BMW 330Ci: The official car of "I'd like to speak to your manager." This is the car for the person who likes to say: "We can take my BMW," instead of "We can take my car."
@@M_773 Wait wait you took that seriously? It's an e46. Yes it isn't an m3, and yes bmw has made plennnnty of turds over the years i'm not a brand loyalist, but come on this is like, *the* car that you buy for your first track toy, or drift car, or time attack, or canyon carver, or mildly fun project to restore or turn into a mildly fun weekend weapon lol The original sticker price? Yeah that's so expensive you would kinda be paying for the badge. But google "best fun cheap used cars" and it'll be on every single damn one of those top ten articles lmao
ah you know, that the thing when you push the Driving mode to the side (''M'' mode) and then you can push it up and down to change gears. -Southern California
"As women, we should always be able to drive what we want!" Socal Feminists "Uh oh... My new BMW that mommy bought me has three pedals!! It's the patriarchy!" [Same group]
I never understood this review, its arguably the best daily at that time, far from just brand recognition. A great blend of performance, comfort like enough arm room and luxury as well as most important, visibility. Then there was reliability, it was actually great.
@@jkdoodle4460 I found out later that the m54b30 like in the 330 was too tall in its displacement for bmw to maintain quality control with their manufacturing for it, so a fair amount of them over time would burn oil worse and worse as time goes on, whereas some others were perfectly fine. wasn't an issue on the 2.5L and the m52tub28 was fine as well
also, regular must have pretty high standards on handling if this thing doesnt pass muster, although stick him in a stick shift e46 sedan (with much higher rigidity) and he might change his tune
i know, it's a little strange. specifically, e46 sedan without the folding seats is more rigid than the coupes....which all have folding rear seats.you could probably have a sway bar mounted behind the folding rear seats for all the times you're not folding them, though, and not lose much
This is one of the few reviews I didn't like. The M54B30 is one of the best engines BMW has ever built. Very reliable and dynamic. In addition, the coupe shape looks very good. And super good as a basis for a track tool or similar. And there is a huge E46 fan base, a lot of forums and a lot of tuning parts to buy. 18/19 inch rims,a set of coilover, PU bearings and a few small mods(CDV delete for example) and you have a super fun, small coupe with easy 250hp, rear-wheel drive and a chic shape. And the car looks much better with the M-Paket and Shadowline.
Paveseikkailija Oddly enough, I am in one eye. Unfortunately, seeing the video hasn't corrected it. That hasn't impeded my ability to notice that when a BMW changes lanes/direction, there is never any indication to alert others before hand. I've always assumed that the turn signals were just the first electronics to go out on BMWs, and their owners don't know that they aren't working. After all, it couldn't be their owners just not giving a damn...riiight? Don't take offence though, as BMW isn't the only brand to have this problem, there are a few others as well. Maybe all those brands use the same supplier for turn signal stalks.
Mr. Regular I'm becoming upset. My 1994 Bronco isn't going to review itself goddammit! Think about it.... a 90's Ford, Red leather interior, OJ Simpson white exterior and the previous owners put a Bush/Cheney 2004 sticker on it.... It's perfect.
I feel the same way about my mid-90s Ford Thunderbird, i've gotten a few responses but still have not been able to get it reviewed. Hopefully soon though, good luck!
Tad Ghostal So Do I, I still have pieces of it stuck to bare skin from where it sat directly in the sun and I sat down in it wearing swimming trunks...
I had this car as a senior in high school in 2005. While I’ve been fortunate enough to have had faster and more exciting since, I still look back at this car as my favorite. It wasn’t particularly fast (especially by today’s terms), but man did I love it. Yeah, I know, it’s not THAT great. But there was just something about it. Sometimes, I wonder if every car I’ve had since has only been an attempt to recreate this particular experience...
Sometimes it's not all about being "fast" like you said, but the e46 platform is such a great all around car. I own a '05 330xi auto and it's still quite a thrill to drive every time. Props man 🙏
We tell people that these cars are fun, not fast. Go hit a sharp corner that has a 25 mph sign at 55 mph with full confidence, because she just sticks to the road. Fast is fun, but we don't need to go 10,000 mph to have fun, but it helps. Lol
great review again guys! but why does everyone assume people only buy BMW's for the brand? when i bought my 530i i bought it because i liked the way it drove, throttle response and how it 'felt', not because it was a BMW
Great point. I have a 2011 335i xdrive and struggled with the decision to buy it because it IS a BMW. In other words, I didn't want to be associated with all the negative things people think about BMW and their drivers. In the end though, I loved the performance of the car and decided who gives a crap what other people think of my car. I'm very happy with the car and recommend it to anyone thinking about a 3 series.
I bought mine not for the badge, but because it's essentially bulletproof. £3000 ($5000ish) for a 2001 320ci with 80k miles. I've done 40k in the last 3 years and it's cost me petrol, oil and four new tyres. That's it. These things were built like tanks.
I love how this is a thread of people stating that buying a BMW for sheer brand recognition is absurd...and then naming off which make and model BMW they own!! I have an E36 Coupe by the way...
I agree, I owned a e46 coupe and I purchased it because of the driving dynamics and quality/workmanship. It was a great car and served me well. It wasnt until after i became a BMW owner that i realized how other people stereotyped BMW owners.
Ofcourse its smaller, its not built for 300lb Americans. BMWs are really good cars, the heavy steering is for better control at speeds and these cars with 50/50 weight distribution really do take well to corners.
You're paying for the brand. Most people who drive one, lease them which is probably the smart thing to do. Drive the piss out of it for 3 years then let others deal with all the problems.
Just thought you should know, the reason it's called a 330Ci is: 3 series 3.0 litre engine Convertible/Coupe injection petrol engine. So, using the same logic, a 320d: 3 series 2.0 litre engine diesel. 528i: 5 series 2.8 litre engine injection petrol engine. 750Li 7 series 5.0 Litre engine Long wheel base injection petrol. and so on...
I've replayed 0:34 - 1:14 countless time to try and understand what the fuck he said. The only thing I got out of it was "Satan is my God" and "All hail Lucifer" That must say a lot about me...
If their cooling systems and hoses didn't systematically self destruct like clock-work (and the electronics and vanos and cracking subframes in earlier models), they'd actually be worth the money. The fit/finish is much higher than Japanese or American cars (IMO), and I find the driving experience is fantastic compared to most other vehicles. It's unfortunate BMW is so greedy they intentionally use subpar parts to squeeze owners for every penny they can.
that cooling system thing is on e36s not e46s, i know because i have an e36. they have a recommended replacement interval that you're supposed to stick to. if you dont stick to it they will break but if you dont change your oil regularly your engine will break, it's just like any other part. theyre not trying to hide anything from you or squeeze you for change (rubber replacement hoses are like 8 dollars) theyre just parts that spend decades getting very hot then very cold, pressurizing then depressurizing.
exactly, and now when older e46 e39 are cheaper, people think '' oh im gonna be a cool cat driving in this thing'' they get a loan, buy the hulk no realizing that even though its an old business class car its still as expensive to maintain! And they start pulling their ass hair out when they see how much it actually costs to drive these things. Atleast thats the story where i live. You can buy a good looking e38 with a 4l engine for less than 3k euro.
+piedpiper they made the thermostat housing from plastic. A part bolted directly to a hot engine that pressurised hot coolant runs through and they thought plastic was a good material for that. Yeah right. Don't get me wrong, I love Bimmers, but some of their design choices are purely planned obsolescence.
cost saving is very different from planned obsolescence. and my plastic thermostat housing is still the oem one that came on the car 21 years and 240,000km ago, the plastic is fine it's very thick and dense, what usually stuffs up is the housing gasket or hoses. would you call timing belts on most cars planned obsolescence? if you dont change them at around 100k kms and they break youll grenade the engine. e36s use a timing chain. they went to great lengths to innovate the design, improve efficiency and reliability and increase the service intervals of most parts. unfortunately when create a completely new engine series and use all new and updated systems theres more things that can go wrong or be overlooked. also PS fun fact ive seen you heaps on zipties haha, small world
***** if youre doing 100k miles every 3 months yeah sure might need to change oem hoses that often, or just spend 8 dollars on rubber/silicon hoses once if you have a brain. oil actually has longer intervals than most cars because it holds 6.5L.
