Please suggest if I should buy this E46

[DieharD]

Hi all,

I am looking for a 2004 or older E46 320i/d for quite a while. This one I am looking at is a 2004 320d, 120000km on clock(which I suspect), I have test driven it, it runs very well, smooth and powerful. The only thing I suspect is the mileage, I didn't have tome to take the car to BMW dealer to check the mileage when he brought the car for test drive, he even advised me to take it to a dealer to check everything (which I will do next time I go to see the car again). There is a big problem on the service record that the last service been done in 2015 when the mileage was at 116 xxx km, but the previous service had been done in 2008 at 106 xxx km which means for 7 years the car only run 10 000 km, he explained he went back to his home country for several years, but he asked his friend to start the car a bit every week for these years. But I still suspect if he did something tricky on the clock. So please veterans give me some suggestions, I know it is bad for the car if it doesn't run for a long time. I did accelerate quite hard and drove over 100km/h couldn't feel anything wrong.

 

[Photokid]

No yearly service, or every 3 or 5 years?
What is the condition of the interior?
Steering wheel, gear lever, seat bolsters, spare wheel?

Which country is he originally from?

Vehicle did lots of mileage when during motorplan though...

 

[DieharD]

No yearly service, or every 3 or 5 years?
What is the condition of the interior?
Steering wheel, gear lever, seat bolsters, spare wheel?

Which country is he originally from?

Vehicle did lots of mileage when during motorplan though...

No yearly service, or every 3 or 5 years? That is what I am going to find out from BMW next time I go to see the car again.
What is the condition of the interior? The seats, dash board and plastic parts are all clean, except the fabric on the A pillars loses a bit, but can be fixed by hand, otherwise good condition overall.
Steering wheel, gear lever, seat bolsters, spare wheel? I haven't checked the spare wheel, will do next time as well, all others are good.

Which country is he originally from? He is from Cameroon.

 

[sash]

the history shows no service between 30k and 85k?

 

[Lizzard]

If you are planning on using this little beauty as a daily then put some money away for repairs, like the window regulator, turbo service, oil change, wishbone bushes, guilbo, water bottle (cooling system), idler pulley and an additional R10K for some other odds.

This services I have seen before, I myself bought my previous bmw E46 like that where the guy barely did like 12K kms a year. If the car rides fine, take the car to a 101 point service for comfort but just know that even if the dude did service this car constantly that things will break. It is your choice if you like the car and if the car is at a very good price then I dont see why not take it. The parts I mentioned will break regardless if the car was serviced every day or once in a decade. Just keep some extra few rands aside as the car will show its age once you start using it more then what he did.

If you are willing take it to bmw in hatfield, Uncle J and have him inspect the car for you to see what is going on with it.

Good luck with this, take it from a guy who did this thing twice, you will need to replace things but it is the normal wear.

 

[AdiS]

the history shows no service between 30k and 85k?

I noticed this as well. You should get teh motorplan history to try and piece together the history properly. But this is a red flag.

 

[kilotango]

in general turbo diesels (not only on BMW's) that dont get oil changes on time and get used alot, the oil degrades and if it sludges it can block the oil line going to the turbo.. which can mean premature turbo failure. so just be careful with this one i'd say. take it to someone who knows about Turbo's for their inspection too before committing to buy to be safe.

 

[Woodies]

Too many red flags. Walk away. You know when you find the right car, if you need other people to reassure you are making the right purchase, you probably aren't. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Photokid]

If the mileage is questionable, I wouldn't purchase, for you do not know what else is 'glossed over'. These cars wear well if looked after. This is what 200 000km and 12 years of wear looks like.
Best to check m/plan history as it may reveal more as to why a service was missed. Also check if the plan had been cancelled for any reason, before 100k kms.
Perhaps also PM Coisman to ask for assistance, for a registration check as to when the current owner purchased the vehicle. They may confirm or invalidate his story.
Though my first feeling is, like mentioned by others, walk away.

 

[Sabretooth tiger]

Do your homework properly, ask Coisman to check the e-natis for you.
When I bought my 320d on 28 000km, the book was never stamped, but the dealership pulled the MP history for me. So the book was only stamped from there on, and we completed the past service dates etc in the book.

 

[DieharD]

Thanks to all your advice and suggestions.

I phoned BMW they said the car was under MP until 2009, after that they don't have any records, this is what I am most worried, and that is why the guy was so confident to let me take the car to a dealership to check, he definitely knows they don't have the records after MP.

Anyway, as you guys suggested, I will ask help from Coisman for a further check on transfer history, maybe he can find out the mileage or whatever “glossed over” on this little beauty, lol.

If you are planning on using this little beauty as a daily then put some money away for repairs, like the window regulator, turbo service, oil change, wishbone bushes, guilbo, water bottle (cooling system), idler pulley and an additional R10K for some other odds.

That is truly my plan on this car, I am driving a F20 currently, will have to buy another car for my fiancee, but for "safety reason"(to her and to the car), I will probably let her drive the F20 and I drive the older E46 (if I can find one soon),cause she only works 3 half days per week. As you mentioned, the car truly is old, no matter how the service records look like or the mileage, I need to get prepared to save some money aside for an old car like this. Thank you for the referral in Hatfield but the car is in bruma Johannesburg, it would be embarrassed if I ask the own to get it to Pretoria just for a test, but I will take it to BMW bruma if I decide to buy the car finally.

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If the mileage is questionable, I wouldn't purchase, for you do not know what else is 'glossed over'. These cars wear well if looked after. This is what 200 000km and 12 years of wear looks like.

Thanks for the suggestion.

This beauty you have is indeed taken very well cared. I am so jealous.:thumbsup:

 

[DieharD]

Here are some pictures of the car:

 

[KevM]

That steering wheel looks like it has seen 300k kms.
Bonnet badge worn out.
Bumper damaged ang foglight broken.
Have it properly checked out...

 

[Gizmo]

I'm willing to look over the car if you wish, I'm closer than pta.

 

[DieharD]

I'm willing to look over the car if you wish, I'm closer than pta.

That would be awesome, please pm me where you are, we can arrange a time to meet up and I will drive you to see the car?

 

[Lizzard]

Have the traction error looked at please, that might cost a bit of money to repair depending on why the traction control is deactivated with the flat tire indicator.

 

[Pho3niX90]

The trifecta error might indicate tampering. When one of the modules between ABS, LM, CLUSTER has different vins it will throw the trifecta error. I had this on my 330 and the ABS module was replaced (Still had donor cars vin in). That being said could be a bunch of other things as well.

The steeringwheel does look hectic, but not everyone sweats equally from their hands. Could be also someone with very sweaty hands and not properly cleaning the steering wheel.

 

[Coisman]

I checked the car for him on Enatis... OUTSurance car... so yea :thumbdo:

 

[RAArmstrong]

Walk the F away. Run even

 

[Sabretooth tiger]

After Coisman's post, you have all the answers you need, walk away.