Fix e46 or Sorted e30....or...

[Mksasquach]

...take a vacation from BMW and find something bare bones and cheap!



Ok, so here’s my dilemma: I’m currently driving a 99 328i with about 220k miles and she’s in need of some work, including but not limited to front control arm, flex disc (I think), I just got thwacked by a truck tire this morning and I think it may have tweaked the radiator a touch (tiny pinhole leak now) and took out a fog light/wheel well liner/plastic under pan.

Cosmetically she’s mostly nice….some door dings, and a nasty key scratch alllll the way across the deck lid are about the only real decencies. The driver seat is horribly worn as well…

I should note the previous owner overheated the car at 110k and a BMW mechanic replaced the warped head and totally revamped everything else at that time. I drive almost exclusively highway (100 miles per day) so I just ruin most cars with mileage (Pathfinder exited with 210k, Miata with 205k, ect.)

What to do? Fix up this E46 (and hope other major systems don’t start breaking down) or find a sorted E30 to ruin...or go ruin something else. I need to keep the budget as small as possible…back in school AND a wedding coming up!

Suggestions would be much appreciated!

[Wschnitz]

Ruin some of the hundreds of civics so ricers have no toys.

[Vivek]

Nothing on the e46 seems especially hard to fix. Why not just keep that?

[Nairb]

Fix the e46, why would you want to pay to register and insure another car?

Rock the e46 until it explodes, it already has a lot of miles anyway.

[bmwstephen]

328 = very susceptible to subframe damage. i'd look into that before investing any further

[nadocaster]

You'll get better advice if you suggest to us how small is a small budget? $2k? $5k? $10k? These things can be relative, you know.

If closer to the $2k end of things and you're looking for a car for highway miles, why not look for an E30 eta in good condition.

[dannyyisntt]

210k and 205k? Seems like your throwing away vehicles too soon. Tho in my house only one in six vehicles has under 200k.

Pick something up that you can drive the fuck out of and keep a fun weekend car on the side

[BergerNJ]

agreed.....look into the that truck tire dilema, scour the sub frame. If that repair seems cheap, give the entire car a once over and decide then...if its relatively cheap ~2k then spend it on the e46 and continue driving....


Drive it until it blows up.

Do not buy an e30, even an eta lol just to run it into the ground.....if youre looking at an eco beater route then buy a civic

[Mksasquach]

I appreciate the advice....and I do love the e46.

I tend to move a car along just before any major repair event....the Pathfinder was severely rusting inside out...the miata needed brakes all around, a new top, cooling system repairs (all of which, when totaled with her sale price, could have bought a nicer, lower mileage example).


My mechanical abilities are more geared towards motorbike tinkering (though things like brakes and within my scope). I do have some friends that can assist but time is always an issue.

I'll just have to make the time here in the very short term give her a thorough once over with some folks more knowledgeable than myself. Does 2k seem like the pain point? Any idea what a clapped out e46 goes for in the open market?

Cheers!

[Mksasquach]

You'll get better advice if you suggest to us how small is a small budget? $2k? $5k? $10k? These things can be relative, you know.

If closer to the $2k end of things and you're looking for a car for highway miles, why not look for an E30 eta in good condition.

The budget is as small as possible. While I love cars, I understand that maybe an older Focus with low miles or the like is necessary until I finish my degree (here's to hoping engineering jobs still pay something when I'm done!)....oh, and the whole marriage thing done and paid for. In the end, pride aside, transportation to and from work/class is paramount. I have the motorbike to fall back on, but mid winter rides aren't my favorite!

[e34croak]

Fix the e46. Control arms are pretty straight forward. If you are trying to save as you say you are, who the hell cares about a fog light and cosmetic issues?

[Mksasquach]

It's looking like pressing on with the E46 is the way to go. Wish me luck....I'll try to arrange a decent inspection ASAP and see what all needs to be fixed to keep her good and roadworthy.

Any idea how many miles I can expect out of her?

Thanks again all!

[e34croak]

300k or 400k maybe more, depends on how well you service it and how quickly you address the issues as they come up.

[Brinkley]

Just get a toyota or something to soak up highway miles if you don't want to work on cars. I have found that e46 + toyota backup car = win.

[Karmageddon]

buy a MK4 tdi, and drive it forever.