This is the first review of a car that I saw that I actually owned once, and I disagree with 90% you said about the car's feeling and practicallity. I must admit though, mine had the M-tech 2 package which includes the M-sport suspension, so it loved the curves, drove like a charm (it was a manual)... It may be a tight squeeze in the back for adult passangers, but they'll be fine for every trip under 3hrs, and the boot (trunk for ya amerikanskis) is spacious enough for your average 2-person holliday baggage, for which this car, despite the fact it has 4 seats, was designed for... just look at it and tell me they designed it with 4 passangers in mind, I dare you. Suffice to say I had a tottaly different experience in my 4 years of ownership. Second best car I ever owned.
Yeah, as another E46 owner I have to say the only thing more annoying than the "BMW circle jerk" is the "BMWs are overrated and everyone who drives them is a douche circle jerk." That being said, Cis do feel a little pudgier than their sedan counterparts because of slightly increased weight and less structural rigidity.
Can you explain why they would be less rigid, I don't see how. I don't mean to say they are more rigid than the sedans, but I really don't see why they'd be less rigid. Oh and btw, It's been 5 years since I've sold my last BMW, so I don't fall into that circle jerk category, although I must say I find that claim to be somewhat true, at least it was back then, 6 or 7 years ago...
Adnan Cavkic Lack of B-pillar is the biggest thing. I'm sure an internet article would explain better than I ever could, haha.. I think the circle jerk is less crazy now because BMW guys have gotten tired of being made fun of!
Agreed, heh. I own a pre-facelift 330CI and a facelift 325i and though it may be the sport package, the 330 definitely does like taking its corners as far as my experience goes. Sadly both of them are steptronic :c (but I plan to manual swap the 330 for sure!)
Hahahahaha this was perfect! Soooo funny. I own a 2004 330ci ZHP. It is the most pleasurable ride I've ever had, and I've had a lot cause I'm old :) it's a 2 door, rear wheel drive, 6 cylinder, 6 speed manual, full leather, German sports coupe! This E46 legend can be found for very little money ( about 4 grand for a very good specimen). It has never let me down. I have done regular maintenance on it which I love doing. It's very easy to work on and maintain. All you need is a few tools and the passion to DIY and it can be maintained ( thanks to RUclips) for a very reasonable amount of cash. It handles like refined sports car. Don't expect to pull away from a Mustang 5.0, but he better hope there are no turns in the road because I don't slow down at corners!! 👍👍
4 grand!!!??? I've been scouring the country for one and there isn't one to be had in 2022 for under 10 grand and even then they're few and far between. I owned a new 2006 zhp and liked it more than the 2 M3s I had. Perfect car.
@@arthurshepherd8757 his comment is 5 years old and he is not wrong. If someone didn't know what they had it would be priced like a normal 330i. I predicted a few years ago that ZHP and ZCP cars were going to shoot up in value just like the M cars. Not to M prices, but at a similar rate. It is fun to read on the BMW forums buyers looking for cars with certain option packages, just like a muscle car buyer might look for a chevelle or mustang with certain packages
@@ziklag7676 Since I wrote that comment I bought a 2003 330ci with sport package and 137k for 6k and I flew to NJ to get it. Fortunately it turned out to be a good one. it's an automatic, orient blue with a natural montana leather. I swear I can't tell any difference between the 2006 zhp i had or the '98 and '99 M3. It's very stiff and tight. Any difference in power is impossible to notice but the zhp is better looking. I test drove a 2005 zhp with manual and 125k and the guy would not budge on the price...12.5k. I was ready to buy it for 12k. It was a very nice car but I'm with what I got for 6k
@@arthurshepherd8757 That is a beautiful color combination! I am buying a 2003.5 330ci this weekend for $1500. Alpine White with black interior. It needs some mechanical work, but that's kind of my thing, so i am very excited. It has the Sport package and has the silver trim I was looking for. Going to replace stock radio since this one has an aftermarket touchscreen radio. I like to restore them back to as original as possible. By the time I am done it will probably have cost me $6k ;-)
@@ziklag7676 good luck. hope you enjoy it. Forgot to say mine's a convertible.Doesn't need anything at the moment but when I checked the fuses for bad windshield washer pump next time I started the car antilock, brake and traction control lights were on...weird. Car brakes normally. Mechanic told me it could have been power interruption that will go away after x number of cycles....otherwise car is perfect. I looked at a zhp in Cinncinati with 110k and he was firm at 8500. I almost went for it. I looked all over the country for several months and thats the best deal on a zhp I saw. The rest were over 12k so it amazes me when people report they're getting them for cheap. Happy with what I got. Thankfully, no hidden issues
I bought a 03 330i Japan rot manual trans. It had 196k miles. Neglected maintenance but unmolested. Sold a Sr20 powered 240sx for the BMW and a Honda . Once I completed the maintenance on the BMW I sold the 08 civic r18 auto. Been driving it EVERYDAY through a Las Vegas summer and zero problems!!!! Now I'm looking for a E36 coupe manual trans before they sky rocket!!! I've had fukloads of cars and I'm perfectly happy with it.
"Not enough space in the footwell" - Thats the first time ever iv heard someone say that about a car let alone a BMW, oh wait it came from an American, it all makes sense now...
Actually I remember Jeremy Clarkson griping about the manual Gallardo's for that reason, given that the clutch consumes any remaining space for your left foot to go. And personally, I've experienced pedal box issues with a BMW myself. We had an old Z3 and while it was a fun car I kept having the problem of my feet getting caught by the bottom of the dash when I was working the pedals, specifically when letting the clutch out. I basically had to use the bottom of the clutch pedal to drive it, and that's just my size twelve feet in sneakers...
inudude15 haha, well i wouldn't know that feeling because im quite short lol, but you should sorta expect that about a Z3, i mean the car is very small generally speaking.
IIP Velocity Not really, I've got a Honda S2000 as a daily driver and haven't had any issue with fit anywhere. I heard an analogy made that it's like slipping on your favorite pair of jeans and that's about the best thing I could think of. The Z3's deal was strange, I don't even really think it was height but rather foot placement. If my foot was square on the pedal, the top of my sneaker would catch the underside of the dash and sort of stop me de-clutching right, which became annoying as the clutch was a bit strange in that car and operating it with my toes became tiresome.
Whoah these things had indicators? On a more serious note, you can get a body in the boot (trunk :p) - I had one in my Sport Coupe. Before anyone calls the cyber police though it was very much alive and part of a prank. For anyone putting a live body in there though just make sure it's not a very smart one because smart ones will soon discover the rear seat release handles and exit through the cabin while scuffing your leather seats with his shoes. Surprised you didn't mention the boot lid that farts when opening and closing - That seems to be a very common "feature" and cup holders were optional (as was virtually everything else) so whoever first bought that 330Ci SE being reviewed specced the doored cubby tray in the centre console instead of cup holders. Cheaply replaced via a used parts yard though. Also the SE was never a sharp handling thing , the Sport, I guess you guys called it the ZHP, came came with the lowered M-Tech suspension and wider rear tyres.
It's funny how much I wanted an E46 in its heyday and now when I look at one of these as a fun 2nd car, I look at the laundry list and think "why would you have to worry about all of those things breaking on any other car"? An E46 nowdays is so much faded glory, it's some guy in community college who thinks he has a a hot car while the expat kids who are actually rich are riding around in their new 430i's. It's little old Asian lady who paid top dollar for the brand back in the day while her neighbour in a modern Subaru is riding around in more comfort and features. Cars are only great for a while, eventually all cars become old cars.
Dang, that car has some room. I have a Volvo 850, and I have the seat all the way back and I think I could still some more room. I'm 186cm tall, though my legs are a lot longer than average.
Sorry Mr. Regular...... completely disagree. As an 02' 330CI owner (E46 Gen) this car is more than just the sum of it's parts. It feels special, especially taken in context with cars of it's own era. Solid, quick, handsome, engaging, nimble..... I thoroughly enjoy the car for everything it is. And even for everything it's not. BMW had their shit together when they designed/built the E46.
