What to look for on an early E46 328CI
Discussion
Hi all,
First post, long time reader
Decided its time to buy a second car to compliment our BMW 120D (which is lovely and functional, but well ... a diesel).
Since its going to be a weekend toy/second car, I don't want to spend too much, so I've set a budget of £4k. I very much like the E46 coupe, and my budget will get me a nice early (1999) 328 CI steptronic with leather, cruise and all the toys.
Going to look at one on Saturday, anything I should look for or ask?
Do they have timing chains/belts that need changing? This one has done 110k miles.
Any tips welcome, and looking forward to becoming a proper pistonhead!
Cheers,
Steve.
First post, long time reader
Decided its time to buy a second car to compliment our BMW 120D (which is lovely and functional, but well ... a diesel).
Since its going to be a weekend toy/second car, I don't want to spend too much, so I've set a budget of £4k. I very much like the E46 coupe, and my budget will get me a nice early (1999) 328 CI steptronic with leather, cruise and all the toys.
Going to look at one on Saturday, anything I should look for or ask?
Do they have timing chains/belts that need changing? This one has done 110k miles.
Any tips welcome, and looking forward to becoming a proper pistonhead!
Cheers,
Steve.
never had an e46.... engines are chain driven. I am sure the rear subframe use to crack on e46's remeber reading it maybe a search in the formus may help.
Make sure the aircon works and there's plenty of water in coolant tank.
I was thinking of a 3 series for wife looked at a few and 2 had NO coolant in expantion tank
Dave
Make sure the aircon works and there's plenty of water in coolant tank.
I was thinking of a 3 series for wife looked at a few and 2 had NO coolant in expantion tank
Dave
David87M3 said:
never had an e46.... engines are chain driven. I am sure the rear subframe use to crack on e46's remeber reading it maybe a search in the formus may help.
Make sure the aircon works and there's plenty of water in coolant tank.
I was thinking of a 3 series for wife looked at a few and 2 had NO coolant in expantion tank
Dave
I had read about the rear subframe issue. The car is supposed be serviced and given a new MOT before sale. I assume a cracked rear subframe would be an MOT failure?Make sure the aircon works and there's plenty of water in coolant tank.
I was thinking of a 3 series for wife looked at a few and 2 had NO coolant in expantion tank
Dave
Will check the coolant.
All the nice ones (with toys and leather) seem to be autos. I'm not that fussed, like driving both.
Thanks,
Steve.
Pop over to BMWLand for more on the sub-frame/floor ripping issues on early E46 cars - I would guess that those that were going to suffer will have broken and been repaired by now, but it would be wise to gen up on it. I THINK it was pre 2000 m.y. cars but I'm not an expert.
Auto is fine if you're happy with it.
Check also for worn suspension bushes and make sure all the electrical bits and pieces work as they should do (mirrors, windows, seats etc).
Have fun finding a nice example - there are a lot to choose from.
Auto is fine if you're happy with it.
Check also for worn suspension bushes and make sure all the electrical bits and pieces work as they should do (mirrors, windows, seats etc).
Have fun finding a nice example - there are a lot to choose from.
Check the following (all from experience of owning an early 323Ci)
Water pump has a habit of going. Should have been done by 110k.
Front arms and bushes. Prone to wear causing knocking and skittish front end under braking.
Calipers have a habit of seizing. Check for hot wheels after a long drive.
Rear subframe issues. Very rare on autos luckily, but a worry none the less. If it has a fresh MOT any tester worth their salt will pick up on it and fail it. The worst case scenario isn't as bad as people make out. BMW usually sort it FOC, if not there are repair kits available that negate the need for major work.
Rear springs. They have a habit of cracking. Bump each corner and listed for noises.
Check the steering rack is tight with no knocks
Check that the airbag light isn't on, or indeed that it hasn't been turned off (should come on at the startup check). Many had issues and had them disconnected.
Check the door solenoids pop up first time on the RCL.
Check the heater blower works on all speeds
Check it goes into reverse (auto gearboxes have been known to drop reverse in rare case)
Usual checks you would do on any used car
Don't let the above put you off. Horror stories are few and far between, and forums tend to be full of pessimistic people who get off on scaremongering about older cars. Most cars would have had alot of the above done/sorted anyway, and most of them aren't that horrendously costly to sort anyway. A 10 year old car with 110k will always require parts replacing and refreshing, and things will occasionally go wrong. I've had no major problems and the E46 generally seems to be very well engineered and built.
Just view and drive a few, you will quickly see the difference between dogs and minters. I found a few very bad ones about in my search. FSH is essential obviously and I tend to find that the owner is a good indictaion as to how the car has been treated...if you aren't entirely happy walk away, there are plenty more about.
Also, it is a buyers market. Unless the car is utterly mint with no faults to pick at, expect to cut a good deal, or again, walk away.
