (yeah, I checked carfax - nothing wrong except 2 basic warranty recalls never done) 2 weeks ago (no I-drive thank god) and am beginning my own conversion into a sort-of faux M-3 for the track (what the hell, Paul Newman won LeMans GT2 in a Porsche and placed second overall at age 70, beaten by only 1 prototype & I'm only 72 - maybe I'll SCCA Solo I it) with a long dream list of aftermarket mods on my next year's plan. I've already ordered an M3 look-alike front split aero grille and a 3 piece adjustable rear wing. Brembos & new shocks and suspension parts are next. The 2006/2007 E-90 325i's and 328i's are also beautifully built and have exquisite engines. Easy & inexpensive to mod. With the E-46, BMW began to build overly complex, overly electronic yuppy sports cars not worth the money if you are a fanatic about the older cars. I would never buy anything newer. Even Forbes in its annual "don't buy these cars" "bad dependability" list are now including the current 7-series along with their usual Jeeps (all models) and compact Fords and such. It's sad that BMW discontinued the M3 after 2018, but they used to go years between versions, so maybe it will be re-introduced in a year or two. Stick with the 335 twin-turbos or find an old 2002 tii or E-30 M3 if you REALLY want to have fun and want a car you have to drive entirely on your own skill and not electronic assist crap.
Boss i want to by a car. That is fast Can drift Relable whit 4 doors Esay to fix and under 20k can you do a video about it? If you can do one under 10 k as well would be great We have a lot information om TH-cam and i dont know what to pick
Thanks for your vid. Really enjoyed it. I do like the e46. Last three cars are 3-series. 1980 320i, 1989 325is & my current 2000 323i. Bought the 323i in 2012 with 45k miles. Has 75k miles now (Feb 2020). It's my fav & don't plan on changing any time soon. It has been great & so far very reliable. Have a good mechanic, so keep it maintained. Just want to say I enjoyed your vid more than Scotty's. Just is more positive imo. Thanks again for your effort!
E36, E46, and the F30/31 look the best imo. E30 is timeless classic ofc. The e90 is cool, but never really caught my eye like the others. My first car was a e36, second and third was e46, fourth car f31.
no mention of the different hood on the F series? I really don't like the way the panel gap is across the hood now. I get that it crossed over from the Z4 but I like the E90's hood better. Especially the pre-LCI ones
Thanks for watching. Based on my experience, older Sulev cars had more unique and expensive parts which makes it less desirable but the newer versions have less hardware differences and that becomes less of an issue. That being said recent sulev engines seem to lack the driving power delivery that the standard cars have and therefore I would go with the non sulev car myself. It’s all about the driving experience.
In line 6 E46 is a super engine 2.2 2.5.2.8 3.o xtd seen them running at 300k sounds good drives fine not many cars can say that the problems with BMWs is they are so expensive to be repaired at a main agent so people tend to neglect then or carry on driving or put the completely wrong oil oil.in the engine at a cheap Back Street Garage if you can do it yourself please do because you know it's been done right and you will save yourself a lot of money Plus you get the experience of doing it they're not as hard as you think they are
Always love your reviews and videos. Great job. I’m from Egypt. I have a F30 320i. I love it. It now has 22000 Km on it. Our BMW dealer in Egypt just launched the new G20 3 series. As of now they only released the 320 which I feel is not much of an upgrade from my car. What do you think? Should I upgrade or wait for them to gut us the 330 or 340? Thx again and keep the videos coming. Ismail
Hi, love the channel, just a quick question if u can help me out, I'm currently looking to purchase a 2017 320d m sport, do these models have any issues with the timing chain or any other expensive parts, your help would be greatly appreciated, kind regards Michael
Actually Had that purple colour e 36 1.8l years ago was great only prob pcv valve thats it .. And oil leaking 540i pcv again was faaast but reliable the 325 best reliability if I ever got one as a SECOND car..nowdays though I listen to Scotty!