I own a 04 BMW 330i ZHP in Imola Red! Beautiful car and very fun to drive! 4 doors beautiful uuc exhaust! 6 speed! CH BBS Wheels with Red Center Caps! its a great and fun car! I do spend a lot of money on maintenance but I enjoy every single moment with my car. Its not a boring car at all and I daily drive it! It feels solid and has no problems and is even better than owning or leasing some new cars. I admit that it has been an expensive journey with my car but my car suits all my occasions and is always well accepted and acknowledged everywhere I go. And it also shows that I have character and I'm independent. I don't know anyone around me with a old-ish car thats so clean and so well taken cared of. And just looks, sounds and drives so well. This guy doesn't know what he's talking about in this video.
Same here, fantastic car. The only modern small rwd with a back seat is an 86 and those are seriously slow and lack some of the refinement the 330 has for a dd. Like you say, the maintenance is a bit higher but it does feel worth it for what you get to drive. I'm guessing yours probably costs more than others to maintain because you've gone through and replaced all the bushings, control arms(since the ball joints are stupid), dampers, etc. Plus, preventative stuff and no cheap fluids. Perfect amount of hp/tq for the street and the occasional event. Huge community full of helpful info and other enthusiasts. Not everyone gets a bmw for a fucking emblem. I mean, it was old when it was reviewed, nobody is buying a 5-10k 330 to impress people.
+ClashwithPresto I am part of the ZHP forum! Been part of the forum for about 6 years now =]. I just don't post too often anymore or ever made a project thread. I'm pretty sure I've seen your TiAg ZHP around on the forum lol. L0veZHP is my member name. L0veCami if you want to add me on Instagram.
I just bought a 2005 330ci...and it is hands down one of the best cars I ever drove... and I have owned many cars. I actually like it better than my 700whp 335i. Of course, manual shifting helps the fun factor.
I don't really get why people want to be seen in a certain car. Who exactly do they think is looking at them? It's probably no one they know, and no one they will ever meet either. When someone sees a BMW driving past, they don't think "Who is driving that BMW? I have to meet them." They think "Oh, a BMW. Nice car/what a dick." You have zero time and zero reason to pay any attention to who is driving the car. The only person it has value to is the driver. And if the driver judges that value by how much people are impressed that they drive a BMW, then the car should be totally worthless. You can't be impressed by someone you know nothing about.
I'll never understand Americans and their fanaticism towards BMW, here in Europe BMW is either a midlife crisis car or a douchebag car, aka the sort of person that runs below 1/4 tank of petrol because he can't afford it, but hey, he has a BMW. If someone really wants to look cool, up your game to a Lotus or a Jag, those are more affordable and make much more sense than overpriced and overengineered BMW's. Sincerely, A person who owned a V12 850Ci and a Z8
Ultrakillerism Brand Image of BMW is very different in the US. In the US there is no model of bmw, save for the mid 90s 318, that came with non-alloy wheels. This is also true for mercedes. In europe you see steelies on all sorts of cars that are regarded as luxury in the US, and Alloy wheels are a luxury item. Basically, its brand image. Its the same reason VW doesn't sell the Phaeton in the US. It doesn't fit the image they market.
Ultrakillerism i Feel bad for you, you obviously stereotype people you don't even know, and you can't talk for entire Europe, because some BMW/Audi/Merc drivers are prone to be complete dicks, actually that goes for every brand. Sincerely A person who grew up with a passion for cars and a hate against stereotyping. Ps. where i live the douchebags cannot afford nice cars so they drive peugeot 207's (remapped for the extra 10hp)
its pretty unfair how non bmw people think the owners buy them just because theyre bmws. am I not allowed to buy a reasonably priced genuinely good usable everyday car with a smooth engine and nice handling characteristics just because YOU have a stereotype of the sort of person that should be driving it?
Im a BMW NUT! I liked the vid...However you as an American are used to massive 4 door cars with huge truck space. Here in sunny South Africa and most parts of Europe we enjoy the cars on our winding roads and smaller parking lots. As for the comment about the car not handling well, Im quite sure that e46 will run rings around the American competition in the hands of someone who knows what he/she is doing. And you are correct about auto box... Manual FTW.
Hey! Huge fan of this channel, have been for about 6 months now. I just wanted to say thank you for all of the outstanding videos, and also would like to note that I hear you mention Pittsburgh alot. I live in Pittsburgh, and work at a Fiat dealership that is always empty, so if you guys need something to review when you're in town, I saw you did the Abarth, but I would love to see the 500L lampooned, as it has brought me nothing but misery and loathing. We also get a lot of random Subarus from trade ins here, to get 201 point inspections done, but I feel like once you've reviewed one Subaru, you've reviewed them all. Thanks again!
That was harsh. The E46 was a great car. I had one for about 90,000 miles (60k to 150K) and it was a delight. My 2.2 six 320i replaced my NA sw20 after my son was born and it felt like a reasonable compromise. I sense your usual ton of hyperbole but in Europe anyway the E46 was a very standard car and not perceived as aspirational in the slightest. At least not when I bought mine second hand. Love the channel. Luv and Peace.
As someone who scoffed in denial at this review right after buying a 330ci in 2014, and then just now watched it again after living with the car for 3 years, it's funny how much of this I have to agree with. Mine is even a 6 speed manual, with a burbly exhaust for fun and Bilstein suspension and it's still just... not very good. It's fine, but not "VERY GOOD." I was led to expect more from this brand but after coming from several Nissan S chassis, I have some very large gripes: The weak and vague clutch, the unresponsive fly-by-wire throttle pedal and non-linear throttle map, the uncooperative-under-80°F gearbox, and a motor that was designed for an automatic transmission and not remapped for the long legged ratios of the manual just subtract so god damned much from what was purported to be a satisfying driver's car. It's the perfect choice for some early 20's kid who thinks knowing how to drive manual makes him better than everyone else so what car can he afford on his Target stockroom salary that has the most amount of brand prestige because he also wears Supreme and isn't capable of perceiving anything beyond how jealous he thinks other people will be of it. I mean, I guess I should be appreciative of how It's a fairly decent looking, good cruising car that has been very reliable and handles pretty well and can eek out 34mpg on long highway trips, but the reality is that living with one is just kind of boring... and also partly annoying because I rationalized it as 3/4ths of an M3, but it just is not.
I love seeing that this is all around Penn State! Despite the fact that it does have a somewhat small boot, I've fit two 3x6' sheets of plywood in with the trunk closed (and me kissing the steering wheel) with the seats folded down. These can also tow pretty well.
Another great review, loved it. Truth be told, if you want a Beemer that hustles around corners, you have to up the ante and go with the M series. The non M cars are really more geared for the balding and portly sales manager , the kind that will tell everyone in the office how he blew away the kid in the non-turbo Eclipse during last night's stop light gran prix.
this is completely wrong/ridiculous--non-m e46s race every weekend with stock gears, and I just had my 330ci on stock springs sideways on a ramp today full fuck yeah
Love your car reviews, man. I actually have an '03 325ci, myself. Manual, of course. Absolute blast through corners, although my buddy's '03 Mach 1 beats me in the straights.
Christian Sharron If they ever make their way up to Connecticut I would be more than happy to let them take my stock 99 Integra GSR for a spin (speaking of B-series).
Whodda thunk a video on regular cars would send my mind spinning down memory lane to the early-2000s about the grating, uphill battle of dial-up and watching videos on Newgrounds/any Flash-based websites (Homestarrunner woooooo!!).
Don't care what any of u guys say...330ci is a great car for its price. My 01 330ci is awesome! Simply upgrading your sway bars and and put a front strut bar on and snag some after market 18ins with some sticky tires..... Youve got something 4real.
The E46 is a superb motor. I've had two 330i M sport spec. One automatic and the other Manual. 150 mph car which you can now pick up for under £3000. Terrible on fuel (urban or if you're American and you insist on an auto gearbox and you weigh 120 Kgs) but a very satisfying vehicle to drive. Very fast. Well engineered. Quality internally and externally...it still makes me smile when I drive it
I owned a 2001 for 5 years, 5speed car with sunroof delete and 98k miles. I loved that car, warts and all. Finally sold it when the N54 oil leaks were too much for me to overcome. I had multiple brand new BMtroubleyous prior, but that old grey coupe with the dark red interior got more compliments and was super fun to drive. Upgraded to an FRS.
before even watching the video I read the description and it fucking nails it. I hate when people that refer to their car as their BMW! Where I used to live 3 series BMW's were about as common as honda accords.
