E46 318i or 320d

[zaleonardz]

Hi Folks,

SO I lost that other merc for the wifey due to timing factors, these things happen, car was more then what I wanted to spend anyway...

So next up, a very short term car (1 year maybe) for the wifey is a 318i E46 2002 model, 186 on the clock with full service record (unverified as of yet) from club motors randburg.

Car seems good, needs minor touch ups, linkages feel bit loose, prob needs new discs and pads in front, but considering what I paid for a disc on the E39 each, thats dirt cheap...

Car is a manual, has rear PDC,

When did the facelift come out on the E46, I think this is a facelift, tyres good for a bit, and car looks to be accident free, which is impressive since its 8 years old....

Now my thinking, motors are reliable, parts are a dime a dozen, light on fuel, and at 75k I cant go wrong right ?

I have asked them to drop it onto a lift + take off a front wheel for me next week and I will go and DIS the car next week as well..

But makes sense ?

I will of course to a major service when I get it..

 

[Sankekur]

Yup it will be a f/l (saloon f/l's came from 2001 onward). It seems like a good deal, though I would just do some more research regarding the price, it just feels a bit high to me (but maybe I am insane )

 

[Jandre]

I also think the price might be a bit steep for the mileage.

 

[moranor@axis]

i got my car with 160 on the clock for 65k so seems i bit steep for me, but im not very clued up on prices... i would rather get a 6cyl if you can just because the 318i seems to burn just as much fuel...

 

[zaleonardz]

Fair enough, car is at full retail, I did notice that, but they are offering me the highest trade on the 7 series without me walking out with 150k plus car.... I know I am overpaying by about 15k, but I am loosing 15k a month in depreciation alone on the 7 series... so from that viewpoint...

I will however fight on the price a bit more I think....

 

[Sankekur]

In that case it does make sense, but still every bit off the price will help, and it can't hurt to try

@moranor: The 4pot in the f/l is a lot better and more advanced than the on in the pre-f/l so I would assume it will also be a bit more economical.

 

[zaleonardz]

http://www.willowcrestmotors.co.za/car_318i-(E46)-FACELIFT-BMW_2655_0_index.php

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Erk.. got the miledge wrong I see 168 and not 186....

 

[Jandre]

If you can get rid of the 7 for a decent trade in, then it might just work. Saying that, you might end up driving the 318 for more than 1 year. Unless of course you don't mind being a few k short on settlement at the end of that year.

 

[zaleonardz]

Jandre,

With the amount of money I am going to be saving in car payments and insurance, if I take my december bonus and double up on the payments (still have more money at the end of the month then I do now), I will kill the finance on this car hopefully within a year.

Thats the entire idea behind this.... by selling the golf and the 7, I am cutting my monthly car payments by half... and I still got an M out of it

 

[Jandre]

From a financial point of view you have obviously done your sums. I say go for it.

 

[Sankekur]

From a financial point of view you have obviously done your sums. I say go for it.

Well only after he has given it a thorough going over of course

 

[Spy007]

Seems a bit pricey. Got gopher 2005 E46 with 100k on the clock for 100k. That was Feb 17th last year.

 

[zaleonardz]

Well it takes me about 3 to 4 hours to buy a car. The sales people hate me...

Specially those who's bosses make them stand with the customer.

First port of call I think would be to validate from BMW Motorplan and club motors the service history, thats a damm good start.

The car only had one service done by an independant at like 120,000 or something, the rest have all been with club motors, provided of course you believe the book, which I dont, out of principle..

 

[Sankekur]

Take your own diagnostic equipment along just to scare them a bit

Edit: Or maybe take a bunch of the e46 guys from the forum along to scrutinise the car, all pitching in their own e46 of course

 

[zaleonardz]

Sporting deathray sat dishes..... I can see it now

 

[Sankekur]

Lol, picture it ten or so guys all in e46's pitching up with jacks etc and start scrutinising the car how can you not want that

 

[zaleonardz]

So a 2003 E46 320d with 160 on the clock is a bad idea right, no matter how you slice it ?

I am of the first to say that people are stupid for not wanting to look into older model diesel's, and its simply irrational, however some googling and a bit of reading here leads me to believe that its just a dumb idea.

Did the 320d get an uprated motor in the E46 facelift ?

Oh by the way, that 318 I was looking at, lets just say... No thanks..

 

[Hellas]

Facelift 320d have the M47TU with 110kW where the pre had the M47 100kW.

I replaced my turbo on 16*k km and that is about all the damaged I had thus far. From 94k km to 179k. touch wood.

 

[zaleonardz]

Was the M47TU more reliable then the previous.

The car is a manual, but it has its gearbox changed at about 85,000 from BMW. Its also had a turbo (early in its life)

What did that turbo job cost you, what if I took the turbo out and just have it rebuilt.

 

[Hellas]

I did the whole turbo job myself. Except the turbo rebuild part.
Stripped everything as I did a front bumper replacement, swirl flap removal, EGR cleaning, cat removal and the turbo swop all in one. And all this was alone with only a 2ton jack and a pair of 2t stands.

Turbo cost was R6k (rebuilt) and I only did an oil service and air filter change afterwards. Whole turbo related cost was not more than R9k (service and parts included)

Worst part of the experience was the two bolts holding the exhaust to the turbo. Remove the steering from below and you have maninga space :facepalm:

LZ, you already did a gearbox swap so this one should be as easy as making bob your second cousin's mother in law.