BMW E46 Common Problems?

[VRSAndy]

Hi Everyone. After just over 3 years with my Skoda Octavia VRS i'm starting to look at a new car. I fancy a convertible and love the look of the e46 BMW.
Can people tell me any common faults with these? I'm looking at the larger engine sizes rather than the 318 and 320.

Thanks in advance everyone!

[loose cannon]

E46 zone will help you out
I've had my tourer a year and so far I have replaced everything bar the shell and clutch/ flywheel which is the next job if I haven't torched it in anger first

[CubanPete]

Steering arm bushes and springs (I drive pretty steadily) don't last very long.

In six year of ownership other (expensive ish) jobs have been:

Auxilley pulley
A caliper
Couple of injectors

So not too painful, and has never left me at the side of the road.

[JakeT]

Electric window regulators and not floor cracking.

They're solid cars though. My dad had a 330i from new to 120k and the only time it didn't get him home was when the alternator died. Lovely car.

[VRSAndy]

I've been looking at 330's mainly. How do these engines fair?

[JakeT]

VRSAndy said:

I've been looking at 330's mainly. How do these engines fair?

Will do 200k with no real problems AFAIK.

[ScottJB]

Now on my 3rd E46 all of which have been leggy.

Common problems :

- Suspension - Front wishbone bushes and rear trailing arm bushes in particular
- ABS/DSC faults (make sure the seller hasnt pulled the cluster and hid the LEDs)- pressure sensors, wheel sensors, steering angle sensor, or DSC unit if you get unlucky
- Cooling system - check the bottom of the rad
- Window regulators
- Rust - have a good feel around the rear arch lips in particular.
- Brake pipes - corrosion again, very common

[lexusboy]

Was it the E46s that had rear subframe issues and floor cracking issues?

[ScottJB]

Oh and broken rear coil springs and sticky brake calipers as others have mentioned.

[loose cannon]

3.0 uses a bit of oil usually blocked crank case valve makes it worse
Rattly disa valve's spell impending doom if you don't sort it
Overall they are a lovely pile of st pretty cars though
My touring looks great with its style 32's

[loose cannon]

loose cannon said:

3.0 uses a bit of oil usually blocked crank case valve makes it worse
Rattly disa valve's spell impending doom if you don't sort it
Overall they are a lovely pile of st pretty cars though
My touring looks great with its style 32's

And yes the famous falling apart rear floor !
I'm sure there not all bad but I find mine a bit shoddy tbh it's done a few miles now 115 thou but quite a bit of what I have replaced has already been replaced in the past oh and the seats are about as supportive as the side of a pyramid
Though I'm a skinny bugger lol




Ruddy I phone how have I quoted myself lol