Where I live, most people who drive BMWs are the ones that didn't go to high school, but for example to the car mechanic school instead. It's an everyday thing to see young men driving their terribly modified 3 series BMWs. If one wants to buy an old BMW, especially 3 series, odds are it's somehow modified. It's actually starting to get hard to find used stock 3 series BMWs. That's why I don't even bother trying and drive my old Volvo 850..
I would say 95% of the time that is indeed a sign of douchebaggery, but sometimes I think it can be genuine enthusiasm about acquiring the object of your affection that one wants to share with good friends instead of badge snobism. If the second is the case it's actually a positive thing cause it takes a bit of thrust in another person to share that entusiasm as they clearly think you're gonna be somewhat happy for them and won't be hatin'. If you rain on that parade you're kind of the douchelord yourself. The other option though...well yeah, that's lame and gauche.
aurvandil I said the 3 series was common learn to read please. And that doesn't make them bad I just hate how people that drive them think they are driving something exotic. You sound like one of those people "in a league of their own" Lmao. Unless it's got an M badge there's nothing special about your car. I know guys with pickup trucks that cost twice as much as a fucking loaded 3 series.
you have no clutch !! so you cant clutchkick. and the feeling from the stick is missing. one of the gratest feelings in cars...and schanging gears in manual is faster. and i often shift from first in third or from second to fourth. you cant beat a manual gearbox. thats why i would buy a manual gearbox even with the new M4. and most new automatic gearboxes cant take a lot of torque so a manual is also much better if you tune your car ;)
Excellent car but there's one thing to be noted with these 3.0 motors and that's the oil pump nut. Because of the length of the crank certain vibrations at certain RPMs could cause the oil pump nut to loosen rendering the pump itself useless which leads to oil starvation. Make sure you have the nut loctited or welded.
I know he was shitting on the car the whole time, but all I kepting thinking about was how beautiful the car was.
theshonen8899 yea me too. It is nice and doesn't look 11 years old. I want one.
LMFAO, so was I man.....so was I
Lol exactly what he said in the video, style over substance
Best looking 3-series generation.
@@M_773 Wait wait you took that seriously? It's an e46. Yes it isn't an m3, and yes bmw has made plennnnty of turds over the years i'm not a brand loyalist, but come on this is like, *the* car that you buy for your first track toy, or drift car, or time attack, or canyon carver, or mildly fun project to restore or turn into a mildly fun weekend weapon lol
The original sticker price? Yeah that's so expensive you would kinda be paying for the badge. But google "best fun cheap used cars" and it'll be on every single damn one of those top ten articles lmao
'chugging like a newgrounds video on dial-up'
right in the nostalgia
+HamsterWheelGaming Newgrounds was the shit back in the day
"What's a manual? And how does it work?"
-Southern California
ah you know, that the thing when you push the Driving mode to the side (''M'' mode) and then you can push it up and down to change gears.
-Southern California
genthe le this, so accurate lol
"As women, we should always be able to drive what we want!"
Socal Feminists
"Uh oh... My new BMW that mommy bought me has three pedals!! It's the patriarchy!"
[Same group]
I have a manual EX Accord and get a bit excited when i see nice one but am slammed with disappointment when I see the Automatic lever
Why buy an automatic BMW? - Northern California.
2005 BMW 330 Ci summary:
Front-engine RWD, 5 passenger, 4 door Sedan
Price: 40k $
_motor:_
- dual roller headcam furdbl 24 valve inline 6 aluminum block head with poor fuel injection
- 182 ci / 2979 cm²
- 235 HP, 5900 RPM
- torque: 222 hurmthreefoodor-rpm
_transmission:_
- automatic 6 speed manual
_dimensions:_
- got wheelbase
- got lengths
- got widths
- got heights
- curdwave 3377 bluhw
- 0-60 5.6 seconds
- 0-100 15.3 seconds
- Satan is my god
- 1/4 mile 14.3 / 97 mph
- top speed: 152 mph
_braking:_
- 70-0 mph
- 158 feet
- record holder hurhurskiphur
- *0.86 g*
_fuel economy:_
- 20 mph
- huhrr
- hail Lucifer
no
LeireX Thank you! Needed to quote this in my English Exam
LeireX ci stands for coupe
LeireX it's a 2 door coupe
Yeah, so? Many Freemasons are doing RUclips.
I never understood this review, its arguably the best daily at that time, far from just brand recognition. A great blend of performance, comfort like enough arm room and luxury as well as most important, visibility. Then there was reliability, it was actually great.
i’m getting misfires
@@jkdoodle4460 you either overheated it, have twenty yo vaccum lines, or need a ccv refresh. Maybe plugs or coils but I doubt it.
@@seanmcmanus9656 yeah the shop also said i need to replace the valve cover :/
@@jkdoodle4460 I found out later that the m54b30 like in the 330 was too tall in its displacement for bmw to maintain quality control with their manufacturing for it, so a fair amount of them over time would burn oil worse and worse as time goes on, whereas some others were perfectly fine. wasn't an issue on the 2.5L and the m52tub28 was fine as well
@@jkdoodle4460 oh you can do that in legitimately 30minutes to an hour depending on experience.
e46s are actually really good cars and handle really well.
What a beauty. The E46 coupes are the most beautiful BMW ever built.
but non facelift is much better looking
I think that the e46 M3 convertible is my fave e46
I disagree
E30
E24
E38
> E46
E36 coupe > all
SiGNSiS haha :D that plastic shit is a disgrace to bmw.
Guess my 2008 335i is out of the review bucket :C
That N54 though
If that's the case I suppose my 135i is out as well. N54 ftw.
Do It With Dan holly shit! Dan! I love you! (No homo)
@@nomadben ĺ
real quick observation;
the car looks clean as hell, this is someone's baby
also, regular must have pretty high standards on handling if this thing doesnt pass muster, although stick him in a stick shift e46 sedan (with much higher rigidity) and he might change his tune
If you're watching RCR be ready for him to have 3 minutes of insults for the given car. That's what makes it funny. Look up his one about WRX.
Ryukachoo Wait, e46 sedan is more rigid than coupe? Usually it's the other way round
i know, it's a little strange.
specifically, e46 sedan without the folding seats is more rigid than the coupes....which all have folding rear seats.you could probably have a sway bar mounted behind the folding rear seats for all the times you're not folding them, though, and not lose much
2garinzm
Not sure if the reasoning is the same, but the E36 sedan is more rigid than the coupe because the coupe lacks a B pillar.
This is one of the few reviews I didn't like. The M54B30 is one of the best engines BMW has ever built. Very reliable and dynamic. In addition, the coupe shape looks very good. And super good as a basis for a track tool or similar. And there is a huge E46 fan base, a lot of forums and a lot of tuning parts to buy. 18/19 inch rims,a set of coilover, PU bearings and a few small mods(CDV delete for example) and you have a super fun, small coupe with easy 250hp, rear-wheel drive and a chic shape. And the car looks much better with the M-Paket and Shadowline.
I would like to hear what you guys have to say about the Chrysler Crossfire.
WANT
RegularCars Can provide, if you visit Texas.
RegularCars Too bad you guys probably can't make it out to Guam.
RegularCars got one in MN if you get up north
You wouldn't.
People must have been looking at you weirdly when you used the turn signals in a BMW.
You misspelled Audi.
Audi, Mercedes, BMW...any of those work.
New models do not have turn signals, but they do come with polarized sunglasses standard.
Man, isn't that the truth. Most of them think they're above the rest of us peasants.
@@auck1969 Maybe bcuz they ARE?????
3:18 Holy crap. First time I've seen a BMW use it's turn signals.
I assume you've been blind before seeing this video.
