The BMW 325i E46 Review

I have tested a BMW E46 borrowed from a friend, it is a 325i registered from Auto Bavaria during the year 2001.

The BMW 3-Series E46 is the best-selling BMW sedan in its old days. But its popularity still remains as many love the design of the car. Now, you can get an E46 for only RM40k to RM80k depending on its year and specs. 

However, there are some drawbacks of the car. First, it is lacked of power. You can't feel its 184 hp when you accelerate hard on the car. Second, it has the worst automatic gearbox in the world. When it is cruising on the highway, the gear suddenly stuck and the engine went off. That's pretty embarrassing for a BMW.

Many owners of E46 3-Series have modified their cars as the aftermarket parts and accessories can be found anywhere in an affordable price. But please be aware because they are not always reliable as many are not original parts. One of my friends who went for an upmarket angle lamps for his 318i facelifted E46 and an upgrade on its sent his car to the workshop almost every week. Moreover, his car broke down many times because of the stupid gearbox.

Summary


A BMW not to remember....

• Manufacturer: BMW
• Model: 325i E46 Pre-Facelift
• Transmisson: Tiptronic
• Engine: 2.5 liter
• Horsepower: 187hp 
• 0-100km/h: 8.5 seconds
• Top Speed: 225 km/h

Pros:

• Parts are cheap
• Service is not as expensive as other BMW models
• Still looks good even in 2011
• Looks better than the W203 C-Class

Cons:

• Unreliable if you change the original parts to aftermarket parts
• Unresponsive Automatic Gearbox 
• Acceleration not as quick as what's in the spec sheet

Overall: 6/10 rating

Regards,
Thomas Lee.