The Dark Wob

I've been asked to make an offer on this BMW.
As you can imagine it's totally immaculate.

Metallic blue with tan leather.

4 door auto.

Sorry, green not blue!

My non-Rev opinion which I reckon he would agree with at least some of:

These are quite shit. They mark the very start of BMW's descent into disposable PCP tosh rather than a car for life.

Maybe 10 years ago I had an E30 or 3 and at that time the sports, M3s and manual 2-doors were worth OK money, an automatic quattroporte was as desirable as knob rot.

I reckon the E46 is in a similar place now.

I don't think the time is yet here for a nice condition 4 door E46 to sell for strong money. Looking at ebay sold listings 2 grand would probably be a stretch.

I'm sure it's a nice thing but until all the 330 coupes get drifted to death the general public will not be getting moist for a 320 auto.

If you can keep it for 5-10 years it would probably be worth a lot.

Dreadful engine issues.

AutoshiteBoy wrote: ↑Sat Oct 10, 2020 10:34 pm Dreadful engine issues.

Really? With the six cylinder petrol engines? I thought they weren't VANOS?

Some Petrol sixes deffo have VANOS

That's a single VANOS engine unless I'm mistaken.

Edit* Just seen the mileage.

It would be nice for a grand. But a 2.2 320i is on nobody's wet dream list.

Most E46's are needy old bangers. An Accord is a much, much better idea. See also Lexus IS200.

Rusty arches
Window regulators
Oil leaks
Oil consumption on the 2.2
Driveline shunt
Central locking failure due to the GM5 module
Header tank
Radiator
Fan wiring
Rear wheel bearings and the driveshaft seizing into the hub.
Just general shagginess.
4 cylinder N42/46's are junk.


All petrol E46's apart from the 1998-2001 316i and 318i have double Vanos. The M52/M54 sixes aren't bad for Vanos issues, the four cylinder from 2001 is worse.
They were nice when new but now they're just fucking scrap. They're not nice enough to be special, and not reliable enough to be useful. Unless you get a 'good one'* you'll be forever fixing the thing. If cheap enough, buy it and just run it into the ground, binning it at the first major bill.

The Reverend Bluejeans wrote: ↑Sun Oct 11, 2020 9:47 pm E46's are needy old bangers. An Accord is a much, much better idea. See also Lexus IS200.

Rusty arches
Window regulators
Oil leaks
Oil consumption on the 2.2
Driveline shunt
Central locking failure due to the GM5 module
Header tank
Radiator
Fan wiring
Rear wheel bearings and the driveshaft seizing into the hub.
Just general shagginess.
4 cylinder N42/46's are junk.


All petrol E46's apart from the 1998-2001 316i and 318i have double Vanos. The M52/M54 sixes aren't bad for Vanos issues, the four cylinder from 2001 is worse.
They were nice when new but now they're just fucking scrap. They're not nice enough to be special, and not reliable enough to be useful. Unless you get a 'good one'* you'll be forever fixing the thing. If cheap enough, buy it and just run it into the ground, binning it at the first major bill.

That's a shame because it's an immaculate old thing that's been cherished.

I spouted off without seeing the mileage.

With that mileage it will still be OK. What can you get it for? Are you going to run it or just flip it?