Another one bites the dust-E46

[helix402]

A neighbour finally scrapped his decaying 318Ci, this is the future of the shed E46!

[SebringMan]

I guess that is the issue. They have hit the point of where a few repairs can soon outweigh the cost of repairing them due to their value.

I did the maths the other month on my M3. If I gave the garae the work to do at £50/hour I'd be looking at £1.5k more added to the cost this year. That is assuming "new" problems didn't arise from their work.

[crankedup]

When I chat with some wise older folk, they tell me that during the 1950's you could rock up to a scrapyard and pick any coach built 1920/30's RR for a tenner. Yes they needed work, but those that had the foresight bought them up and now those cars are valued at £a lot .
Lesson from the past?

[rayyan171]

They are certainly at scrap levels now. Most people let problems pile on and then just scrap once it can't pass an MOT. However I have a relative who has a 318ci and spent excessive amounts of money on it to keep it running. Great cars though, if you like a car like that then you can do whatever you wish with them. I plan to do this with our E39 528i as well.

[iSore]

Pity.

Not for the death of an E46, fking hateful things.

But for the bits that could be robbed and sold on Ebay! E90 wheels, glass sunroof, mirrors, diff and so on.

[JakeT]

A 318ci is no loss to me really. Helps to keep the more interesting models on the road! It's a shame that 328 models are drifters, and 330 models are going that way.

[dhutch]

crankedup said:

When I chat with some wise older folk, they tell me that during the 1950's you could rock up to a scrapyard and pick any coach built 1920/30's RR for a tenner. Yes they needed work, but those that had the foresight bought them up and now those cars are valued at £a lot .
Lesson from the past?

Mad isn't it, I would love a 1920 Derby Bentley. VandernPlas tourer, just the job!

I wrote off a Pug306, meridian spec 1.8 l manual, tidy with low miles, a real 'poor mans gti6'. Was rare at time but they are really going up in value now. Same with old MK1 MK2 escorts.

I've just spent £800 on having all four arches done on my 330ci, inc two new wings, plus a parking sensor while the paint was out, one part second hand front arm, pair of lollipops. Last year it had a radiator and then the new tophose failed. It's actually not been at all bad, but it's still strong money for a 16yo daily that struggles to return 30mpg.

[SebringMan]

I'll be honest. I normally put up a few of my cars for sale if I see a few big jobs coming. As in mainly the fear factor.

With my 306 GTi-6 that went for a similar reason. That was despite me doing a cambelt, a set of tyres, lower arms and 15k on top.
My 944 S2 I sold for a similar reason ; I suspected it wanted a new dampers all round
The one I shouldn't have sold was a 944 Turbo. That despite the high mileage was spot on. New sills, head rebuild (possible bottom end refresh), KW v3s etc. Considering I sold it for £6.5k in 2014 I am gutted looking at the prices now. That money now gets you a good 2.5 or maybe an S2 at a push! I learned from the first 944 that a cheap 944 is a pricey one!
RS Turbo? I know that was an appreciating asset every minute I owned it but I did not want to wake up and find it stolen (it was not stored at my car).

The M3 came close to the chop for this reason. After all, if you read about SMG issues, HGs, VANOS and head gasket problems before you get to the expense of simply running one you begin to wonder if it is worth it. Just sell it and buy a milder car with less issues. Like a Focus ST or even a 118d dare I say it. But I am tempted to stick with this. It's probably the best package I've had from a car.

[xjay1337]

JakeT said:

A 318ci is no loss to me really. Helps to keep the more interesting models on the road! It's a shame that 328 models are drifters, and 330 models are going that way.

I quite agree.
My friend had a 325i auto.
We got beat in a drag race by a 3's up clio 1.2

I didn't find it amazing to drive. Very over rated.

[JakeT]

I never found a fully working 325 to be that slow. Compared to modern turbo stuff more revs are needed, but there's still over 190bhp in there. The 4ctl models do nothing for me. sixes are super smooth and very tractable. That's what I like about them.

[aka_kerrly]

xjay1337 said:

I quite agree.
My friend had a 325i auto.
We got beat in a drag race by a 3's up clio 1.2

I didn't find it amazing to drive. Very over rated.

Your mates car probably had a duff cam or crank sensor. When the crank position was playing up on my 525 it felt like the car had 50hp

I was offered a 318ci the other day that is a not failure on brake lines an few other bits and had it been a 6cylinder I'd take it on for a quick flip but there is no money in 4cy bmw (e30 IS and m3 excluded)

[iSore]

aka_kerrly said:

there is no money in 4cy bmw (e30 IS and m3 excluded)

I got given a 2001 318i for free last week, did a couple of jobs and booted it down the road for 300 quid. A months shopping in other words. I wouldn't pay more than 100 quid for one normally.