Buying a bimmer

**lesterang** · April 14th, 2014 05:47 PM

hi guys ive been searching the internet for over a month now, im planning on getting a bimmer i was choosing between the e90 320i and a e46 325i A/T ( dahil kay commander ), what woild you suggest with a budget of 650k...8

**non-vtec** · May 8th, 2014 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by lesterang

hi guys ive been searching the internet for over a month now, im planning on getting a bimmer i was choosing between the e90 320i and a e46 325i A/T ( dahil kay commander ), what woild you suggest with a budget of 650k...8

For easier maintenance and availability of parts, go fro the e46. That way, you'll have more budget for future mods.

**viper888** · May 8th, 2014 11:47 AM

I would also rather get the E46, the E90 you would get at that price will be a pre-facelift early model whereas you would get a late model post-facelift E46
Dont get an SMG tranny if you dont want a headache
The problem of an E46 will be its fuel consumption from its straight 6 engine

Have you considered a 1 series?

**spoon solitaire** · May 16th, 2014 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by viper888

I would also rather get the E46, the E90 you would get at that price will be a pre-facelift early model whereas you would get a late model post-facelift E46
Dont get an SMG tranny if you dont want a headache
The problem of an E46 will be its fuel consumption from its straight 6 engine

Have you considered a 1 series?

sir what is the usual consumption of an E46 325i say in city traffic? thanks sir

**viper888** · May 27th, 2014 11:20 PM

Originally Posted by spoon solitaire

sir what is the usual consumption of an E46 325i say in city traffic? thanks sir

As much as you would expect from a 6 cylinder sedan
5-6 I guess

**vyn300d** · June 25th, 2014 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by viper888

I would also rather get the E46, the E90 you would get at that price will be a pre-facelift early model whereas you would get a late model post-facelift E46
Dont get an SMG tranny if you dont want a headache
The problem of an E46 will be its fuel consumption from its straight 6 engine

Have you considered a 1 series?

hi sir viper888, im considering a 325 m sport but when I saw your reply, i got shocked. what's wrong with smg tranny? please kindly post your inputs. thanks

**viper888** · June 25th, 2014 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by vyn300d

hi sir viper888, im considering a 325 m sport but when I saw your reply, i got shocked. what's wrong with smg tranny? please kindly post your inputs. thanks

Just search "E46 SMG problems" in google and you'll find out

The SMG is different from 99% of automatics. Most automatics are torque converters, these have been developed for decades and today is a fixture in nearly all cars. In the early 2000s BMW tried to experiment with the SMG which is essentially a mechanically actuated manual transmission. Basically electrical components do the shifting on a standard manual gearbox. Being the first of its kind, it was clunky in traffic (If you live in Metro Manila, thats unavoidable) and not as reliable as a standard torque converter automatic. There are people who say that the clunkiness is livable, but that depends on you. Today, not a single brand new car can be had with any kind of SMG. Ferrari dropped the their version in 2012.

If youre looking for a weekend car, an SMG may be doable, if the car is a daily I would recommend an automatic.
Talk to your local BMW or German specialist (ARC automotive, German Motors, Europlus, Ate Sucat) regarding the maintenance of an SMG

The M5 in this review has an SMG
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRwR1WH0rR8]BMW M5 Road Test Part 1 - Top Gear - BBC - YouTube[/ame]

**vyn300d** · June 25th, 2014 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by viper888

Just search "E46 SMG problems" in google and you'll find out

The SMG is different from 99% of automatics. Most automatics are torque converters, these have been developed for decades and today is a fixture in nearly all cars. In the early 2000s BMW tried to experiment with the SMG which is essentially a mechanically actuated manual transmission. Basically electrical components do the shifting on a standard manual gearbox. Being the first of its kind, it was clunky in traffic (If you live in Metro Manila, thats unavoidable) and not as reliable as a standard torque converter automatic. There are people who say that the clunkiness is livable, but that depends on you. Today, not a single brand new car can be had with any kind of SMG. Ferrari dropped the their version in 2012.

If youre looking for a weekend car, an SMG may be doable, if the car is a daily I would recommend an automatic.
Talk to your local BMW or German specialist (ARC automotive, German Motors, Europlus, Ate Sucat) regarding the maintenance of an SMG

The M5 in this review has an SMG
BMW M5 Road Test Part 1 - Top Gear - BBC - YouTube

thanks sir viper for the pointers. anyways would you recommend a 325i m sport or e39 5 series m sport? thanks again

**lowslowbenz** · June 25th, 2014 06:18 PM

My top picks if I "cross-over" the other side.

Buy a 1988 BMW M5 - Vintage Car You Can Afford 1988 BMW M5 - Road & Track

1988 E30 Alpina C2 2.7 - Silverstone Auctions

1986 BMW E30 M3 - Silverstone Auctions

**viper888** · June 25th, 2014 06:21 PM

I would get a 325i M sport if you could find one with a regular automatic. have you tried sitting in an E46? It is comparatively quite small inside, and the backseats are a joke.
The E39 is a good car but BMWs are known as makers of the 3 series, its their bread and butter
Their is also a hierarchy of BMW parts prices 7>5>3

You can also look for an E46 318i M Sport, it comes with a more common and efficient (also slower) drive train but the looks of an M Sport.