Advice on buying this e46 coupe?

Ryano87

Hi,

Looking for some advice, I went to view a 2006 e46 coupe 2.2 l petrol yesterday, it was in lovely condition very clean inside and out.

The owner has owned it for 4 years and has obviously looked after it. It is the m sport model and has full joe Duffy BMW service history from new. NCT't until jan 2016.

This would be my first bmw, previously had mx5!

Just wondering if I can get your opinion on the car please? Is mileage too high? 105,000 miles (167k kilometres)

The owner did mention to keep an eye on the oil that he always kept it topped up with castrol. I test drove and engine was smooth and quite. No knocks or bumps from suspension and windows worked perfectly (read regulators are prone to fail)

Very close to buying!

Car is on carzone and done deal - cannot post URL because too few posts

Thanks in advance,

Ryan

Cleveland Hot Pocket

Once you are getting a good deal, and have the issue of the car burning oil (and the whole car in general tbh) checked over by a good mechanic pre purchase, why not - if it's the car you want.

Remember, that the e90 was in full swing by 2006 so you should be able to get a good deal on the price.

Alanstrainor

If its drinking oil there may be an issue with the CCV, its a common problem with these cars and can manifest itself with various symptoms, high oil consumption being one. Its a pretty big job to complete, most DIYers reckon its 8 hours worth.

My 325 has a taste for oil, but nothing that worries me too much, easier to just top up rather than undertake that job. By the sounds of it, you have a genuine seller and most likely a good car. The oil issue is something a lot of these will suffer from, this seller is just being honest with it. Most will not.

All that being said, I reckon the 2.5 is the best engine when considering tax/economy etc. Not much more to tax and I'm not convicted you would even notice any mpg difference.

Things I would want to know, would be what's been replaced in the cooling system, what if any suspension work has been done. And that would be my main focus!

Sobanek

176k miles on mine and runs like a charm.

2004 320ci

bazz26

OP, with any used car especially buying private, you should have it checked out by a mechanic or someone who is familiar with the type of car if you are mechanically minded yourself. If you don't know a mechanic then I recommend having the car inspected either by a BMW specialist or main dealer. If there is nothing wrong with the car then I wouldn't see why the seller would not agree to this. Also check the service history and don't be afraid to ring the garage that serviced it, they should be able to give you a rundown of what was done to the car when they serviced it.

Mileage wise, 105k miles is not huge for a car that is 8 years old, a bit above average but if the car is in good mechanical shape with a good service history then I wouldn't see it as an issue.

Ardennes1944

Presume this is it http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-320ci-m-sport-e46/6701235

Ryano87

That's the one yes, actually looks better in real life, I'm fairly fussy about my cars so was looking for something very clean, loved the oriental blue colour with beige interior, I'll ring Joe Duffy bmw at lunch and speak to their service department there to verify the work, for peace of mind thinking of bringing it for a check at chelmsford motors as I've seen it recommended here.

What are you're opinions on price?

Thanks

Ryan

power pants

price seems very good, ive been looking at a few myself and that seems good

Cleveland Hot Pocket

bazz26 wrote: »

OP, with any used car especially buying private, you should have it checked out by a mechanic or someone who is familiar with the type of car if you are mechanically minded yourself. If you don't know a mechanic then I recommend having the car inspected either by a BMW specialist or main dealer. If there is nothing wrong with the car then I wouldn't see why the seller would not agree to this. Also check the service history and don't be afraid to ring the garage that serviced it, they should be able to give you a rundown of what was done to the car when they serviced it.

Mileage wise, 105k miles is not huge for a car that is 8 years old, a bit above average but if the car is in good mechanical shape with a good service history then I wouldn't see it as an issue.

It is about 13k miles per year, I wouldn't even class it as above average.
Better a well minded high miler than a low miler.

vectra

Get that oil usage checked out
Those tailpipes look very black

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-320ci-m-sport-e46/6701235#

challengemaster

vectra wrote: »

Get that oil usage checked out
Those tailpipes look very black

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-320ci-m-sport-e46/6701235#

That's what a normal car owners (as opposed to ones into detailing) tailpipe looks like, particularly after 105k miles. It's probably never been cleaned

Alanstrainor

challengemaster wrote: »

That's what a normal car owners (as opposed to ones into detailing) tailpipe looks like, particularly after 105k miles. It's probably never been cleaned

And they probably don't have the chrome trips, just the bare metal. Mine didn't look all that great, although they weren't completely black or anything. Just what you'd expect for a 13 year old car!

vectra

challengemaster wrote: »

That's what a normal car owners (as opposed to ones into detailing) tailpipe looks like, particularly after 105k miles. It's probably never been cleaned

I don't know,
Nothing normal about that.
Last time I witnessed pipes like that it was an oilaholic.

Alanstrainor wrote: »

And they probably don't have the chrome trips, just the bare metal. Mine didn't look all that great, although they weren't completely black or anything. Just what you'd expect for a 13 year old car!

