High milage 330i's - any comments?

High milage 330i's - any comments?

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Discussion

mikey-r

Original Poster:

408 posts

196 months

Friday 15th May 2009
quotequote all
Are the E46 330 petrol engines/auto boxes good for high miles?

I hope to look at one this weekend... 330i Auto Sport Touring 2003. FBMSH 130k - should be able to get it for £5k. I've had some high milers in the past but they've all been diesels.

It'll be a 'keeper' so resales not a concern - should it be good for 200k?

Cheers

baronvonhorne

63 posts

233 months

Friday 15th May 2009
quotequote all
This doesn't really answer your question, but might give you peace of mind.

I have an '01 330ci with apx 140k - it is running sweet, uses hardly any oil, costs very little to maintain and still feels solid all round - not to mention great fun to drive.

Even better - on a motorway run at 80 I get apx 34mpg - 27 around town (its an auto).

stevesuk

1,345 posts

181 months

Friday 15th May 2009
quotequote all
baronvonhorne said:
This doesn't really answer your question, but might give you peace of mind.

I have an '01 330ci with apx 140k - it is running sweet, uses hardly any oil, costs very little to maintain and still feels solid all round - not to mention great fun to drive.

Even better - on a motorway run at 80 I get apx 34mpg - 27 around town (its an auto).
Not quite the same engine, but similar (both the M54?) - I have a 2003 320ci which is now approaching 110k. As with baronvonhorne, doesn't seem to use any oil or water, and seems mechanically spot-on.

I did however have to have both rear springs replaced shortly after I bought the car, although I understand this is a common E46 problem. Didn't cost that much to fix though.

I also have a small patch of rust starting to form on one of the rear wheel arches (which may have been caused by the previous owner scraping it!), which I'm going to sort before it gets any worse.

Otherwise, no problems to report. I use it to visit the office once or twice a fortnight (200 mile round trip, mainly motorway), and have averaged 40mpg when I have a clear run (mines also a auto) - which was much better than I thought it would be.

Just out of interest baronvonhorne, has your autobox been serviced or fettled at any time during the cars life? There was a thread on here a few weeks back about whether to service the autobox, or whether to use the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" attitude. Would be interesting to know if a car thats done some 30k more miles than mine still had its box in the condition it left the factory smile

Cheers,

Steve.


Edited by stevesuk on Friday 15th May 12:14

oktapod

348 posts

180 months

Friday 15th May 2009
quotequote all
Mine is a 51 330Ci with 104k. I bought it six weeks ago. No problems, feels tight as a nut, though I think it needs new bushes on the front. Cosmetically was very nice but a fair number of stone-chips, so I have started work on that. Had the auto box serviced a fortnight ago, very pleased with the car I'd say.

Might change it later this year though - I quite fancy a bit more poke :-)

christer

2,804 posts

250 months

Friday 15th May 2009
quotequote all
mikey-r said:
Are the E46 330 petrol engines/auto boxes good for high miles?

I hope to look at one this weekend... 330i Auto Sport Touring 2003. FBMSH 130k - should be able to get it for £5k. I've had some high milers in the past but they've all been diesels.

It'll be a 'keeper' so resales not a concern - should it be good for 200k?

Cheers
Shouldn't be any specific problem as such, but expect a reasonable maintenance bill as the car is not new and has travelled a reasonably long way - parts are bound to be getting a bit worn here and theresmile

Vee

3,094 posts

233 months

Friday 15th May 2009
quotequote all
The M54 engine is supposed to be bulletproof if serviced correctly and on time.
Reportedly common issues around 100/120k are cam sensors & water pumps.

I'm about to sell both of mine if you're interested . . . coupe & saloon, noth 75k, both 52 plate sports in Sapphire black. The saloon will be cheap due to having 6 owners but FSH.

mwy1964

171 posts

208 months

Friday 15th May 2009
quotequote all
As with BVH my 330Ci is now on 140K miles. Used as my primary work hack it has a hard life hammering around the M25 and up and down country.

