Where to go for e46...anything

[slowe34]

I'm picking up an 03 325i in a couple days as a dd and after browsing the crap at e46 fanatics I was wonder were fellow r3v people go to for their e46 info/parts?

First thing on the list is a shifter rebuild and maybe a shorter throw. Maybe e60 shifter? Any sites or suggestions would be appreciated

[E46Twist]

I have used bimmerfest for my E46. Best group of guys. I have been in the game a few years if you have any questions shoot em at me.

"Fast is Sexy"

[fiveightandten]

There's a lot of good info at E46 fanatics. You just have to know who to talk to so you can wade through the garbage. Stick with jfoj, dmax, and the other older members that know their stuff.

Unless the entire cooling system, intake boots, and CCV system have been replaced, i'd bump a SSK down lower on your priority list. Trust me on this stuff, especially the CCV and cooling system. The factory shifter is already fantastic right out of the box.

Also, not to rain on your parade, but if you haven't picked the car up yet, you may consider holding out for a 330. The price difference at this point is negligible, and with the 330 you get significantly more power, more standard features, better brakes, and better fuel economy.

[slowe34]

I have used bimmerfest for my E46. Best group of guys. I have been in the game a few years if you have any questions shoot em at me.

"Fast is Sexy"

Thanks, I'll check out the Bimmerfest forums.

There's a lot of good info at E46 fanatics. You just have to know who to talk to so you can wade through the garbage. Stick with jfoj, dmax, and the other older members that know their stuff.

Unless the entire cooling system, intake boots, and CCV system have been replaced, i'd bump a SSK down lower on your priority list. Trust me on this stuff, especially the CCV and cooling system. The factory shifter is already fantastic right out of the box.

Also, not to rain on your parade, but if you haven't picked the car up yet, you may consider holding out for a 330. The price difference at this point is negligible, and with the 330 you get significantly more power, more standard features, better brakes, and better fuel economy.

WP and CCV have been replaced by PO recently. But I will be sure to check the boot, its only at 70k but I guess that and 10 years can be hard on a rubber boot. Thanks for the pointers.

And its good to know who to look for on fanatics. I know there is a lot of info on there, but there is sooo much crap.

As for the 330, its my daily and I have no plans for power upgrades(thats what the e30 is for). I didnt know the 330 gets better milage though, surprising.

[Julien]

330 gets better mpg because of it's tall rear end. make its more anemic though :( and sorta agree with the other guys in this thread. buy the e46 and drive it around a bit. Stuff will come up that needs attention- guaranteed :)

[totheredline]

I despise E46 fanatics with a passion, although, there are a few members on there that know what they're talking about. E46mango could probably build an E46 from memory.

Bimmerfest is probably your best bet. All you'll get on E46 fanatics is a bunch of guys bitching about how E46s are slow, and break alot.


Cooling system is #1 priority. Do the WHOLE cooling system. I made the mistake of only replacing the radiator and a month later the expansion tank cracked. Preventive Maintenence is key on e46s. VANOS seals, Oil sperator, DISA, CSB, Intake boots ectt.

[Styleprojekt]

I cannot point to or vouch for a best place to get all your info. But IMO the E46 crowd in general has an amazing support group, forums, DIY's and helpful members.
I purchased an 01 325i and it has been the biggest pile of junk. During initial inspection the car was great, looked promising and everything was awesome for about a month. I was aware of a couple little issues I was going to address (like suspension creaks etc), but my God was I not ready for the crap quality of the E46. The Driveshaft gave out 2 months after purchase (u-joints), the car had/has sludge like crazy despite oil change receipts (maybe they were faked, who knows). The Oil separator had to be done, the vanos started acting up terribly after 3 months, headlight bulbs went out randomly 2/3 times in a row then are fine ever since, 2 window regulators gave out within a week and the list goes on.

I have been around cars long enough to know it may have just not done my homework and gotten a really bad example. Unfortunately this was the "best" one I could find locally though for my price and purpose. I am not trying to blame the car really (although I subconsciously am in my rant), more trying to warn you to really be certain you are purchasing a well taken care of example.

Its really funny because I come from Audis, and while everyone has problems with Audis and praises BMW's back and forth, its been the exact opposite for me. The Audis I have owned have been amazing cars, and every BMW I have owner has been a massive money pit and never ending headaches. To each their own I guess :)

[fiveightandten]

Thanks, I'll check out the Bimmerfest forums.

WP and CCV have been replaced by PO recently. But I will be sure to check the boot, its only at 70k but I guess that and 10 years can be hard on a rubber boot. Thanks for the pointers.

And its good to know who to look for on fanatics. I know there is a lot of info on there, but there is sooo much crap.

As for the 330, its my daily and I have no plans for power upgrades(thats what the e30 is for). I didnt know the 330 gets better milage though, surprising.

Cool. The CCV system can cause big problems. Mine clogged up and blew out half of my engine seals. I'm now playing catch up to replace seals that were bone dry before it failed. Make sure the entire cooling system is replaced, not just the WP. The expansion tanks crack, the radiator end caps crack. The quick-connect fittings in that cooling system don't like to be re-seated, so it's just best to replace it all at once and not touch it again. Fill with *exactly* 50/50 BMW coolant and distilled water. Bleed per Bentley procedure (with the engine OFF and key in ON position).

