Indestructable E46 320i

[drugekull]

Hey Guys

I had Lunch with a friend of mine on Saturday and he has a 1999 320i E46

This car has given him outstanding service it has 475000 KM on the clock

He has taken it to BMW for all its services it even still on the original Clutch.

The only things that has gone wrong with it is the cooling fan wore out and the petrol tank clamp broke

What a car. When this car came out I remember a lot of talk about there 2 litre 6 engines giving lots of problems but this one has given none

My comment though was is it worth the risk to have a car this old I mean really when you get close to 500k Km's you are starting to go to the land of the unknown and you have a much higher than average posibility of a total failure that will drop you at the side of the road now add your kids and wife in the car stuck at the side of a joburg road is not a good place to be at all. I know new cars can break down as well but I would bet on a new car anyday before a car with this many Km's

I don't know guys am I off the mark here its not a affordability issue its more that his trying to proove a point now and I just don't think its worth the risk.

 

[CocoPops]

yoh.. thats seriously impressive..

BMW Power.

 

[m0lt3n]

it took my e36 318is to 336k km. And got really frustrated with everyone judging the kilos on the car. You do get issues, and some stuff like universals go en crankshaft seal and so on.

But I was never left next to the road and I seriously did not pamper this car. I did 80k km in the two years I owned her and I only sold her cause my ass itched and I couldnt see myself spending 6.8k on the broken aircon.

All the maintenance was still way less than an installment and I would still rather drive it than my wife's Hyundai i20.

I wanted to take her to 500k km just to prove a point....but eish..the itch!

 

[Chucky]

My ex business partner had a Pre-Facelift 318i with similar mileage, I think it comes down to how well you take care of the car and how you drive it.
Also if you drive in the car it still feels solid and the thought of failure is far from your mind.

 

[moranor@axis]

i dont think they unreliable... they just use the same fuel and give less power than the bigger 6s :rollsmile:

 

[rick540]

I know this is a BMW forum but when I went shopping for a mid 90's merc they are ALL on that mileage and higher, much higher I couldnt beleive it.

When I finally found one with 200K on I thought "Cool this one is only 1/4 way through it's life" and true enough for the last 18 months NOTHING has broken, it just goes and goes and goes.

The only BMW engine I know of that can do this is the M30

 

[Doomsdaya]

A guy that lives down the road from me got an e46 323i, his mileage is currently over 400K and he uses his car everyday.

 

[Yuvan]

Its all about how you maintain the car...more importantly how you drive the car, in my opinion thats how long the car will last dependant on those factors. My dad had a 4.1 inline 6 Chevy back in the day and the car clocked over back to 000....1. Ofcourse things around the motor broke but the engine itself ran, he eventually sold the car!!! He took care of the car and very seldom drove it enthusiastically, when he did he always said "just to blow all the muck out".

 

[rick540]

Its all about how you maintain the car...more importantly how you drive the car, in my opinion thats how long the car will last dependant on those factors. My dad had a 4.1 inline 6 Chevy back in the day and the car clocked over back to 000....1. Ofcourse things around the motor broke but the engine itself ran, he eventually sold the car!!! He took care of the car and very seldom drove it enthusiastically, when he did he always said "just to blow all the muck out".

Those 4.1 Chev motors were legendary I know of several that clocked back to 000.....Amazing stuff

 

[Doomsdaya]

I know this is a BMW forum but when I went shopping for a mid 90's merc they are ALL on that mileage and higher, much higher I couldnt beleive it.

When I finally found one with 200K on I thought "Cool this one is only 1/4 way through it's life" and true enough for the last 18 months NOTHING has broken, it just goes and goes and goes.

The only BMW engine I know of that can do this is the M30

I can believe this.... my neighbour got a w123 230e and drives over 500km a week for the past 25 years. Currently its mileage is at 750K and the only major problem he had was with the diff about 3 months back.

Come to think of it, theres more older mercs on the roads then older bmw's

 

[whattingh]

Hey Guys

I had Lunch with a friend of mine on Saturday and he has a 1999 320i E46

This car has given him outstanding service it has 475000 KM on the clock

He has taken it to BMW for all its services it even still on the original Clutch.