Apart from the usual servicing it has had the following repairs:-

Alternator - 120K
Wishbones x 2 80K and just changed 2nd for MOT
Lollipop bushes x 3
Auxillary fans - 100K
Inlet Cam Sensor - 110K
Wheel speed sensor x 1 Just replaced for MOT

At the next service it will need the Thermostat replacing as it seems slower to warm up (Seems to be known problem) and I am considering getting the gearbox oil replaced (Its an Auto) as it just does not seem as crisp changing as it used to be...

Other than that its been a great car...

paoloh

8,617 posts

203 months

Friday 15th May 2009
quotequote all
Vee said:
The M54 engine is supposed to be bulletproof if serviced correctly and on time.
Reportedly common issues around 100/120k are cam sensors & water pumps.

I'm about to sell both of mine if you're interested . . . coupe & saloon, noth 75k, both 52 plate sports in Sapphire black. The saloon will be cheap due to having 6 owners but FSH.
Can you mail me details of both cars please?

Mr_Sukebe

374 posts

207 months

Friday 15th May 2009
quotequote all
Our 52' 330i saloon has just hit 106k. We've owned it for 2 years and 22k. In that time it's required servicing, full set of tyres (i.e. standard stuff) a new powersteering pump and will be getting some new front bushes next Friday. In other words, around £600 that isn't normal servicing and running. To me, that seems pretty reasonable bearing in mind how good a car it is.
Put it another way, it's probably cost around £2k/year in depreciation. If we'd bought a new one, wouldn't have paid out £600 in parts replacement, but would have been a shed load more in depreciation.

mikey-r

Original Poster:

408 posts

196 months

Saturday 16th May 2009
quotequote all
Thanks for the feedback lads. It sound very promising and they certainly don't sound fragile at all. At that mileage I'd expect some suspension replacements etc but at least the gearbox/engine seem to be up to the miles.

I'm waiting to hear if the car in my 'profile' has been written off thanks to a young lady who forgot what side of the road to drive on. I'm now nursing a sore neck and an empty driveway!

Vee, I'd be on the phone straight away but I need an estate - thanks anyway.

Cheers.


Dr Jekyll

23,820 posts

260 months

Saturday 16th May 2009
quotequote all
How does the interior stand up to that use? BMW leather seats seem to get a bit worn as you approach 100K.

peaktorque

1,807 posts

210 months

Saturday 16th May 2009
quotequote all
The engine will be fine..........it's everything else bolted around it that will fail wink

oktapod

348 posts

180 months

Saturday 16th May 2009
quotequote all
"How does the interior stand up to that use? BMW leather seats seem to get a bit worn as you approach 100K."

Well, mine is at 104k and there's definitely signs of wear - the driver's side stitching at one edge has frayed and needs re-done but it looks like an easy enough DIY job. Otherwise, with some leather cleaner and perhaps some leather dye on the slightly worn parts I wouldn't be surprised if they end up looking very tidy after some TLC.

It's on my list of things to do, once I investigate some (minor) bubbling on the D/SF wheel arch (thinking an afternoon with a wire brush, a POR-15 kit will sort this out for another 100k) and sort out some of the stone chips (toying with a bonnet respray at £180 all-in - not sure if this is worth doing or not...)

Anyway, I digress. I went through the same process when buying mine and I'd say that they seem to be very solid, well put together cars just needing a little bit of TLC in certain areas as they age, and if you're prepared to put in a little time to keep on top of those things, I've no reason not to recommend it...

stevesuk

1,345 posts

181 months

Saturday 16th May 2009
quotequote all
oktapod said:
Well, mine is at 104k and there's definitely signs of wear - the driver's side stitching at one edge has frayed and needs re-done but it looks like an easy enough DIY job. Otherwise, with some leather cleaner and perhaps some leather dye on the slightly worn parts I wouldn't be surprised if they end up looking very tidy after some TLC.
Yeah, mine is the same. No fraying yet, but the drivers bolster is worn and needs recolouring. I've also got a tiny patch of wear on the steering wheel (at the 12 o'clock position). Other than that though, its stood up really well to its 100k+ miles of abuse. The back seats still look like they've never been sat in (probably because they haven't!). Most of the marks that were on the interior of the car when I bought it - which I assumed were stains - have actually all cleaned off with just a damp cloth.

