E46 buying guide?
Discussion
This comes up on an almost weekly basis, I know. But given how much knowledge there is to hand on here from the members and how many people are always looking for advice and pointers, is there any way we could collect it together in one thread?
Reason for asking is I'm currently looking at 330i's, in either saloon or touring form. Whether looking at low mileage late cars or early facelift cars with big mileage, given their age I' sure much of the same issues will be involved and general maintenance required.
I originally wanted something with low miles and as immaculate as possible but given they're going for 6k upwards, I've been drawn to the early facelift cars from 02 onwards, often with 100k plus on the clock for circa 3k.
It would be used for doing somewhere between 10 to 15k miles a year and I'd probably keep it until it went pop. Am I mad, will it cost me as much as the lower mileage cars withy things like suspension, clutch etc?
Reason for asking is I'm currently looking at 330i's, in either saloon or touring form. Whether looking at low mileage late cars or early facelift cars with big mileage, given their age I' sure much of the same issues will be involved and general maintenance required.
I originally wanted something with low miles and as immaculate as possible but given they're going for 6k upwards, I've been drawn to the early facelift cars from 02 onwards, often with 100k plus on the clock for circa 3k.
It would be used for doing somewhere between 10 to 15k miles a year and I'd probably keep it until it went pop. Am I mad, will it cost me as much as the lower mileage cars withy things like suspension, clutch etc?
I wouldn't think it'll cost you any more than low mileage cars at all. I've had my 2002 model Touring since 2010 and spent ages looking at newer and older cars; ultimately I thought newer cars would be in better condition but they simply weren't, so I managed to buy the best condition car I found for under half the price of the newest I looked at.
Standard things which go wrong include window regulators (mine had already been replaced), suspension bushes (ditto) etc. Consumables such as servicing, tyres, brake disks account for a fair bit of the previous owner's expenditure on my car and they're going to be the same whichever you go for.
But be prepared to spend a while looking for the right car. I was actually going to sell mine but like it rather a lot and think that for what it's worth, I may as well just keep it as you propose to do.
Standard things which go wrong include window regulators (mine had already been replaced), suspension bushes (ditto) etc. Consumables such as servicing, tyres, brake disks account for a fair bit of the previous owner's expenditure on my car and they're going to be the same whichever you go for.
But be prepared to spend a while looking for the right car. I was actually going to sell mine but like it rather a lot and think that for what it's worth, I may as well just keep it as you propose to do.
Fox- said:
It won't be at his budget as the only M Sport ones are the MY05 onwards cars - so this is Coupes and Cabs only as the E90 had replaced the E46 in saloon form by the time they changed Sport to M Sport.
Pretty sure M sport E46 saloons were around per MY05??From what I've been looking at so far there seems to be plenty of options around 3 to 4k, will be a case of going and seeing some cars and checking them out.
One guy had an 04 330i saloon with 25k on the clock but it seems crazy to pay 7k for a car purely on its mileage. Granted, it looks in good condition but for a bit more you can start to get decent E90's.
aussieal said:
Pretty sure M sport E46 saloons were around per MY05??
From what I've been looking at so far there seems to be plenty of options around 3 to 4k, will be a case of going and seeing some cars and checking them out.
One guy had an 04 330i saloon with 25k on the clock but it seems crazy to pay 7k for a car purely on its mileage. Granted, it looks in good condition but for a bit more you can start to get decent E90's.
Doesnt really matter what it's called really From what I've been looking at so far there seems to be plenty of options around 3 to 4k, will be a case of going and seeing some cars and checking them out.
One guy had an 04 330i saloon with 25k on the clock but it seems crazy to pay 7k for a car purely on its mileage. Granted, it looks in good condition but for a bit more you can start to get decent E90's.
no point getting excited about it.But main things seem to be control arms from my experience. I had a 02 E46 330d Sport. There were a couple of suspension options apparently and mine had the more expensive arms.
Other than that the prop bush needed changed at 110k and the clutch shortly after.
You are right about the E90 330is coming close to that price too - I much prefer my E90 to the E46, some don't however.
