BMW E46 325 Touring.

[Uirchris]

Hi,

I've got my second child on the way and would like to get a slightly bigger car. But I would like something that balances practicality with fun (bit of oomph).

The BMW seems to fit the bill. I also find it looks superb.

Ideally I would like to spend under £1500. I've seen plenty of examples that fall under this price bracket but should I realistically expect to get a good few years out of it? It's likely to have 110k or more on the clock, which doesn't worry me. Are there any issues with this model that can occur at this milage and beyond I should be mindful of?

Also, I'm telling myself thar these are less likely to have been thrashed compared to say, a 318 or 320 saloon. Is this likely or am I kidding myself.

Thanks for reading

[GreatGranny]

If you get a decent one it should last you ok.

Watch for rust though as it will likely have some somewhere.

Worn suspension bushes make a huge difference to the handling/feel of the car so maybe budget for changing those.

Not sure on engines but don't discount the 320 if you can't find a decent 325. Even the 330 will not be much more expensive to run.

[Maracus]

320i manual is about as fast as a 325i auto. Not very

The 6 pot 2.2 and 2.5 sound better than it goes.

Definitely try and get a 330i. Similar mpg.

[Uirchris]

So...

I ended up with an E46 Touring, one I will no doubt get a bit of stick for but I couldn't say no.

Yesterday I bought an all but immaculate 2003 E46 318i Touring. Yes I know, slow, 4 pot etc.

Completely stock, black, a small 1cm patch of rust on the rear drivers side arch but otherwise faultless. Coming from a 99bhp Ford Focus, it has a welcomed boost in power.


111000 miles, full BMW service history, serviced in May by previous owner and 10 months MOT. The leather inside looked like it hadn't even been sat on in the back and the front was just as good.

I've already done 250 miles in it, I didn't even intend to go anywhere but kept driving. Turning DSC off entirely helped the car really come to life down the A59.

I've already been asked if I am willing to sell by a random motorist at a junction ha. Didn't get that in my Focus.

So I plan to keep it as is, look at preventing any more rust and if possible, doing something about the small but there is. I will be replacing the head unit but keeping the old one for when I come to sell in the future.

All in all I paid £900 cash and my 2006 Focus 1.6 Ghia with 134000 on the clock and in need of some suspension work at the rear. A bit of a deal if I do say so.

So, yes, some may laugh but this car makes me smile every time I get in and that's what matters. None of the 325's or 320's I looked at were in anywhere near as good shape and with me having my kids in the back, I didn't want a shed.

[Uirchris]

[Uirchris]