Dumb idea of the night [updated]

"dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford" (dtg11)
04/25/2016 at 21:25 • Filed to: None

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Now with more picture. Sooooo clean.

So dumb, but it looks soooo goooood...

I think I need to go to bed and get my sense back.

DISCUSSION (19)

derf > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
04/23/2016 at 00:30

Hm. I’ve never been a big fan of the post-facelift E46 headlights, and also automatic. Plus, 206k miles. eek.

But, $2700. Guess it’d depend on what state it’s actually in. If you expect it to take you anywhere on a regular basis for any length of time, then yes, dumb idea. Could be an entertaining excuse to spend more money on parts though.

RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire > derf
04/23/2016 at 01:29

Was going to say something but you covered all of it.

derf > RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire
04/23/2016 at 01:38

I have two E46s, one of which is.. well, not quite as high mileage as that one, but it’s getting there. It’s never stranded me, and there usually isn’t anything major wrong with it, but there’s always something wrong with it. :)

RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire > derf
04/23/2016 at 01:53

Had a friend with an E46 330Ci ... his radio was never right and it seemed to be tied into all sorts of things ... his wipers, the transmission, etc.

Nice looking cars though. Always have an eye out for a ZHP.

M54B30 > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
04/23/2016 at 02:56

I’ll take a high mileage E46 over a average mileage E90.

It didn’t get 200k miles by bad maintenance

derf > RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire
04/23/2016 at 10:46

Yeah, my 330Ci is an ‘01 with, uh.. in miles a little over 150k. It serves as a cheapish, fun-to-drive winter rust sacrifice for the M3, and as a bonus provides useful hands-on experience in fixing old E46s. Despite its old euromobile foibles, it’s a great car and I enjoy it.

The M3 is an ‘06 with 70-something k miles on it, and is still comfortably in the “weird shit isn’t going wrong yet” phase of its life. If I didn’t live in road salt land, I’d be quite comfortable having it as my only vehicle (as long as I wasn’t in a situation where I’d be racking up a ton of mileage).

If that 206k example has been maintained well, it could even be a pleasant surprise as far as reliability goes. Just don’t count on it. I’d be ready for unexpected “Oh, the car needs some money and/or time” and stay on good terms with an independent shop that I trust for anything beyond my wrenching comfort zone.

Danger > RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire
04/25/2016 at 21:31

I was going to say the same thing but you nailed it.

M54B30 > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
04/25/2016 at 21:31

So get it then. $2700 is a great price. Don’t let the mileage scare you, E46s are about as bulletproof as they get and it didn’t get to 200k+ by being neglected

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > M54B30
04/25/2016 at 21:45

It’s beginning to be tempting, but my parents would shoot it down in like 2 seconds. That and I might be getting a Forester soon. If it checks out.

JDMatt > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
04/25/2016 at 22:34

Damn that’s cheap

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > JDMatt
04/25/2016 at 22:57

It’s also got 205k

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
04/25/2016 at 23:06

That car is like dating a hot girl with a cocaine habit that she wants you to pay for. She’s easy to pick up and as long as you keep getting the cocaine, she’ll put out for you and it’s awesome when she does.

But after a while, it starts killing you financially and in other ways...

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > M54B30
04/25/2016 at 23:07

“ E46s are about as bulletproof as they get”

ROFLOL... which is to say that NONE of them are actually bulletproof

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
04/25/2016 at 23:09

Are you prepared to budget $5000/year in repairs and maintenance?

That’s what you should expect to have to do when getting something like a “cheap” BMW.

There’s actually no such thing as a cheap BMW. You either pay upfront, or you pay down the line.

M54B30 > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
04/26/2016 at 00:32

Oh good, the token anecdotal BMW third-hand information expert has arrived

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > M54B30
04/26/2016 at 08:53

IKR right?

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > M54B30
04/26/2016 at 12:36

Ancedotal? I don’t think so. From Consumer Reports...

Kinja'd!!!

And the years prior to 2006 were NOT rated better.

And from carsurvey:

http://www.carsurvey.org/reviews/bmw/3_…

And note that first review had all those repairs over less than 30,000 miles of driving. And the one after had several repairs after less than 1000 miles.

And the only people that had no problems are the ones that wrote the review after only having had the car for a short time.

And combined with that, I personally know more than one person who bought a “cheap” E46. In one particularly bad case, I know the person spent nearly $10,000 in repairs over 2 years... and then the engine blew.

There is no such thing as a cheap BMW.

They’re not nessarily bad cars, but you have to stay on top of the maintenance/repair... and do some stuff preemptively. And if you can’t budget $5000/year (I’m saying *budget*... you may not spend that every year, but you easily could) for repairs/maintenance, then you shouldn’t get a BMW.

And if it’s a V8 or V12 BMW, then it’s a good idea to have an repair/maintenance budget that’s closer to $10,000.

My knowledge of BMWs like the one pictured above is anything but ancedotal.

Party-vi > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
04/29/2016 at 22:03

The engine is very reliable in the E46 and they’re put together well, but god damn do the little things get annoying.

Party-vi > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
04/29/2016 at 22:08

ohai. The E46 is a very very good car. It handles wonderfully and the M54B30 engine is fantastic. That being said, the Steptronic transmission is the devil, and you will get tired of shit wearing out. Transmission flushes are like $500-$700, the spark plugs are very specific, and parts are pricey. It would be a smart idea to find one with good service history. That being said, make sure it’s a 330Ci or 330i, because you’ll miss out on the extra power.