The inside of the boot looks like new too, only the wife hates it because it smells of wax-barber jacket (best way to describe it) in there. No idea why, I've had everything out and nothing is wet or damp. Just bought some Autoglym "Autofresh" and give it a go with that.

Got some rust to sort on mine too, front wings are fine, but off-side rear wing has just started to blister right on the very edge. Local body shop are going to sort it for me.

Steve.

phelix

4,422 posts

248 months

Saturday 16th May 2009
quotequote all
I would be a little wary about a high mileage E46 with an auto box - the auto boxes don't have the best of reputations.

baronvonhorne

63 posts

233 months

Sunday 17th May 2009
quotequote all

Not quite the same engine, but similar (both the M54?) - I have a 2003 320ci which is now approaching 110k. As with baronvonhorne, doesn't seem to use any oil or water, and seems mechanically spot-on.

I did however have to have both rear springs replaced shortly after I bought the car, although I understand this is a common E46 problem. Didn't cost that much to fix though.

I also have a small patch of rust starting to form on one of the rear wheel arches (which may have been caused by the previous owner scraping it!), which I'm going to sort before it gets any worse.

Otherwise, no problems to report. I use it to visit the office once or twice a fortnight (200 mile round trip, mainly motorway), and have averaged 40mpg when I have a clear run (mines also a auto) - which was much better than I thought it would be.

Just out of interest baronvonhorne, has your autobox been serviced or fettled at any time during the cars life? There was a thread on here a few weeks back about whether to service the autobox, or whether to use the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" attitude. Would be interesting to know if a car thats done some 30k more miles than mine still had its box in the condition it left the factory smile

Cheers,

Steve.


Edited by stevesuk on Friday 15th May 12:14

[/quote]

Stevesuk: Without wanting to sound too stupid... I am not sure the autobox has been serviced, I have the car serviced at a main dealer, so if it's on the service schedule, then yes.


Cheers,
BVH

oktapod

348 posts

180 months

Sunday 17th May 2009
quotequote all
Probably not then - seems that main dealers generally leave the box well alone, going by the 'sealed for life' philosophy. I got mine done a few weeks back by an Edinburgh-based automatic gearbox specialist. Figured it was an investment in the life of the car. No obvious change to the way it changes gear, but then I didn't think there was a problem - I had it done as a preventative...

stevesuk

1,345 posts

181 months

Sunday 17th May 2009
quotequote all
I think (although not sure) that the E46 has the GM built autobox in it. It seems to have a fairly good reputation, and my autobox seems fine, but I'm going to ask my local independent about it when the car is next due for a service. There are two mechanics in our family, and they both said to leave it well alone unless you think there's something wrong with it, as you can cause more problems than you solve.

Likewise, I read somewhere that water pumps can catastrophically fail at around 100k miles, so I might ask how much it costs to have that changed as a preventative measure too.


baronvonhorne

63 posts

233 months

Monday 18th May 2009
quotequote all
Waterpump: My waterpump went at apx 115k, on the motorway at apx 80mph.

I have no idea how long the warning light was on, but the first thing I notice was a plume of white steam in my rear view mirror!

Thanksfully, no damage caused and the main delaer charged apx £200 (Cotswold BMW) to fit a new one.

BvH

Ciaran

1,438 posts

201 months

Monday 18th May 2009
quotequote all
baronvonhorne said:
Even better - on a motorway run at 80 I get apx 34mpg - 27 around town (its an auto).
I get nowhere near that, 30 on the motorway and 22 around town! Auto as well.