| |
carfault.co.uk
BMW 316,318,320,323,325,328,330,335,518,520,523,525,528,530,535
540,545,550,630,645,650,728,730,735,740,745,760,840,850
compact,m3,m5,m6,mini,x3,x5,z1,z3,z4,z8
Bmw(Yes Please)
Lacks the looks of Alfa 156 or class of Audi A4 . Performance and driving pleasure slightly blunted compared to the best E36s. Cornering brake control on early E46s could take over, but does make car safer in unskilled hands when a corner tightens up unexpectedly. Heavier, so uses more fuel than E36. Much criticism of poor-quality conversion to RHD of early E46s. A few complaints about offset driving position even on 2002MY cars. Build date now shown on engine compartment label on top of front nearside wheel arch. Original 316 and 118bhp 318 not powerful enough. (318 cured with 143bhp from September 2001 facelift; 316i got new 115bhp engine from April 2002.) Reports of harmonic vibrations through steering and floor of 330i. Side repeater indicators pop out and damage the front wings on early cars. Pre-November 2001 3 year warranty required expensive top up to be comprehensive in 2nd and 3rd years. Build date now shown on engine compartment label on top of front nearside wheel arch. Original 316 and 118bhp 318 not powerful enough. (318 cured with 143bhp from September 2001 facelift; 316i got new 115bhp engine from April 2002.). Steptronic auto increases fuel consumption of 330d by around 25%.
Bosch Motronic and Siemens engine management ECUs suffer water damage due to blocked heater inlet drain hose. This hose is supposed to drain any water in the fresh air inlet. Debris blocks this hose and allows water to build up eventually flooding the ECU compartment and causing ECU failure. The fix is easy - shorten hose by 2cm at bottom and clear drain pipe with thin wire as part of winter service. If you believe the ECU to be damaged.
|
|