Paveseikkailija Oddly enough, I am in one eye. Unfortunately, seeing the video hasn't corrected it. That hasn't impeded my ability to notice that when a BMW changes lanes/direction, there is never any indication to alert others before hand. I've always assumed that the turn signals were just the first electronics to go out on BMWs, and their owners don't know that they aren't working. After all, it couldn't be their owners just not giving a damn...riiight? Don't take offence though, as BMW isn't the only brand to have this problem, there are a few others as well. Maybe all those brands use the same supplier for turn signal stalks.
J Burner I have to check if my BMW's turn signals still work ;) Well, I guess they do.
I use mine on my 318ci.
Mr. Regular I'm becoming upset. My 1994 Bronco isn't going to review itself goddammit! Think about it.... a 90's Ford, Red leather interior, OJ Simpson white exterior and the previous owners put a Bush/Cheney 2004 sticker on it.... It's perfect.
ah, the good ole 80s - 90s red leather interior. i remember ye fondly
I feel the same way about my mid-90s Ford Thunderbird, i've gotten a few responses but still have not been able to get it reviewed. Hopefully soon though, good luck!
Tad Ghostal
So Do I, I still have pieces of it stuck to bare skin from where it sat directly in the sun and I sat down in it wearing swimming trunks...
xeronicus TMI
iamhim
Wanna see pics?
I had this car as a senior in high school in 2005. While I’ve been fortunate enough to have had faster and more exciting since, I still look back at this car as my favorite. It wasn’t particularly fast (especially by today’s terms), but man did I love it. Yeah, I know, it’s not THAT great. But there was just something about it. Sometimes, I wonder if every car I’ve had since has only been an attempt to recreate this particular experience...
Sometimes it's not all about being "fast" like you said, but the e46 platform is such a great all around car. I own a '05 330xi auto and it's still quite a thrill to drive every time. Props man 🙏
That’s pretty cool that’s thing must of been almost new
I have a 530i as a Junior in
high school right now
Miss my 01 330ci so much had vettes, f type R, and now a 997.1 and idk I miss it so much lol this is the best comment 🍻
We tell people that these cars are fun, not fast. Go hit a sharp corner that has a 25 mph sign at 55 mph with full confidence, because she just sticks to the road. Fast is fun, but we don't need to go 10,000 mph to have fun, but it helps. Lol
@@CrazyBoredDudethat’s a moms car
great review again guys! but why does everyone assume people only buy BMW's for the brand? when i bought my 530i i bought it because i liked the way it drove, throttle response and how it 'felt', not because it was a BMW
Great point. I have a 2011 335i xdrive and struggled with the decision to buy it because it IS a BMW. In other words, I didn't want to be associated with all the negative things people think about BMW and their drivers. In the end though, I loved the performance of the car and decided who gives a crap what other people think of my car. I'm very happy with the car and recommend it to anyone thinking about a 3 series.
I bought mine not for the badge, but because it's essentially bulletproof. £3000 ($5000ish) for a 2001 320ci with 80k miles. I've done 40k in the last 3 years and it's cost me petrol, oil and four new tyres. That's it. These things were built like tanks.
I love how this is a thread of people stating that buying a BMW for sheer brand recognition is absurd...and then naming off which make and model BMW they own!! I have an E36 Coupe by the way...
Only jealous pricks think people who buy BMW get it for the name.
I agree, I owned a e46 coupe and I purchased it because of the driving dynamics and quality/workmanship. It was a great car and served me well. It wasnt until after i became a BMW owner that i realized how other people stereotyped BMW owners.
One day Mr. Regular will review a Pontiac Aztec
YES
funniest...
K-Car
Funny bout that
He has now
I'm pretty sure I heard the phrases "automatic 6 speed manual" and "satan is my god." Carry on.
"2005 BMW 330 'C' i Summary"
"4 door sedan"
😶
I noticed that too, I was like... hey wait a minute
My favorite part of all regular car reviews videos... the (X) the official car of (Y)
This video did not disappoint in that department.
"Satan is my god" I died when I heard that slipped into the specs :'D
no!
Ofcourse its smaller, its not built for 300lb Americans. BMWs are really good cars, the heavy steering is for better control at speeds and these cars with 50/50 weight distribution really do take well to corners.
As a BMW fan and owner, I agreed with damn near everything you said. These cars are the official cars of soccer dads and fast food franchise managers.
Car drives so good, pull smooth and pulls harder after 5000rpm. It has double vanos. One of the best car I ever driven with almost 300K
You're paying for the brand. Most people who drive one, lease them which is probably the smart thing to do. Drive the piss out of it for 3 years then let others deal with all the problems.
I love how there are still people out there who emphasize the importance of having a manual transmission, thanks Mr. Regular!
Just thought you should know, the reason it's called a 330Ci is:
3 series
3.0 litre engine
Convertible/Coupe
injection petrol engine.
So, using the same logic, a 320d:
3 series
2.0 litre engine
diesel.
528i:
5 series
2.8 litre engine
injection petrol engine.
750Li
7 series
5.0 Litre engine
Long wheel base
injection petrol.
and so on...
SchottGun however, a 320i can have a 2.2 liter as well. A 323i has a 2.5 I believe? And I had an E36 318iS with a 1.9.
My e46 316i has a 1.9l, so that naming convention really doesn´t mean anything about the volume of the engine.
I am a BMW owner.
I can confirm this is 100% accurate.
shread802 are you racist Satanist?
I've replayed 0:34 - 1:14 countless time to try and understand what the fuck he said. The only thing I got out of it was "Satan is my God" and "All hail Lucifer" That must say a lot about me...
hail satan
In that time he just says: bjrbqwodpb qbdoqfw ofb dsvihvoEI VBCDJVB VOUJVBN af dvaenbdj bndl vonv eiwvhwio bnbndfj... Hail Satan... LOL
I heard like 80% of everything he said
If their cooling systems and hoses didn't systematically self destruct like clock-work (and the electronics and vanos and cracking subframes in earlier models), they'd actually be worth the money. The fit/finish is much higher than Japanese or American cars (IMO), and I find the driving experience is fantastic compared to most other vehicles. It's unfortunate BMW is so greedy they intentionally use subpar parts to squeeze owners for every penny they can.
that cooling system thing is on e36s not e46s, i know because i have an e36.
they have a recommended replacement interval that you're supposed to stick to. if you dont stick to it they will break but if you dont change your oil regularly your engine will break, it's just like any other part. theyre not trying to hide anything from you or squeeze you for change (rubber replacement hoses are like 8 dollars) theyre just parts that spend decades getting very hot then very cold, pressurizing then depressurizing.
exactly, and now when older e46 e39 are cheaper, people think '' oh im gonna be a cool cat driving in this thing'' they get a loan, buy the hulk no realizing that even though its an old business class car its still as expensive to maintain! And they start pulling their ass hair out when they see how much it actually costs to drive these things. Atleast thats the story where i live.
You can buy a good looking e38 with a 4l engine for less than 3k euro.
+piedpiper they made the thermostat housing from plastic. A part bolted directly to a hot engine that pressurised hot coolant runs through and they thought plastic was a good material for that. Yeah right. Don't get me wrong, I love Bimmers, but some of their design choices are purely planned obsolescence.
cost saving is very different from planned obsolescence. and my plastic thermostat housing is still the oem one that came on the car 21 years and 240,000km ago, the plastic is fine it's very thick and dense, what usually stuffs up is the housing gasket or hoses.
would you call timing belts on most cars planned obsolescence? if you dont change them at around 100k kms and they break youll grenade the engine. e36s use a timing chain. they went to great lengths to innovate the design, improve efficiency and reliability and increase the service intervals of most parts. unfortunately when create a completely new engine series and use all new and updated systems theres more things that can go wrong or be overlooked.
also PS fun fact ive seen you heaps on zipties haha, small world
***** if youre doing 100k miles every 3 months yeah sure might need to change oem hoses that often, or just spend 8 dollars on rubber/silicon hoses once if you have a brain. oil actually has longer intervals than most cars because it holds 6.5L.
Keeping my e30 even if it comes up in counseling
"Satan is my god"
+Leroy Butts "Hail Lucifer"
+Leroy Butts I was gonna post that. just making sure nobody'd beat me to the punch.
+Leroy Butts Hahaha :-D! And then I was like: "I see what you did there, Mr. Regular!" ;-)
Leroy Butts ?