From F series I do not like the visual "improvements": - Non circular (which was the trademark of BMW) and very cold PWMed front lights - Front bonnet had an additional line/part between air grills - more and more LCD/electronics
the newer one dont really have that much of hardware issue its the electronics that is really killing the car after a certain period of time the plastic start cracking and the electric start failing and you get your self 100 and 1 smaall issue the bills and frustration in the car adds up so people just sell them off just go look at any old model year pov drive in youtube now a day you always see some yellow light weather its dtc issue check engine light issue stuff like that i use to have a e89 z4 23i it had vanos recalled issue which was covered by warranty and power steering issue which is also covered by warranty but nothing after that for the duration of the warranty so never paid for a single repair during warranty after the warranty period check engine light comes water pump failure the dynamic suspension error most of the issue i face except the vanos which was covered by bmw was all about electronic error or sensor failure its not expensive but i kind scare me of the car will eventully find somthing expensive to fuck me over so i sold it 2 year after the warranty period from my experince modern bmw or any german luxury model your better getting it on lease or selling them stright after there 5 years warranty my bmw experince was not that bad to be honest its a nice car to drive sound great handle great and looks very good and during its warraanty period quite reliable its not that bad it never gave me much of an issue only start getting bad after its warranty period so 5 years is probally where you want to be if you want to own a up to date bmw that will be dependable and joy to lease/own after that 5 year 100k miles period shits start going downhill from there of course another thing is depreciation that also a killer but running a heavly used bmw is also a financial burden you know what they say you gotta to pay to play aint no going around the fact that a bmw will cost more then a toyota to buy and run if you can fix it yourself and junkyard dive for part you do help cut down alot of cost in bmw ownership but not everyone have that much time or ability to do such a thing and in a sense that also a bad thing if it require your full attention and labour just so it can work out financially speaking in the end its a luxury car will always be expensive beacuse there a status symbol a car for well of people so if you dont really have the money to buy and enjoy the car without having to worry about the financial burden of replaceing it every 5 years or so the car is just not for you then just save yourself the heartbreak and buy a honda or toyota instead it will run almost forever parts are cheap dealers are everywhere all auto shop can work on them they rarely have any isssue and when they do it cost almost nothing to fix and you can always sell them for not a alot less then what you pay for them
All I know is my auto mechanic friends garage is always full of German cars to repair. Whether it’s hardware or software, they need fixing constantly and it costs the customer big bucks over time.
Best BMW 3 aseries to buy, in order. 1) E46 2) E46 3) E46 NA, Straight 6, Manual, RWD, looks great, 0-60mph ~6s, Nurburgring ~8mins. Its everything a 3 series should be, and nothing more.
Hi, Mark! First of all, congratulations for all your videos! I find them very well made, with interesting content, I enjoy getting the bulk of information about BMW cars and making my own opinion on them, too. I am currently looking for a used BMW to buy. I have found a 2006 BMW E90 320i sedan and a BMW E90 325i Touring. Honestly, I've normally driven hatchback cars and for the first time as a driver, I am looking for a sedan. The E90 sedan looks nice, but i have to admit that the E90 Touring looks even nicer. Moreover, I'm sure the straight inline 6 cylinder-engine also makes the difference. Which model and body type would you suggest me to finally choose? Moreover, the engine of the 325i has just about 45,000 km on the clock versus the 77,000 km of the 320i. Is the E90 Touring a better choice rather than the sedan one? Please, give me a piece of advice before my purchase! Keep on making videos with great contents as you use to, Mark. See you soon! 🙂👍
Thanks a lot for your support as it is much apreciated. As far as the Touring or sedan, that becomes more of your personal tastes so that is really up to you but for the engines, I have owned a 320 in my past and they are reliable because of their moderate power output and that is a good thing. With that said, I always personally go for the most impressive car that I can afford and given the lower kms I would say the 325 is the car to have. More more, similar economy, maybe slightly better resale and ultimately just a bit more impressive.
@@ECPP it's a M Performance package with some of the goodies you would gr in a m car other then the engine. Almost out performs previous M car. Also you get a lot of the technology BMW generally puts in 5vand 7bseries so I think it's a good optioned vehicle.
Comparing the styling of the Pre LCI E92 335i without M-Sport to the F30 340i with M-Sport just doesn't seem right. In my opinion the E92 335i M-Sport rear bumper is way nicer then the F30's M-Sport ugly blocky rear with a mini diffuser.
