New (old) Car

Great looking car! You said the first couple you test drove pulled to the left, is that a common problem with them?

Im considering buying one - but unsure whether to spend more and buy one from the dealer and get the warranty etc., or just buy a well looked after one privately for cheaper and save a big pot of money for when something goes wrong. Did you consider this when buying?

Cheers!
 
mrk said:
Now that's a price!

I'm guessing they didn't facelift the e46 m3 ?
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They did in 2003 but only with a few tweaks. LED rears and some more stuff as standard + some new ICE options and SMGII.


Im considering buying one - but unsure whether to spend more and buy one from the dealer and get the warranty etc., or just buy a well looked after one privately for cheaper and save a big pot of money for when something goes wrong. Did you consider this when buying?


I considered this and my budget was 16k so I have stashed a bit away for if it goes wrong etc. Taking it to Simpson motorsport to get it all checked out to. I hope to keep the car for 3-5 years, and it will be going on track and round europe. If anything brakes I hope upgrade it, doing as much of the work myself as possible.


Great looking car! You said the first couple you test drove pulled to the left, is that a common problem with them?


Sort of... 19s + basic brakes + 343bhp + harsh driving = a habit of eating rear bushes and springs = random pulling to the left or right under all sorts of conditions.

Curiously the two older ones I have drive (mine and an SMG) didn't pull me around soo much. But the CS and a late 53 plate definitely did!
 
thepharcyde said:
:o ok, what would that have done to the whole block though?
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They replaced the entire block! The service history even shows a proper run in service :D. The old block died at 24k and this one has only 45k on it since the end of 2003.

So far done 3k in it myself, averaging around 26mpg. I saw 32 on a long run of motorway driving and 15-17mpg having a play last last Sunday with my friends z4m in Dorset.

Problems so far seem to be:
The handbrake is **** and needs a new cable.
Clunking into first and reverse occasionally - getting the dif oil changed
Sleeping - As a result of being too excited I have been sleeping like a kid on Christmas Eve since getting it.
 
thepharcyde said:
the BMW's ive ever own and driven all seem to have weak handbrakes which are also prone to squeaking when getting in and out of the car. Always left mine in gear.
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Happens on all E46 !

The handbrake is often tightened if you MOT it at a dealer if it's become loose, no charge, standard thing they do I was told when I mentioned the handbrake felt stiffer when I got my car back last time.

The squeeling is not fixable IIRC :p
 
mrk said:
Happens on all E46 !

The handbrake is often tightened if you MOT it at a dealer if it's become loose, no charge, standard thing they do I was told when I mentioned the handbrake felt stiffer when I got my car back last time.

The squeeling is not fixable IIRC :p
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They fixed the squeaking on both of my 330's. Only thing the dealers were able to do around my area. It was the same on the 1 series loaner as well though
 
mrk said:
Did they say how they fixed it? my dealer says it's normal !
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dunno some adjustment i thought it was suspension related at first. love the way that if they cannot locate the issue it immediately becomes 'normal' no disrespect to BMW owners on here but BMW dealers are crap and obviously inconsistent
 
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