Comparison of BMW 3 Series E36 vs E46, Which European Sedan is Suitable for Beginners
Among young people, BMW sedans provide more passion and a stronger appeal in the old European car segment. It's not surprising, because BMW has long been famous for its fun-to-drive driving sensation. For those of you who are starting to be interested in playing European sedans, you may be confused about the choice between the BMW E36 or E46.
For your information, both the E36 and E46 are 3 Series models but of different generations. The E36 is the third generation while the E46 is the fourth generation of the 3 Series. From a market perspective, used prices tend to be more expensive for the E46.
As an illustration, the E36 is in fairly fresh condition with live tax starting from IDR 65 million. Meanwhile, a used BMW E46 on the market in fresh live tax condition is sold from IDR 90 million.
Even though the price of the BMW E36 is more affordable, among BMW hobbyists it is not recommended to choose it as a beginner's car. What is the reason?
Firstly, it is clear because it is quite old, and the first E36 model was released in 1992 or is more than 30 years old. This means that the pre-facelift E36 has fallen into the category of cars whose bodies are starting to become porous. To repair this car so that it becomes sturdy again, it takes tens of millions of rupiah.
Is the BMW E46 worthy of being a European sedan for beginners? Below are several important points that you can take into consideration.
BMW E36 is getting older, new spare parts are getting rarer
The BMW E36 is one of the legendary models in Indonesia. This compact sedan became an idol for young people in the 90s because of its sporty design and good performance. So, because of the good performance aspects in standard conditions, the E36 has become a material for racing cars.
Standard performance is not enough for competition, so it needs to be upgraded. There are indeed a lot of units remaining in standard condition, but over time they are reduced to being used by cannibals or hunted by hobbyists if they are still in good condition.
The E36 series 318i with a 4-cylinder engine has a fatal problem, namely the airflow meter. If this airflow meter is damaged, the engine will work lamely. Now the price of a new AFM is around IDR 12–15 million.
So like it or not, many people with minimal budgets will depend on AFM service or hunt for spare parts which cost IDR 3 million.
Meanwhile, the 320i series with the M50 and M52 engines also has a fatal issue, namely that the alternator is no longer sold new. The availability of alternators is almost gone on the market, because previously the M50 and M52 engines were built for drifting. You may only be able to rely on removed components or imported new alternators whose price range is around IDR 7-8 million.
Body Repair Costs Will Be More Expensive
With ages ranging from 25-30 years old, those of you who are really interested in buying an E36 must prepare a high budget for body repairs until its condition is close to perfect.
In fact, the E36 is one of the European sedans that experiences body loss issues. The condition is made worse by several problems with aging interior materials.
It is quite easy for us to see a used E36 whose body is no longer precise, the body is rusty, the dashboard is cracked, the overheating protection is very poor, even the built-in ceiling foam has fallen off because the adhesive is damaged. However, the engine and legs are still quite tough.
Fortunately, the spare parts mentioned above were still used up to the E46 generation, with the condition of the units generally not having deteriorated. That's why the E46 is now starting to be recommended as a successor to the E36 for beginners.
The Most Ideal BMW E46 3 Series for Beginners
The BMW E46 is a sedan from the late 90s that has a timeless appearance. This sedan was introduced in 1998 and ended its generation in 2004.
Of the many variants, there are some that are sappy so don't make the wrong choice for those of you who are still beginners. In the fourth generation of the 3 Series, BMW has perfected the overheating protection system which used to be a common problem in the E36 era.
Overheating protection on the E46 is better because it uses a radiator water sensor on all model lines. It is rare for an E46 to completely run out of radiator water on the road as long as you immediately replace the thermostat when you buy a used unit.
The E46's parts still have many similarities with the E36, such as the front and rear brake linings, discs, springs and rear shock absorbers, all of which are similar to the E36. The only exception is the 325i variant which uses different calipers and disc brakes, which are of course more expensive.
Why is it more recommended to choose the E46 generation rather than the E36?
The reason is because the M43 engine in the E46 does not have an airflow meter problem. The E46 generation already uses a MAF sensor, and the price of the MAF sensor for the E46 M43 is also more affordable, namely IDR 1.7-2 million. Regarding the alternator in the E46 generation, it is still easy to get new items at auto parts centers.
Most Ideal BMW E46 323i for Beginners?
For those who are confused about which E46 variant is beginner-friendly, it is recommended that you choose the M43 or M52 engine. Avoid the N42 & N46 engines which are known to be whiny, even if they are maintained by experienced BMW hobbyists. The M43 generation is quite stubborn, supported by a GM 4L transmission, 4 speed automatic which is stubborn and easy to repair.
The reason why the N42 & N46 engine series are famous for being whiny is the transmission. GM 5L transmission, 5 speed automatic on E46 N42/N46. It's an automatic that's finicky, has mechatronic problems, and often leaves owners up in arms.
Quoted from the Quora forum, the BMW 6-cylinder engine type M52/M52TU/M54 - this is also a good engine and minimal fuss during maintenance. The cost of ownership of these machines may be cheaper than the BMW M43 because the engineering is good. The option that is considered the most ideal for beginners is the BMW E46 323i with the M52TU engine.
The BMW 323i is said to still have many mechanical components. The 323i is like getting the sensation of driving a 325i which has great power but lacks electronic sensors. Usually electronic sensors like those on the 325i can have errors which could potentially cause the car to stutter or stall.
However, if you are afraid of the waste of petrol from the 6-cylinder M52TU engine, another alternative is to choose the 318i with the M43 engine. So that you don't have problems in the future, you just need to replace the 5 components that support engine and transmission cooling when you just get the unit:
- New thermostat, so that the car temperature drops and is stable
- Heater connector pipe, hook pipe, upper radiator hose connector pipe
- Automatic cooler
- Fanbelt
- Radiator cap with a rating of 140