Leroy Butts this guy is a dumbazz
I have a slight suspicion that he is actually a really famous singer, and that's why he doesn't show his face :O
Rex Douglas That must be why he doesn't wanna show them; because he has more than one.
Cuz really famous singers need to fund raise for a Honda Fit on the internet, likely story
sclark805 Sounds even more like a famous singer now.
Probably one of the most savage car reviews I've drunkenly watched
This is the first review of a car that I saw that I actually owned once, and I disagree with 90% you said about the car's feeling and practicallity. I must admit though, mine had the M-tech 2 package which includes the M-sport suspension, so it loved the curves, drove like a charm (it was a manual)... It may be a tight squeeze in the back for adult passangers, but they'll be fine for every trip under 3hrs, and the boot (trunk for ya amerikanskis) is spacious enough for your average 2-person holliday baggage, for which this car, despite the fact it has 4 seats, was designed for... just look at it and tell me they designed it with 4 passangers in mind, I dare you. Suffice to say I had a tottaly different experience in my 4 years of ownership. Second best car I ever owned.
Yeah, as another E46 owner I have to say the only thing more annoying than the "BMW circle jerk" is the "BMWs are overrated and everyone who drives them is a douche circle jerk."
That being said, Cis do feel a little pudgier than their sedan counterparts because of slightly increased weight and less structural rigidity.
Can you explain why they would be less rigid, I don't see how. I don't mean to say they are more rigid than the sedans, but I really don't see why they'd be less rigid.
Oh and btw, It's been 5 years since I've sold my last BMW, so I don't fall into that circle jerk category, although I must say I find that claim to be somewhat true, at least it was back then, 6 or 7 years ago...
Adnan Cavkic Lack of B-pillar is the biggest thing. I'm sure an internet article would explain better than I ever could, haha..
I think the circle jerk is less crazy now because BMW guys have gotten tired of being made fun of!
Agreed, heh. I own a pre-facelift 330CI and a facelift 325i and though it may be the sport package, the 330 definitely does like taking its corners as far as my experience goes. Sadly both of them are steptronic :c (but I plan to manual swap the 330 for sure!)
@@upilufti coupes are more rigid despite the lack of b pillar. They have a lower centre of gravity as well.
But this BMW is not a 4 door sedan, as he says on 0:31 ... just saying..
Damn I didn't even notice, but who gives a fuck!
He also said "automatic 6speed manual"
The joke is that it's a car that doesn't drive well so who cares about the typical auto journalist details
Congratulations for having this picked for the jalopnik film festival, MR REGULAR UNGHHHHH!!!
Hahahahaha this was perfect! Soooo funny. I own a 2004 330ci ZHP. It is the most pleasurable ride I've ever had, and I've had a lot cause I'm old :) it's a 2 door, rear wheel drive, 6 cylinder, 6 speed manual, full leather, German sports coupe! This E46 legend can be found for very little money ( about 4 grand for a very good specimen). It has never let me down. I have done regular maintenance on it which I love doing. It's very easy to work on and maintain. All you need is a few tools and the passion to DIY and it can be maintained ( thanks to RUclips) for a very reasonable amount of cash. It handles like refined sports car. Don't expect to pull away from a Mustang 5.0, but he better hope there are no turns in the road because I don't slow down at corners!! 👍👍
4 grand!!!??? I've been scouring the country for one and there isn't one to be had in 2022 for under 10 grand and even then they're few and far between. I owned a new 2006 zhp and liked it more than the 2 M3s I had. Perfect car.
@@arthurshepherd8757 his comment is 5 years old and he is not wrong. If someone didn't know what they had it would be priced like a normal 330i. I predicted a few years ago that ZHP and ZCP cars were going to shoot up in value just like the M cars. Not to M prices, but at a similar rate. It is fun to read on the BMW forums buyers looking for cars with certain option packages, just like a muscle car buyer might look for a chevelle or mustang with certain packages
@@ziklag7676 Since I wrote that comment I bought a 2003 330ci with sport package and 137k for 6k and I flew to NJ to get it. Fortunately it turned out to be a good one. it's an automatic, orient blue with a natural montana leather. I swear I can't tell any difference between the 2006 zhp i had or the '98 and '99 M3. It's very stiff and tight. Any difference in power is impossible to notice but the zhp is better looking. I test drove a 2005 zhp with manual and 125k and the guy would not budge on the price...12.5k. I was ready to buy it for 12k. It was a very nice car but I'm with what I got for 6k
@@arthurshepherd8757 That is a beautiful color combination! I am buying a 2003.5 330ci this weekend for $1500. Alpine White with black interior. It needs some mechanical work, but that's kind of my thing, so i am very excited. It has the Sport package and has the silver trim I was looking for. Going to replace stock radio since this one has an aftermarket touchscreen radio. I like to restore them back to as original as possible. By the time I am done it will probably have cost me $6k ;-)
@@ziklag7676 good luck. hope you enjoy it. Forgot to say mine's a convertible.Doesn't need anything at the moment but when I checked the fuses for bad windshield washer pump next time I started the car antilock, brake and traction control lights were on...weird. Car brakes normally. Mechanic told me it could have been power interruption that will go away after x number of cycles....otherwise car is perfect. I looked at a zhp in Cinncinati with 110k and he was firm at 8500. I almost went for it. I looked all over the country for several months and thats the best deal on a zhp I saw. The rest were over 12k so it amazes me when people report they're getting them for cheap. Happy with what I got. Thankfully, no hidden issues
Is it sad that I secretly want an album of these guitar songs that you bookend your videos with?
...ah crap, it's no longer a secret!
Sounds cloud, hes got em all up there
newgrounds video on dial-up
I GET IT
DO THE LEXUS IS300!
***** That is not Matt Farah's Million-Mile Lexus.
Yes please, do an is300. You can use mine if you don't mind some rubber paint!
I don't even like that car - but yes.
I bought a 03 330i Japan rot manual trans. It had 196k miles. Neglected maintenance but unmolested. Sold a Sr20 powered 240sx for the BMW and a Honda . Once I completed the maintenance on the BMW I sold the 08 civic r18 auto. Been driving it EVERYDAY through a Las Vegas summer and zero problems!!!! Now I'm looking for a E36 coupe manual trans before they sky rocket!!! I've had fukloads of cars and I'm perfectly happy with it.
"Not enough space in the footwell" - Thats the first time ever iv heard someone say that about a car let alone a BMW, oh wait it came from an American, it all makes sense now...
Actually I remember Jeremy Clarkson griping about the manual Gallardo's for that reason, given that the clutch consumes any remaining space for your left foot to go.
And personally, I've experienced pedal box issues with a BMW myself. We had an old Z3 and while it was a fun car I kept having the problem of my feet getting caught by the bottom of the dash when I was working the pedals, specifically when letting the clutch out. I basically had to use the bottom of the clutch pedal to drive it, and that's just my size twelve feet in sneakers...
inudude15 haha, well i wouldn't know that feeling because im quite short lol, but you should sorta expect that about a Z3, i mean the car is very small generally speaking.
IIP Velocity Not really, I've got a Honda S2000 as a daily driver and haven't had any issue with fit anywhere. I heard an analogy made that it's like slipping on your favorite pair of jeans and that's about the best thing I could think of.
The Z3's deal was strange, I don't even really think it was height but rather foot placement. If my foot was square on the pedal, the top of my sneaker would catch the underside of the dash and sort of stop me de-clutching right, which became annoying as the clutch was a bit strange in that car and operating it with my toes became tiresome.
Oh you europeans and your tiny feet.
Larks Tongues Normal feet*
Have you ever cried after taking a dump? Whether it be tears of pride, joy, or sorrow that’s BMW ownership.
You know it's a good review when it includes the line 'Satan is my god'
"The official car of 'I'd like to speak to your manager"
My dad drives a 330ci and you seriously hit the nail on the head here. Bravo.
Hail Lucifer !!
no
I've had 2 E46's, great cars. I died when you said "BMW The official car of I'd like to speak to your manager" LOL
salty review
Mac King brother?
+Mac King salty comment
Lol accurate...... these starter bmws are douchebag cars
Are RCR Yahtzee viewers alongside Chris Harris, Ashens and MCM? This is quickly becoming my favourite RUclips channel.
Whoah these things had indicators?
On a more serious note, you can get a body in the boot (trunk :p) - I had one in my Sport Coupe. Before anyone calls the cyber police though it was very much alive and part of a prank. For anyone putting a live body in there though just make sure it's not a very smart one because smart ones will soon discover the rear seat release handles and exit through the cabin while scuffing your leather seats with his shoes.
Surprised you didn't mention the boot lid that farts when opening and closing - That seems to be a very common "feature" and cup holders were optional (as was virtually everything else) so whoever first bought that 330Ci SE being reviewed specced the doored cubby tray in the centre console instead of cup holders. Cheaply replaced via a used parts yard though.
Also the SE was never a sharp handling thing , the Sport, I guess you guys called it the ZHP, came came with the lowered M-Tech suspension and wider rear tyres.
yup its called zhp. got one my self
chewbacca struts.
It's funny how much I wanted an E46 in its heyday and now when I look at one of these as a fun 2nd car, I look at the laundry list and think "why would you have to worry about all of those things breaking on any other car"? An E46 nowdays is so much faded glory, it's some guy in community college who thinks he has a a hot car while the expat kids who are actually rich are riding around in their new 430i's. It's little old Asian lady who paid top dollar for the brand back in the day while her neighbour in a modern Subaru is riding around in more comfort and features. Cars are only great for a while, eventually all cars become old cars.
ive got a 99 328i and if i put the seat all the way back i cant reach the pedals, i'm 6'5"
6'5" ALL TORSO
Sherman Riddick lol, hey now, i'm very proportionate.
Dang, that car has some room. I have a Volvo 850, and I have the seat all the way back and I think I could still some more room. I'm 186cm tall, though my legs are a lot longer than average.
lol it is fairly large.
pavettto
My dad has an 850 as well! No A/C and interior is worn like hell, but it still runs!
Sorry Mr. Regular...... completely disagree.
As an 02' 330CI owner (E46 Gen) this car is more than just the sum of it's parts. It feels special, especially taken in context with cars of it's own era. Solid, quick, handsome, engaging, nimble..... I thoroughly enjoy the car for everything it is. And even for everything it's not. BMW had their shit together when they designed/built the E46.
I own a 04 BMW 330i ZHP in Imola Red! Beautiful car and very fun to drive! 4 doors beautiful uuc exhaust! 6 speed! CH BBS Wheels with Red Center Caps! its a great and fun car! I do spend a lot of money on maintenance but I enjoy every single moment with my car. Its not a boring car at all and I daily drive it! It feels solid and has no problems and is even better than owning or leasing some new cars. I admit that it has been an expensive journey with my car but my car suits all my occasions and is always well accepted and acknowledged everywhere I go. And it also shows that I have character and I'm independent. I don't know anyone around me with a old-ish car thats so clean and so well taken cared of. And just looks, sounds and drives so well. This guy doesn't know what he's talking about in this video.
Same here, fantastic car. The only modern small rwd with a back seat is an 86 and those are seriously slow and lack some of the refinement the 330 has for a dd. Like you say, the maintenance is a bit higher but it does feel worth it for what you get to drive. I'm guessing yours probably costs more than others to maintain because you've gone through and replaced all the bushings, control arms(since the ball joints are stupid), dampers, etc. Plus, preventative stuff and no cheap fluids. Perfect amount of hp/tq for the street and the occasional event. Huge community full of helpful info and other enthusiasts. Not everyone gets a bmw for a fucking emblem. I mean, it was old when it was reviewed, nobody is buying a 5-10k 330 to impress people.
You wouldn't happen to be on the mafia would you? I own a 04 TiAg ZHP😁
+ClashwithPresto I am part of the ZHP forum! Been part of the forum for about 6 years now =]. I just don't post too often anymore or ever made a project thread. I'm pretty sure I've seen your TiAg ZHP around on the forum lol. L0veZHP is my member name. L0veCami if you want to add me on Instagram.
"this guy doesnt know what hes talking bout in this video blah blah blah"
lmao ok expert sure
Camilo Diaz same here with my e34,better than being a sheep 🐑
I just bought a 2005 330ci...and it is hands down one of the best cars I ever drove... and I have owned many cars. I actually like it better than my 700whp 335i. Of course, manual shifting helps the fun factor.
I WAS GOING TO BUY THIS BUT I BOUGHT AN E36 M3
Rex Douglas yes
Rex Douglas Lulz
Rex Douglas ITS THREATENING TO LEAK POWER STEERING FLUID ALL OVER ME IF I DONT
SmileyLegoGuy double Lulz
Good choice! :D E36's are prettier :D I got a 318is coupe myself and love it, but yeah, tiny engine problems everywhere XD
I don't really get why people want to be seen in a certain car. Who exactly do they think is looking at them? It's probably no one they know, and no one they will ever meet either. When someone sees a BMW driving past, they don't think "Who is driving that BMW? I have to meet them." They think "Oh, a BMW. Nice car/what a dick." You have zero time and zero reason to pay any attention to who is driving the car. The only person it has value to is the driver. And if the driver judges that value by how much people are impressed that they drive a BMW, then the car should be totally worthless. You can't be impressed by someone you know nothing about.
But that's the same about everything expensive: Rolex watches, Apple products and so on. It's not just about the cars.
I'll never understand Americans and their fanaticism towards BMW, here in Europe BMW is either a midlife crisis car or a douchebag car, aka the sort of person that runs below 1/4 tank of petrol because he can't afford it, but hey, he has a BMW.
If someone really wants to look cool, up your game to a Lotus or a Jag, those are more affordable and make much more sense than overpriced and overengineered BMW's.
Sincerely,
A person who owned a V12 850Ci and a Z8
Ultrakillerism Brand Image of BMW is very different in the US. In the US there is no model of bmw, save for the mid 90s 318, that came with non-alloy wheels. This is also true for mercedes. In europe you see steelies on all sorts of cars that are regarded as luxury in the US, and Alloy wheels are a luxury item.
Basically, its brand image. Its the same reason VW doesn't sell the Phaeton in the US. It doesn't fit the image they market.
Ultrakillerism i Feel bad for you, you obviously stereotype people you don't even know, and you can't talk for entire Europe, because some BMW/Audi/Merc drivers are prone to be complete dicks, actually that goes for every brand.
Sincerely
A person who grew up with a passion for cars and a hate against stereotyping.
Ps. where i live the douchebags cannot afford nice cars so they drive peugeot 207's (remapped for the extra 10hp)
Why are you even here?
its pretty unfair how non bmw people think the owners buy them just because theyre bmws. am I not allowed to buy a reasonably priced genuinely good usable everyday car with a smooth engine and nice handling characteristics just because YOU have a stereotype of the sort of person that should be driving it?
i bought an e36 328is because theyre lighter and more raw. go be wrong elsewhere.
If you want a cheap RWD sportyish car but need more than what a MX5 gives you, You can't go wrong with a 3 series.
These videos are... sooooo.....so... profound? DON'T STOP!!!! It's such a weekly delight.
i about died when he said "Austin Martin"
ughhghghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
These are the most entertaining reviews on the net.
Im a BMW NUT!
I liked the vid...However you as an American are used to massive 4 door cars with huge truck space.
Here in sunny South Africa and most parts of Europe we enjoy the cars on our winding roads and smaller parking lots.
As for the comment about the car not handling well, Im quite sure that e46 will run rings around the American competition in the hands of someone who knows what he/she is doing.
And you are correct about auto box... Manual FTW.
Bought a 2000 330i couple of weeks ago, love every moment driving it... Also RSA
Hey! Huge fan of this channel, have been for about 6 months now. I just wanted to say thank you for all of the outstanding videos, and also would like to note that I hear you mention Pittsburgh alot. I live in Pittsburgh, and work at a Fiat dealership that is always empty, so if you guys need something to review when you're in town, I saw you did the Abarth, but I would love to see the 500L lampooned, as it has brought me nothing but misery and loathing. We also get a lot of random Subarus from trade ins here, to get 201 point inspections done, but I feel like once you've reviewed one Subaru, you've reviewed them all. Thanks again!
