School me on the e46

[87e30]

So my mom is looking to buy a used car. 4-6k ish I think. It will be in loan form. Lets ignore how foolish my mom is with finances.

All repairs will be done at a shop.

Performance is a non-issue, would prefer something "sporty feeling." Remember, she's a typical girl... so every little car feels this way.

My biggest concern is repair expenditures. She is not good at budgeting money, therefore I don't want repairs to pop up on her. I'm recommending a ~2000 Tl/Cl or an accord. (she hates camrys, and older lexus models are pretty similar)

She found a 1999 325is black/black with 100k miles in what she claims is INCREDIBLE condition. She claims it "looks like a nice new car." Dealership claims they will make all repairs for her at cost if she brings the car back to them. (No reason to doubt this - so assume she gets all repairs made at a shop at cost)

People who own e46s or work at dealerships will you please chime in? Thinking maintenance costs vs. ~2000ish acura.

Thanks. I've told my mom a million times to buy a cheap accord but she is very attracted to these BMWs. Maybe I'm very wrong and the e46 would be a cheap car to own.

[E30Nova]

Obviously more than a Honda, but from what I've read and been told by a friend with a 330 ZHP, maintenance isn't that bad. At least for the regular boring E46's. ZHP or M3 is a whole different story.

[imdashiz]

isnt a 1999 325is an e36?

[e30e]

isnt a 1999 325is an e36?

1999 is when the sedan came out but it would be a 323 or 328

e46's are e36's with just more computers in terms of maintenance.

[e30lov]

She found a 1999 325is black/black with 100k miles in what she claims is INCREDIBLE condition. She claims it "looks like a nice new car." Dealership claims they will make all repairs for her at cost if she brings the car back to them. (No reason to doubt this - so assume she gets all repairs made at a shop at cost)

People who own e46s or work at dealerships will you please chime in? Thinking maintenance costs vs. ~2000ish acura.
.

I know you said "no reason to doubt this" but you have every reason to doubt this. I'm assuming they told this to her, knowing that she would never have a clue what dealer cost really is. Plain and simple, no dealership in the world is going to sell parts/labor out at dealer cost. Most if not all dealerships sell at matrix pricing which is higher then list price for retail parts/service customers.


As for e46 vs acura maintenance costs? I would have to say they are both similar. expensive.

Honda makes a good product, however I would go for the e46

[87e30]

My concern is not about the e46 not starting and driving, my concern lies with some computer sensor breaking, shit squeaking, and in general the car aging and feeling like it's broken since there are so many small parts to up keep. Compared with a more plane jane older acura or honda.

good call on the "dealership" pricing. I kind of had that feeling, but for the acura CL they quoted her 380 for a water pump and timing belt. Seems pretty cheap to me. totally skethes me out though.

[dinanm3]

you have more sense than your mom.
b.m.w
break my wallet i own 3 and i found it to be true.remember parts on bmw cost 2-3 times more than ford-Chevy-toyota ect. wouldn't buy it with 100k either.try get your mom something with under 60k .I got my mom a 2002 with 54k she loves jaguar.but i also said get a warranty on it 4 year 40,000 mile one.
well it is a jag.never trust a stealer ship.
Good luck shes in good hands with you.:)
Hope i helped you.

[Ryann]

I've been maintaining a 330i for a salesman at the company I work for since '08. Aside from front brakes/rotors, a driver side window motor, a water pump upgrade (replaced the plastic impeller unit with an upgraded steel one), and clearing an erroneous OBD II "too lean" O2 sensor code, all I've had to do is regular fluid changes. He's pretty hard on rear tires (18"=$$$).

[87e30]

you have more sense than your mom.
b.m.w
break my wallet i own 3 and i found it to be true.remember parts on bmw cost 2-3 times more than ford-Chevy-toyota ect. wouldn't buy it with 100k either.try get your mom something with under 60k .I got my mom a 2002 with 54k she loves jaguar.but i also said get a warranty on it 4 year 40,000 mile one.
well it is a jag.never trust a stealer ship.
Good luck shes in good hands with you.:)
Hope i helped you.

Thanks for your input. After 16 years of leasing she is finally going to pay off her current car, an 07 rav4 with 35k miles. So she isn't in that bad of shape, however my step dad is a MORON with money and lost his company car to move to a different job, and really this car will be for the both of them.

Since the BMW is only 6.5k and an accord is a similar cost it's hard to convince her to get the accord. You see what I'm saying? I think a 60k ish car is out of the question budget wise at this point.

[87e30]

I've been maintaining a 330i for a salesman at the company I work for since '08. Aside from front brakes/rotors, a driver side window motor, a water pump upgrade (replaced the plastic impeller unit with an upgraded steel one), and clearing an erroneous OBD II "too lean" O2 sensor code, all I've had to do is regular fluid changes. He's pretty hard on rear tires (18"=$$$).

Not that this is bad, but the more I read the more I think I will tell her to buy an accord.

Fluids, brakes, everything must be more $$$ for the e46. Am i wrong? I've never owned a newish car... always do it myself. (I'm a cheap college kid, fuck debt for a car at this age)

[dinanm3]

Thanks for your input. After 16 years of leasing she is finally going to pay off her current car, an 07 rav4 with 35k miles. So she isn't in that bad of shape, however my step dad is a MORON with money and lost his company car to move to a different job, and really this car will be for the both of them.

Since the BMW is only 6.5k and an accord is a similar cost it's hard to convince her to get the accord. You see what I'm saying? I think a 60k ish car is out of the question budget wise at this point.

why doesn't she buy her rav 4 at the end of the lease?
it only has 35k thats awsome.
theres allot of cars out there now she can get with lower miles for that price .
my moms jag cost 7,800 54k miles .I do understand liking bmw more off-course its my favorite car.but as long as you know the cost of parts on the car and your okay with it do it.i'm pretty sure she can get a lower mile car for that money.

[87e30]

why doesn't she buy her rav 4 at the end of the lease?
it only has 35k thats awsome.
theres allot of cars out there now she can get with lower miles for that price .
my moms jag cost 7,800 54k miles .I do understand liking bmw more off-course its my favorite car.but as long as you know the cost of parts on the car and your okay with it do it.i'm pretty sure she can get a lower mile car for that money.

That's good to know. I'll keep looking, most of the hondas I see have miles piled on them.

It is the end of her lease, that's why she is keeping the rav4. Great reliability potential, awd, newish. It really makes sense to keep it, because buying out of the lease is $$$ if you don't just keep the car or lease something else.

This car will be for my step dad's long commute, but she's probably thinking she could drive it if he wants to take the rav4.

I just feel bad for her becuase this is his fucking mess and now she's losing her new car.


I'm going to try and get them to buy an accord. It's just so practical.

[dinanm3]

i hope it works out for her .
just be the man for her and check it out.
remember lower miles under 60k.do car fax,check dip stick,smell trans fluid,look at tire ware,look at valve cover oil pan for leaks.look around water pump for leaks,check all hoses,look at belts,check break pads,.and most important get a warranty.

[blacksport325]

my e46 isnt bad, weak points are the cooling system (water pump, thermostat, expansion tank and hoses), subframe had a recall on the e46 but it just finished in terms of free inspections, bushings go bad too after 150k miles, these are subframe bushings, differential bushings, lower control arm and rear trailing arm bushings. Other than that it is a pretty decent car, I did all the maintenance above as preventative because they are common failure points on the e46. Maybe someone can add something else but thats all I can think of off the top of my head.

[Ryann]

Not that this is bad, but the more I read the more I think I will tell her to buy an accord.

From the perspective of practical ownership, this is without a doubt the thing to do.