E46 estate- what to look for when buying
Discussion
Im looking for a cheapish estate car (preferably < £3000) and think i've narrowed it down to an E46 318 / 320. Ideally I'd like the extra economy of a diesel but I think for the extra money I'd pay for the car, and the horror stories I've heard about turbo / swirl flap issues, I'd be better going for the petrol.
What common issues should I be watching out for when I go looking? Also, what sort of real world MPG can I expect to get from the 318 and 320? Is there a big difference between the 4 and 6 cylinder engines? From what I've read, the 318 changed from 8 to 16v at the 2002 facelift, were there any changes made to the 320?
Cheers for any advice!
What common issues should I be watching out for when I go looking? Also, what sort of real world MPG can I expect to get from the 318 and 320? Is there a big difference between the 4 and 6 cylinder engines? From what I've read, the 318 changed from 8 to 16v at the 2002 facelift, were there any changes made to the 320?
Cheers for any advice!
I love the e46, a great car. I have a 320d M Sport Tourer. Stiff hinges on rear tailgate, which can snap! Whistly turbos on diesels, ensure oil feed filter has been changed on the turbo. Suspension clonks and rattles, bushes and control arms, cracked MV2 alloys. I think after 2003 swirl flap issues were resolved.
It's all neglect related stuff, a full service history, with receipts is essential. They are a very good reliable car.
It's all neglect related stuff, a full service history, with receipts is essential. They are a very good reliable car.
Edited by Bogracer on Sunday 15th January 08:53
Edited by Bogracer on Sunday 15th January 08:54
I've had my first bmw touring / estate for over a year now. It's a 2001 325i manual. So far it's been great as an all round car.
The aforementioned bushes / control arms seem to be a weak point or need replacement around this age, same for my previous BM's and picked up MOT time so worth getting 12 months MOT when you buy.
I haven't had any experience of the smaller engines but in general, the economy of the older models is supposed to be similar across the range.
Interesting about the diesel above. I get an average of 32mpg around town and 36+ combined. All motorway work and I can get up to 38mpg. Pretty good really.
If I were you, looking for one on that budget, I would complete a general search for all BMW estates and look for lowish mileage and FSH cars, local to you. I spent a little while searching and ended up with an unusual specification with leather trimmed sports seats on an SE with the 17" alloy wheel upgrade. Smart looking cars.
The aforementioned bushes / control arms seem to be a weak point or need replacement around this age, same for my previous BM's and picked up MOT time so worth getting 12 months MOT when you buy.
I haven't had any experience of the smaller engines but in general, the economy of the older models is supposed to be similar across the range.
Interesting about the diesel above. I get an average of 32mpg around town and 36+ combined. All motorway work and I can get up to 38mpg. Pretty good really.
If I were you, looking for one on that budget, I would complete a general search for all BMW estates and look for lowish mileage and FSH cars, local to you. I spent a little while searching and ended up with an unusual specification with leather trimmed sports seats on an SE with the 17" alloy wheel upgrade. Smart looking cars.
I had a 2003 325i M-Sport Touring. Some of the suspension issues have already been mentioned but also check for broken rear springs and leaking shocks. Rust around the rear number plate is also quite common. If the car you look at has the Harmon Kardon sound system check all the speakers work properly as the amp in the boot can fail and it's costly to replace.
Overall I averaged 29mpg but I had roof bars and a bike rack fitted from the day of purchase so I reckon I would have been 2-3 mpg better off without them.
Overall I averaged 29mpg but I had roof bars and a bike rack fitted from the day of purchase so I reckon I would have been 2-3 mpg better off without them.
Sorry to the OP for gate-crashing the thread, but I'm now in the same boat after a drunk driver decided to ram into the back of my E36 328i Touring (late one with all the 'M' options) last week, writing if off - luckily my wife and little son who were in the car are both not seriously hurt.