Well you didn’t answer the question... You just gave us a rundown of all the generations...lol
AM I the only one that loves the shape of the F30 so aggressive and niceee
def
Nope, love it too!
you can't forget the 143bhp E21 323i, this was the granddaddy to your 335i/340i back in the day. For me the pinnacle of the 3 series (non M) was the E46 330Ci with a 6sp M sport pack. Epic car...
Very well balanced and sorted handling car. CLass favourite
E90 was the epitome of the 3 series that really look good.
I agtee
@@ECPP I agtee as well
I owned an E36, E46, E93, and F30. E90 are good cars but I feel like bmw was having identity crisis during that time because it’s nothing like all the other 3 series, it feels more like a JDM than a BMW. E46 is the last great 3 series IMO
@@brittondavis1736 i also atgee
Now it’s the e46 every one knows that the e90 is the most unreliable
Drove bmw for 35 years even 2002 WITCH was a dream to restore and drive LOVED it painted it Aztec yellow lol and dad drove it for 7,8 years never ever broke down best BMW 2002
The classifications of E Series, F Series and G Series, would be more clear, if you have a chart showing the year models that each series includes.
I think every 3 series generation has done a great job of representing the "sport sedan" of the time in terms of beautiful design, stout engines, transmissions, and handling.
I love the design of each model and they all share the same great DNA. Yes, the newer ones have fallen victim to emissions, aerodynamics, safety, and technology standards bogging down the car, but BMW has kept a laser focus on delivering a consistent experience with each one.
There a very few other vehicles that I could say the same about but some that come to mind are the Honda Accord, VW Golf, Jeep Wrangler, Ford F150
If only they continued making accord coupes 😢
you do realize that the halo lights (angel eyes) started on the e39 in 2001 correct. they werent LED but BMW was the first manufacturer to use them.
As far as styling is concerned the E92/93 are the best & timeless!
Literally can't go wrong with any generation. They all look beautiful
Nice
I Love the new G20 series - I felt the same way when I saw an E46 3-series for the first time - G20 is so much cleaner than the F30's body-style, and I like the sporty front end - Great job BMW ;)
Agreed, thanks for dropping a line.
I still have 05 325xi, it's been done to look very nice, although its not all that powerful, it's a small tank in winter.
I've invested good money into new parts and mods that are out there. It's at around 160k miles still running good
The E46 is beautiful!
The best exterior looking 3 series are
The E46 and both F’s in my opinion.
The E46 is clean and sharp. Nicest of that body style I agree.
The f series are nice because of led and other styling updates
The E46 will always go down as the best ever 3 series. The only thing that ruined those cars is the subframe malfunction and the bad cooling systems.
I agree the E36 and E46 lost the boxiness of the 2002, E21 and E30 for a more suave look.
E46 M-Tech I rear diffuser was pretty sweet.
E46 and F30 so far the best
The F model is a artistic touche for the design. Best looking car of 2012
"Now we move into the '90s" while describing the car produced from 1999 to 2006.
This is by far, my favourite video from your channel explaining the differences and insights in BMW generational makes and/or models. I'm making my purchase decision based mostly on this content. Really great information on my favourite car. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
You are very welcome
I myself have recently been looking into getting a 330D Xdrive E92 -11 the sound of that 6 cylinder diesel really had me going :), i test drove it and i liked it
Don't get the diesel Xdrive.
330d yes i agree but you dont want x drive
Yeah, I agree with Eduardo. What about the driving experience and reliability? Interior? Etc.
If you’re in the USA, E30 325e is IMO the best BMW you can buy for a daily driver. Smallest BMW you can get with an I6, so its nimble and easy to park. E30 is also has incredibly simple electronics compared to newer BMWs. The 325e’s M20B27 engine is undesirable because it only revs to 4800 RPM (its basically a gas engine that emulates a diesel power curve), but are you really going to go beyond that the majority of the time? High revs really shorten the life of the motor. Plus the undesirability of the 325e make it cheaper than the 325i/318i
Totally agree, I had a buddy a bunch of years ago who owned a 325e E30 and I was always impressed at how tractable it was and full of soild torque. It was a great car, he also had upgraded wheel and suspension and it sure handled great too.
