E46 Advice needed

[pac1982]

My sister is due to have a baby early in the new year and her boyfriends gran has given them some money to get a more suitable family car to replace there clapped out 3 door VW Polo

I don’t really know anything technical about the E46’s so can anyone tell me if this is a good car, is it worth the money and what are the things to look out for

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/ca ... 1348704593

Don’t really like the sound of the seller TBH ”aLesta Car Sales”a even bloody business can’t be arsed to spell Leicester properly these days!!

I know it’s a only a 316 but her boyfriend only young so cant afford to insure anything else
E46 Advice needed

[sihooker]

My dad's got an E46 318i tourer and he wont be buying another one!

He's had trouble with windows rattling and the mechanism breaking. It's needed new rear springs cos one snapped. The alarm and remote locking have stopped working. It's only done 90K!

Your sis would be better off with an E30 318i tourer...a brilliant family wagon, and far more reliable!

[Alex]

Well my dad bought a brand new 323ci in topaz blue with cream leather etc etc in 1999 and piled on the miles, his mother in law now owns it and the car has around 240k on the clock and has never broken down or had anything major replaced, just the odd tyre etc here and there.

Well built cars imo, next best 3 series after the e30

[darkchild]

8v M43 engine likes to do its head gasket around 100K.

[sihooker]

8v M43 engine likes to do its head gasket around 100K.

I've read that the head gasket gets pushed out the back of the block rather than degrade in the normal way.

If you run your hand around the bulkhead end of the cylinder head you'll feel the gasket poking out if it's on it's way...

[pac1982]

Cheers for the advice chaps anything else they shoud look out for?

[shazE30]

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/ca ... 1348704593

That one is way overpriced imo

[pac1982]

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/ca ... 1348704593

That one is way overpriced imo

I did think that myself i told her to start the offers at around £1800 and dont pay more than £2200 does that sound about right to you

[Royalratch]

E46's are great - this one is a very early though.

Is the M43 belt driven? That is probably a 1.9L M44.

Don't pay more than £1800 - spec is pretty low and I bet it will need tires or something.

Great time to buy E46's and there are tons so as usual, rule number 1 applies - take your time.

[pac1982]

Its seems funny how my E30 is worth about the same money as an E46

[Royalratch]

Only lowly spec / pre-facelifts. Nice E46's still make strong money.

[kieran325]

I've got a E46 320d sport, at the time I was looking at M3's and 911's but I wanted something practical.

I bought it brand new and 5 years and 35k later, all it's suffered is a broken spring and front discs/pads, I had the maintenance package so it was covered for all servicing and general stuff.

It was only last week I was at the dealers looking at E60 535d's, I was going to give the E46 to the girlfriend and collect a newish E60, I don't think I want to get rid of the E46 because it really is a good car, I really do recommend them

[darkchild]

Is the M43 belt driven? That is probably a 1.9L M44.

M43 is a chain, the E46 never got the M44. The M43 is a superb little engine - given 6000 mile oil changes they'll plod on forever. The head gasket is the only real weakness but is an easy fix.

[B7]

It was only last week I was at the dealers looking at E60 535d's,

A man after my own heart. E60 535d is the way I want to go after the e39 530i MSport.

[bss325i]

E46's are very good cars in general.

[fuzzy]

Its seems funny how my E30 is worth about the same money as an E46

i didnt realise you could get an e46 for £500.

[Nath325i]

i run a 330ci sport as a daily, really reliable car. only thing i had go on it was the alternator bu tthink my sub and amp contributed to that... I used to have a 320ci which had 120k on it before a van used it to stop and all that ever needed was service parts and brakes.