BMW E46....money pit?

There are a lot of potential problems, ignoring that mine is an auto also.
Personally, unless you really need a diesel i'd go with the petrol.

I love my car, I really do. But it's becoming more costly than it is worth. That is for me though and my car now has almost 140k on it. A newer one with less miles might be good for a few years.
 
Wicksta said:
No, in 150,000 miles it's had those replaced. :p

The cooling system is still the original one as well.
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You bought it on 139k. It has just had the autobox replaced. Say at 135k then.

Its now on 150k having had a steering pump replaced.

Therefore in 15k miles two major components have failed - probably £2k worth for the man in the street to get fixed.

It doesnt matter what happened with the first owner from new because you are not the first owner and it isnt new. None of these cars are new anymore, all that matters is the reliability once they begin to age and get owned by a succession of people who delude themselves into thinking that because its a BMW it cant possibly go wrong.

Just go in with your eyes open. You might never have anything go wrong. In that case, great! But equally, something might go wrong, or lots of things might go wrong. Its just how it works with old complex cars which are not as reliable as Japanese ones, generally speaking.
 
I'm not disagreeing with you fox, I'm just saying just because it's an e46, cheap and quite old then it's not all horror stories. I was expecting a lot more outgoings than I've had and no doubt I've been lucky. My 3 year old E60 has had more problems than the old e46 that cost me 5k!
 
I dont think they are horror stories, I just think people need to be realistic.

A BMW is not a car to buy if you want to buy a cheap car on a budget. Now they are £3k, people who buy £3k cars and need to break the credit card out every time it needs road tax think 'Wow, what can go wrong?'

And the answer is 'lots'.
 
Agreed. :)

I'm under no false impression that I won't have to replace my cooling system at some point in the future for example. ;)
 
With regards to inspections - should an 03 330D on 86K have had at least one Inspection 2? At 60K is it?

Would it possible to find out from BMW? The 330D I like hasn't got much paperwork other than a stamped service book. Oil and brake fluid at 20K, Inspection 1 at 40K, oil service at 64K, another oil service at 68K having had a replacement turbo (18 months ago) then oil and brakes again recently at 86K. Had front wishbones replaced 15 months ago.

I collect every bit of paperwork for all my cars. Would the lack of history and turbo replacement point towards neglect? Kinda does to me :(

Edit - quite like the following

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....373079253&category=9837&_trksid=p5197.c0.m619

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-BMW-...ps=63&clkid=1524671085477367922&_qi=RTM742989

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-BMW-...0050473?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item20bb395629

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2881892.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2956472.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3014428.htm

The 1st PH advert was my leading man but have only just noticed the last one which has edged into the lead.
 
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Yes, first Inspection 2 should be around 60k.

The history on this one sounds dubious. 24k between services is wrong on an E46 - the servicing has been ignored clearly and run way past it's intervals.

You will find lots around with this sort of history - it's indicative of people without the means or the inclination to run the car properly. Find another.
 
thanks for all replies makes interesting reading :) still unsure though as some seem fine and others seem not.

Be fine if its not a Friday car :)
 
Its not really about a Friday car its about how its been driven, looked after and maintained a long with quite a healthy slice of luck.
 
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2956472.htm said:
No expense spared in maintenance of the car and it is well looked after
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Well....the Maxxis tyres tell a slightly different story. The amount of crap 330's that were out there 18 months ago when i got mine was astonishing - now, i'm not sure i would bother.

EDIT: TBH though, that one one looks like the best of the bunch, apart from the crap tyres. Still not sure why you're going for a 8 year old 330d though. All that has to happen is 1 injector die and any saving for that year by having a diesel has been erased.
 
[TW]Fox
ok fair point.
It's got full BMW service history and is pretty spotless for its age and has been owned from new by the person who is selling it.

thanks
 
deano said:
the one i'm looking at has contisport contact all round with two new ones fitted recently :D
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It's a good sign.

I always think "Well, if they spent £700 on tyres and they could have just instead spent £400 easily on ditchfinders, they've probably not neglected other things on the car, like bushes, servicing, repairs, brakes etc"
 
[TW]Fox;19642839 said:
The one you've found sounds promising then. All the good signs seem there.
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some pics

IMAG0200.jpg


IMAG0208.jpg


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IMAG0209.jpg


IMAG0205.jpg


IMAG0206.jpg
 
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