Fox- said:
As 'Sport' though, not M Sport.
Fair enough, can't say I ever noticd much difference.Think for what I'm after in the short term the E46 will suffice, maybe the add to it with an E90 in a year or so once they've come down a bit more when he F30 has properly mpacted residuals.
Seems like I'm looking at bushes, control arms general suspension issues plus some of the bigger consumables then.
Quite enjoying shopping at this lower price bracket, far more interesting.
halo34 said:
Doesnt really matter what it's called really no point getting excited about it.
But main things seem to be control arms from my experience. I had a 02 E46 330d Sport. There were a couple of suspension options apparently and mine had the more expensive arms.
Other than that the prop bush needed changed at 110k and the clutch shortly after.
You are right about the E90 330is coming close to that price too - I much prefer my E90 to the E46, some don't however.
I don't believe that. no point getting excited about it.But main things seem to be control arms from my experience. I had a 02 E46 330d Sport. There were a couple of suspension options apparently and mine had the more expensive arms.
Other than that the prop bush needed changed at 110k and the clutch shortly after.
You are right about the E90 330is coming close to that price too - I much prefer my E90 to the E46, some don't however.
It was either the sports suspension or standard.
Fox- said:
aussieal said:
Pretty sure M sport E46 saloons were around per MY05??
As 'Sport' though, not M Sport.Rear springs also have a habit of snapping, I assume the saloon and touring are the same in this respect.
As for the paying a high price for that low milage one, not worth it in my opinion, as you say, might as well look at the E90's nearing that price.
Edited by sjj84 on Sunday 18th March 09:39
sjj84 said:
Not that it actually matters, but didn't it change to M-sport along with the facelift?
No, it changed to M Sport along with the E60 changing from Sport to M Sport in September 2005. As a result only the Coupe and Cabriolet ever became M Sport as the Saloon had been replaced by the E90 by then.However M Sport sounds cooler than Sport and the Sport had all the M badges on the sills, wheels etc so half the internet has now decided they have an M Sport instead of a Sport. Does any of this matter? Of course not, but since when has whether something mattered factored into being beardy?
Fair enough
Seems to be options
http://www.bmwland.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=97...
I remember having hassles until dealer id via chassis number. Doesn't matter to me and happy to take others wisdom.
Seems to be options
http://www.bmwland.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=97...
I remember having hassles until dealer id via chassis number. Doesn't matter to me and happy to take others wisdom.
Fox- said:
No, it changed to M Sport along with the E60 changing from Sport to M Sport in September 2005. As a result only the Coupe and Cabriolet ever became M Sport as the Saloon had been replaced by the E90 by then.
However M Sport sounds cooler than Sport and the Sport had all the M badges on the sills, wheels etc so half the internet has now decided they have an M Sport instead of a Sport. Does any of this matter? Of course not, but since when has whether something mattered factored into being beardy?
Loving the knowledge mate. However M Sport sounds cooler than Sport and the Sport had all the M badges on the sills, wheels etc so half the internet has now decided they have an M Sport instead of a Sport. Does any of this matter? Of course not, but since when has whether something mattered factored into being beardy?
Seem to have got the mrs onside with the idea, just need the right imola red saloon or touring to crop up in late May when I'm back.
k it's called?
Fox- said:
No, it changed to M Sport along with the E60 changing from Sport to M Sport in September 2005. As a result only the Coupe and Cabriolet ever became M Sport as the Saloon had been replaced by the E90 by then.
However M Sport sounds cooler than Sport and the Sport had all the M badges on the sills, wheels etc so half the internet has now decided they have an M Sport instead of a Sport. Does any of this matter? Of course not, but since when has whether something mattered factored into being beardy?
Fair enough, mine was a pre-facelift and was simply a sport like you say, had splatterings of M badges everywhere unfortunately.However M Sport sounds cooler than Sport and the Sport had all the M badges on the sills, wheels etc so half the internet has now decided they have an M Sport instead of a Sport. Does any of this matter? Of course not, but since when has whether something mattered factored into being beardy?
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