M47/M57 buying guide

[Lukas239]

Evening all,

Approaching new car time and have done a fair bit of research on what i want vs what i should get. Settled on any of the following;

- Pre-2007 120D
- Pre-2007 320D
- 325D
- 330D

Basically wanted a diesel with reasonable performance and MPG that could take a mountain bike in the boot and didn't have a timing chain.

Unbeknownst to me there is an E46 BMW 320D touring M sport literally walking distance from my house that i'd missed until a diversion took me past it.

Its a 2004 LeMans Blue, 127k, manual, nearly full service history at the local BMW indy specialist (PMW in chelmsford?), swirl flaps done, recent front suspension bits and exhaust in latest MOT. No idea about clutch, flywheel, turbo or belts.

So my question is, at this mileage, what are the big jobs and specifics to look out for before splashing? I appreciate there are some incredibly knowledgeable chaps on here so thought i'd gain as much info as possible.

Ta

[Mr Tidy]

I don't have experience of all of those, but I did have an 04 plate E46 320td for 3 years from 2005 to 2008 which was a great car.

But in 2008 I wanted more, so I replaced it with a 57 plate 123d which I also enjoyed but then I started reading about N47 engine horror stories and eventually bailed out after 6 and a half years and 81K miles.

The E46 had a facelift in 2003 when 320d and 330d models got a 6-speed gearbox instead of a 5-speed - IIRC 3,000 rpm in my facelift 320td would have been a bit over 90 mph, so very relaxed cruising (in Germany, obviously).

But I don't think there was ever an E46 325d.

When the E9* models first came out they had the M47/M57 engines but with a bit more power, then in early 2007 I think they got replaced by the N47/N57 diesels that you seem to (wisely) want to avoid!

You say you want to avoid timing chains, but the M47/57 had chains - but they don't seem to fail like the chains on the later N versions.

One of the biggest issues with E46s is the cooling system - radiators bow and leak and expansion tanks get brittle and split. But at 124K miles it's probably already happened to the one you are considering - still worth looking for evidence of it having been done though.

Good luck!