Most reliable E46

[Jacques668866]

Guys,

No i am totally confused...

I thought the 330 to be the most reliable and cost effective and efficient engine to run in the E46 after the 318.

Now i am reading that the 330's have exceptionally high maintenance costs and the 318's suffer from high oil usage amongst other issues. I have also noted that a lot of used 318's being advertised have had engine replacements between say 120k and 160k.

What in your opinion is the most reliable engine to run in the E46. If it is not for the turbo failures in the early 320d models, will it be the 320d or, beside the maintenance costs, the 330.

I think the 330's engine is one of THE best engines ever produced by BMW, but is it worth concidering the high maintenance costs?

 

[splintheter]

Hi,

I have had 3 x e46 330i's and all of them were bullet proof. I promise you I drive hard and none of them let me down...

My rule of thumb is just to ensure that the service history is up to date and legitimate (preferably by a dealership) My last 330ci in the UK had over 200 000 miles on the clock (320 000km) and It went like new...

I have had an e46 320d and an e46 325i and once again bulletproof.

I am a bit scared of 4 pot BMW motors with high mileage they dont seem any where near as good as the 6 cylinder BMW's

Thats my 2 cents anyway...

 

[badaz87]

my dad used to have a '99 320i 6cylinder... when we sold it it had 330k on the clock... it drove like brand new... its how the car has been driven and if it has been serviced regularly and properly... Personally, i would buy the 330i hands down...

 

[Hellas]

+1 on getting a 6 pot if you want long life. The 2.5 liter versions gives good economy with a long life too. We had a 96 E34 525 (autobox) in the company with 350k and still going strong.

I've got a 2003 320d with 163k and NO turbo or injector trouble. Stick to clean fuel, regular services and cooling down idling time. :thumbsup: Haven't spent a cent besides services and control arm bushes.

 

[Mike1]

Theres a 318i on gumtree with over 475 000km on the clock and FSH and its a 2004 model!

There is also a 525i with similar mileage.

Strong cars, strong engines but shit does happen.

Run the VIN and see if its a lemon or a juicy grape that will mature into wine with you.

Mike

 

[Shiroo]

I have an E46 325i 2001 model serviced at the agents on time all the time,

Never filled a drop of water or oil yet and fuel consumption is amazing.
The car is driven hard. Have 151 000 on the clock

All I changed was tyres oh and those silly window mechanisms

 

[Gizmo]

Someone has been throwing you BS! The 330i does not have high running costs at all...

You cannot go wrong with the M54 6cyl engine found in the E46. Its one of the best engines in the world and is very reliable. The only worrying factor is if you severely overheat it the cylinder bores warp oval, then you have to throw the block away. So make sure your water level is always right, do the preventitive maintainance of swapping out the water pump for a new one if you have never done that before and you will have an engine that will last forever.

 

[Jacques668866]

Thanks for the feedback guys. :thumbsup:

 

[nawtiboy]

gizmo

i have no water pump replacement

getting me worried dude

my 03 325ci has been trouble free -except i'm yet to check the control arm busehes as Gizmo said

can you do a full check over ?

rather let someone who knows what to look for and is passionate then giving it to a dealer who will say all is good

let me know dude -coming back to Sa in 2 weeks

 

[boogalo1]

Its difficult to say which one is the best engine cause me has never owned so many different E46's. I own a 320i (2.2 6 cyl M54) E46 with 157 000 km. No engine trouble so far except i have to add top up oil between the services, window mechanism change and bushes. I would say the 325 moniker has been around for some time, so surely BMW should have mastered that engine. I vote the 325 for reliability.

 

[badaz87]

[boogalo1]I would say the 325 moniker has been around for some time, so surely BMW should have mastered that engine. I vote the 325 for reliability. [/quote]

Well boogalo1, the 330i was a development of the 325i engine, which first became the 328i, which saw an increase in torque across the rev range, as well as economy... then the 328i became the 330i, with even more improvements being made... the 330i is more fuel efficient than the e36 325i it succeeds...

 

[Gizmo]

The only time the 330i will be more expensive to maintain is because it has bigger brakes which are a little bit more costly.

My 2002 330i is on 187 000km now and it runs perfect everyday, very smooth and powerful. I get 650km every tank and everyone here knows how nice she sounds. Actually I just got TNT performance headers and a new dual 57mm freeflow system from Wildcat, now the exhaust system is optimized along with the CAI I did to the stock airbox she sounds even better!

Just gotta chip it now to optimize the fuelling so I can get even more economy!

 

[Raybimmer]

What about 323i 2000 model with 125kw 2.5 double vanos motor ? Saw nice one but km about 385000 !!! R65000