is not appreciably more expensive than a similar condition e36. Would there be a reason to choose an older e36 such as ease of maintenance, cost of parts, etc. over a newer e46. I'm talking base 325i sedans with manuals. Not M3s, coupes, ZHP, or 330i. I've always liked these jellybeans, but really don't know much about them because they've historically been outside my budget. What say ye olde hive mind?
For me personally, I'm looking at e46's because I like that generation over e36 and they are newer. With my limited knowledge, cons with the e46's; possible rear subframe issues with non awd cars and the cooling system. If you can't verify when the system was last done, plan on having it done before you make the car your daily.
E46 requires valve adjustments (M3 only), where the E36 does not. The E36 is lighter. E36 parts in general seem to be a few notches below what e46 parts cost. E36 needs some aftermarket reinforcement if you see regular track time. Not sure about the e46 there.
Oh and double vanos being more of a pain to service than single.
The e46 is a better car in almost every way I can think of. Especially the quality of the interior trim.
It is slightly harder to work on because of the cooling system and general packaging under the hood but not overly so. It is all accessible pretty quickly once you know the tricks but it can be a puzzle the first time you go looking to get in there.
I have an '05 Touring that has been a very good car for 150k. Maintenance has been more expensive than the E36 M3 I had previously but not hugely so. I'd ballpark it at maybe 10% more money.
Common issues... vac leaks in the intake boot, variable intake runner doohickey fails and kills low end torque, early cars had a coil pack problem - there is a recall, aluminum block cars can be oil burners, rusty rear coils can break, subframe cracks on cars with neglected bushings, window regs fail, and if your wife plows a row of mailboxes one icy night you can have headlamp alignment problems as well as some unsightliness.
E46 is basically a puffed-up E36. Rear subframe needs to be inspected and one that has been PROPERLY reinforced is worth a premium, IMHO.
Cooling stuff applies, as mentioned. Bushings are a wear item. DISA valve and VANOS can need attention, but it's all DIY-able.
In reply to Desmond:
Only the E46 M3 cars (S54 motor) require valve adjustments.
As the owner of a '94 325is and a '05 X3, 3.0 (some would say these are an E46 with ground clearance) I can only say knowing history of how the car was maintained is critical. The OBD-I cars did come from the factory with a real limited slip, if that is a factor. My car has provided no end of ongoing issues, the crank sensor turned out to be the problem, but now that it is done and smog legal it is going to be enjoyed.
Having a sedan is the perfect compromise. We have only had the X3 for a couple of months and my wife has already taken it over, completely. To the point of taking it to get washed and detailed. This car was owned by a BMW family for 106,000 miles and maintained. The E46 issues had been taken cared of and yes I am on the hook for the cooling system rebuild. But the price I paid for the car reflects this known expense. If you go for the later car, get the 3.0, amazing.
If you take the time you can find a X3 with a 5 speed, just saying.
For a DD, E46 >> E36. The interior is so much nicer. E46 is still easy to work on and not overly complicated.
Huckleberry wrote: The e46 is a better car in almost every way I can think of. Especially the quality of the interior trim.
E36 interiors age like 80s GM products.
During C&D's extended test of the M3, a large crack sprouted in the dash... and this was when the car was new. I remember this, because they were taken to task by a reader for not calling BMW out for this crappiness, and Ed. responded with "The dash could have sprouted daffodils for all we care."
E46s seem to be aging better mostly because they are significantly newer than E36s, but the plastic does seem to either be better or supported better.
For a DD, the massive improvement in the interior would be an unbeatable advantage in my book. Any 3.0 e46 is a fun car. I haven't really enjoyed e46 325s.
Even a good condition E36 is getting ratty these days. I'd look for an E46, as they're a few years newer than a comparable E36, and the pricing seems to be about the same. In some cases I've seen E46s for cheaper as there are more of them out there for sale.
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