I would have thought an Msport would have chrome tailpipes?

challengemaster

Admittidely I know far more about the diesel e46's than the petrols, but that car (from the pictures) looks in great shape. It's 06 so the very last year of e46 production.

I'd get Valdas motor confidence (Naas road) to give it a look over

Alanstrainor

vectra wrote: »

I would have thought an Msport would have chrome tailpipes?

Yeah, I just don't know. Don't know how much we can tell from that photo, given the lighting it's hard to tell whether its bad or not. And those tips are easily removable, so they could have been removed at some stage over the last 8 years.

It's definitely something to be aware of when going to look though, could point to expensive problems.

challengemaster

vectra wrote: »

I don't know,
Nothing normal about that.
Last time I witnessed pipes like that it was an oilaholic.



I would have thought an Msport would have chrome tailpipes?

You should take a look around the neighbourhood more often Doesn't look too out of place IMO, particularly as not many regular people bother cleaning tailpipes.

The e46 chrome tailpipes are only a "slide on" cover type thing anyway. Fairly sure they weren't part of the Msport package though.

Foxhole Norman

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

Presume this is it http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-320ci-m-sport-e46/6701235

I think that was the one that was also up for almost double the price a few weeks ago, they seem to have seen some sense.

Alanstrainor

Is it an import actually? And if so, does it have 2 Irish owners, or 2 owners from leaving the factory? Just realised the plates were blurred.

challengemaster

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Is it an import actually? And if so, does it have 2 Irish owners, or 2 owners from leaving the factory? Just realised the plates were blurred.

FSH from Joe duffy's, I'd say it's Irish.

BillJ

Looks like its well specced. As has been mentioned, i'd go for the 2.5 over the 2.2 if it was me.

Not many 325's around in that spec though so it's a tough call.

Ryano87

Yeah its Irish - rang joe duffy bmw today and they confirmed sold by them and serviced by them since new - wouldn't tell me details of what work was done though due to data protection which is fair enough!


Slightly worried about the oil issue now. Yeah I live the spec so although would prefer 325_ more than happy to buy this one,

One thing I was told by Joe duffy that last time serviced was March 2012 - I'm almost sure I saw another stamp in the book for 2013 so have queried this with seller

BillJ

too old for you?
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2004-bmw-325ci-for-sale/6754590

similar spec, msport, 2.5, and cheaper!

This is what I would buy if I were you:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-325ci-m-sport-2005/6686950

can't beat imola red

Idbatterim

there are actually a few decent options for 6 pot E46 m sports out there by the look of things, the 2.2 is known to go through the oil, but so what? you just keep and eye on it and top it up as needs be. Id agree with the 2.5 over the 2.2. The 2006 in question is well priced and that mileage on the 2.2L will be fine if its been properly serviced. Its the 4 pot thats the weak link. Make sure you have it checked as has been mentioned, Valdas, bloomfield or gary in chelmsford is good. The 2.5 that has been linked to is a good all rounder. I hate that interior colour though, it looks so drab and dreary and the dirt really shows up on it on the carpets. A proper carpet wash might sort it out...

the imola red 2.5 is asking for E2200 more than the black 04. Not worth the extra IMO, not for only 1 year, two fair enough, but not one... It also has 15k more on the clock...

If the 2006 were a 2.5 I'd be interested myself, have had the current 325 for 3 years, would love an E92 m sport 6 pot, but they are rare as hens teeth and still looking for serious money. For example an 08 E92 m sport, will be looking for triple what an 06 E46 m sport will be going for...

Ryano87

Thank you to all for advice on here read the motors and detailing forum everyday for last 2 years just dint post to boards much. Good news is deal is done subject to inspection! Collecting it on Friday - will post pics up after a good polish!

I'm excited now! Service history all checks out last service was a 'type 2' inspection and oil change in bavaria bmw in Belfast last April so full service is first on my list!

Is it worth keeping main dealer service at this stage?

Thanks

Alanstrainor

Brilliant! They're great cars, and its sure to put a smile on your face!

No need for dealer servicing. There's plenty of good indies who specialise in BMWs.

Cleveland Hot Pocket

Well wear!

As mentioned, I would use a specialist indy in preference to a main dealer. Just don't bring it to an atlas or that kind of place, bring it to a place like cameron cars.

Idbatterim

Thank you to all for advice on here read the motors and detailing forum everyday for last 2 years just dint post to boards much. Good news is deal is done subject to inspection! Collecting it on Friday - will post pics up after a good polish!

I'm excited now! Service history all checks out last service was a 'type 2' inspection and oil change in bavaria bmw in Belfast last April so full service is first on my list!

Is it worth keeping main dealer service at this stage?

Thanks

absolutely no need for main dealer, independent specialist would be fine, then again there wasnt a massive price difference between main and specialist when I was pricing them up a few months ago, again the ones that were mentioned are all good. Where are you getting it checked?