Which are the Top 3 Most reliable 328 year 2013-2017
bump
Before 2012
The F30s are super unreliable due to common timing chain issues.
This is an excellent overview of the 3 series! Thanks for putting this together. I would love to get your insight and tips for purchasing a used f30. Keep up the great work!
My favorites are the E46 and F30😊. Namibia y'all😊🇳🇦
Good choice!
My 2014 bmw 328. ( F30 ) X drive might be the best - purchased new - now has 240,000 km replaced a NAV screen screen and an oil sensor and some pulley belts all under warranty and a waste gate actuator. The car drives behaves like a Toyota Corolla for reliability and the gas mileage , visibility is excellent . I need to move in and get a new one but like a lot of stupid guys - I have bonded with the car ( I love the grey exterior and the red seats ) I just love my F30 ( of course I have done my oil changes way before it needed to be done ). But perhaps that’s why the 4 cylinder is still going great.
Pretty sure the E30 M3 never came in a turbo model. Unless there is some ultra rare homologation special edition...
Enjoyed video on my third three series . Custom built 1982 320S bought preowned 1990 325 IS and currently driving 2002 330 CI which we had custom built. Keep up the great videos thank you.
Nice work!
I own a F30 since 2017 and now I'm gonna upgrade to G20 but to be honest I still love the body of my F30 more. I wish I had the all new techs on G20 on my F30!
Are the newer bmws more reliable ? I’ve had the 328i e46 2000, 335i e90 2007 and currently 528i e60 2010. Is the f series 3 series reliable ?
HOW TO SEE THE TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE OF BMW 3 SERIES JUST WITH THE VIN
I would like your opinion. Looking at purchasing either 2018 330ixdrive (mileage 64000) or 2014 335imxdrive (mileage 52000). Would appreciate your thoughts.
Entwicklung46 hands down....TIMELESS
Nice cars
Hi, I'm from India. What about a 330d from 2015 with 70000 kms done. Is it a good buy?
Mike, keep it up with the good work. I really like your style and comprehensive reviews you make of Beemers. Generally speaking is an F30 320ia 2017 with the B48 engine reliable?
The E30 M3 was normally aspirated. The only E30 with forced induction was the diesel one.
I did see a couple of turbocharged gas-powered E30 M3 Sport Evos in Munich when I was there getting my own '91, but I suspect they were aftermarket conversions. Never got to try them, but I don't like turbos unless they are twin progressive. Nothing like dropping revs through inattention and losing major horsepower as you approach an apex and try to power it out to track out. Supercharged or straight aspirated only.
Yeah this guy kinda lost me at e30 m3 had a turbo.. Ugh
What's the reliability like in the 3 series from 2019-2022?
Better with the more recent b48 and b58 but still not flawless
I dont thonk the e30 m3 came out turbo charge from factory
Some more info about the differences in driveability and reliability through the different genetations would have been really intwresting - steering, handling, suspension etc. 90% of this video is about the design, which everyone can see with his own eyes.
Would’ve been a little redundant, because when you think about it, the new 340 with X-Drive wouldve been thee best M3 to ever exist.
thats why i like your blog all positives and well informed lots of facts
Thank you so much
I love this BMW 3 series, make a lot better than other BMW cars, I’m a four cylinder fanboy, like Lexus and BMW and Acura
F30 and E46 the best so far
I suppose the door locking actuator on the new G20 will still fail just like on all previous models.
The E-30 4-cylinder & 6-cylinder cars were exquisite machines,
especially the "iS" sport models. My wife had two (she is Skip Barber
trained and can drive the hell out of a car). Even better by a mile or
10 were my "perfect cars" the E-30 M3s. Only 17,000 were ever built and
5,000 were imported into the US between 1988 and 1991 (about half are still on the road). I had
an '88 with a 2.3 or was it a 2.4L, inline 4 ( they were shortened from the original M-1 motor) at about 195 HP stock and a Getrag 5 speed that was virtually a track car. The power band was 4750 to 6750 RPM, so to drive it "on the cam" you had to drive it at high revs, the sweet engine screaming back at you.They came ONLY normally aspirated and only with the 5 speed manual transmission. The European version was a different, even better, engine and an even better aero package. Even though they were nominally E-30s, they were built entirely from the frame up at the Motorsport division and shared only the hood with standard E-30s. A no-frills, pure go-fast car for back roads and road tracks. Mine was totally set up by DINAN (Steve Dinan's aftermarket tuner company) for track use.
I later got a '91 E-30 M3 Forza in Munich, had it federalized & brought it to DINAN for the full treatment. It already had the adjustable 3-position rear-wing Sport Evo aero package when I picked it up and I left that in place. With that car, if I finished a race, I was on the podium. It's virtually 50-50 balance made it easily throttle-steerable and it could be pushed beyond 10-10ths and recover easily, so you had total confidence pushing the car to and over its limits from the day you got it. My only two complaints were that the shift lever was a bit too long and it needed a short-shift conversion and the damn BBS-style basket-weave wheels took an hour with a toothbrush to detail. I switched quickly to 5 spoke 17" for the road and 18" for the track with R-gummy racing tires from Kumho or Hudson.
Even with no aftermarket tuning, the E-30 M3 (especially the European Sport Evo) absolutely danced when being driven hard in wet or dry conditions. The front went exactly where you pointed it and the back could be easily adjusted to counter push or oversteer with a touch of throttle steer. In an understeer corner, a touch of drop-throttle oversteer increased the slip angle perfectly and it was like the feeling you get in serious white water in a kayak. The car was literally wrapped around your body like a kayak. You felt like you could rotate your hips a few inches to control it. I still can't rave enough about that model. Nothing since even comes close - even with all of the extra horsepower & other trimmings.
I had an E-36 Lightweight with the BMW catalog racing aero package (which voided the warranty even though it was right out of the official catalog!), also later DINAN tuned. That was almost as much fun to
drive as my E-30s, but a bit heavier under the hands. It didn't quite dance.
I was on the original waiting list for the first E-46 M3s, but got to drive a sample car from the dealer and
promptly took myself off the list. It was far more muscular, but just wasn't the perfect scalpel in the corners the older cars were, but more like a sledge-hammer and I like a tight, technical momentum track like my home track at Lime Rock. I dare anybody to drive that to its limit without the traction control on.
My last M-car was a 2000 M-Z3 Coupe with 313 HP stock (also sent out to DINAN for the works). Stock, it surprisingly had negative downforce under the tail and most of them ended up ass-end forward in ditches at one time or another (more reason to get an aftermarket suspension and aero package). That had the magnificent oddball 6-speed Getrag tranny. The M Roadster had a different rear suspension and was dangerously loose enough that you really wanted to have it totally replaced before you even took it home. After that, I switched to primarily SCCA Solo II autocrossing and had a 2003 supercharged Mini Cooper S (I don't like the turbos). I later moved to a 2005 with the Cooper Works and a few years ago bought another 2003 Mini S from a guy who is a Mini pit mechanic on the national racing team, completely modded out for autocross. They also came with the Getrag 6-speed shifters I love. I ran over something on the road several weeks ago, tore up the whole undercarriage and my insurance company called it totaled! 17 years old, fully tricked out and only about 103,000 miles on it. What a crime. I had to replace the custom parts with the original parts and sell them separately because they were worth more than the entire book value payout from the insurance company for a totaled 2003. If you can find one of the gen 1 supercharged, it's like driving a rocket-propelled roller skate.
Anybody want $2700 front Mini coilovers that let you easily adjust camber (up to 2% negative) and ride height? I have an offer on them, but haven't finalized the deal yet. I also have an aftermarket radiator that provides about 40% better cooling, but I think the potential buyer is a lock on that.
