E46 advice...

[Philip Foglar]

Hi guys,

I am thinking of buying my Wife an E46. My budget is going to around 80 - 90k ideally, so a 330i is most likely out. But a 325i or even a 328i could work. Only looking at manual too. I have seen a few on the Gum and various other sites with varying mileages from 150 - 250k km. Now we know these cars are as tough as nails, but is a 150 - 200k km E46 still safe to look at? Also most that were in my price and mileage preference were 2000 - 2002, so pre-facelift models too...

My father in law has a 2001 E46 328i A, so at least he has plenty of knowledge and experience to help.

Philip

 

[MikeR]

http://johannesburg.gumtree.co.za/c...Parts-cars-R35K-BMW-325-CI-W0QQAdIdZ272668450

 

[P1000]

At that mileage, it only depends on how it was cared for. You could find a car wit 150k on that gives you more problems than one with 250k on. But it is very difficult to say if you are buying a lemon. That said, taking the manual eliminates a lot of your problems. Then overhaul the cooling system after you get the car.

 

[Philip Foglar]

E46 Coupes are nice, but a four door makes more sense for my Wife. True, will have to take a look at a few and see what they are like. Saw a nice 325i Exclusive with Sportspack which looks very nice, 90k and has about 150k km on the clock. Lots of E36's for silly money, but they're getting very long in the tooth!

 

[P1000]

The E46 is a much safer car than the E36, so I would not even consider an E36 for the wife. You can get E39's for silly money as well, and they are generally looked after better than E46's, just because the type of person that buys a 5 series is generally older and more mature etc than an E46 buyer...

 

[Philip Foglar]

Have actually seen a few nice looking E39 528is manuals - always loved those, and not easy to find in manual! I think the E46 is the way to go though.

 

[Philip Foglar]

Hmm, 2000 Bmw 325i Manual Individual for R89k with 155k km and a 1999 BMW 328i Manual R71k with 204k km. I am leaning towards the 325i though, lower mileage and very nice colour - it's like a metallic brown! :drool: Not the X1 chocolate ugly brown mind you...

 

[zaleonardz]

I am sitting in the exact same boat as you.

FIrstly, I agree with P1000, E36 safety is nowhere close to an E46, so dont even go there.

E46's are starting to become more rare, and the traditional luxury car dealers do not like stocking them these days, so it falls to a dealership class one step down. THis means that there is less backup.

They have their fair share of problems, but its all known, the most common being the transmissions, cooling, suspension components. rear sub frame cracking..

But if looked after, they are a treat as well, dads parter's 330i has over 400 on the clock and going strong.

I overpaid for a prestine or nearly prestine 318i. Only reason why I went for the 318 is that this will be my wife's first rear wheel drive car, and I dont want her with too much power to start off with, a lil 318i is just perfect, besides she does not even drive her golf hard.

Let us know what you find :thumbsup:

 

[Philip Foglar]

Yep, E46 is my aim, the E36 is attractive to the wallet but I know it is not going to be the most practical and safe option (most important). And I like the fact that the E46 is so popular still, plenty of knowledge here and I reckon many specialists out there. Also the fact that my father in law has a 2000 model 328i which has experienced most it not all the major niggles that these cars suffer from helps. These would most likely have the 5 speed manual gearbox? The 6 speed manual was only from the 330i I think??

 

[zaleonardz]

I think there was a sportpack option or something that came with the 6 speed, dont know the E46's that well, but a retrofit is very easy.

 

[Philip Foglar]

Hmm, that 325i Individual seemed to have a sportpack option and on the interior shot it had a leather sports gear-knob... Maybe a 6 speed! If not it's no big deal, but would be nice!

 

[zaleonardz]

I am not sure of my facts though....

 

[Philip Foglar]

Will arrange to have a look at the car in the next day or so and see. For good measure will look at that 328i and maybe a few more, but so far this 325i has my attention, I reckon my Wife will go nuts when she sees it for the first time!

 

[Karthik]

Sorry guys but with that mileage you looking for problems , just my opinion . E46's have been driven hard mostly . Safer bet is the E39 . Just my 2cents

 

[zaleonardz]

Well,

Perhaps you should go look at it before you take your wife with.

I am so full of crap when it comes to buying cars that my wife would fall in love with one and wants to take it home, and I'll stand there arguing with the sales dude telling him whats wrong with his car, and eventually end up walking away from it.

THis pisses woman off, and they know they really should understand, but alas... they dont...

 

[Philip Foglar]

For the moment my Wife has no idea, so just looking around first. But yes, will most likely go and have a look at it myself or see if her dad will come with. There is a younger 325i for more money but higher mileage, I think just over 200k km, so may also be an option. Will see...

I am a bit scared of high mileage on any car including an E46, but I reckon if looking carefully one can be quite lucky, better than going for a rubbish econobox that will fall apart anyway. Also 5 Series is a little big for her, up my budget and then I can start looking at 120i or something, but I want her to also have the pleasure of a 6I!

 

[zaleonardz]

Dont be scared of high miledge bm's. as long as its a manual.

There is such good value in the E39's its almost criminal not to buy them, but my wife will bash the crap out of it as well, or maybe she wont, but it is a bigger car, if your not used to it...

I saw a E65 750i going today for 250k... do you have any clue how much motorcar that is for that amount of money. You cant even spec a toyota runx properly for that, so ya the econobox's are lame....

anyways, keep us updated....

 

[Philip Foglar]

And higher mileage also means more open road driving than town driving, so potentially less wear and tear. During my searching the other night I did come across a few very nice looking manual E39 528i's! Not to mention lots of other beauties!

Well it's like my E90, for the money I paid for it I could have maybe bought a new Corolla of some kind.... NO!

Will definitely you updated!

 

[Hellas]

What about Gizmo's dad's E39?

(Giz, I'll take the spare tyre as commission )

 

[P1000]

What about Gizmo's dad's E39?

(Giz, I'll take the spare tyre as commission )

It's an auto...