The BMW E46 325i was one of the more popular options when it was new, but as the chassis is now twenty years old at its oldest, these lower-trim 3-series examples have fallen from favor. The 330i and M3 tend to attract more attention, but that means these less-desirable versions are more affordable than ever. [...]
We have a lot of love for the E46 chassis here at ECS. Truth be told, it used to be a black sheep, of sorts because it sat in the middle between beloved classics and contemporary performance models in BMW’s lineup. The E46 was a drastic change in visual design for BMW, with a rounded [...]
The BMW E46 330i or 330Ci is perhaps one of the most ubiquitous BMWs. It straddles the line between being an enthusiast’s performance car and a normal commuter. These are the BMWs those of us in our late twenties and early thirties remember as the ‘new’ BMW, and what nearly every ‘hip’ mom drove back [...]
If you’re like our own Josh Shirk, you have taken advantage of the extremely affordable E46 330ci prices the market has seen lately. While exceptional examples are still selling for north of $5,000, you can pick up an E46 330ci for much, much less if you don’t mind doing a bit of work. However, work [...]
With the prices of E92 M3s finally dropping to affordable levels, they are quickly becoming one of the best performance bargains on the market. The S65 V8 produces an astonishing amount of power even in stock form and the chassis is well balanced for impressive handling characteristics. A luxurious interior paired with an optional manual [...]
With all this COVID-19 business keeping us stuck inside, I’m itching for something to do. Most people aren’t spending money for fear that the economic recession will leave them penny-pinching to get by. However, I think that’s an unfounded fear. Not only are we already about to see $1,200 bucks in our accounts soon, but [...]
Contemporary BMWs continue to explore the limits of styling and performance even with high-production numbers. They demonstrate the perfect blend of luxury and driving engagement from an attractive, convenient, and advanced package that offers drivers more versatility with each iteration. The F82 M4 is perhaps the most extreme example, sacrificing some usability and comfort for [...]
Riverside Look Book Preview
With most of the preventative replacements and maintenance, there isn’t much you can do to improve performance. However, once you’ve completed that maintenance, you can begin to modify your 135i with performance parts that give you more power and, in some cases, remedy some issues you might otherwise encounter. The 135i, especially the early N54-powered [...]
BMW has always been successful with their compact sports car platforms. It’s in their roots. As their models grew in size with every generation, they saw a need to create a new model that filled in the gap they had created with the bulking-up of their iconic 3-series. In 2008, the world was given the [...]