Member
I need a car and I was looking into an e46 since my e92 is being repaired from an accident. Anyways the price on the e46 is 1000 and it runs great. Only issue is that it is smoking my guess is a valve cover gasket leak, and the maintenance in the past of the car is unknown since it was bought from an auction. Just thinking if it could be a good buy or not and its a manual transmission.
Wagon meister :)
BMW Tech Expert
Welcome to the Forum!
Well for 1k there isn't too much that can't go wrong. Yeah, there are always plenty of problems with the older cars, and that smoking can be multiple things.
So to help up to help you:
Year:
Model:
Color of smoke:
Darin
Current:
16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
Past:
95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
M-Flight Member
Member
Sounds like a good deal if it's running. I just bought an 01 325xi with 140,000 miles for $550... Has a blown head gasket but I figured I'd take a risk and see how bad the damage is. I needed a project anyways. As I've been working on it I have found some things that need to be done besides the head gasket issues... Maybe things you would want to keep in mind for the future.
1.Vacuum from Intake manifold to secondary air pump broken (along with all other vacuum hoses being brittle and cracked)
2. Hose to heater core from radiator expansion bay had a lot of small leaks
3. CCV lines are plastic and very brittle so I broke one or 2 pretty easily. Everyone suggests replacing them after a while anyways.
Good luck with ur new ride. I would say that for $1000 even if it bites the dust before long you could either fix it, or part it out and easily get your money back
Member
I'm new to BMW and to the E46, now a year. Service records....if there are any can tell you a lot if you know what e46 cars typically have issues with and what you are willing to fix. Oil leaking from the 'oil filter housing gasket' is I believe a most common, even from 100k miles. Service records may indicate that repair. Other common issues usually involve serpentine belt pulleys, water pump. Even if these have been replaced some time ago, they may need now to be replaced again. Alternators do not give much past 200k...if you were not a high AC user...Replacing an alternator on an in-line 6 requires removal of the intake manifold...My take here, for a cheap and running, few bucks spent, drive it to the ground..or find love with it and $pend!
Last edited by Eaglesail; 03-10-2018 at 02:51 PM.
Member
Replacing the alternator does not require the removal of intake manifold!!! I had the alternator in my 2001 330Ci out several times without removing the manifold.
Member
Agreeing with Marco here. Hint: You will need a 16mm socket and a long handle to get lots of torque.Originally Posted by MarcoZandrini
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