Indestructable E46 320i

[Yuvan]

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:

BRILLIANT!!!!!

 

[BMW M]

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

I own a fully restored 1976 230.4 Merc and she has done around 600 000km with service books. I only drive her about 4 times a month, but that old girl will purr along at 130 km/h the whole day and stil give met 12km/lt, and such great ride comfort... They dont make cars like that anymore.

My brother owns a 2008 C180 Compressor, Ill take my old girl over his new one anyday.

 

[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.

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

Dude I don't know I went through 5 in my e90 323i and I only did 80k km'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:

Thats unbelievable

 

[rick540]

If you never have to turn the engine off it will never wear.

The actual wear that occurs during highway driving is non existant, it's start stop/warm up that kills

 

[SPIDER]

Well my 318i 99 model e46 has 409 000 on the clock and still going strong.
Many people say over 300k these motors are only driven in how true that is i dnt no. Im really itching to get a 330i e46 but that will have to wait just yet.

 

[Philip Foglar]

If you never have to turn the engine off it will never wear.

The actual wear that occurs during highway driving is non existant, it's start stop/warm up that kills

+1

I always feel so sorry for my car when it's cold and just started! If electricity wasn't so expensive I'd have my garage climate controlled to take the bite out of the winter air - have one of those wall panel heaters lying around, maybe next winter will see how effective it might be...

 

[Gerhardm32]

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

[/quote]

Dude I don't know I went through 5 in my e90 323i and I only did 80k km's

---

My dad's Honda still got the original clutch in after 334 000 km and since new in 1997 it has been his daily drive.

 

[Sankekur]

+1 on the M20, they are about as reliable as a wood-burning stove.

 

[sclass]

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

Quick derail if I may :rollsmile: : Why is it the the M30 is spoken of or held in high regard as M20s/M50s? Low stress,torquey,fewer moving parts, relatively simple design? Sounds like the perfect recipe for long life. I wonder what that modern day equivalent of the M30 is...

 

[protegetech]

had an m40 e30 that did over 350k, driven daily until cambelt snapped one day at work

 

[Psymon69]

surely if you have driven the car for almost 500K kms you know when something is about to break. sure theres always the risk but the devil you know is better than the devil you dont...

my dad is now over 250 000km on his opel astra 2.2 on original clutch but i suppose thats not really as impressive as this.