This might bear a look when I'm in town this weekend

"sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
12/21/2016 at 11:05 • Filed to: None

It’s a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! with a five speed manual and the right color combo. Oh, and it’s got less than 50k miles on the odometer.

Ok, so the price is a bit steep, but there may be room for negotiation. Plus, with my brother turning 16 in four months, we might actually have a use for it.

DISCUSSION (33)

E90M3 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/21/2016 at 11:14

That’s bordering on NP. I don’t really think it’s too steep, probably not going find another one and if you do I assume they’ll ask about the same for it. In 2013 I went to look at a 2003 325i with a stick in it, worse condition than that with like 80k on it and they wanted 8k for it.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > E90M3
12/21/2016 at 11:16

Fair enough. I actually think an example with that low of a mileage should be worth a little bit of a premium as this one is, but the general response on here seems to be that a 12-year-old car with 50,000 miles and a 12-year-old car with 150,000 miles should be worth about the same.

404 - User No Longer Available > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/21/2016 at 11:17

I found an 330i ZHP the other day for a similar price ($10995 CAD), but my mechanic told me to run as far as I can...

Granted that one had way more miles than this.

Tripper > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/21/2016 at 11:18

The E46 is such a timeless shape. I bet cash money can take that for a NP!

Party-vi > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/21/2016 at 11:19

blech.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Party-vi
12/21/2016 at 11:19

Why blech?

E90M3 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/21/2016 at 11:22

the general response on here seems to be that a 12-year-old car with 50,000 miles and a 12-year-old car with 150,000 miles should be worth about the same.

That makes 0 sense to me, personally I’d pay a premium to get the lower mileage one.

LongbowMkII > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/21/2016 at 11:23

Why give a nice car to a 16 year old?

functionoverfashion > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/21/2016 at 11:23

It’s a bit steep, sure, but that’s very low mileage. I have an ‘03 with 100k more than that and it’s in fine shape. However, at that age, the cooling system might come due for some maintenance just on age instead of miles. The CVV/PCV system is also famous for clogging, especially in cars that weren’t driven a lot or not very far on average. Low mileage in that case isn’t a good thing. Look for the famous “mustard” on the inside of the oil cap after a short ride.

So... there could be some expensive maintenance coming in the next 25k miles. But having owned 2 E46's over the last 6 years, they really are straightforward to DIY.

My current E46 I bought after the previous owner had only had it maybe 6 months (?) but in that short time had done over the entire cooling system including the radiator, as well as the CVV/PCV system, I’m sure at great expense. He must have been eager to dump this “POS old BMW” but then I’ve had almost no issues in the 2+ years since. His loss, my gain.

Party-vi > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/21/2016 at 11:24

no balls and no widgets.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > E90M3
12/21/2016 at 12:01

Same

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > LongbowMkII
12/21/2016 at 12:02

Well my parents gave me a nice car so I feel like giving my brother an old Ford aspire would definitely be demonstrating favoritism.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Party-vi
12/21/2016 at 12:03

OK good for a second I thought you had an actual concern.

Party-vi > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/21/2016 at 12:06

no I’m just being a wet blanket.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Party-vi
12/21/2016 at 12:08

You have an E46, yes?

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/21/2016 at 12:10

I think that’s pretty fairly priced. It’s a low miles car and it seems to be in incredibly good shape. 100k+ mile examples always seem to be in the $4-5k range around me, so for a really clean example like that with only 50k miles I think it’s worth a few extra grand. If you can get it sub $7k then it’s a NP for sure, and anything under $7500 or so is still a fair price in my book.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
12/21/2016 at 12:13

Fair enough

Tazio, Count Fouroff > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/21/2016 at 12:29

If it checks out, mileage + stick make it pretty much a unicorn.

Personally I’d pay up to $7,000 no problem, unless cooling system/rear strut towers/CVV/front suspension+steering all deferred

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/21/2016 at 12:57

Those models have one major issue, the biodegradable plastic they used in the window mechanism fails. Check the forums for that and roll down all the windows on the test drive.

Party-vi > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/21/2016 at 13:32

diplodicus > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/21/2016 at 13:49

Something about tan leather just gets me going.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Party-vi
12/21/2016 at 14:22

What do you think?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > diplodicus
12/21/2016 at 14:22

Right?

Party-vi > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/21/2016 at 14:27

My ‘02 330Ci with 185k miles might get me $4,000 on a good day (like, the best day). I think it’s a good car, but at 50,000 miles and 13 years it’s going to need maintenance records or should get some new parts (at the very least a water pump, thermostat, expansion tank, belts, plugs, and filters). I like my E46 a lot, but parts and repair get expensive if you aren’t willing to do the work yourself. I could see myself buying this if I didn’t know the sport package or 330i was a thing.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Party-vi
12/21/2016 at 14:29

Thanks, that’s actually quite helpful

carzcarzcarz > Party-vi
12/21/2016 at 16:59

I recently got a 330i, and I agree with what Party-vi said. Lots of little plastic parts likely need to be replaced (especially cooling system). I’m actually not blown away by the e46 currently compared to my BRZ. It makes for a great GT car and putting down miles on the highway, but other than that.... eh to me.

Party-vi > carzcarzcarz
12/21/2016 at 17:21

oooo what year??? The sport package helps a lot. I love the steering and handling on mine, but honestly my only benchmarks are a ‘49 Jeep, ‘88 Cherokee, and ‘05 Pilot. so there’s that.

jordang1028 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/22/2016 at 03:24

I’m not sold. At 12 years old, it will need a full cooling system refresh to be reliable. That’s $600 if you do it yourself with quality parts, or $1500 for a shop to do it, at least. Plus it appears to be entirely without options; no sport, cold weather, or premium package as far as I can tell. While the manual is a plus, there’s not a whole lot going for it. If you can pay cash, I would offer $6500 for it, otherwise walk.

carzcarzcarz > Party-vi
12/22/2016 at 15:12

2001, worst year for steering feel with the overboosted steering rack. Fixed that with a swap, changed the shifter to a 6series “short” throw and some of the bushings, still feels like driving a truck to me compared to the BRZ. Funny thing is even the rental car I had while overseas (Volvo v40) had a much better shifter than the BMW.

Party-vi > carzcarzcarz
12/22/2016 at 15:17

Mine is the auto, because life hates me. I had read they overboosted steering until a number of people complained - mine has a great heft to it and excellent feedback.

carzcarzcarz > Party-vi
12/22/2016 at 15:42

It makes for a great GT car, but is it (I know it’s not the M) really the Ultimate Driving machine? No, not at all to me, but I might be spoiled. The e46 makes great everyday cars but don’t excite me like I thought they would, or communicate the pure driving experience that I’ve heard so much about. At least not the one I picked up at least (craiglist special I must admit).

Party-vi > carzcarzcarz
12/22/2016 at 15:55

I would say my coupe with the sport package has done so. Unless I’m really missing out on the BRZ I can’t get over how well my E46 handles itself on twisties. Plus, all dat torque.

carzcarzcarz > Party-vi
12/22/2016 at 16:42

Well good man, I’m glad that your car makes you happy. And I know what you mean about the torque! I missed it so much in the BRZ, that’s why I ended up supercharging it.