Question about E-46

[bmwhawaii]

Hey guys. Ive been looking for my 1st bimmer for a while now...had found the perfect one but some guy showed up to the owner with $5k cash and I missed out...anyways I have recently been looking at this one here:

honolulu.craigslist.org/oah/ctd/898321643.html

and I really like it....BUT i have been doing some research online and found that there were MANY problems with the E-46 in its 1st year or 2. Especially the 323 in particular....can anyone confirm this? Im kinda confused as to why they're selling this thing so cheap considering the 60k mileage...

regardless, Ill have it looked at by BME...but I want to know your guys thoughts. Ive had several BMW gurus tell me to stay away from the 99-01 E-46's for this reason.

any advice would be appreciated! - PS - id be learning stick, ive never driven it before

[E36BMW3series]

Definitely get a stick. I'm 17 and driving my bimmer home from Virginia, a 750mile drive, was my 3rd time every driving a stick. Its a lot more fun and more reliable.

As far as buying an e46. I haven't done a lot of research on them yet but here are the things I have heard. Sub Frames tear or get damaged, a cam sensor or something goes wrong with them, and windows don't go up and down. I also know a guy who had his gauge cluster go out.

If you are seriously looking at one get a Pre-Purchase inspection. If you can get a BMW with 60k miles for 5k there is something wrong.




Well now that I'm about done typing this I look at your link and see that it is an e36 convertible. That changes EVERYTHING.

The engine is a strong engine and will run forever if properly maintained. With that said things usually go wrong and damage the engines if idiots drive them. For starters the cooling systems aren't the best and many times overheat due to water pump going out. You should change the coolant regularly (BMW recommends 36 months) and often times if this simple task has been neglected you will blow a head gasket.
Now to suspension, if it has been neglected than you will wear out or tear the supports if you let the bearing go bad.
Now onto convertible part. The tensioner straps on the top will wear down and the top will not work or won't work as well as it should.

I would be very skeptical if I were you becasue the engine looks like it has been messed with (Cold Air Intake). That can be a good thing, or a bad thing. Possibility of good: guy cared for his car did his own work, maintenance is upto date and looks good mechanically. The bad: he raped on it and tried to race it, he did other stupid modifications that might compromise the integrity of the engine.

Drive it, see how it drives. Its a BMW so if you have never driven one goto a dealership and drive one and use it to compare how this car will drive. Check out these videos another forum member posted. GET A PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTION BEFORE YOU BUY THE CAR!! I cannot stress this enough, if the car has been neglected there are SOOOO many things that can go wrong, but if it has been properly maintained you will be good to go. The only thing you will ever have to pay for is mainteance which is realtivly inexpensive if you DIY (Do it yourself). There are plenty of instructions on these forums and other websites, use them as referances and you will save a ton of money. If you end up buying one, welcome to the community.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4Z7WrN-tSE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7foKczm3fd4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4s-1TeNsjA

[jibaholic101]

youd have better results if you posted in the e46 car specific forum.

as long as you know the mechanics on how to do it before you get in the car, you shouldnt be all that bad when you get behind the wheel. there are videos on youtube (this is a good one). bmws are generally pretty forgiving depending on the car. it just takes getting used to. many people over-hype driving manual like it is trying to program the space shuttle and convince you that you cant do it without a 4 year mechanical degree. it just takes like a week or 2 to get used to the shift points of your car and how to get it smooth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B59-pWSPoZU&feature=channel

[E36BMW3series]

HE IS LOOKING AT AN e36!!!!
HE IS LOOKING AT AN e36!!!!
HE IS LOOKING AT AN e36!!!!
^Hopefully 1 caught ur eye before you post.

It is an early model '99 so it still has the e36 body style. This is just like my M3 that is a 99.

[GR330ZHP]

Wow, it looks beautiful, and clean but that isnt an E46, its an E36 323ic.

It can be confusing but BMW always seems to continue to make the 3 series cabrio, a year after the rest finish...like the 92 E30 325IC, 99 E36 323ic/328ic, and 06 E46 325ci/330ci.

It looks great though and is clean, but one thing I noticed is that the seats look a little too wrinkled, which could show signs of a flood car...but that might not be the case at all.

Also I think that the 323i only had one muffler tip, where the 328i had two...I know this was the case with the 318i but i think it was the same with the 323i. Maybe it is a 328i!? I dont know maybe.:D

Good luck!:)