330 fuel economy isn't much better (1-2 MPG by the numbers). My 330ci is my DD and is bone stock outside of a ZHP knob and Koni yellows. E46 is a great DD.

-Check the DISA valve for play
-Check the intake boots for cracks (I can almost guarantee you the lower boot is probably bad)
-Make sure the CCV system is in good working order and the dump tube to the oil pan isn't clogged
-Replace the cooling system before it fails on you
-Install reinforcement plates on the rear shock towers and front strut towers. These are a must, especially on the front towers. If they aren't bent already, they will be without them.

Common oil leaks are the oil filter housing gasket and valve cover gasket. Nearly all the VCG's leak, and you'll get a burning oil smell in the cabin.

The center console plastics have a weird rubberized coating on them that sucks. If you soak the pieces in very hot water, it will rub right off and leave nicer looking un-coated plastic under it.

Exhaust system has a vacuum actuated flap in the right side tail pipe. That can get clogged with soot. Make sure it's moving and not seized up with particulate. You can also choose to pull the vacuum line off and plug it with a golf tee. This make for a bit more noise at low RPM. Though it likely reduces your torque a but as well.

Fuel pumps do fail sometimes. The Final State resistor (FSR or FSU) for the HVAC does fail ($60 and 20 minutes to replace if your fan is hunting or not working). Window regulators on the coupes are weak. Avoid opening or closing the doors by pulling on the window and you'll prolong their life notably.

Windshield wipers are super hard to find and stupid expensive. Get some before you actually need them.

Hope that helps.

[jhaurimn]

My first bmw was an e46. I can tell you, the problems they have are extremely common and well documented in DIY's. Most are over on e46fanatics. Yes, there is a lot of crap posted there, but among that crap there is a wealth of knowledge just like this site.

Things to check, regardless if they were replaced 'recently'
Cooling system
Expansion tank- check for cracks. Known to explode randomly while driving and leave you stranded
Water pump- check for coolant leaks around/below it, after 100,000 miles you want to replace this
Thermostat- can get stuck open if your lucky, but can get stuck closed and overheat your engine. good preventative mait.
Hoses- check for cracking/signs of old age. Hard to tell if hoses are bad as they wear from the inside out

CCV
Ah, the good old ccv. This thing is not fun to replace, so if its newish then lucky you! (there is a VERY good video on youtube though if you need to replace it, but honestly if a shop wants $400 to replace it, id let the shop do it lol) If you live in a cold climate, make sure you have the cold weather version with the extra insulation around the hoses. Also check these hoses carefully!!! Your ccv might of been replaced but if the hoses were reused chances are they are cracked. The hose from the ccv to the valve cover is a common place to break (be careful taking this hose off whenever you have to) Cold weather can cause these hoses to gunk up, and can cause your valve cover gasket to blow out, making your engine bay a mess.

Control arms/bushings/ball joints
Make sure you check for play in these. Chances are, they will need to be replaced soon. They are very commonly worn on e46s. Listen for thuds when going over bumps.

Valve cover gasket/Oil filter housing gasket
Check for oil leaks coming from both of these gaskets. Its hard to see the ofhg without taking the air filter housing out, but thankfully its extremely easy to take it out. Also check the valve cover gasket closely, especially in the back near the firewall with a mirror if possible. Common spot for oil to be leaking.

DISA valve
Listen for rattling coming from this. Its a air distributor that is right above the throttle body. If it is rattling excessively, it will need to be replaced. The metal pin that holds the flap on this can fall out and go into your intake. Metal through your intake=bad

Intake boots
Almost always cracked, and can cause massive vacuum leaks. Get a flashlight and check these carefully. They are cheap but can be a pain in the ass to replace depending on how the hose clamps are orientated

Good idea to clean the ICV, throttle body, and MAF when you get the car.

Edit: See how common the issues are? Me and fiveightandten pretty much made identical posts. lol

[E46Twist]

From owning a 46 I will plus 1 these guys in saying, do preventative maintenance. If you haven't replaced something is the past 6 months get nervous and find something that needs it.

"Fast is Sexy"

[slowe34]

Wow, I knew the cooling system on e46(or most new-ish bmw's) was weak but that is pretty crazy everything needs to be done.

And thanks again for all the tips. Picking up the car tomorrow and I will be sure to keep an eye all the areas you guys mentioned. I still need to clean up the shifter, after getting used to the z3 shifter in the e30, the e46 feels like I'm rowing a boat

[fiveightandten]

Wow, I knew the cooling system on e46(or most new-ish bmw's) was weak but that is pretty crazy everything needs to be done.

And thanks again for all the tips. Picking up the car tomorrow and I will be sure to keep an eye all the areas you guys mentioned. I still need to clean up the shifter, after getting used to the z3 shifter in the e30, the e46 feels like I'm rowing a boat

Good luck with it.

The E46 feels like a space ship compared to the E30 (not in a bad way). I'm on stock shifters in both cars, so my E46 has a significantly shorter throw. The steering rack is much quicker, steering is much heavier, and the clutch pedal travel is much shorter.

You'll love the car, it's a great DD.

Oh, and check that rear floor pan around the subframe mounts before any money changes hands! Look for cracks around the mounts, and at the edges where the metal folds. Get in there with a flashlight and look real well. Also, pull the e-brake up and gently give it a little power in forward and reverse and listen carefully for any clunking. A 2003 325 shouldn't have any issues, but it's still possible.