School me on E46's

[Roysneon]

Been thinking about E46's lately.

I'm thinking if I'm going to be spending some decent money on a car I'd want to go with a 330i, but they seem to be waaay more expensive than the lower models

Basically what I'm looking into buying is a 330i, 5/6 speed manual sedan.

What should I look out for? What are these rear subframe problems I keep reading about? The M54 seems like a good engine. Besides the cooling system being made out of plastic and sucking, what else should I know before getting serious about buying one?

[Wh33lhop]

I just picked up an '04 330i. I love the car. They are awesome cars with a few serious weak points.

Here's the deal with the subframe stuff: chances are it has happened or will happen to most manual E46s. What happens is the torque of the motor going through the diff will pull "down" on the driver's side rear subframe mount and after so many thousands of torque cycles (which is amplified with a manual trans) it will fatigue the carrier sheet metal and develop cracks. A pretty huge oversight on BMW's part. Facelifted models (03+) are more resistant since they were strengthened a bit, but it didn't work much better.

In order to fix it, you need to drop the subframe, drop the tank (since you will be welding), weld up the cracks that have already formed and weld in reinforcements. I personally think it should be done whether or not the car has symptoms since it is fairly likely to develop them eventually.

Reinforcement kit is $150ish. I've found a few shops around here that will do it for $900-1200, but if you are or know an experienced welder then you can do it yourself. Some have had luck getting reimbursed by BMW, but lately I think the best you can do is have them cover 20% of the cost under "good will" if you are lucky.

The car will also likely have Vanos rattle, which can be fixed for under $200 if you are handy. You do not need to retime the motor to fix the Vanos issues on M54s. (see beisansystems.com for kits and procedures).

The suspension is very similar to E36 stuff, so they have the same bushing issues (fcabs, rtabs, rsms).

Other common problems are pixels going out, fifth gear lean, the wiring going to the trunk will fatigue and break causing weird electrical stuff (my car thinks my trunk is always open meaning I have to use the key to open it, firstworldproblems.jpg), and the chrome paint on zkw bixenon reflector bowls coming off and making the lights dim.

'04-05 330i's got the ZHP 6 speed trans and steering rack which is nice. I've gotten over 30mpg highway in mine with rattly Vanos... they're pretty much great cars all around as long as you can deal with the subframe and cooling system BS and be done with it. They just don't much like to powerslide and factory LSDs are almost nonexistent (you should have more luck in Canada on that front).

[10Toes]

[Vivek]

They just don't much like to powerslide and factory LSDs are almost nonexistent (you should have more luck in Canada on that front).

I didn't know this. So most e46's are 1 wheel driver's? Did the sports package get you an LSD, or was it just M3's and ZHP's?

[Roysneon]

[Wh33lhop]

I didn't know this. So most e46's are 1 wheel driver's? Did the sports package get you an LSD, or was it just M3's and ZHP's?

Only cold weather package cars and M3s. I've got a ZSP (sports package) car and it's open. But I barely notice it in stock form since it doesn't like to spin the tires. ZHPs did NOT come with LSD, just a 3.07 instead of a 2.93.

[Vivek]

Ahh, learn something new every day. I was super into e46's a while ago so I know a little bit about them, but I guess I always assumed that most newer cars came with LSDs standard.

[bmwstephen]

Only cold weather package cars and M3s. I've got a ZSP (sports package) car and it's open. But I barely notice it in stock form since it doesn't like to spin the tires. ZHPs did NOT come with LSD, just a 3.07 instead of a 2.93.

I thought only M3's have them. In fact, this applies to all BMW lineups. They figured with their DSC system, they can emulate an LSD and save the expensive goodies for their M line-up

[redsubdivisions]

I have a 2002 330i Premium Package. It has been great to me so far, so I have no real issues. Infact, it's pretty easy to work on should something go wrong. Just watch the cooling system and you're good to go. I feel these were the last true 3 series before this iDrive bullshit came along.

Anyone who tells you otherwise about an E46 is generally misinformed.

[Wh33lhop]

Yeah, nowadays BMW likes to use the ABS to mimic an LSD and say it's just as good. The days of the non-M sideways fun are sadly over, although you may find you like the car regardless. I was looking for a well-balanced daily driver/road trip car so it's perfect for me in stock form.

Edit: I am not 100% on the cold weather package/LSD, that was admittedly hearsay. That was how it was with the E36. Either way I wouldn't count on finding one with an LSD.

[E30 Wagen]

I might go look at a '02 530i with a 5 speed manual, which as the M54B30 engine. Sorry if I'm thread-jacking, but can anybody chime in as to how these engines perform in an e39 versus an e46? The engine has 140,000 miles on it but overall the car is in mint condition. I'm really liking a clean e39 over an e46, plus no subframe problems...

[Roysneon]

I still have the M50 touring for fucking around, I just want to get to work without any drama and let poorer people think I'm rich.

Isn't that what E46's are about?

[Wh33lhop]

^ yes.

I might go look at a '02 530i with a 5 speed manual, which as the M54B30 engine. Sorry if I'm thread-jacking, but can anybody chime in as to how these engines perform in an e39 versus an e46? The engine has 140,000 miles on it but overall the car is in mint condition. I'm really liking a clean e39 over an e46, plus no subframe problems...

It will not be a fast car, but the torque curve of the m54 is nice and flat and great for dailying. Plus the E39 6-cyl cars got an actual steering rack.

[E30 Wagen]

^ yes.



It will not be a fast car, but the torque curve of the m54 is nice and flat and great for dailying. Plus the E39 6-cyl cars got an actual steering rack.

Would $5500 for the car I described be a fair deal? It's a very nice looking car, though I haven't seen it in person.

Again, sorry for threadjack...

[Wh33lhop]

Sounds like a pretty decent deal to me if it's really mint mechanically, but run over the car with a fine toothed comb and make sure nothing's wrong with it before you plunk any cash down.