bmw E46: 318i or 320i - engines?

albionrovers

I've had 3 x 5-series in the last 12 years - currently have 2001 2.2 520i 170bhp 6-cyl.

Smooth as a baby's backside.

My wife had a 4-cyl 318i 2 litre (brand new 2006) which was nowhere near as smooth.

Get the 320i.

colino

Both are good performers for their size, and while 1.8s can get tappety with age (usually due to bad maintenance - missed oil changes) it certainly shouldn't rattle at start up. I'd guess the cambelt tensioner is on its way out.
Get the lazy 6. Lovely quiet cruiser that has the power if you use the revs.

andygb

The M20 engine (6 cylinder 2.0) was and is still a superbly smooth unit. Very quiet, no real known faults if maintained correctly. In a 3 series it should be brisk and quiet. I had an E34 5 series (520i) and we sold it with 150,000 miles on the clock, we still see it around six years later.

ess0two

Got an 01 320i 2.2 e46 engine,just done over 110k,started to use a bit more oil than normal.Had to replace the oil separator,£125 fitted,otherwise runs well and quiet,get 30ish mpg around town,then 35+mpg on motorway etc.

andygb

ess0two wrote: »

Got an 01 320i 2.2 e46 engine,just done over 110k,started to use a bit more oil than normal.Had to replace the oil separator,£125 fitted,otherwise runs well and quiet,get 30ish mpg around town,then 35+mpg on motorway etc.

Just to be a bit pedantic (:o;)), the 01 3 series was known as the E46 type (referring to the model), but the engine could have been the M52, M54, M56 depending on capacity.
German manufacturers love numbers, just as well they make great engines as well.:)

almillar

Just a small note - the 'rattling at startup' - define a rattle! Any car with a timing chain rather than a belt (and I think all Beemers have chains) will have a slight 'rattle' immediately upon starting, whislt the chain goes round for the first time, and the 'naked' part of it rattles until it gets oil on it after 1-2 rotations. Perfectly normal for any chain driven engine.