E46 328i - 80000 miles...a potential money pit or a bargain?

[horton]

The car is in Japan, but luckily so am I.

I was looking for an E36 328i, and then saw this one:

http://www.carsensor.net/usedcar/detail.php?STID=C...

Which is an E46 328i, for the same price as an E36 328, however it has done about 80000 miles.

I cannot read much Japanese, so I am not sure how much of a service history it has, but there is a photo of what looks like some form of service history. I don't mind the normal BMW service charges - but I am a little worried that with 80000 miles on the clock, I would be looking forward to some major malfunctions which would cost as much as the car is worth to fix.

oh..the price, its about 3 grand, which is what you would normally pay for a nicely specced E36 328i with 30000/40000 on the clock in Japan.

[VerySideways]

Sounds like a bargain to me. Can you get in inspected, for accident damage or some other ailment?

[MK4 Slowride]

Sounds OK imo, I don't know what sory of history checks you can do in Japan but do those. It's hit it's dpereciation flat line and so long as it's been well maintained will do another 80,000 miles easily and more.

[LC23]

I'd be surprised if anything major were to go, as long as it has been properly looked after. Of course, you may get unlucky but that's the chance you take with all second hand cars. The 2.8i is a cracking engine and the E46 generally well built. 80,000 miles is nothing on this engine.

[[TW]Fox]

OH NO! Not 80,000 miles. It'll be falling apart.

In all seriousness come on, its an 8 year old car what do you expect it to have on the clock? It'll be fine.

[phelix]

I have a 99 328i w/127K on the clock and going strong. In that time it's needed (besides the usual consumables of discs, pads, belts, filters, tyres etc):

rad, water pump, clutch, VANOS seals, crankcase ventilation valve, front control arms (3 sets) and rear trailing arm bushes

Not bad all in all, me thinks. Generally built like a brick outhouse.

[Neil.D]

My 2000 M5 has just turned 80k miles and is solid as a rock. Nothing has gone wrong in the time I have owned it - my car is probably more prone to mechanical failures than an E46. 80k is nothing really although if something did go wrong (suspension etc) I wouldnt begrudged it as the milage is creeping up.
I have probably just tempted fate.

[horton]

I guess I've been living in Japan too long, anything that is close to 50,000 miles is viewed as not worth owning, people just get new cars.

Which might be a good thing for me, as I can pick up something semi-decent but still within my price range.

I will have a look at it, next weekend.

I'm all excited now, I never thought my finances would stretch to an E46, well not a 328i anyway.

[StuB]

I sold my 328 with 214k miles on the clock, did 1.5 leptons on the way to the dealer! Bulletproof motor. Usual suspension bushes will need attention like any beemer.

[ceriw]

Shoot me down in flames if i am wrong.... but the odometer will be in kms not miles. apols if i haven't looked carefully. is it definately 80k miles?

ps... lucky you living in Japan, fantastic place.

Edited by ceriw on Wednesday 16th April 15:20

[rallycross]

these cars will easily do 200k if serviced correctly, with no major parts needing replaced.

80k is nothing for these cars...