3series E36 (98-00) vs E? (00+) picky type comparisons

In the U.S.: 2006 4 drs. are E90; 2000-2006 2 drs. and 1999-2005 4 drs. are E46.

Not available on 3 series.

Tom

wrote

The current M3, convertible and coupe is the E46. The sedan has transitioned to the E90.

The '99 sedan was the E46, the coupe & convertible (and M3) followed in '00.

There is no abbreviation for sport package. ZHP is the abbr. for Performance Package, which began in '02 or '03.

It's in the engine compartment and is a cinch with two twisties.

No. The premium sound that gives you subwoofers is separate from the std.

They're standard in my '01. Don't affect egress.

Floyd

I currently drive a 99 E46 323i and previously drove an E36 320i.

To my mind the E46 represents a huge leap forward in terms of interior design, solidity and comfort. Performance is similar for like engines although the E46 is a little heavier although this is offset by the extra torque brought about by the dual VANOS engine..

I also find the exterior design / shape of the E46 is a classic although this is always a touhcy subject and ultimately in the eye of the beholder. To be fair the E36 also still looks clean and in sense timeless in my view.

For the E46 330i sedan, the ZHP is an excellent package and the one to get! The other bargain was the Xenon Adaptive Headlights with the auto-leveling feature. AT $700-800, its another bargain option!

On Tue, 16 Aug 2005 14:41:52 -0400, "Tom K." spewed:

Uhoh, did they change the body again? I haven't noticed any difference in what I've seen driving around.

2006 2drs are still E46?

Damn :(

-- _____________________________________________________ Drivin a 94 BMW 325is w/sport. For email response, or CC, please mailto:see.my.sig.4.addr(at)bigfoot.com. Yeah, it's really a real address :)

On Tue, 16 Aug 2005 11:45:15 -0700, "fbloogyudsr" spewed:

Jeez, nice abbr. huh! What's the diff. between Sport and Performance?

YES!!! Thank God Almighty! That was the worst design I could imagine for the thing in the E36.

They didn't by chance change it in the last yrs. of the E36 did they? That'd be icing on the cake :)

Well, at least it was a factory option finally. Since the getgo, or later models?

Cool deal. Would be a nice comfort to have those.

-- _____________________________________________________ Drivin a 94 BMW 325is w/sport. For email response, or CC, please mailto:see.my.sig.4.addr(at)bigfoot.com. Yeah, it's really a real address :)

On Thu, 18 Aug 2005 10:40:53 +0930, "SYSTECH" spewed:

E36 320? When did they offer that? I thought the E36 started in 92 and had 318, 325, M3, and at some point the 318ti trajedy.

-- _____________________________________________________ Drivin a 94 BMW 325is w/sport. For email response, or CC, please mailto:see.my.sig.4.addr(at)bigfoot.com. Yeah, it's really a real address :)

The poster is from outside the US - lots of different engines available elsewhere. Emanuel

There were other engines offered in other markets. The line-up was limited to the models you mention in the US market.

I wonder what makes the 318ti a "trajedy', there are lots of fans for that model out there.

In Canada, I believe the 320 was available until 1995. There was also a and E36 323 offered.

Abroad, add the 316 and a couple of diesels too.

-Russ.

Agreed, great little car (unless it's an automatic!).

I drove one at the time.. it wasn't *that* horrible. Still a fun car, no rocket to be sure but it got out of it's own way.

-Russ.

Yes, but the 323i is really a 2.5 liter engine. It was one of those stupid marketing decisions to call it a 323...

On Tue, 06 Sep 2005 06:53:31 GMT, E Brown spewed:

Ah, ok. You know, why is it that US always gets screwed? Less car choice, less option choice (no 325IX for instance), crappier cell phones, crappier cell service, pretty much crapper EVERYTHING!

-- _____________________________________________________ Drivin a 94 BMW 325is w/sport. For email response, or CC, please mailto:see.my.sig.4.addr(at)bigfoot.com. Yeah, it's really a real address :)

On Tue, 6 Sep 2005 07:45:39 -0400, "Somebody." spewed:

I mean that only asthetically. Looks like they just chopped off the back of an IS, just looks "wrong". Never heard anything bad performance or otherwise though. In fact, I think I may have heard it outhandled a 325 (way less power though of course).

What was 316, 1.6L engine? Or was it one of the crazy naming things where the engine didn't change but the # did? Never understood that. If they dont' want to keep with the # meaning the engine, just scrap it and renumber rather than confuse everyone :( If they do have a 1.6 and a 1.8, why?! Doesn't seem worth a new block for such a small change.

-- _____________________________________________________ Drivin a 94 BMW 325is w/sport. For email response, or CC, please mailto:see.my.sig.4.addr(at)bigfoot.com. Yeah, it's really a real address :)

Don't know about the 325IX, but there is a U.S. E90 325ix sedan and wagon as well as a 330ix sedan. IIRC, same for the E46.

Tom

316, 318, 320, 323, 325, 328, 330, 318d, 320d, 330d all featured in Europe throughout the E36 life. I think the 316 was originally a 1.6, but later became a 1.8, the 318 became a 1.9, the 323 became 2.5 :-)