The only things that has gone wrong with it is the cooling fan wore out and the petrol tank clamp broke

What a car. When this car came out I remember a lot of talk about there 2 litre 6 engines giving lots of problems but this one has given none

My comment though was is it worth the risk to have a car this old I mean really when you get close to 500k Km's you are starting to go to the land of the unknown and you have a much higher than average posibility of a total failure that will drop you at the side of the road now add your kids and wife in the car stuck at the side of a joburg road is not a good place to be at all. I know new cars can break down as well but I would bet on a new car anyday before a car with this many Km's

I don't know guys am I off the mark here its not a affordability issue its more that his trying to proove a point now and I just don't think its worth the risk.

how do you have to drive to get 475k km on the same clutch

 

[Yuvan]

Its all about how you maintain the car...more importantly how you drive the car, in my opinion thats how long the car will last dependant on those factors. My dad had a 4.1 inline 6 Chevy back in the day and the car clocked over back to 000....1. Ofcourse things around the motor broke but the engine itself ran, he eventually sold the car!!! He took care of the car and very seldom drove it enthusiastically, when he did he always said "just to blow all the muck out".

Those 4.1 Chev motors were legendary I know of several that clocked back to 000.....Amazing stuff

true that, was an awesome car, body was tough as hell, my dad and i were talking not too long ago about the Chevy going on how we wish he hadnt sold it, the things we would have done to it, like pop a V8 in there! That car saw Kruger Park a good couple of times and Durbs atleast 7 or more times a year!!!

 

[Hellas]

Reps like Spy can also confirm that high mileage does not mean old or broken car.
I did over 300k km in my 4Y Hilux and it was still going strong, but unfortunately it landed on its roof...

 

[Yuvan]

Reps like Spy can also confirm that high mileage does not mean old or broken car.
I did over 300k km in my 4Y Hilux and it was still going strong, but unfortunately it landed on its roof...

Oh Sh!t, LOL...sorry about that. I aint a Toyota fan(thier cars) AT ALL but they make awesome bakkies!!! They are indestructable machines!!!!

 

[rick540]

Its all about how you maintain the car...more importantly how you drive the car, in my opinion thats how long the car will last dependant on those factors. My dad had a 4.1 inline 6 Chevy back in the day and the car clocked over back to 000....1. Ofcourse things around the motor broke but the engine itself ran, he eventually sold the car!!! He took care of the car and very seldom drove it enthusiastically, when he did he always said "just to blow all the muck out".

Those 4.1 Chev motors were legendary I know of several that clocked back to 000.....Amazing stuff

true that, was an awesome car, body was tough as hell, my dad and i were talking not too long ago about the Chevy going on how we wish he hadnt sold it, the things we would have done to it, like pop a V8 in there! That car saw Kruger Park a good couple of times and Durbs atleast 7 or more times a year!!!

They made a few golden jubilee anniversary versions of that Chev with a 6.8 V8 in it....I doubt any are left

 

[m0lt3n]

I think...

Less old bmw's on the road with high mileages as they are driven harder than the 1 owner old uncle mercs.
Just to keep things in perspective :rollsmile:

 

[Doomsdaya]

Reps like Spy can also confirm that high mileage does not mean old or broken car.
I did over 300k km in my 4Y Hilux and it was still going strong, but unfortunately it landed on its roof...

Oh Sh!t, LOL...sorry about that. I aint a Toyota fan(thier cars) AT ALL but they make awesome bakkies!!! They are indestructable machines!!!!

+1 Toyota bakkies are indestructable.... only way they stop working is the day it gets stolen :argh: been there done that.....

 

[Yuvan]

I think...

Less old bmw's on the road with high mileages as they are driven harder than the 1 owner old uncle mercs.
Just to keep things in perspective :rollsmile:

I agree, ALL BMWs have the sports pedigree running through its veins, whether its your 1st own or a few owns, BMW owners always sieze opportunities to drive thier cars curiously, even though BMWs are built tough, they will sustain more wear than your average automobile!

Like Jeremy Clarkson said, they are fun to drive!!!! :thumbs:

 

[Nic_s]

I know this is a BMW forum but when I went shopping for a mid 90's merc they are ALL on that mileage and higher, much higher I couldnt beleive it.

When I finally found one with 200K on I thought "Cool this one is only 1/4 way through it's life" and true enough for the last 18 months NOTHING has broken, it just goes and goes and goes.

The only BMW engine I know of that can do this is the M30

And the M20's
[video=youtube]

Now, they do pamper it, but I think that with just descent servicing you should be able to take a M20 over 500 000km.

In fact, I think 300 000 should be easy for any car if it's looked after proper. You don't need to be a perfectionist, just have things done right the first time and you should be fine :thumb:

 

[Fordkoppie]

The only BMW engine I know of that can do this is the M30

Add the M20 to that.
I am still doing my utmost best to try and break a std one within its operating parameters.

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Ah snap Nic