View Poll Results: 2002-2003 E39 vs E46

Voters
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  • E39 5-Series

    65 69.15%
  • E46 3-Series

    29 30.85%
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Results 51 to 61 of 61

Thread: E39 vs E46: Which one would you buy, and why?

  1. #51
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Minneapolis, MN
    Posts
    127
    My Cars
    2010 328xi
    Quote Originally Posted by adam1979 View Post
    Always good to hear from people that have owned both.

    I do want to point out that ANY car needs o2 sensors at 100k miles, and those dealer price quotes are extreme. The indy shop is reasonable if you are paying dealer prices on the parts. O2 sensors are about 50% of list price online. I know this is off topic, but price quotes like that can unnecessarily scare people away from BMW ownership. They aren't necessarily cheap to run, but it doesn't have to be that bad.
    I know the price points are extreme, but that's what I was quoted and subsequently why I chose to trade the e39 and why I went to an indy shop to change the sensors on the e46.

    Mind you, my dealer gives a 10% discount on labor and a 10% discount on parts to BMW CCA Members, and these were the quoted prices before that discount applied.

    Considering the problems I've had with the e46, I really wish I would have kept the e39 and went to an indy shop to have its sensors replaced

    As of right now, the only things I go to the dealer for are things too complex for an indy shop to handle or diagnose.

  2. #52
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Clarksville,AR
    Posts
    173
    My Cars
    01 330ci
    E46 all the way. there awsome

    there kinda half and half. theyv got good preformance and semi lux
    Last edited by connerray2010; 02-27-2010 at 09:58 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

  3. #53
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    145
    My Cars
    '98 E39 528i - 05 Rangie
    Having owned both, i can agree that the E39 is more of a tourer to eat up the miles, but when you find a nice windy road, its the E46 that you want to be in. But for the everyday, the E39 is far more comfortable, smooth and generally a nicer place to be. and if you do find that road, don't doubt an E39
    1998 E39 528i
    2005 Range Rover HSE TD6


  4. #54
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    New York
    Posts
    535
    My Cars
    E39
    I have 2 E39s, have not felt compelled to get an E46 yet.

  5. #55
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    993
    My Cars
    02 530i 05 156SW 05 166

  6. #56
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
    Posts
    276
    My Cars
    2012 BMW X5 5.0i
    Quote Originally Posted by Ztrim3 View Post
    Yes, I would consider it a POS now, looking back at it. Everything works now and it drives like new. I was 17 when I bought it, and not exactly thinking everything through (obviously). Hence why I posted on here trying to help someone out so they dont go through what I did. The previous owner covered a lot of things up. My dad is good friends with the lead shop tech at zimmerman BMW @ Ft Lauderdale. He checked it out on a regular basis. Everything just started breaking, thats all I can say. He didnt even know why. I dont know why. Your right though, I should have looked more into it before just buying it. This is my last post on this thread because "0 of 1 person found this post helpful" .. Whatever, just trying to help someone out.
    I read your post and yeah it sucks for sure. We had a family friend who bought an e46 from one of those used car dealerships. She was just a mom so she knew little about cars. What do you know after buying it, overtime she spent thousands on maintenance at the stealership and sometimes indy mechanics because literally everything was shitting on her. The previous owner basically just neglected it and drove it almost into the ground before trading it in. Eventually she just gave up and traded it in (although I wouldn't have, given how many things she paid to have replaced)
    Cars owned:
    - 2012 BMW X5 5.0i (current)

    Cars previously owned:
    - 2019 Mercedes C63S AMG
    - 2015 BMW M4 Cabriolet
    - 2008 BMW 335i Cabriolet, special edition
    - 2012 Toyota Tundra SR5
    - 1997 BMW 328i M-sport

  7. #57
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Ft. Worth, TX
    Posts
    882
    My Cars
    2014 Nissan Maxima
    3 year old thread bumped up...... '12's gonna 12
    '02 BMW X5 (wife's) - Steel Grey w/Black Leather - Auto
    '04 Harley Davidson RoadKing Classic

  8. #58
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    2,973
    My Cars
    2001 530i (E39) 128k

  9. #59
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    UT
    Posts
    872
    My Cars
    2001 BMW 530i
    e39 - I love mine. They are a little roomier and look awesome.
    2001 BMW 530i e39 / Automatic / Orient on Dove

  10. #60
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    CT
    Posts
    1,494
    My Cars
    E28, E32, E39, E53, E90
    This thread needs an update. Currently have a 530i sport and a 330i ZHP, trying to decide which to keep and which to sell.

    The 530i only has 119k miles and the ZHP has 224k miles. They both drive great, the ZHP is stiffer and more sporty but not as quiet inside the cabin and refined as the E39. I've owned 4 E39's and this is my first E46 so I'm biased towards the E39 clearly.

  11. #61
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    .
    Posts
    7,708
    My Cars
    .
    I'd keep the E39 for certain.
    ASE and BMW Master Certified Technician

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