Im looking to purchase a E46 possibly coupe, of around 2000 - 2003 registration, however knowing nothing about BMW cars the engine sizes confuse me, so

316 - is it a 1600 or an 1.8?
318 - is apparently a 1.9?
320 - is apparently a 2.0 ?
323 - 2.3?
325 - 2.5
330 - 3.0

apparently the 325 and the 330 are similar engines? Obviously one being more powerful than the other?

Which is the best engine to go for? i was thinking of 323 or 325? 330 would a little juicy and 318 a little underpowered for a german heavy car?

thanks

 

I'm pretty sure the 316 and 318 are actually 2.0
The 320 is actually a 2.2

323 and 325 are both 2.5 but in different tunes.

328 is a 2.8 and 330 is a 3.0.

All of the 6 cylinders ( 320 and above ) are shit on fuel all as bad as each other.

A 318 ci m sport goes ok. Other wise try and get a 328 or 330

 

Im averaging 31mpg in my 528 at the mo. I would imagine a 3 series to be slightly better if not driven too hard.

 

have a look at the 330d it is a good drive and not underpowered!

 

My 330ci averages 24mpg round town, get 300 miles to around £75.

 

Just get an M3......3.2L......

 

the 330d will eat most things on a motorway if required! Cruise very quickly for 100's of miles and will get 400 to 600 miles on a tank of derv! The DSC is amazing for when you are tired and on the way home, (has kept me alive on more than one occasion when caught by surprise by an idiot try to kill me).

 

The 320 is a 6 cylinder 2.2 (2171 CC) IF it is the a certain year or newer I believe?

If I was going to buy a BMW it would have to be 6 cylinder or more, a 4 cylinder is just not right (Like the horrible supercharged Mercedes engines) (Plus the E46 318 and the like are known for blowing HG'S)

318, as you say is 1.9.

Most of the 6's have been dropped in later models, for example, the E90 320 is 4 cylinder and is actually a 2L I think, while the latest 3 series, the 328 is actually a 2L four pot twin turbo , it's done for emissions reasons mainly, the same as Ford have dropped the lovely 5 pot Volvo engine!

Martin

 

I've found the opposite tbh.

I drive a 328i auto touring daily, drove to sunny essex the other day to pick up some doors from twins...averaged 40.2 mpg on the way there and 37.8 on the way home.....

I think thats pretty damn good tbh. Although with a heavy foot 16mpg is a reality around town (london traffic), with 24mpg in the same traffic driving like a nun.

180,000 miles and did a 15.2 at santapod... fantastic engines.

Rob,

 

I have a 2002 320 coupe auto tip.

Mostly motorway 50 round trip commute sat at 60 mph, averages 42 mpg.
Thirsty round town if ya boot it.

 

agreed about the 330d. i bought one last week (touring). if you get the later ones they are 204bhp with 300ft/lb torque wit a 6 speed box. im getting around 40mpg around town!!! cant complain with that

 

read the wikipedia page itll list all the engines. its a bit confusing because the early ones had an old range of engines (ie the 328) ad the later ones have the newer range (ie 330)

as for the numbers, think of them as a guide to the engine size/power rather than an absolute number