In Bangladesh, European classics are often treated like ticking time bombs—admired from a distance, avoided in reality. The fear of costly maintenance keeps most enthusiasts from venturing anywhere near them. But for Rezwanul Ahmed Shakib, that challenge is exactly the appeal. A marketing manager at DHS Motors Ltd., Shakib's life revolves around cars to the point where passion and profession blur together. Known in local car circles for his sharp eye behind the camera and his role in shaping Bangladesh's growing enthusiast community, he's not someone who simply talks cars—he lives them. And for the past few years, he's been living with an old Bavarian relic: a 2005 BMW 318i E46.
Among used European cars, few inspire both nostalgia and anxiety quite like the BMW E46. Built at a time when BMW's slogan, Sheer Driving Pleasure, meant something, it now walks the fine line between modern classic and potential financial hazard.
This wasn't Shakib's first dance with temperamental machines. Before the BMW came a Mazda RX-8 Type S—an intoxicatingly fun car, but about as practical as a race suit in a monsoon. Its rotary engine demanded fuel, oil, and patience in equal measure. The plan was to settle into something more civilized—perhaps a Toyota Mark II X110, a proven Japanese cruiser.
Then came one fateful scroll through Facebook Marketplace.
"I came across a BMW E46," Shakib recalls. "Toyingly, I sent it to my friend, telling him one of these would be amazing. That triggered an emotion I felt back in Malaysia at Sepang, while driving an M2 Competition. I wondered if I'd ever get to daily-drive a Beemer."
What started as casual window shopping turned into a chase. He tracked down the seller and, after a bit of negotiation, took home a locally bought 318i that had only 19,700 kilometers on the clock since it rolled out of Executive Motors in 2005. It wasn't fast, but it was special—a European dream realized.
As with all old BMWs, the honeymoon phase didn't last long. "It's a running joke that one of the four windows of an E46 will never work—and mine followed tradition," Shakib quipped. OEM parts were expensive, and BMW's habit of assigning unique part numbers to nearly every screw didn't help.
"All that a European requires is the drive," he says. "A European sitting idle will always throw tantrums."
Once the car was back in shape, the 318i became something more than just a daily—it became therapy. The E46 has that rare balance few cars ever achieve. It's compact, beautifully proportioned, and equipped with hydraulic steering that modern BMWs can only dream of. Even with its modest four-cylinder engine and five-speed manual, it connects driver and machine in a way few modern cars do.
"I believe the BMW E46 has aged immensely well," Shakib says. "It's a timeless design that bridges two eras. Anyone who's driven a BMW from 2000 to 2010 knows what 'sheer driving pleasure' really means."
On Bangladesh's unpredictable roads, the car manages to feel both connected and forgiving. "All you need is a good playlist," he adds, gesturing toward his aftermarket infotainment system. "It's a driver's car, not a gadget."
Of course, maintenance remains a rite of passage for any E46 owner. Shakib's early experience wasn't pleasant. "It was a nightmare at first—until I stopped looking for parts on BMW websites," he admits. "Once I started searching through manufacturer-supplier networks, things became surprisingly reasonable." A full service now costs around 10,000 to 12,000 taka—tolerable, if one stays proactive. The car rewards attention and punishes neglect.
Then there was that unforgettable day when the car decided to make an impression of its own. "The fuel sensor had gone rogue from sitting idle for so long," Shakib says. "I was meeting a lovely lady for the first time and decided to drop her off. Entering the expressway, the E46 stalled—with the gauge still showing a quarter tank."
Stranded by the roadside, help arrived in the form of friends carrying a jerry can. The lady stayed, conversation flowed—and three months later, she married him. "The E46 was the best wingman I could've asked for," he grins. "It even became my wedding car."
Like any enthusiast, Shakib dreams of upgrades. "There's always an inner voice begging me to do a 330i swap with the M54B30, or even an N55 turbo motor," he admits. "I'm fascinated by BMW's inline-six engines—the next best thing to a JZ-GTE."
But for now, though, the 318i remains mostly stock, apart from M-Sport bumpers and the kilometers added to its once-frozen odometer. "Sometimes I want to hand it to my kids one day; other times, I think of moving on. It's uncertain for now," he says.
The E46 318i isn't fast, exotic, or particularly rare. But in a country where most old Europeans have long been stripped for parts, keeping one alive borders on devotion. It's not about speed or prestige—it's about connection. Shakib sums it up simply: "Speed isn't my priority. It's the roads traveled."
In a world chasing electric efficiency and digital perfection, there's something deeply satisfying about keeping an old soul alive—one gear at a time.
Photos: Akif Hamid
