Buying a BMW E46…

[Owood22]

Hi all

Im planning on buying an E46 with a budget of around 5k

Firstly, do you think this is a good idea? What should I be looking out for or prioritising?

If anyone has seen anything currently for sale and wants to reply with a link for me to look at that would be amazing

Thanks so much for your help guys!

[Xcore]

Manual 330ci watch the arches for rust

[Gigamoons]

They’re getting on a bit now at 25yrs and good ones straying into recreational use only weekender territory.

If it’s going to be a daily, see how much remedial work has been done. Or budget to do it. Our green and pleasant land (complete with humid maritime air and a love of chucking salt about in the winters) isn’t particularly kind to our older cars.

If you live in Texas, then it’s probably different.

[Scoobman]

I have owned a few. I have a dialy on 377km at the moment.

It all depends on the model but basicly sound cars. The last half old school solid 3 seiries BMW built.
Like all cars they have weak points.

Arches rust. Especialy the fronts and they rust from the inside out.
Coolant systems can be poor. I have had the odd new radator and water pump.
The wiring loom that feeds the boot and back lights snaps. They used an early version of eco friendly wiring and it gets brittle.
The lights can suffer from corrosion issues on the contacts.

Almost forgot - The crank pully is not the best design and can fail.

Edited by Scoobman on Sunday 16th July 16:03

[pcvdriver]

Rear sub-frames are this cars achilles heel... as well as wheel arches...

[smn159]

I have a manual 330i touring. Header tanks can split, although mine was sorted before I got the car. Other than that it's had rear fuel lines, new front wings and is starting to go around the rear arches.

Bought blind from eBay as a stopgap, but it's really grown on me and It's been my daily for 4 years now

[fatboy b]

pcvdriver said:

Rear sub-frames are this cars achilles heel... as well as wheel arches...

Rear subframes are fine. It’s what it’s bolted to is the issue.

[Sf_Manta]

Oil leaks as well are one that's from 4 spots:

Rocker cover gasket - easy
Oil filter housing - moderately tricky
Sump gasket - garage / lift job
Rear main seal - garage / lift job

Tip if you're doing the oil filter housing, do the CCV pipework and seperator too at the same time, makes that job 10 times easier to do.

O2 Pilot mod as well to reduce oil consumption with a swap to 5w40 oil, especially on the 330i which is a heavy breathing engine.

[junglie]

They are great cars and everything that has been written above is true.

They just looks so ‘right’ still in my opinion.

I know if someone who may be selling an excellent facelift 330ci manual for less than your budget ……..

[Escort3500]

All the above pointers are spot-on. However, despite these relatively minor shortcomings they’re great cars. Mine was a 53 plate and only a 320d Touring, but it served us really well over 14 years of ownership.

Much better built than the current 2019 F31 I’ve got!

[E63eeeeee...]

You should still just about be able to get a decent E46 for 5k, depending on what exactly you're after. They die of rust mostly, so a later one from the home counties or the Midlands would probably be a better bet than a 2000 car from Scotland or the seaside. Either way, definitely worth getting underneath before buying one.

I have two 330Ci convertibles. They're excellent cars, but they do take some looking after now. Every owner will give you a slightly different list of essential preventive maintenance, but basically the more work that's already been done the better.

[hersh]

Have had mine for 8 years. Apart from general wear and tear been absolutely solid
Did have a suspension strut fail but that's about it
Lovely car to drive, being a 330ci auto
Go get one

[Mr Tidy]

I loved my 325ti Compact, but it was starting to get a bit crusty underneath so I sold it in 2018 - then prices shot up.

If you can find a good one go for it, but many are getting a bit "frilly" now.

I know the E46 is a better looker, but E9* 3 Series tend to be cheaper and less rust-prone.

[Paule2359]

I had a coupé version for about 10 years, the rusty wheel arches made me get rid in the end.
I had too replace the rear springs 3 times, doesn't seem to matter what make you buy also the brake pipes where they go above the fuel tank rot out.

[D1on]

330ci... hope for a clubsport