E46 325i Auto Advice

[DXXL]

Hey guys

Yesterday I had a look at an E46 325i Auto, 2003 model with 150k on the clock, and I just want to find out some things:

1. The seller told me that some of the people who had a look at the car before me had mentioned the auto gearboxes on these cars are troublesome. Is this true?

2. I took the car for a drive and it changes smoothly, no lag in gear changes and honestly I could only tell the box had changed gears by the tone of the engine. However when stationary and in drive or reverse, there is some vibration going through the car. Not bad or hectic, but it is there. When in motion there is no vibration at all. Any ideas what this could be?

3. The steering seems a bit too light. I've had an M Sport E46 before and I know I cant really compare the two, but I dont think it should be as light as it was. It felt as if there was no precision in the steering when turning. I'm pretty sure that's not normal. Any ideas what could be the cause for this?

And that's pretty much the only issues with the car. There's some cosmetic issues, but nothing major that can't be sorted out quickly.

Is there anything else I should look out for?

Thanks guys!!

 

[GPGrobler]

If you have vibrations with the car stationary it can be a the gearbox mountings and, or engine mountings which are worn or loose. Not meaning to rain on your parade, but if you knew BMW's like I do, you would stay away from a used BMW with an automatic gearbox.

I own a BMW which had it's auto gearbox changed 6, yes, six times during it's lifetime according to the service records in the owner's handbook. When I got the car, it's auto gearbox was dead once more, fortunately I had another BMW with a perfectly good manual gearbox, so the car was converted to manual and has not let me down once since I have owned it.

 

[DXXL]

I own a BMW which had it's auto gearbox changed 6, yes, six times during it's lifetime according to the service records in the owner's handbook. When I got the car, it's auto gearbox was dead once more, fortunately I had another BMW with a perfectly good manual gearbox, so the car was converted to manual and has not let me down once since I have owned it.

I've owned 2 previous Bmw's which were auto's and I honestly had no issues with either of them. I had a '96 328i which had 250k on the clock when I sold it and a '03 320i Individual which had around 118k on the clock when my old man wrote it off. Between those 2 cars I've had issues with cooling, suspension, power steering, electrics etc, but never an issue with the gearbox.

Also, my mom still has an '05 330d currently with 190km on the clock, and so far, no gearbox issues either.

 

[Maljan]

3. The steering seems a bit too light. I've had an M Sport E46 before and I know I cant really compare the two, but I dont think it should be as light as it was. It felt as if there was no precision in the steering when turning. I'm pretty sure that's not normal. Any ideas what could be the cause for this?

I have a pre-facelift 325i and the steering on it is much lighter and number than that of my E39 530i. So what you are feeling might just be normal. I can remember that the road tests at the time criticized the E46 for lack of steering feel. BMW changed the suspension geometry ever so slightly when the facelift came out in an attempt to address this.

 

[Budleigh]

Auto gearboxes are only as unreliable as the maintenance done on them. Unless it has a GM box, which was not fit for purpose.

 

[OppositeLockMT]

E46 328i (Auto) at 153k and still going strong, touch wood. I drive it pretty hard too.

 

[Ratslaaf]

I've had many, many Auto BMWs. The only issue I have is with my current E90, but I have a suspicion as to why this box is giving me a headache. I'm facing a rebuild on this one but I knew it from when I got the car, although the dealer that sold me the car denied there being a problem, typical... In hind sight, I would've still taken the car as it had pretty much all the options I was looking for.

 

[Blue Shirt]

I have had the following cars all with auto boxes, none with any issues at all:

E30 325i - accident write-off at 180k km
E36 328i - sold at 160k km
E39 523i - sold at 150k km
E39 530i - sold at 210k km
E83 X3 3.0i - still going strong at 225k km
E70 X5 4.8i - still going strong at 184k km

The secret to a lasting autobox is not to believe BMW that it is filled with "lifetime oil", to service the box properly when it is due, and not to abuse the box.

By contrast, I have had other manual gearbox cars on which the either the clutches/DMFs' or the gearboxes were replaced long before 100k km.

I have had much better experience with my autobox cars than with any of my manual gearbox cars in terms of reliability and lifetimes.

 

[DXXL]

Thanks guys for all your input! I decided to take the car, fetched her this morning and been driving her all day! So far I am really happy with the car. She's really been well looked after.