We've been looking around at E46 sport tourings - pref a 325i M sport, or possibly 330D M sport, must be manual with parking sensors (it's for the wife!) and sunroof (don't ask). I've noticed that the 18" MV2 alloys on these models are staggered and if I'm right the standard sizes are 235/40/18 and 255/35/18, which limits tyre choice a little + is rather costly for decent rears. what wheel/tyre size combo would work well on the M sport E46's with the standard lowered suspension? perhaps some 17" M3 (e36) alloys? After reading the recent Evo tyre reports I'd be ideally looking to fit some decent all season tyres. Thanks
We've been looking around at E46 sport tourings - pref a 325i M sport, or possibly 330D M sport, must be manual with parking sensors (it's for the wife!) and sunroof (don't ask). I've noticed that the 18" MV2 alloys on these models are staggered and if I'm right the standard sizes are 235/40/18 and 255/35/18, which limits tyre choice a little + is rather costly for decent rears. what wheel/tyre size combo would work well on the M sport E46's with the standard lowered suspension? perhaps some 17" M3 (e36) alloys? After reading the recent Evo tyre reports I'd be ideally looking to fit some decent all season tyres. Thanks
I think the E36 M3 wheels would look ok but my favourite 17" E46 wheels are these....
http://www.bmautosport.co.uk/showroom/product_info...
They are staggered as well though.
http://www.bmautosport.co.uk/showroom/product_info...
They are staggered as well though.
I've got an 02 325i and mechanically it's been a joy. It has however never failed to throw up annoyances....window regulators, thermostat, rear light cluster, 'hedgehog', MAF and the relentlessly infuriating airbag light. None of these jobs are big (£150ish) and are probable DIYs if you're savvy with spanners, but irksome nonetheless. To be fair though it's not costing much in terms of depreciation.
As someone has probably suggested, make sure you get one that's been looked after properly.
As someone has probably suggested, make sure you get one that's been looked after properly.
Cheers for the replies guys, some useful info in there. Looks as though it might not cost me too much more to run a 325 in that case, interesting.....!
Cheers for the offer on the 330d, as much as I'd love one of these as I've heard that they're an amazing car, I think I'm pretty set on a petrol just because of the potential bills if turbos etc go wrong - could well be being overly paranoid but just reckon it would always be at the back of mind.
I'll try to get out and look at a few over weekend and see how they vary car to car.
Keep the replies coming - they're much appriciated!
Cheers for the offer on the 330d, as much as I'd love one of these as I've heard that they're an amazing car, I think I'm pretty set on a petrol just because of the potential bills if turbos etc go wrong - could well be being overly paranoid but just reckon it would always be at the back of mind.
I'll try to get out and look at a few over weekend and see how they vary car to car.
Keep the replies coming - they're much appriciated!
Something that hasn't been mentioned that much is rust. In my experience of running a E46 most of the mechanicals are cheap. The engine and (manual) gearbox are fundamentally sound, though the cooling is marginal and it is worth replacing the thermostat and water pump plus belt, if not the rad too.
But the wheelarches are real rust traps from what I can gather. Mine is pretty good in this respect but I have just had to turn down a touring for recurrent rear wheelarch rust. And rust on this type and age of car really shouldn't be an issue. So watch out!
But the wheelarches are real rust traps from what I can gather. Mine is pretty good in this respect but I have just had to turn down a touring for recurrent rear wheelarch rust. And rust on this type and age of car really shouldn't be an issue. So watch out!
tgr said:
Something that hasn't been mentioned that much is rust. In my experience of running a E46 most of the mechanicals are cheap. The engine and (manual) gearbox are fundamentally sound, though the cooling is marginal and it is worth replacing the thermostat and water pump plus belt, if not the rad too.
But the wheelarches are real rust traps from what I can gather. Mine is pretty good in this respect but I have just had to turn down a touring for recurrent rear wheelarch rust. And rust on this type and age of car really shouldn't be an issue. So watch out!
But the wheelarches are real rust traps from what I can gather. Mine is pretty good in this respect but I have just had to turn down a touring for recurrent rear wheelarch rust. And rust on this type and age of car really shouldn't be an issue. So watch out!
The arches can rust like a rusty thing, watch out for rust on the tailgates too. Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff