Considering a 2003 E46 320d SE
Discussion
I'm going to test a 320d SE this week with 72k miles on the clock.
Up to 36k miles (2006) it looks like it was owned by BMW dealership - so perhaps courtesy car? then did average 3.5k mi p/a. Asking is £2.5k.
Checks all clear, have reviewed MOT history and it looks like some break pipe corrosion leading to a fail a few years ago. Full service history and 7 or 8 stamps.
Fairly basic trim, a few optionals such as 16" alloys and cruise control.
Recent advisories from last MOT:
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))
Nearside Rear Nail in tyre ()
Nearside Front Inner Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Offside Front Inner Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))
I'm not aware of swirl flap status and know to check for:
Wheel arch rust
Running temperature (inlet manifold thermostat)
Brake calliper sticking
Clutch/flywheel noise
Metal brake pipes at the rear
Rear trailing arm bushes
Handbrake shoes
Wishbone joints and bushes
Is there anything else I'm missing out on or not considering before testing?
Thanks for the help
Up to 36k miles (2006) it looks like it was owned by BMW dealership - so perhaps courtesy car? then did average 3.5k mi p/a. Asking is £2.5k.
Checks all clear, have reviewed MOT history and it looks like some break pipe corrosion leading to a fail a few years ago. Full service history and 7 or 8 stamps.
Fairly basic trim, a few optionals such as 16" alloys and cruise control.
Recent advisories from last MOT:
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))
Nearside Rear Nail in tyre ()
Nearside Front Inner Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Offside Front Inner Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))
I'm not aware of swirl flap status and know to check for:
Wheel arch rust
Running temperature (inlet manifold thermostat)
Brake calliper sticking
Clutch/flywheel noise
Metal brake pipes at the rear
Rear trailing arm bushes
Handbrake shoes
Wishbone joints and bushes
Is there anything else I'm missing out on or not considering before testing?
Thanks for the help
It would have to be absolutely spotless for that sort of money, even more so as it's only a basic model, I'd be wanting a nice well specced sport model or even an e90 for £2.5k, other than that, I think you've got all the e46 'common faults' covered. 
Edit; I would check the boot floor too for cracking, although I believe that only affects higher powered models.
Edit; I would check the boot floor too for cracking, although I believe that only affects higher powered models.
Edited by njw1 on Monday 22 October 20:28
£2500 is perhaps just a bit dear for that.
But, if you look after it properly and get five years out of it with no big bills, it's cheap motoring. You'll need to get the swirl flaps done but really they're not a bad thing. 2003 means it's probably a five speed so less prone to flywheel issues.
But, if you look after it properly and get five years out of it with no big bills, it's cheap motoring. You'll need to get the swirl flaps done but really they're not a bad thing. 2003 means it's probably a five speed so less prone to flywheel issues.
Thanks for the input so far. I agree that the price feels on the top end, however car does look to be very clean (no curbing on wheels and body work/upholstery clean) and its supposed to have a lot of service documentation which would put certain concerns at ease.
My main hesitation is regarding the recent MOT advisories and some persistent worn bushes appearing year on year mot's going at least 5 years back (no excessive play) but that may be something I need to address in the near future in addition to possible swirl flap removal.
Does the removal of swirl flaps affect MOT?
My main hesitation is regarding the recent MOT advisories and some persistent worn bushes appearing year on year mot's going at least 5 years back (no excessive play) but that may be something I need to address in the near future in addition to possible swirl flap removal.
Does the removal of swirl flaps affect MOT?
danishdanish said:
Does the removal of swirl flaps affect MOT?
I hope not, mine's in tomorrow! It shouldn't do though. The 318d and 118d don't have them at all. I can't help feeling that for £2500, a much newer Mark 4 Mondeo TDCi is a better bet. The 320d E46 is a decent workhorse but not really that great.
A 320d E46 is a good car. Back in 2005 I had a facelift 320td Compact for 3 years and it was a great car, and my first BMW.
So pleased I've only had BMWs ever since so if an E46 is what you want, just try and get the price down a bit because that is too much for what you have described IMHO. (I know it's not quite the same thing, but I sold a 52 plate E46 325ti Sport Compact on 103K miles with full leather for just under £1,500 in February).
As someone else said, check the cooling system - the radiators bow at the bottom and expansion tanks are prone to splitting.
Good luck!
So pleased I've only had BMWs ever since so if an E46 is what you want, just try and get the price down a bit because that is too much for what you have described IMHO. (I know it's not quite the same thing, but I sold a 52 plate E46 325ti Sport Compact on 103K miles with full leather for just under £1,500 in February).
As someone else said, check the cooling system - the radiators bow at the bottom and expansion tanks are prone to splitting.
Good luck!
I bought a 320d ES touring for less than a third of the one you looked at.
yes, it had done 130K miles, and had a few cosmetic issues, but the interior was mint, and it had been serviced for most of its life by BMW dealers.
So far I've spent circa £100 on it - and thats a full service, front pads, rear shoes and wheel balance / tracking !
In the couple of weeks I've had it I've covered nearly 3K miles; at a real ave consumption of 56mpg.
Its a very relaxing ride, and is quieter than our new X5 !
It's a keeper - they do exist, lots to chose from !
yes, it had done 130K miles, and had a few cosmetic issues, but the interior was mint, and it had been serviced for most of its life by BMW dealers.
So far I've spent circa £100 on it - and thats a full service, front pads, rear shoes and wheel balance / tracking !
In the couple of weeks I've had it I've covered nearly 3K miles; at a real ave consumption of 56mpg.
Its a very relaxing ride, and is quieter than our new X5 !
It's a keeper - they do exist, lots to chose from !
iSore said:
A good E87 120d with the M47N engine. £2500 should be plenty - no rust issues!
That's a good option so long as the OP doesn't need loads of interior space - I got an E87 123d to replace my 320td. So long as he avoids the facelift with the N47 engine (which is largely why I sold my 123d). 
OP, do you really need a diesel? I bought an E91 325i Touring in February for just under £3K (albeit on 132K miles) but 4,500 miles later it's showing an average of 35.7 mpg on the OBC.
But I don't commute, and 95% of the time it's on dual-carriageway A roads or Motorways outside of rush hours.
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