I just bought an old 2007 E-90 328i 230 HP sport package 5-speed with 17" alloys, hand-stitched leather & burled walnut trim in almost concourse condition for an incredible $3,000 cash (yeah, I checked carfax - nothing wrong except 2 basic warranty recalls never done) 2 weeks ago (no I-drive thank god) and am beginning my own conversion into a sort-of faux M-3 for the track (what the hell, Paul Newman won LeMans GT2 in a Porsche and placed second overall at age 70, beaten by only 1 prototype & I'm only 72 - maybe I'll SCCA Solo I it) with a long dream list of aftermarket mods on my next year's plan. I've already ordered an M3 look-alike front split aero grille and a 3 piece adjustable rear wing. Brembos & new shocks and suspension parts are next. The 2006/2007 E-90 325i's and 328i's are also beautifully built and have exquisite engines. Easy & inexpensive to mod. With the E-46, BMW began to build overly complex, overly electronic yuppy sports cars not worth the money if you are a fanatic about the older cars. I would never buy anything newer. Even Forbes in its annual "don't buy these cars" "bad dependability" list are now including the current 7-series along with their usual Jeeps (all models) and compact Fords and such. It's sad that BMW discontinued the M3 after 2018, but they used to go years between versions, so maybe it will be re-introduced in a year or two. Stick with the 335 twin-turbos or find an old 2002 tii or E-30 M3 if you REALLY want to have fun and want a car you have to drive entirely on your own skill and not electronic assist crap.
I never liked the G20 and it didn't quite fly off the lots too - at least not in North America.
E90 2006 330i is my choice n/a n52 engine 261hp solid engine. The rest of the new stuff problematic!
I lucking to buy 325 5 speed 2002 what do you think
The crease may well help crash safety by stiffening up the door panels. Regulation influencing design?
Yes
E46s are just so classy
They are clean and classic as well
Shaved off the soul patch...nice.
Boss i want to by a car.
That is fast
Can drift
Relable whit 4 doors
Esay to fix
and under 20k can you do a video about it?
If you can do one under 10 k as well would be great
We have a lot information om TH-cam and i dont know what to pick
I like it, we will see what we can come up with.
don saboter G35/G37
Thanks for your vid. Really enjoyed it. I do like the e46. Last three cars are 3-series. 1980 320i, 1989 325is & my current 2000 323i. Bought the 323i in 2012 with 45k miles. Has 75k miles now (Feb 2020). It's my fav & don't plan on changing any time soon.
It has been great & so far very reliable. Have a good mechanic, so keep it maintained.
Just want to say I enjoyed your vid more than Scotty's. Just is more positive imo. Thanks again for your effort!
E30 325is South Africans we love that car Igusheshe.
I'm take delivery of 2014 328i x drive ..not sure if the sulev makes a difference
what do you think of there reliability
Sulev is ok but slightly different drive and a few
More unique expensive parts
@@ECPP
should I switch it for a non sulev ...I didn't know I was buying one till i look at the sticker price on carvana
What Do Think Of A 320i ? 2018
Still putting down this Phenomenal Content, Mark.
Perfect timing for '20 Toy Season!
I have a 2011 bmw 335d. I haven't heard that much about the durability and reliability of them. Where would it stand?
Suggest me which suv is reliable in every case 7 seater
I meant not break a lot too spend money on maintenance
From 2016 to 2020
Didnt talk about the engine of the new 3 series, does it still have the B58 or is it a new one? More or less reliable than previous generation?
E36, E46, and the F30/31 look the best imo. E30 is timeless classic ofc. The e90 is cool, but never really caught my eye like the others. My first car was a e36, second and third was e46, fourth car f31.
no mention of the different hood on the F series? I really don't like the way the panel gap is across the hood now. I get that it crossed over from the Z4 but I like the E90's hood better. Especially the pre-LCI ones
Mark what was the reliable years for the BMW M4z Roadster? Thank you
Here in California many F series 3’s come with a SULEV engine. What do you think of those?
Thanks for watching. Based on my experience, older Sulev cars had more unique and expensive parts which makes it less desirable but the newer versions have less hardware differences and that becomes less of an issue. That being said recent sulev engines seem to lack the driving power delivery that the standard cars have and therefore I would go with the non sulev car myself. It’s all about the driving experience.
Personally my F36 with the N26 motor is punchy for a 4cyl turbo. It surprises in sport mode.
In line 6 E46 is a super engine 2.2 2.5.2.8 3.o xtd seen them running at 300k sounds good drives fine not many cars can say that the problems with BMWs is they are so expensive to be repaired at a main agent so people tend to neglect then or carry on driving or put the completely wrong oil oil.in the engine at a cheap Back Street Garage if you can do it yourself please do because you know it's been done right and you will save yourself a lot of money Plus you get the experience of doing it they're not as hard as you think they are
Always love your reviews and videos. Great job. I’m from Egypt. I have a F30 320i. I love it. It now has 22000 Km on it. Our BMW dealer in Egypt just launched the new G20 3 series. As of now they only released the 320 which I feel is not much of an upgrade from my car. What do you think? Should I upgrade or wait for them to gut us the 330 or 340? Thx again and keep the videos coming.
Ismail
E92 330i is the most balanced one to collect from my point of view.
Agreed the perfect blend of performance and reliability
Zhenchang Dong It has one of the ugliest BMW interiors though, and too small tires no matter how thin tire you run.
e92 is a beautiful car period
ahhh yes this is the video i was waiting for
Hi, love the channel, just a quick question if u can help me out, I'm currently looking to purchase a 2017 320d m sport, do these models have any issues with the timing chain or any other expensive parts, your help would be greatly appreciated, kind regards Michael
Actually Had that purple colour e 36 1.8l years ago was great only prob pcv valve thats it ..
And oil leaking 540i pcv again was faaast but reliable the 325 best reliability if I ever got one as a SECOND car..nowdays though I listen to Scotty!
Thanks for dropping a line
What year is that e30
10:58 That is the LCI (Face lifted version) the older model is not shown here (07-08).
Thanks
From F series I do not like the visual "improvements":
- Non circular (which was the trademark of BMW) and very cold PWMed front lights
- Front bonnet had an additional line/part between air grills
- more and more LCD/electronics
It's worth to mention how they handle crashes (especially the Small Overlap crash test).
In G20 you are safe.
In F30 you're almost safe (versions
Did we ever get an answer or did we just go through every different chasis?
Nothing.
My car. E46 M3!
My car: e46 w a m3 sticker😅
Which is more reliable e90, f30 or g20
f30 and g20. e90 is crap stay away like the plague
Does anyone not know the older BMWs are so much more reliable than late models?
the newer one dont really have that much of hardware issue its the electronics that is really killing the car after a certain period of time the plastic start cracking and the electric start failing and you get your self 100 and 1 smaall issue the bills and frustration in the car adds up so people just sell them off just go look at any old model year pov drive in youtube now a day you always see some yellow light weather its dtc issue check engine light issue stuff like that i use to have a e89 z4 23i it had vanos recalled issue which was covered by warranty and power steering issue which is also covered by warranty but nothing after that for the duration of the warranty so never paid for a single repair during warranty after the warranty period check engine light comes water pump failure the dynamic suspension error most of the issue i face except the vanos which was covered by bmw was all about electronic error or sensor failure its not expensive but i kind scare me of the car will eventully find somthing expensive to fuck me over so i sold it 2 year after the warranty period from my experince modern bmw or any german luxury model your better getting it on lease or selling them stright after there 5 years warranty my bmw experince was not that bad to be honest its a nice car to drive sound great handle great and looks very good and during its warraanty period quite reliable its not that bad it never gave me much of an issue only start getting bad after its warranty period so 5 years is probally where you want to be if you want to own a up to date bmw that will be dependable and joy to lease/own after that 5 year 100k miles period shits start going downhill from there of course another thing is depreciation that also a killer but running a heavly used bmw is also a financial burden you know what they say you gotta to pay to play aint no going around the fact that a bmw will cost more then a toyota to buy and run if you can fix it yourself and junkyard dive for part you do help cut down alot of cost in bmw ownership but not everyone have that much time or ability to do such a thing and in a sense that also a bad thing if it require your full attention and labour just so it can work out financially speaking in the end its a luxury car will always be expensive beacuse there a status symbol a car for well of people so if you dont really have the money to buy and enjoy the car without having to worry about the financial burden of replaceing it every 5 years or so the car is just not for you then just save yourself the heartbreak and buy a honda or toyota instead it will run almost forever parts are cheap dealers are everywhere all auto shop can work on them they rarely have any isssue and when they do it cost almost nothing to fix and you can always sell them for not a alot less then what you pay for them
All I know is my auto mechanic friends garage is always full of German cars to repair. Whether it’s hardware or software, they need fixing constantly and it costs the customer big bucks over time.
I have the E90 330i se straight 6 manual nice little BMW..
That is a great driver and a keeper
Best BMW 3 aseries to buy, in order.
