E46 for under a grand

[freenote]

So I am after something RWD, a bit of weekend fun, doesn't have to be overly fast - just a good driving experience.

I notice in the classifieds there are plenty of E46 3 Series for under £1000. I am not bothered about high mileages but this does seem very cheap to me.

Am I opening myself up to a world of bork? Or are these genuinely a bargain?

ANy advice appreciated before I jump feet first into my first taste of BMW ownership.

[orangesrule]

Personally i would look for a clean e36, generally less to go wrong, a bit lighter and there are loads in scrap yards, although there isnt too much difference between the two.

Main things i would look out for are:

to avoid:

rust
vanos issues (double vanos on e46)
rapped clutch/flywheel


Things to keep an eye out for:

Bushes
bushes
and more bushes
Shot suspension
niggly electrics

Consumables are generally pretty cheap.

I bought my £550, 120'000 mile e36 328 (with no rust) in febuary, have now done around 4'000 miles in it, cost £130 for the mot (bushes and ball joints). And have had no other real issues.

[g3org3y]

orangesrule said:

Personally i would look for a clean e36

Better a decent E36 than a ropey E46.

[freenote]

See I'm more than happy to go for an E36.

I guess it's a question of luck to an extent - especially given my limited mechanical knowledge.