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Visitor here with some E46 questions.....

 
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cmcon98



Joined: 13 Nov 2002
Posts: 1844
Location: Boston

PostPosted: Fri May 18, 2007 11:26 am    Post subject: Visitor here with some E46 questions..... Reply with quote

I'm helping a friend find a "new" used car, and he likes the E46. I have an E30 convert and an E36 M3, so I'm familiar with the typical E36 problems, which include:

cooling system (every part)
heater core
bubbling door panels
cracking subframe mounts on non-M3s
relatively short auto tranny life
rattly VANOS units
plastic isolated ball joints
weak control arm bushings

What are the typical E46 problems above 80,000 miles? I'm going to advise a 5-speed 328 or 330, so rule out the automatics and the smaller engines.
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donaldan



Joined: 01 Jul 2001
Posts: 1881
Location: Ft. Myers, FL

PostPosted: Fri May 18, 2007 4:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Why do you rule out the 318 four bangers? It is one of the world's best 4 bangers. Unfortunately, BMW stopped supplying the 4 bangers for the American market during the later years of E46.
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cmcon98



Joined: 13 Nov 2002
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PostPosted: Fri May 18, 2007 7:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Actually, BMW never sold E46 4 cylinders in the US. The 323's and 325's are 6-cylinder.
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Tom Olsson
Site Admin


Joined: 03 Nov 2004
Posts: 242
Location: Seattle, WA, US

PostPosted: Fri May 18, 2007 11:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

We just had this discussion about a month ago on the local CCA Chapter's BB that should be able to help you.

http://www.bmwpugetsound.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=34245
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patelpump



Joined: 15 May 2007
Posts: 2
Location: Texas

PostPosted: Sat May 19, 2007 6:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Put evaportor/suction line/drier problems on top of that list for E46.
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donaldan



Joined: 01 Jul 2001
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Location: Ft. Myers, FL

PostPosted: Tue May 22, 2007 5:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

cmcon98, my friend in Louisville, KY has been driving a e46 318i, 5 spd for many years. I believe she bought it new at a BMW dealer there. I know it is very rare here in America.
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cmcon98



Joined: 13 Nov 2002
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Location: Boston

PostPosted: Wed May 23, 2007 7:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have never seen a 4-cylinder E46 in the US. That doesn't mean they didn't sell a very few, and there's a reason for this.

As far as buying one, it's a no. The 6-cylinder models are more powerful and the 323 gets comparable mileage. In a car as heavy as the E46, a 138HP 4-cylinder is bound to be a real dog. If you've ever driven a 4-cylinder E36 you'll know what I mean, and that car is lighter than the E46.
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donaldan



Joined: 01 Jul 2001
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Location: Ft. Myers, FL

PostPosted: Wed May 23, 2007 9:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

With a smaller engine such as 1.6 and 1.8 liter 4 bangers, one has to operate the car at a higher RPM. Many Europeans use these smaller engines and rev the engines up accordingly. To me it is a lot of fun shifting through the gears maintaining above 3k RPM . At the same itme, at highway cruising, the smaller engines give excellent gas mileage. I don't feel lack of power at all. I guess sportiness is in the feel of the drivers. Each of us is brought up differently and matures into a unique attitute towards driving. For example, many loath on manual gear shifting and will only drive with auto trans. Others like me, find it a ton of fun.

My Louisville friend loves her 318i and has owned several BMW's. She is at least in her mid 60's.
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cmcon98



Joined: 13 Nov 2002
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PostPosted: Thu May 24, 2007 9:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I agree with you on the manual trannies. My E30 is an auto and I'm accumulating the parts now to change it to a 5-speed. Not a fun job but very worth it.

I also hear ya on the small engines. A few years ago I had a highly modified 1972 BMW 2002. Great fun to zing the engine to 6000 rpm in every gear! I'm only ruling out 4-cylinder E46s bacause the car is for a friend who weighs 220 lbs and does lots of highway driving with passengers and A/C and all the accessories going, so he really needs the power of a six.
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gigel



Joined: 12 Sep 2002
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Location: Dallas/TX

PostPosted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 1:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Problems I've seen:
sunroof panel slides
window regulators
front control arm bushings
control arms
ignition coils
subframe on 5 speed cars (the more powerful engines)
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amancuso



Joined: 27 Apr 2003
Posts: 471
Location: Freehold, NJ

PostPosted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 1:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

donaldan wrote:
..

My Louisville friend loves her 318i and has owned several BMW's. She is at least in her mid 60's.

Would love to see pics of the engine bay and in general of your friend's US market 318i.

-Al.
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