written by Mechanic63 on 30/10/2012
we just bought a 2004 318i E46 Sport. I'd have to say after reading reviews here & on other sites i had mixed feelings about buying the Beemer, that was until we found the car we ended up buying & actually bought it after driving it. bmw must have improved build quality from it's earlier model E46's, as i haven't heard any creaks or say that there is anything of poor fittment. it is amazingly quiet, stereo is good, handling is great & makes a winding road a lot of fun. it is comfortable & you don't feel any fatigued on a long journey. i agree with some of the reviews i have read that it's not a quick car, from standing start it isn't that quick, but on the open road it is brilliant a pleasure to drive. the E46 318i was aimed at a specific market & therefore somewhat of a compromise & if you are after an extremely affordable bmw as your entry into the bmw world, i would recommend one for sure. my advice would be to spend a little bit more & go for the Sport. i am a mechanic & have driven many makes of car and the car we were driving before the bmw was a 2003 mazda 6 luxury Sports, also a great car.
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