BMW had a rather simple line up in 1999 which consisted of mainly sedans, wagons, coupes, an SUV (unusual considering 2022 standards) and a roadster. The E46 shape of 3-series is still iconic to this day with people lusting after the M3 variant in particular. We tested the 1999 BMW 318i E46 to see if it is a good used buy in 2022.
The 318i was the entry level model to the BMW 3-Series line up in 1999 and offered relatively affordable luxury to those looking to go European. So is it still any good 23-years on? Let’s find out.
Price & Equipment:
The BMW 3-Series is synonymous for quality and refinement, though two decades can have a number on anyone or anything. Depending on how they’ve been looked after, examples of these German sedans can vary. Expect to pay between $4,000 and $13,000 depending on condition and mileage. Average mileage for a car of this age is 100,000km to 250,000km.
Being a luxury car, the 1999 BMW 318i E46 sedan does come with a decent equipment list. This includes 15-inch steel wheels, an AM/FM radio with an in dash CD player, a six-speaker sound system, remote central locking, electronic climate control, front and rear auto power windows, steering wheel audio controls, intermittent windscreen wipers, a leather steering wheel and gear knob, electronic mirrors, a tilt and telescopic steering wheel and cloth manually adjustable seating. Safety equipment includes eight-airbags, anti-lock brakes (ABS), traction control, electronic stability control and an engine immobiliser.
When new, the 1999 BMW 318i Sedan cost $54,370 plus on-road costs though our test car which is fitted with an automatic transmission and cost $56,170 plus on-road costs. Adjust for inflation and that comes to $98,035 in today’s money, making it pretty expensive new. Competitors to the 318i in 1999 were the $47,950 Audi A4 sedan, the $46,950 Alfa Romeo 156 Twin Spark, the $51,900 Lexus IS200 and the $53,000 Mercedes-Benz C180 Classic. The 1999 BMW 318i was built in South Africa.
Options available when new were our test car’s $950 cruise control and $2,550 power sunroof. Other options included leather seating for $3,860, electric front seats with driver’s memory settings for $2,750, metallic paint for $1,475, larger 15-inch alloy wheels for $1,600 and 16-inch alloys for $3,850. Our test car was painted in ‘Alpine White’.
Performance & Economy:
Powering the 1999 BMW 318i is a 1.9-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine that is also found under the bonnet of the BMW Z3. It produces 87kW of power and 180Nm of torque and sprinted from 0-100km/h in 12.6-seconds. The standard transmission was a five-speed manual but our test car was fitted with the optional four-speed torque converter automatic.
The engine under the bonnet of the 318i is adequate for a car of this size, though it is not powerful by any means. Due to the weight of the 3 Series (a tare mass of 1,332kg) and the low power output, the 318i goes nowhere in a hurry. The engine itself though is smooth and offers very little vibration into the cabin. The automatic transmission shifts smoothly and does a good job of trying to hide the lack of power from the engine. Other 3 Series models were also available with bigger engines like the 2.5-litre straight six in the 325i.
Being a BMW, you would expect the E46 318i to be a dynamic package and that’s at least partly true. The handling ability is excellent for an over 20-year old executive sedan. The ride – likely due to the small steel wheels – is compliant and offers great ride comfort.
The 1999 BMW 318i had a claimed average fuel consumption figure of 8.0L/100km, which was pretty good for the day. The 3-Series can run on 91RON grade fuel and has a 63-litre fuel tank.
Interior:
Opening the front door of the BMW 318i will reveal the classic and conventional looking interior. The quality of materials used in the cabin is generally really good with the exception of some hard plastics where the cup holders are. In saying this, everything has stood the test of time.
A testament to BMW build quality the interior of this 1999 318i doesn’t have any squeaks or rattles, everything is in shape and nothing is torn, excessively worn or broken. Some of the more rough examples out there may have worn seats and carpeting but this is only with hard use.
The BMW e46 3-series has such a following with mostly a younger audience which means that trim pieces and other items for this car are easy to find. There are a lot of aftermarket options for the e46 as well.
The design of the interior is classic, the curved dash of the E46 is quite modern for a 23-year old car. The steering wheel is a joy to use with steering wheel controls for the audio system and cruise control. There is also plentiful storage with two storage cubbies in front of the gear selector, a large glove box, small centre console, coin holder, door bins and map pockets.
The rear seat room in the 1999 BMW 318i is what we would call adequate. Taller passengers may struggle with leg and head room but for kids or smaller adults there will be no issues. There is no fold down centre arm rest or rear air vents. There is however a rear storage compartment where the air vents would be.
Open up the boot and you’ll find a deep and expansive boot for a smaller premium sedan. The rear seats unfortunately do not fold but there is a large amount of space in the boot. On the tailgate itself is a handy tool kit that includes all the things you would ever need to fix basic items on the 3-series.
Service & Reliability
We’ve all heard someone say ‘don’t buy an older European car’ at at least one point in our lives. Well as far as maintenance goes, the 1999 BMW 318i goes is it is relatively straight forward. While not as reliable as some of its Australian and Japanese rivals, the BMW 3 Series is a pretty solid car.
One of the more common issues with the E46 3-Series is oil leaks. Specifically from the rocker and valve covers. Over time the gaskets can perish and mean oil leaks which can cause smoke or a dirty driveway. Other areas where oil can leak from the 3 Series are the rear differential and the rear main seal.
Another common issue that may need attention on these older 3 Series models is the cooling system. BMW uses some plastic parts throughout the cooling system such as the coolant reservoir which can become brittle with age and crack. This will then cause the car to overheat as the engine will not be getting enough coolant.
As far as main issues with the E46 BMW there is none as major as the rear subframe cracking that some examples can have. This is not a huge problem in Australia but more on models sold in the USA. The subframe and occasionally the part of the chassis that connects to the subframe is prone to cracking. We would recommend getting this inspected by someone with a vehicle lift to make sure the issue is not prevalent.
As far as servicing and maintenance for BMW’s goes the 1999 BMW 3 Series is actually relatively straight forward. This is the era when BMW was starting to transition to more electronics and while the 318i does have a few modules controlling certain aspects of the car, it is not as complicated as the E60 BMW 5-Series (for example).
Conclusion:
While we do agree that an older European car will be more trouble than other offerings, we do love the E46 BMW 3 Series. We love how modern it looked compared to other rivals in the late 90s, as well as how good it has stood the test of time. It is a practical and fun car. We admit the 1999 BMW 318i we have here is slow, but there are other models that fix that.
So would we buy a 1999 BMW 318i in 2022? Yes, we would. They are a bargain in relative standards on the used market. They offer a premium interior with nice quality materials and a smooth drive for what seems like pennies compared to how much it cost new.
Thanks really enjoyed the detailed explanation of the interior was a great insight into this model & gave a well balanced comparison for the completion in this class.