2001 330Ci: 9 years later

Author's Rating:

Pros: Drivetrain, low-end torque, fuel economy, seats, balance between ride & handling

Cons: No overdrive, pretty much have to buy parts online to avoid bloated dealer prices

The Bottom Line: 
If you can find a well maintained example for a fair price, you will not go wrong

Author's Review
The 2001 330Ci is a very impressive car. I have now owned mine for a year, put 20,000 miles on and driven it across the country 3 times. My car is a 2 door, black on tan leather, 5 speed manual and includes pretty much every option available for the model year including navigation, premium package, xenons, sport package, cold weather package, Harmon Karden premium audio, sunroof...every option excluding metallic paint and auto trans. After 9 years, 3 owners and 134,000 miles everything still works and the vehicle performs beautifully. One issue worth noting: The nav system is CD based, and the disc reader mounted in the trunk will not eject the current disc, therefore limiting the data available to a single US region. Now for the specifics.

Engine/Drivetrain
The engine is, of course, the 3.0 liter "M54" inline 6. Output is 225 hp (231 bhp) and 214 lb ft torque. This powerplant has extremely impressive low-end torque for an engine its size. I can smoothly accelerate from 1,100 rpm in 3rd gear, no problem. The engine also produces a subtle growl when throttle is increased, which goes far in enhancing the driving experience. The transmission is solid and tight, gear spacing is perfect, and the shifter has a crisp feel to it. The shift throws are a bit long for my preference, however, and the manual gearbox lacks an overdrive gear, meaning RPM is a bit higher than it needs to be in highway driving (appx 2,500 rpm at 60 mph). Clutch takeup is smooth and the throttle response is variable depending on what gear you're in and engine speed, thanks to electronic drive-by-wire throttle. This can give the car an artificial sensation of having more power than it really does, since half-throttle at the pedal at 2,000 RPM in 4th gear will open the throttle body more than 50%. Fuel mileage is impressive, I tend to average 29-31 mpg in mixed city/highway driving during the summer and 25-27 during the colder winter months.

Chassis/suspension
The E46 chassis is a wonderful thing. Excellent handling is a requirement of every BMW 3-series, and many experts agree that nobody beats BMW at balancing ride quality with athleticism. The car doesn't float quite like a big ol' Cadillac but has a firm, comfortable ride that I have never found to be unforgiving. Handling is predictable and precise, with mild understeer at the limit. Body roll is well controlled, and cornering is not upset by small bumps through the curve.

Interior/ergonomics
BMW interiors are traditionally very understated and "utilitarian." You won't find trendy white-face gauges, fake carbon fiber or an overstyled, tacky dashboard here. The gauge layout in this car is essentially the same as what you would find in a 1977 320i. The sport seats are quite impressive. With sizeable side bolsters, adjustable thigh and lumbar support these seats are designed to conform to your body, not your body to the seat. They are firm and supportive; you are not going to "sink in" to them. Driving cross country it took 8 hours on the road for me to feel even a hint of fatigue. The controls are laid out pretty logically, and buttons on the steering wheel control many useful functions. The backseat is expectedly cramped, but this is a 2 door car. I have hauled average size adults back there for up to an hour with minimal complaints. One thoughtful feature which I especially appreciate is leather padding on the armrests, which not only increases comfort but also the overall feeling of quality inside.

Maintenance
One big scare to any potential BMW-buyer is the horror stories of outrageous maintenance costs. These stories are very true if you have your vehicle serviced by the dealership, but for the thrifty DIYer these cars can be easily and cost-effectively maintained. Through buying your own parts directly online and owning a Bentley service manual, one could maintain this vehicle for very close to the same cost as any other car, and I actually find it easier to work on than, say, a GM 3400 V6.

In all, I have no regrets of buying this car and remain very pleased with its performance day in and day out. I still get comments from friends and neighbors and enjoy myself every time I go for a drive. At $8,500 I can't imagine a better car for the money.