E46 Touring - No History

E46 Touring - No History

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Challo

Original Poster:

10,155 posts

155 months

Wednesday 14th November 2018
quotequote all
Going to look at this Touring tonight https://www.gumtree.com/p/bmw/bmw-e46-328i-touring...

Seems genuine, and the seller has been honest with the description. Only issue is no service history as the previous owner lost it.

I own a E46 now, but anyway to check if the cooling system has been replaced? Any other big items to check for?

Challo

Original Poster:

10,155 posts

155 months

Wednesday 14th November 2018
quotequote all
Cheers. Will take a look tonight and see whats its like in the flesh.

Im handy with spanners so dont mind replacing bits myself, and I my local mechanic does mates rates as well.

Challo

Original Poster:

10,155 posts

155 months

Wednesday 14th November 2018
quotequote all
Had a look at this earlier. Owner bought it in May, but now has a 120d due to change in job and bigger commute. Also has a Lexus LS400 as a project car.

Car looks good and doesn’t look to have any rust. Interior is good, no rips in the leather.

Bad points:
As mentioned no service history as previous lost it, but the current owner has changed the plus, filters etc
Drivers side front and rear windows don’t go down. You can hear the motor working, but the guy has a new regulator in the boot, plus a fuel filter.
Air Con doesn’t work, Kwik Fit regassed it, but said there is a leak on one pipes.
Stiff throttle, unsure if it’s the cable or the throttle body?
Large scratch on the bonnet, which unfortunately the previous owner tried to fix but with the wrong touch up paint
Needs new rear discs
There was a slight oil leak on the oil filter housing which has been fixed, but looks a little messy from the leak.

Guy was honest on the car and wasn’t trying to hide anything. It could do with a good valet and treatment on the leather.

Not bad for a £950 car

Challo

Original Poster:

10,155 posts

155 months

Thursday 15th November 2018
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Mr Tidy said:
To be fair if it has no rust it looks like a bargain to me, regardless of the missing Service History!

A mate of mine bought a 54 plate E46 325i Sport Touring with a stack of history, but 3 crusty arches - I'd rather have a rust-free one with missing history! laugh
I was thinking similar.

There is already a regulator in the boot, accelerator cable is £25 and easy to fit, rear discs and pads are cheap and I can fit them.

It does need TLC but for a sub £1 car you can’t ask for a perfect car.

Challo

Original Poster:

10,155 posts

155 months

Thursday 15th November 2018
quotequote all
red997 said:
I bought an 03 plate 320d touring for less than £900
just over 100K miles, full service history;
I've spent circa £100 on it so far - full service, new front pads, rear brake shoes (and all missing bits...), hoses changed for silicon, swirl blanked, sorted my airbag light, and just bought a set of OEM wheels with winter tyres for £108.

No real rust, but is not cosmetically perfect, which doesn't bother me.

Had it around 6 weeks, and driven over 3K miles to date
Everything works, its a great ride, and really quiet on motorways.
Averaging over 55mpg too (real, not OBC)

Personally, I'm chuffed to bits with it, as its keeping a shed load of miles off my other cars.
Its a keeper....
Had another look at this at lunchtime as its round the corner from work. Bodywork is defiantly solid and no rust, unfortunately the previous owner decided to touch up the little scratches with the wrong colour blue so you had these odd lines everywhere laugh

Rears are on the limit so will also need changing, and the alloys are scuffed.

I might do some sums and make him a cheeky bid. Looks to be the basis of a solid car, just needs some love.