Water pump has a habit of going. Should have been done by 110k.
Front arms and bushes. Prone to wear causing knocking and skittish front end under braking.
Calipers have a habit of seizing. Check for hot wheels after a long drive.
Rear subframe issues. Very rare on autos luckily, but a worry none the less. If it has a fresh MOT any tester worth their salt will pick up on it and fail it. The worst case scenario isn't as bad as people make out. BMW usually sort it FOC, if not there are repair kits available that negate the need for major work.
Rear springs. They have a habit of cracking. Bump each corner and listed for noises.
Check the steering rack is tight with no knocks
Check that the airbag light isn't on, or indeed that it hasn't been turned off (should come on at the startup check). Many had issues and had them disconnected.
Check the door solenoids pop up first time on the RCL.
Check the heater blower works on all speeds
Check it goes into reverse (auto gearboxes have been known to drop reverse in rare case)
Usual checks you would do on any used car
Don't let the above put you off. Horror stories are few and far between, and forums tend to be full of pessimistic people who get off on scaremongering about older cars. Most cars would have had alot of the above done/sorted anyway, and most of them aren't that horrendously costly to sort anyway. A 10 year old car with 110k will always require parts replacing and refreshing, and things will occasionally go wrong. I've had no major problems and the E46 generally seems to be very well engineered and built.
Just view and drive a few, you will quickly see the difference between dogs and minters. I found a few very bad ones about in my search. FSH is essential obviously and I tend to find that the owner is a good indictaion as to how the car has been treated...if you aren't entirely happy walk away, there are plenty more about.
Also, it is a buyers market. Unless the car is utterly mint with no faults to pick at, expect to cut a good deal, or again, walk away.
Have seen three advertised (only one of which is a 328 now).
At £4.5k, a 1999 328Ci with loads of extras (electric sunroof, cruise, leather etc. etc.). Which is appealing on price, and on insurance (being older and worth less, its cheaper). This was the first one I was looking for. I was planning to have a look tomorrow.
Today, I've seen a 2002 330Ci for just under £6k. Again, loaded with extras but not what I'd call an ideal colour (kind of lime green, sorry if anyone has that colour and I've just offended them!).
The 330Ci is dearer to insure, but I was happy to see the road tax (even after the Government introduce the new fleecing bands) is still a reasonable £215 a year. Insurance is quite a bit higher than the 328Ci though.
Also looked at a 320Ci Auto (2003) up for £5.5k but was shocked to see that it falls in to the more expensive road tax banding (by a single gram of CO2), and will cost over £400 a year to tax once the new bandings kick in properly.
All 3 of these are at proper garages and come with warranty.
My budget started off as "no more than £4k", but now I'm looking at a 330 Ci at £6k... I guess thats what happens when you look for cars
I assume both the 2002 330Ci and the 2003 320Ci I've seen would not have the rear subframe issue? Read a number of horror stories on bmwland about the subframes, and that BMW apparently had an unofficial cut-off date of December 2008 for repairing them for free (although I understand some people have had free repairs approved since then). This has made me a bit worried about buying a <= 2001 car.
Anyway, I'm going to decide tonight which ones to view tomorrow (because they're a fair distance apart).
At £4.5k, a 1999 328Ci with loads of extras (electric sunroof, cruise, leather etc. etc.). Which is appealing on price, and on insurance (being older and worth less, its cheaper). This was the first one I was looking for. I was planning to have a look tomorrow.
Today, I've seen a 2002 330Ci for just under £6k. Again, loaded with extras but not what I'd call an ideal colour (kind of lime green, sorry if anyone has that colour and I've just offended them!).
The 330Ci is dearer to insure, but I was happy to see the road tax (even after the Government introduce the new fleecing bands) is still a reasonable £215 a year. Insurance is quite a bit higher than the 328Ci though.
Also looked at a 320Ci Auto (2003) up for £5.5k but was shocked to see that it falls in to the more expensive road tax banding (by a single gram of CO2), and will cost over £400 a year to tax once the new bandings kick in properly.
All 3 of these are at proper garages and come with warranty.
My budget started off as "no more than £4k", but now I'm looking at a 330 Ci at £6k... I guess thats what happens when you look for cars
I assume both the 2002 330Ci and the 2003 320Ci I've seen would not have the rear subframe issue? Read a number of horror stories on bmwland about the subframes, and that BMW apparently had an unofficial cut-off date of December 2008 for repairing them for free (although I understand some people have had free repairs approved since then). This has made me a bit worried about buying a <= 2001 car.
Anyway, I'm going to decide tonight which ones to view tomorrow (because they're a fair distance apart).
bazking69 said:
Also, don't listen to comments about autos. The majority are autos, and they are a good box. Steptronic gives you the option of changing manually anyway, and while the change is not SMG quick, it is smooth.
I've got the steptronic box in my 330ci and love it. Try it and see what you think. Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff