High Milage BMW E46 330i - Risk?
Discussion
g'day all.
looking to sell my car to a local garage and discovered this there... http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
always liked the looks of the e46 and ideally need an estate with lugging baby gear everywhere. now I have a baby seat that's about 70cm in depth, and I'm a 6ft driver... will there be enough room for her to be behind me should I need it?
it seems like a high spec'd car, sat nav, auto headlights (can't tell if they're xenon... with the headlight washers? novice on that stuff), harmon kardon speakers, cruise and bluetooth.
now, the milage...130k... that a lot for these cars? are they solid engines?
I had an 04 Z4 2.5 3 years ago, would they share more or less the same engine?
is it a good car for that £3k?
thanks for replies in advance?
looking to sell my car to a local garage and discovered this there... http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
always liked the looks of the e46 and ideally need an estate with lugging baby gear everywhere. now I have a baby seat that's about 70cm in depth, and I'm a 6ft driver... will there be enough room for her to be behind me should I need it?
it seems like a high spec'd car, sat nav, auto headlights (can't tell if they're xenon... with the headlight washers? novice on that stuff), harmon kardon speakers, cruise and bluetooth.
now, the milage...130k... that a lot for these cars? are they solid engines?
I had an 04 Z4 2.5 3 years ago, would they share more or less the same engine?
is it a good car for that £3k?
thanks for replies in advance?
thanks for the replies... I'll have to see what service history the car has got. I'd have to take it for a test drive. I'd like to think it's sound car. and many people are potentially put off by the high milage and the engine size (remember when people weren't bothered by MPG!!!!)
is it worth browsing any specific bmw forums?
thanks
is it worth browsing any specific bmw forums?
thanks
yeah,
i missed seeing the car in the flesh there when i visited the garage regarding them buying my car off me.
when i was speaking to them about mine, they seem to want to sell well looked after cars... mine has 2 small tears in the drivers seat... they were saying about reparing them... so i'd imagine this sort of care would be taken by the garage on the car,
is one of these diesels too high milage? i've had nothing but trouble on my 09 plate 120d. would an older 06 be better off? i know they're different sizes but just wondering about reliability
i missed seeing the car in the flesh there when i visited the garage regarding them buying my car off me.
when i was speaking to them about mine, they seem to want to sell well looked after cars... mine has 2 small tears in the drivers seat... they were saying about reparing them... so i'd imagine this sort of care would be taken by the garage on the car,
is one of these diesels too high milage? i've had nothing but trouble on my 09 plate 120d. would an older 06 be better off? i know they're different sizes but just wondering about reliability
Edited by KingOfTheRodeo on Monday 5th October 15:46
Ah great.
Thanks for the replies...
Whilst browsing auto trader just come across this...http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201508256340282
Very low milage! Tempting.... better or on par with thr e46?
The e46 does seem to have more toys. And a bit faster. But the e39 is 2 years older and done 50k miles less.
But with it doing 50k less miles... does that potentially mean big bills are coming?
How big are the bills you guys have had for your 3's? Are they costly or easy jobs to do by yourself?
Thanks for the replies...
Whilst browsing auto trader just come across this...http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201508256340282
Very low milage! Tempting.... better or on par with thr e46?
The e46 does seem to have more toys. And a bit faster. But the e39 is 2 years older and done 50k miles less.
But with it doing 50k less miles... does that potentially mean big bills are coming?
How big are the bills you guys have had for your 3's? Are they costly or easy jobs to do by yourself?
Edited by KingOfTheRodeo on Monday 5th October 21:53
Are the 3 series better handling machines... Due to their size?
The 5 does seem understated. Personally I find both model look good... Although the 3 does have nicer headlight clusters and the sport body kit complements the car well
Odd that I find the estate in the 3 better looking than the saloon and the 5 better looking as a saloon.
Do all 3 estates have split folding rear seats?
Would a 3 be more practical for family life due to being an estate?
The 5 does seem understated. Personally I find both model look good... Although the 3 does have nicer headlight clusters and the sport body kit complements the car well
Odd that I find the estate in the 3 better looking than the saloon and the 5 better looking as a saloon.
Do all 3 estates have split folding rear seats?
Would a 3 be more practical for family life due to being an estate?
wolfy1988 said:
Hi
My advice would be that unless your handy chasing issues and fixing niggles then I'd stay away from those two BMW's. Dont get me wrong I love them, I've had 3 e46's and 4 e39s (e39s in particular are my favorite) but they are getting old and you end up chasing issues. It didn't bother me as I love them but it used to drive my wife mad after our last e39 developed a parasitic battery drain and once when the wipers packed up in the rain!
What about a 95 Aero estate? You'd get a later 'Dame Edna' model which I believe did without the sludge issues. Their handling and grip aren't the last words in finesse or fun but they are quick enough in a straight line, comfortable with plenty of toys.
i'm not that handy, but my dad is...would a saloon with maybe less miles be a better choice and a manual?My advice would be that unless your handy chasing issues and fixing niggles then I'd stay away from those two BMW's. Dont get me wrong I love them, I've had 3 e46's and 4 e39s (e39s in particular are my favorite) but they are getting old and you end up chasing issues. It didn't bother me as I love them but it used to drive my wife mad after our last e39 developed a parasitic battery drain and once when the wipers packed up in the rain!
What about a 95 Aero estate? You'd get a later 'Dame Edna' model which I believe did without the sludge issues. Their handling and grip aren't the last words in finesse or fun but they are quick enough in a straight line, comfortable with plenty of toys.
stevesuk said:
Could your budget stretch to an early E91 with a similar mileage? There seem to be a few 325i listed on Autotrader from £3750 upwards - although obviously you'd need to stretch a bit further than that to get one with desirable options.
Some people will scoff at the thought of choosing one over an E46, but my experience (having owned two E46 Coupes, and an E91 Touring) is that the E9x feels more solid and doesn't appear to suffer from the corrosion issues the E46/E39 have - I got rid of my last E46 because I got tired of chasing the rust.
Our E91 is 10 years old this month (we've owned it for 6 years) and doesn't have a spot of rust on it. Everything still works, and the only fault over the last decade has been a rear wheel bearing. Other than that, its just needed consumables. Obviously, some of this is down to good fortune, or the way a car is looked after... but with the newest E46 being over a decade old now (and a design from the mid-nineties), if I was looking at reliability, I think I'd rather trust an E9x.
The N52 petrol engine (325i or 330i) is a peach. Ours is a 325i - can't remember for sure, but I think it has ~ 220 BHP, and its got plenty of poke, yet can still return close to 40 MPG on a sedate long run.
i'm not sure...i'm rather picky as I want an M Sport variant... think they're out of my price range. seen an estate with 157k on it...08 plate. seem unsure on that as miles seem very highSome people will scoff at the thought of choosing one over an E46, but my experience (having owned two E46 Coupes, and an E91 Touring) is that the E9x feels more solid and doesn't appear to suffer from the corrosion issues the E46/E39 have - I got rid of my last E46 because I got tired of chasing the rust.
Our E91 is 10 years old this month (we've owned it for 6 years) and doesn't have a spot of rust on it. Everything still works, and the only fault over the last decade has been a rear wheel bearing. Other than that, its just needed consumables. Obviously, some of this is down to good fortune, or the way a car is looked after... but with the newest E46 being over a decade old now (and a design from the mid-nineties), if I was looking at reliability, I think I'd rather trust an E9x.
The N52 petrol engine (325i or 330i) is a peach. Ours is a 325i - can't remember for sure, but I think it has ~ 220 BHP, and its got plenty of poke, yet can still return close to 40 MPG on a sedate long run.
Thanks
Going to look at the car on Sunday. Hopefully it's fine. Then once there looking need to try and convert the wife to the need for a new car.
So 130k miles on a car like this ok then?
The car has no service history. But they have said they will service it before they sell it?
Is that car worth it for 3k?
Going to look at the car on Sunday. Hopefully it's fine. Then once there looking need to try and convert the wife to the need for a new car.
So 130k miles on a car like this ok then?
The car has no service history. But they have said they will service it before they sell it?
Is that car worth it for 3k?
UK345 said:
Just had a look at your link and the price seems competitive. Its a good colour and has a few options although the satnav will be massively out of date now. One thing to consider, the alloy wheels that the car has are the 18 inch m sport ones which are prone to corrison and cracking. I broke one of these down for spares a few years back and they are very well put together. As with all cars of this age, give the front wheels and a shake to try and feel for worn out components. Rust is a biggy on these so check it over well. No service history at that age is acceptable.
Ah great. Thanks for reply... posted on a e46 facebook group. They werent very recpetive. Said it was over priced. Especially as no service history. Rust will be checked... which areas are prone to rust?
Sat nav wise i would probably look at getting it replaced with an android type system. Do they fo aftermarket ones with sat nav? Would it work in the e46? Do you need a certain gadget to get sat nav working?
well I went to view the car today...how could i describe it in one word? Dog? Unloved?
from a far car looked fine, then as I got closer could see the front fog light driver side had been smashed in. the alloys were ruined, kerbed to pieces! the front bumper had a huge gap where it should connect to the top part of the car. Rear was dented as anything.
Similarly there was a E60 estate there m sport... equally unloved... the mesh in the 'mouth' part of the m sport kit had a couple of panels missing and the drivers side wing mirror surround was a mess...covered in white substance...looked like bird crap but wasn't.
very disappointed
from a far car looked fine, then as I got closer could see the front fog light driver side had been smashed in. the alloys were ruined, kerbed to pieces! the front bumper had a huge gap where it should connect to the top part of the car. Rear was dented as anything.
Similarly there was a E60 estate there m sport... equally unloved... the mesh in the 'mouth' part of the m sport kit had a couple of panels missing and the drivers side wing mirror surround was a mess...covered in white substance...looked like bird crap but wasn't.
very disappointed
Like i said, the car was a dog, havent looked in detail at the boot openings. The exterior was awful condition. Such a shame as it looked ok in the pictures.
As for the specfic marque groups, definitley see that. Especially when they are selling their cars!!
Could i say sometimes the groups are a bit too chavvy? Haha
As for the specfic marque groups, definitley see that. Especially when they are selling their cars!!
Could i say sometimes the groups are a bit too chavvy? Haha
Like i said, the car was a dog, havent looked in detail at the boot openings. The exterior was awful condition. Such a shame as it looked ok in the pictures.
As for the specfic marque groups, definitley see that. Especially when they are selling their cars!!
Could i say sometimes the facebook group members are a bit too chavvy? Haha
As for the specfic marque groups, definitley see that. Especially when they are selling their cars!!
Could i say sometimes the facebook group members are a bit too chavvy? Haha
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