Who would have thought it, the E46 is now 14 –years old. This has brought values to as little as a grand, so here’s what to look out for when buying one...

WORDS Andrew Everett | PICTURES Total BMW

HISTORY 

The E46 3-Series was launched in the UK in April 1998 although not many cars were actually registered and sold before August. The first press cars were R registration and the range consisted of the 318i with the revised M43 engine (now 1.9 litres and called M43TU), 320i (not UK), the 323i and the 328i with the M52TU engines, again revised and now with double Vanos. The 318i was available as a standard model and an SE with air conditioning and alloys, while the 323i and 328i cars were both SE only. The 316i arrived in March 1999 with a detuned 318i engine, and the first 323Ci and 328Ci Coupés arrived in March 1999, with the 318Ci following in June. The Tourings arrived in September 1999 as 318i and 328i versions.

2000 saw a whole raft of new models. The 323i and 328i were replaced by the M54-engined 325i and 330i in April, and the M54 2.2 litre 320i arrived in September. The 320i had been available outside the UK since 1998 but with the 1990cc twin Vanos M52TU 520i engine. Convertible versions of the six-cylinder cars arrived at the same time, with the 318i following in 2001.

September 2001 saw the E46 facelift on Saloons and Tourings with new rear lights, reshaped headlights and grille, plus a new four-cylinder engine and a new 3-door Compact available in 316Ti, 318Ti, 320td and 325Ti variants. The new N42 2.0 valvetronic engine was fitted to the 318i from the start, and the 316i continued with the old 1.9 M43TU engine until March 2002 when it was replaced by a 1.8 version of the N42. Sport versions of the six-cylinder cars had been launched in 2000, and now most models were available with the new M Sport package of bumpers, wheels, lowered suspension and sports seats and steering wheel. ES (Edition Sport) versions of the four-cylinder cars arrived in January 2003 and these were base models but with manual air con, lowered suspension, M steering wheel, dechroming and alloy wheels. 330i cars gained a six-speed manual box during 2003 whilst the Coupé and Convertible were facelifted at the same time.

The diesel range kicked off in June 1999 with the 320d basic and SE manual saloons, the Touring in September and these were followed in October 1999 by the 330d SE saloon and Touring. The 320d was uprated to 150bhp in the 2001 facelift with the option of an automatic, and the 330d was boosted from 184 to 204bhp with a six-speed gearbox on both during 2003. Diesel versions of the Coupé and Convertible were added in 2003 and 2004. The 330Ci Clubsport was a special edition available in Estoril blue or Blue velvet which arrived in February 2002 and ran all the way to the end in 2006. These were facelifted along with the other Coupés in 2003 and became the M Clubsport in 2005. Clubsport extras amounted to unique 18-inch alloys, 15mm lower sports suspension with a very firm ride, that infamous boot spoiler, Clubsport sill plates, leather and Alcantara trim with cubed alloy trim strips, shorter gearlever and less sound insulation.

For the complete buying guide including what to pay and technical specs see the March 2012 issue of Total BMW

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