Buying a high mileage e46 325ci

[LLC24]

Supposed to be viewing an e46 325ci next week with just over 140 000 miles on it. Has full service history and many receipts for works done. Checked MOT history and found that it failed an MOT for missing the exhaust/fuel tank heat shield but then passed. However on the pass it had an advisory describing the same problem of the same missing heat shield. I’m not too sure why it would be an advisory if this caused a failure and labelled “dangerous defect” the previous year. The owner claims that it fell off and was reattached but not by a garage. This is making me think twice despite having all these receipts and the perfect colour combination I wanted. Any advice?

[helix402]

That not high mileage.

[g3org3y]

Go see the car in person and you should get a much better feel as to the condition.

Echo that 140k isn't really high miles on a BMW six cylinder. The M54 is a pretty robust unit.

Worth checking if the car has ever had the cooling system refreshed (pump, rad etc). Otherwise with these it's mainly body/rust.

[Kettmark]

My 330 has done 101k on top of that one. It's not high mileage!

[E-bmw]

As above that's not high mileage, you don't mention the year but at around 10,000 miles year is still average for a car not used for many long journeys.

Heat shields are easy to replace, I would be more worried if it had an advisory for the boot floor or something like that.

[LLC24]

It’s an 02 plate. I know it’s had the radiator replaced but not too sure about the expansion tank etc. Asked a bit about that as my 318 had it done a couple months ago. Only rust is on the driver side front arch and has been treated. But yes I am going to see it in person too

[Touring442]

LLC24 said:

Only rust is on the driver side front arch and has been treated.

It needs a new wing at some point then. You can't treat the rust as these rot from the inside out.

It's an old E46 with lots of miles so unless it's been properly maintained it could well be the usual E46 litany of problems - window regulators, window switches, wishbone bushes, oil leaks, expansion tank (I only use genuine BMW ones now), engine breather capsule and pipes....the list goes on and on. But a 140k 325Ci with some rust issues isn't worth a lot and therefore not worth putting serious money into. If it drives OK, just use it and fix what breaks as and when. They were great when new, but are extremely needy in old age like most old BMW's.

[LLC24]

Touring442 said:

LLC24 said:

Only rust is on the driver side front arch and has been treated.

It needs a new wing at some point then. You can't treat the rust as these rot from the inside out.

It's an old E46 with lots of miles so unless it's been properly maintained it could well be the usual E46 litany of problems - window regulators, window switches, wishbone bushes, oil leaks, expansion tank (I only use genuine BMW ones now), engine breather capsule and pipes....the list goes on and on. But a 140k 325Ci with some rust issues isn't worth a lot and therefore not worth putting serious money into. If it drives OK, just use it and fix what breaks as and when. They were great when new, but are extremely needy in old age like most old BMW's.

What I meant is that it’s been patched up a bit so doesn’t take away from the look of the car at the moment but yes I would replace the wing at some point in time. It’s had new springs,shocks,discs and pads on all four corners as well as quite a few bushes (don’t know which off the top of my head) had a new rocker cover gasket and one window regulator on the drivers side done too. A few more bits on top of that too all done in the last 12 months with receipts to show for it. Cheers for the help. It’s sounding like there won’t be too much to worry about

[naturalaspiration]

Same engine here in E39 525i currently at 270k. Engine work wise I have so far (since purchase in 2007) replaced:
Vanos seals
intake camshaft sensor (Febi - OEM repackaged)
rocker cover gasket (and epoxied a hairline crack in the cover)
one cracked CCV hose (not the ccv itself - still good)
Oil filter housing gasket
Alternator bearings and brushes,
Radiator top hose
Ribbed belt tensioner roller (not the tensioner just the roller)
Ribbed belt

Used to have high-ish oil consumption, cured with LM Ceratec 5 years ago. Runs better now than when I bought it with less than half the mileage.

Edited by naturalaspiration on Monday 20th January 12:50

[LLC24]

naturalaspiration said:

Same engine here in E39 525i currently at 270k. Engine work wise I have so far (since purchase in 2007) replaced:
Vanos seals
intake camshaft sensor (Febi - OEM repackaged)
rocker cover gasket (and epoxied a hairline crack in the cover)
one cracked CCV hose (not the ccv itself - still good)
Oil filter housing gasket
Alternator bearings and brushes,
Radiator top hose
Ribbed belt tensioner roller (not the tensioner just the roller)
Ribbed belt

Used to have high-ish oil consumption, cured with LM Ceratec 5 years ago. Runs better now than when I bought it with less than half the mileage.

