Category: Affordable Sports 
Price Range: £21,525 to £38,060
Usual superb level of build quality. Entertaining handling and excellent six-cylinder engines; 330 Ci is great fun to drive and the 330d is unrivalled in this class.
Restrained styling blunts its sporting edge, as does the steering feel and the body's weight; some slightly cheap-looking interior trim; fiddly (optional) SSG gearbox.
A little less sporty than its predecessor, but even more of a quality object. Still highly desirable, and the default-option choice for keen drivers in this sector - these cars are popular for good reason.
Better-built than the earlier E36 models, this series has proved reasonably sturdy and reliable; problems with the E46 have included heater and thermostat failure, turbo problems with 330i, ignition coil problems and auto gearbox troubles.
BMW is renowned for the quality of its engineering, and you can be sure that all mechanical components will have been tested exhaustively.
Even the feel of the switchgear, levers and controls is just right, responding with precision and efficiency. There's a couple of jarring notes in an otherwise nicely designed cabin, however: some rather nasty grey plastic on the lower section of the dash and fascia, and the cheap-looking brushed aluminium-effect metallic trim detailing. These touches are out of character - though you won't notice them once you're on the move. Anecdotal evidence suggests that longer term, the cabin may be prone to the odd loose bits 'n' pieces.