1) E46
2) E46
3) E46
NA, Straight 6, Manual, RWD, looks great, 0-60mph ~6s, Nurburgring ~8mins. Its everything a 3 series should be, and nothing more.
Nice video. It would be great if you mentioned the year more often of each model you discuss!
I think the G20 honestly looks shit, the best looking BMWs are the E46, F30, E92 and E36 in this order
I like how he points the fingers
e30 m3 didn't have a turbo. Further a few things you told was untrue mostly related to the bodywork of the cars.
Should i buy a 2012 550i with 47k mi and clean carfax2 prev owners? Its 20k. Price
Presto Ernesto one of my home body bought a 2011 550i Mpackage for 9K with 103K miles
Any opinion on Active Hybrid 3?
The E30 and E46 are my favourites. Post E46, I'm not interested. From 2005 onwards, the older they get, the more costly the are to run .
anything before the f30 is good to buy
Other than n54
It cost 800 millions to design and fabricate the E36 which had quite a few problems but was reliable to a certain extent
The first year's E36 M3 was a disaster, but they skipped the next year and got it right after that - especially the Lightweight.
800 million I highly doubt that unless your talking yen.
Hi, Mark! First of all, congratulations for all your videos! I find them very well made, with interesting content, I enjoy getting the bulk of information about BMW cars and making my own opinion on them, too. I am currently looking for a used BMW to buy. I have found a 2006 BMW E90 320i sedan and a BMW E90 325i Touring. Honestly, I've normally driven hatchback cars and for the first time as a driver, I am looking for a sedan. The E90 sedan looks nice, but i have to admit that the E90 Touring looks even nicer. Moreover, I'm sure the straight inline 6 cylinder-engine also makes the difference. Which model and body type would you suggest me to finally choose? Moreover, the engine of the 325i has just about 45,000 km on the clock versus the 77,000 km of the 320i. Is the E90 Touring a better choice rather than the sedan one? Please, give me a piece of advice before my purchase! Keep on making videos with great contents as you use to, Mark. See you soon! 🙂👍
Thanks a lot for your support as it is much apreciated. As far as the Touring or sedan, that becomes more of your personal tastes so that is really up to you but for the engines, I have owned a 320 in my past and they are reliable because of their moderate power output and that is a good thing. With that said, I always personally go for the most impressive car that I can afford and given the lower kms I would say the 325 is the car to have. More more, similar economy, maybe slightly better resale and ultimately just a bit more impressive.
is a 2017 330i GT BMW reliable?
Im getting E90 330i BMW 2007
I like the BMW X5 Competition
Nice
I've got 6 models with manual gearshift, now i want an automatic transmission...
Sometimes. Change is good.
Wish i DIDn'T sell.my 2.2 ci 320,ci convertible E46 loved it never let me down once in 2 years
I miss both 02 E46 330i and 05 E46 330xi both had sport premium and CWP.
The e30 still looks dope)
Absolutely
@BBD Design this is spot on, could not put it better than this
Owned 3!!! Chariot of the gods!!!!!
whats your favorite car from the series? and which is the best?
The G20 is what i expect from BMW, it looks sharp, sophisticated and recognizably a BMW.
Agreed
The non M Fseries not only has no option for a manual but bmw are down sizing the engines.😪
I think you have no idea for the EUROPEAN f30 packets. We run with fast & CLEAN diesels
In Europe, you can pick a diesel F30 3 series with a manual
But is like they replaced the 340i with M340i, right?
True, but that is mainly a badging thing. The B58 engine resides regardless.
@@ECPP it's a M Performance package with some of the goodies you would gr in a m car other then the engine. Almost out performs previous M car. Also you get a lot of the technology BMW generally puts in 5vand 7bseries so I think it's a good optioned vehicle.
So F30 (2011) 335ix is a fairly reliable car?
I appreciate the parking job of the 335i.
Comparing the styling of the Pre LCI E92 335i without M-Sport to the F30 340i with M-Sport just doesn't seem right.
In my opinion the E92 335i M-Sport rear bumper is way nicer then the F30's M-Sport ugly blocky rear with a mini diffuser.
Nice video mate
Thanks Tim
G20 seemed cramped to me compared to the outgoing one.