The BMW E46 3 Series

For a kickoff, let's be honest to say that BMWs are indeed great cars. Solidly built with top-notch German engineering and precision, it is one of those cars that will give you years of faithful service - provided you take good care of it. And one of the most successful models that BMW has ever produced was the 3-Series E46. Launched in 1998, it became one of BMW's most successful 3-Series models until today - with a record sale of more than 500,000 units sold worldwide in 2002 alone.

The E46 isn't a car that is too difficult to live it. Sure, it might have aged a bit, and being German, it's no doubt packed with fancy electronic gadgetries and features, thus making it a pain-in-the-neck-car when it comes to servicing and maintenance, or worse still, when a breakdown occurs. True? Well ... Not Really. At least not in the eyes of most people anyway.

In reality, there's still a lot going for the E46, actually. Though many of its design cues were taken from its predecessor, the E36, but BMW designers "modified and redefined" the lines of the car - making it look more aggressive but yet projecting an executive-like appearance to capture the attention of the not-so-young-at-heart generation.

There's pretty much something for everyone who wants a piece of this machine. If you're on a budget and having an E46 is something that you really must have, then get one with the lowest engine specification such as the 318i. It might not have a lot grunt and oomph to push you off like a rocket on the wide and open road, but at least you can still cruise around town, bring it to clubs, or park it in front of a 5-star hotel - and it'll still give you the pose factor.

The E46 also came in coupe, touring and compact variants - though it was the coupe version that was the best-seller compared to its other three siblings. The sedan version of course, was almost always at the top of the rung due to its desirability as a family sedan by most people.

The model underwent a facelift in 2002, and the outcome which resulted from it was - the car became even more popular. Changes include a set of re-designed headlights, new bumpers and a stiffer chassis. The 318i also received a new and more powerful engine, with a horsepower increase from 116hp to 141hp.

But to be honest, if you really want to feel the raw power and grunt of a Beemer, then the 6-potters are the only way to go. Model variants for the 6-cylinder E46s came in the form of the 320i, 323i, 325i, 328i and 330i. Of course, the trump card would be the ever popular and ever-menacing M3, which was fitted with a whopping 3.2L inline-6, capable of propelling the car from 0 - 100km/h in just 4.8 seconds.

In a nutshell, the E46still captures the hearts of many people until today. True, it might not be as technologically advanced as the revolutionary E90 but it still looks stunning whenever you see one on the road these days. It's got presence. It's got style. And it definitely has got personality. And that's what makes any BMW stand out from the crowd.