Does The E46 Compact Deserve All The Hate???
The BMW E46 Compact is a small BMW, based on the E46 3-series. It’s predecessor, the E36 Compact was a pretty big success as it was also sold in the USA. This new one though, was supposed to be more refined and comfortable compared to the old one. The car was only produced for 4 years from 2000-2004, when it was replaced by the 1-series. It never really caught on, and has been the laughing stock for BMW-fans for years.
If you ask any person with a bit of knowledge about cars and BMWs: “what’s the ugliest/worst BMW ever?” it’s i great chance the answer will be the E46 Compact. Most people complain that the front-end is ugly and that it’s not a proper 3-series and only half a car and so on. I actually own an E46 Compact (the blue one in the top picture actually) and for that reason I have to deal with the haters quite often. Just the other day, two of my friends simply laughed in my face and shouted: “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE???” when I told them I owned one.
I admit, yes it’s not the prettiest car on the planet, and its front may take some getting used to, but it definitly stands out from the crowd. When I first saw one of these in a car park many years ago, I thought it was the coolest Bimmer I had ever seen, and I still think that to some extent. If you remember back in the days, BMW was a bit of a special thing and something people didn’t see very much. Nowadays, atleast in Norway, BMWs are a really common sight, and have been for a long time. You don’t have to stay long before you have spotted pretty much every recent BMW model (except the M-models and other special models…), but I have pretty much never seen an E46 Compact. I can recall seing three, the one in the car park that time, one parked outside a house in my neighbourhood and my own. Where I’m going with this is that most affordable BMWs aren’t very special anymore, and the exception is the E46 Compact. So since I’m a petrol head and a bit of a individualist (hope that’s how you spell it), I wanted something special when I bought a car. Furthermore, I wanted something that has decent handling, doesn’t cost a fortune and is reliable.
The Compact is all those things. The steering is actually sharper with a quicker rack than an ordinary E46 saloon, to offer better handling. And I have to say that the handling really is superb. The steering is direct and has a nice weight to it (I find many cars these days having a ridiculously light steering), the suspension is firm, but comfy and the gearchange is nice. I would actually go so far as claiming that the E46 Compact is one of the most perfect BMWs from the recent years. I believe it’s every thing a BMW should be. It’s not terrificly practical (a BMW is a car for people who like driving and some luxury, not the big, space-needing family), but it’s spacious enough (an original ad for this car claimed you could fit a washing machine in the boot) and you can travel four persons in comfort. It’s definitly a driver’s car with really good handling, which every BMW should have. Back in the days, BMW had the shark nose to stand out from the crowd, today it hasn’t really got anything now that Chris Bangle left (I know he had nothing to do with this one). The E46 Compact on the other hand, is something that people can discuss. Some people hate the looks, and I like that for a car; that it looks special enough so that not everyone likes it. Moving on, the quality feel is there, it feels well built and everything you touch inside feels nice and lavish (HA funny word). In my mind, this car ticks all the criterias for being a BMW, you can even get it with a 6 cylinder engine!
To answer the top question: NO! It doesn’t deserve all the hate! It’s a brilliant little car, and yes I can’t convince everyone to like the looks, but that doesn’t mean the whole car is bad! Take the Audi R8 for example, I’ve never been a fan of its looks, but I can’t deny it’s a brilliant super car. I have one thing to say to those who hates on this car, go look at it in real life and take a drive, then you will hopefully understand.
Thank you for reading! (if you just skipped the whole text, and commented some s**t: may a donky take a dump on your car :))
Comments
Nice write up, really enjoyed it.
Thanks buddy! 🙂
Quite an old post but I’m a fellow Compact owner too. I agree, it’s a great little car and I love mine. Needs some better looking rims though.
Ey, I had completely forgotten about this post :’D Thanks though, and nice car! They’re awesome aren’t they?
Hey Mags! Thanks for this writing! It is super. I am from Hungary but partly grew up and living in Germany. My favorite car has always been the E46 coupe. For me that’s the non plus ultra. Simply the most beautiful car ever. And still it is. During my student years I bought an E46 Compact, because that was more “rational”. But now, I just LOVE the car. I wanted to keep it for one year, but now we are entering the second. I have never felt that this is the ugliest Beemer and honestly, don’t even understand how can somebody think that… I mean I did not like it when I saw the forst series with the Lexus-optic tail lights but I have a warm feeling whenever I take a look at mine. And… EVERY single time I park the car somewhere, I take a last look back and I just love the look. Okay, mine has M Optics and I am sure I would not feel the same without it, but like that… I have the feeling I just have to keep it. :) It has over 200.000 km now and yes, a new car would be reasonable. But I sjut love how it looks. If you compare it to the E46 Sedan… For me, it is no question which one is more cool… I mean from the front… The back is always arguable, but the front is a fair competition. All in all I think, E46 Compact owners has nothing to be ashamed about. Moreover… Mine is 15 yeasr old and still looks classy. Classier than most new cars. So just chin up Compact drivers!
Wow dude, thanks! Love to hear about other people who love Compacts :D
I own one too. A 320td with Pack M. I can admit that the tail lights and the “short” rear migh not appeal to eveyone, but who cares, it has a fantastic handling, awesome mpg, low insurance cost and BMW reliability. I couldn’t ask for more.
Plus the fact that this model is not seen very oftenly, therefore the desing is much more updated than the regular e46 sedan (in my opinion)
Its my first car. Its fantastic.