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Thread: E46s getting cheap

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Ann Arbor, Michigan
    Posts
    357
    My Cars
    1989 BMW 325ix

    E46s getting cheap

    I feel like recently I've seen a ton of e46s around for sale for relatively low price <3500.

    Seems they are hitting that mark where people are dumping them for an upgrade.

    Anyone else notice this?

    I'm coming from the e34 e30 area and was thinking about getting one to fix up. Are these mostly mechanical still?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Metairie, LA
    Posts
    596
    My Cars
    2001 325i; 2006 325i
    Shoot, I just found a close to cherry '03 325i. Very nice exterior and the only thing wrong with the interior is the usually peeling pillars, but he over heated the engine and was in the middle of doing the head gasket when he decided it was too much for him. I offered him $900 and he said he'd take it. Hopefully I can get out of work to run over there and hand him the money before someone else grabs it.

    I'm not planning on doing the head gasket. Engines are all over the place for an E46 and they're cheap.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Carolina
    Posts
    31,073
    My Cars
    2004 330 vert 2004 X5
    I started noticing this a couple years ago. You can pick up used e46s for $1500-2500 all day around here. 325, 323, 330 doesn't matter. I'm sure they have some issues but overall they seem pretty decent. I just paid $6000 for my 04 330 vert 110k. On!y real cosmetic issue was the drives bolster. So you still pay for a super clean one.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Vancouver Isl, BC, Canada
    Posts
    4,173
    My Cars
    98 Euro M3, 04 M3, 06 M5
    They are getting to that age where they arent worth repairing if you arent doing it yourself. I know so many people who come bragging to me about their $2000 e46.. shortly before i hand then a $5000 quote to make the car half decent.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Norwich, Connecticut.
    Posts
    486
    My Cars
    E46 wag. E36 convertible
    Yes! I have been following the market for 3 series, wagons in particular. I have also been watching Benz, Audi and Hmmmm?

    As some here may know me more recently..I purchased a very good example for a 2003 325xi, $5k. Now after 4 months driving, it was a very good purchase. Also I see recently a 2001 5 series, 80k miles, garage kept, $6k asking. I'd offer 4500...

    This generation of BMW cars...1999-2005.. have entered into a 'passay' older car appeal...now viewed as OLD! ......That new appeal, has passed. people identify with NEW, and old beemers just don't appeal anylonger.

    For the true sports car enthusiast, this is a win-fall!

    Ask me if I care the age of my pristine, like-new, BMW automobile!....I don't care, and so what it is 14 years old!

    I love driving my 325xi and also keeping it young by doing all the maintenance myself...I drove my 97 A6 almost 20 years..
    Last edited by Eaglesail; 08-10-2017 at 04:52 PM.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Washington DC
    Posts
    56
    My Cars
    E46 325ci, E34 535IS
    I just grabbed an 05 325ci with 100k miles on it for $3500.
    However I did have to go into the depths of Balitmore to get it.

    Needs a little work. But overall a good deal.

    5Wg4lza.jpg
    -----------------------------------------------
    My E34 Race Car Build

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Kilmarnock, VA
    Posts
    1,873
    My Cars
    E53, E90, Triumph GT6
    Yes there are plenty of cheap ones. Especially if one is willing to
    do a few repairs. I own 3 e46s. most expensive was $2500. That one I bought it 3 years ago (330i manual trans)

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Portland, OR
    Posts
    712
    My Cars
    2002 325Ci Cabriolet
    Just for kicks, I stopped in at a used car dealer a few days ago. Looked at a 2011 Ford Fusion SEL. Went inside, a few minutes later the salesperson comes back and tells me that my beautiful 2002 325Ci Cabriolet had a trade-in value of $2350. I said I wanted to trade in the whole car, not just the new BMW Style 286 Wheels and the Xenon headlights.

    They didn't get the joke. I could dismantle my BMW and sell the parts for more $15,000.

    The purchasing public has far more power these days than we did 30 years ago. Offering someone $2350 for a vehicle with a retail value approaching $7000 is insulting. The car doesn’t magically become more valuable if parked on a used car lot. As for KBB, it's just another website for dealers to justify screwing over buyers and should have little importance to a buyer. I always chuckle when I talk to a used car dealer that wasn't yet out of 7th grade when KBB stopped printing those little blue books.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    Lawrence Kansas
    Posts
    1,236
    My Cars
    2004 325XI/2008 GL320
    Dealers don't go by KBB trade in values on older cars. They go by KBB black book wholesale auction values which is muuuuuuuuuch lower than trade in.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Portland, OR
    Posts
    712
    My Cars
    2002 325Ci Cabriolet
    Quote Originally Posted by dhurley34 View Post
    Dealers don't go by KBB trade in values on older cars. They go by KBB black book wholesale auction values which is muuuuuuuuuch lower than trade in.
    Sure, but any used car dealer that thinks they could find and buy my BMW at an auction and pay just $2350 for it is hitting the crack pipe a few too many times in a day.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    Lawrence Kansas
    Posts
    1,236
    My Cars
    2004 325XI/2008 GL320
    Quote Originally Posted by All2kool View Post
    Sure, but any used car dealer that thinks they could find and buy my BMW at an auction and pay just $2350 for it is hitting the crack pipe a few too many times in a day.
    Unfortunately to them your car is a just a number given from an algorithm. There is no added value for rarity or condition. Thats why its always best to sell them privately over trading.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Norwich, Connecticut.
    Posts
    486
    My Cars
    E46 wag. E36 convertible
    In this instance, you have a point!...and there can be many other factors that play in!

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Vancouver Isl, BC, Canada
    Posts
    4,173
    My Cars
    98 Euro M3, 04 M3, 06 M5
    Quote Originally Posted by All2kool View Post
    Sure, but any used car dealer that thinks they could find and buy my BMW at an auction and pay just $2350 for it is hitting the crack pipe a few too many times in a day.
    Actually dealers pick these up at auction all the time for that or less(i just bought a 2005 330ci with only 60k miles for $1500... just needed tires and brakes). shops in house costs to have minor repairs done is cheap.

    Also, as others have said, you wont get anywhere near top dollar on trade in's. Your paying for the convenience factor.
    Current:

    - 09 335i MSport, FBO.
    - 98 Euro M3, Estoril Blue
    - 04 M3, Carbon Black, 6 Speed Coupe
    - 06 M5, Black on Black, Full Leather.
    - 73 3.0CS, Tagia Green, 5 speed M30b35 converted

    Ex's: 1984 325e, 1988 325IX, 1992 525I, 1995 540i/6, 2002 330i, 2005 330xi, 1992 850i, 2003 330i #1, 2003 330i #2, 2002 330ci, 2004 330ci, 2007 328CI, 2007 335i, 2001 M3, 2006 M5 6 speed

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