Edited by naturalaspiration on Monday 20th January 12:50

Hopefully it’s just as trouble free for me when the time comes then

[naturalaspiration]

Apart from the fact that with age cars generally need more TLC, the main thing to check is bodywork for rust - thoroughly. Raise, strong torch and take time. Arches, jacking points, any factory plugged holes at the undercarriage (underseal breaks, plugs shrink and corrosion starts at the seam), front bonnet seam, bottom door seams. If all good protect properly with cavity wax/ stone chip protection, underseal. I now Regularly spray doors with wd40 (every summer) from the inside via drain channels. Just to keep any potential rust developing/spreading. Followed by an oil spray. The idea is to keep the moisture away for as much/long as possible.

[Mr Tidy]

As others have said 140K isn't high mileage for any BMW with the M54 engine - or any car that's over 17 years old now to be fair!

I'd be surprised if the cooling system was still original. I bought my 52 plate 325ti Compact on 80K in December 2014 and within a few months the radiator was leaking due to the usual "bowing" along the bottom. I had a full refresh done including the expansion tank, etc.

Obviously it's still worth checking if you can though.

The next unscheduled bill came in November 2016 when a power steering pipe split, but other than that in over 3 years and 23K miles it only needed routine servicing and given how well it drove I could forgive it those issues.

But rust is the biggest problem - not such a hassle on the front as the wings are bolted on and I believe you can even buy them pre-painted on Ebay. But rears are more of a problem, so are definitely worth checking carefully.

Anyway OP I hope you find a good one - the E46 has to be the best looking 3 Series IMHO.

Oh nearly forgot, the "hedgehog" resistors to the heater fan are known to fail draining the battery.

Edited by Mr Tidy on Monday 20th January 23:00

[anonymous-user]

LLC24 said:

It’s an 02 plate. I know it’s had the radiator replaced but not too sure about the expansion tank etc. Asked a bit about that as my 318 had it done a couple months ago. Only rust is on the driver side front arch and has been treated. But yes I am going to see it in person too

Engine will be good but being an 02 plate i'd expect plenty of tin worm perhaps pay close attention to the bodywork and underside.

[skullandbiscuits]

I bought a 162k 325i sport touring in October. Huge amount of paperwork and history, but it still had some issues. It's a lovely thing to drive, wish it had a bit more poke, but power isn't everything.

So far I've done DISA Repair, replaced the MAF with a genuine Siemens. About to do Vanos seals, VCG & CCV. Thankfully the cooling system was overhauled recently.

Get yourself setup on INPA / DIS, as I would have really struggled diagnosing EML light and the odd limp mode.

[LLC24]

skullandbiscuits said:

I bought a 162k 325i sport touring in October. Huge amount of paperwork and history, but it still had some issues. It's a lovely thing to drive, wish it had a bit more poke, but power isn't everything.

So far I've done DISA Repair, replaced the MAF with a genuine Siemens. About to do Vanos seals, VCG & CCV. Thankfully the cooling system was overhauled recently.

Get yourself setup on INPA / DIS, as I would have really struggled diagnosing EML light and the odd limp mode.

The one I was looking at fell through but found another with a lot of history, 10k less miles and less previous owners too for a similar price and will be viewing it tomorrow. I’m just turning 20 so it’s a fair bit more power than any of my other cars in the past but as you say power isn’t everything. Thanks for the advice. Not sure exactly what all the history is but there’s a lot of receipts that I’ll look through when viewing.

[Pig benis]

Hello OP

My e46 330ci track car has 140k on the clock and the engine runs sweet. However, oil leaks are not uncommon at this mileage / age but nothing too hard to sort out over a weekend of spannering.

There are a few items to sort out to help longevity, such as replacing the water pump, belts and the cooling system is a known failure.

Overall, they are good cars. I drive my car very hard and if you keep up with maintenance, they are good cars.