That was harsh.
The E46 was a great car.
I had one for about 90,000 miles (60k to 150K) and it was a delight.
My 2.2 six 320i replaced my NA sw20 after my son was born and it felt like a reasonable compromise.
I sense your usual ton of hyperbole but in Europe anyway the E46 was a very standard car and not perceived as aspirational in the slightest.
At least not when I bought mine second hand.
Love the channel.
Luv and Peace.
These Roman Intro songs..... just a great way to start the day
The BMW 330ci: The Ultimate Middle Management Machine.
As someone who scoffed in denial at this review right after buying a 330ci in 2014, and then just now watched it again after living with the car for 3 years, it's funny how much of this I have to agree with. Mine is even a 6 speed manual, with a burbly exhaust for fun and Bilstein suspension and it's still just... not very good. It's fine, but not "VERY GOOD." I was led to expect more from this brand but after coming from several Nissan S chassis, I have some very large gripes: The weak and vague clutch, the unresponsive fly-by-wire throttle pedal and non-linear throttle map, the uncooperative-under-80°F gearbox, and a motor that was designed for an automatic transmission and not remapped for the long legged ratios of the manual just subtract so god damned much from what was purported to be a satisfying driver's car. It's the perfect choice for some early 20's kid who thinks knowing how to drive manual makes him better than everyone else so what car can he afford on his Target stockroom salary that has the most amount of brand prestige because he also wears Supreme and isn't capable of perceiving anything beyond how jealous he thinks other people will be of it. I mean, I guess I should be appreciative of how It's a fairly decent looking, good cruising car that has been very reliable and handles pretty well and can eek out 34mpg on long highway trips, but the reality is that living with one is just kind of boring... and also partly annoying because I rationalized it as 3/4ths of an M3, but it just is not.
Beautiful and timeless.
I love seeing that this is all around Penn State! Despite the fact that it does have a somewhat small boot, I've fit two 3x6' sheets of plywood in with the trunk closed (and me kissing the steering wheel) with the seats folded down. These can also tow pretty well.
Another great review, loved it. Truth be told, if you want a Beemer that hustles around corners, you have to up the ante and go with the M series. The non M cars are really more geared for the balding and portly sales manager , the kind that will tell everyone in the office how he blew away the kid in the non-turbo Eclipse during last night's stop light gran prix.
this is completely wrong/ridiculous--non-m e46s race every weekend with stock gears, and I just had my 330ci on stock springs sideways on a ramp today full fuck yeah
Love your car reviews, man. I actually have an '03 325ci, myself. Manual, of course. Absolute blast through corners, although my buddy's '03 Mach 1 beats me in the straights.
Thanks for doing this review! What are the odds you might review the 1993 honda civic hatchback?
he should definitely do that! I know he'll criticize them because only 1/10 of every eg civic hatch in the world doesn't have a b series swapped in
Christian Sharron If they ever make their way up to Connecticut I would be more than happy to let them take my stock 99 Integra GSR for a spin (speaking of B-series).
I love when he goes "Enough of that crap!" and tosses the script away.
Whodda thunk a video on regular cars would send my mind spinning down memory lane to the early-2000s about the grating, uphill battle of dial-up and watching videos on Newgrounds/any Flash-based websites (Homestarrunner woooooo!!).
Don't care what any of u guys say...330ci is a great car for its price. My 01 330ci is awesome! Simply upgrading your sway bars and and put a front strut bar on and snag some after market 18ins with some sticky tires..... Youve got something 4real.
Sheetz is love. Sheetz is life.
The E46 is a superb motor. I've had two 330i M sport spec. One automatic and the other Manual.
150 mph car which you can now pick up for under £3000. Terrible on fuel (urban or if you're American and you insist on an auto gearbox and you weigh 120 Kgs) but a very satisfying vehicle to drive. Very fast. Well engineered. Quality internally and externally...it still makes me smile when I drive it
"Hail lucifer." :D
My dad's E46 330i Touring still brings me endless joy, a fuckin station wagon that's tail happy but controllably so is just bliss.
BMW 330Ci. The official car of "I'd like to speak to your manager"
I owned a 2001 for 5 years, 5speed car with sunroof delete and 98k miles. I loved that car, warts and all. Finally sold it when the N54 oil leaks were too much for me to overcome. I had multiple brand new BMtroubleyous prior, but that old grey coupe with the dark red interior got more compliments and was super fun to drive. Upgraded to an FRS.
before even watching the video I read the description and it fucking nails it. I hate when people that refer to their car as their BMW! Where I used to live 3 series BMW's were about as common as honda accords.
Where I live, most people who drive BMWs are the ones that didn't go to high school, but for example to the car mechanic school instead. It's an everyday thing to see young men driving their terribly modified 3 series BMWs. If one wants to buy an old BMW, especially 3 series, odds are it's somehow modified. It's actually starting to get hard to find used stock 3 series BMWs. That's why I don't even bother trying and drive my old Volvo 850..
Yup, kind of like the people who always have to refer to their iPhone by it's name. "It's not a phone, it's an iPhone."
Draϟa
You don't live where I live I see... It's hard to find vanilla 3 series cars here.
I would say 95% of the time that is indeed a sign of douchebaggery, but sometimes I think it can be genuine enthusiasm about acquiring the object of your affection that one wants to share with good friends instead of badge snobism.
If the second is the case it's actually a positive thing cause it takes a bit of thrust in another person to share that entusiasm as they clearly think you're gonna be somewhat happy for them and won't be hatin'. If you rain on that parade you're kind of the douchelord yourself.
The other option though...well yeah, that's lame and gauche.
aurvandil I said the 3 series was common learn to read please. And that doesn't make them bad I just hate how people that drive them think they are driving something exotic. You sound like one of those people "in a league of their own" Lmao. Unless it's got an M badge there's nothing special about your car. I know guys with pickup trucks that cost twice as much as a fucking loaded 3 series.
“ probably the only bmw you can afford “ I’ve seen e90s cheaper than these . And the e46 and e92 m3 are almost the same price which is insane.
automatic 330 ??? wtf ?
Welcome to America. I was told if I wanted a manual 3-series, I'd basically need to special order it.
thinkfaster thats horrible
thinkfaster thats disqusting and a shame ! those cars need to be driven manualy ...
You can shift it manually no problem.
you have no clutch !! so you cant clutchkick.
and the feeling from the stick is missing. one of the gratest feelings in cars...and schanging gears in manual is faster. and i often shift from first in third or from second to fourth. you cant beat a manual gearbox. thats why i would buy a manual gearbox even with the new M4. and most new automatic gearboxes cant take a lot of torque so a manual is also much better if you tune your car ;)
All US bound E46 cars have 2 cup holders in the middle. The owner simply swapped out the cup holders for the Euro version storage tray.
My JDM spec 318ci has cupholders.
I NEED TO EAT THING.
Chugging like a Newgrounds video on dial-up. You've outdone yourselves again.
The e46 m3 is great
"It chugs along like a newgrounds video on dial-up"
Fantastic reference :D
lmao Satan is my god!
no
normal car reviews
Hail Lucifer
Hey! I caught that too! Just wondering if I was crazy.... Carry on.
Excellent car but there's one thing to be noted with these 3.0 motors and that's the oil pump nut. Because of the length of the crank certain vibrations at certain RPMs could cause the oil pump nut to loosen rendering the pump itself useless which leads to oil starvation. Make sure you have the nut loctited or welded.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNEWGROUNDS reference.
Hey man, I bought a 325xi for $500. I have no regrets. Fun little car.
16 bit Sega Genesis ftw who cares about your way better super snes
In those first eight seconds it looks like the BMW drives by, shifts to reverse, and backs the car in the span of a heartbeat
i don't. care i still. want one.
Care to explain why, smarta**????
Michael Meliambro probably because of Need For Speed
@@jefferyharambe5067 LOL a f*cking VIDEO GAME????? That's your best excuse, here?
This video made me evaluate my life choices for the past few years. I will return to my father and ask for his mercy.
LOL "the 330ci. The official car of I'd like to speak to your manager". 3:24
waiting for the moment i can drive my e46 without having a checklist of things to fix. Two years waiting so far