Looking into buying a BMW E46 318 Ci and would like some advice/experience.

UnknownSpecies

So like the title says, I'm looking into buying a BMW E46 318 Ci and I'd like to hear your own experiences with them. I'm looking for the petrol version obviously and ideally I'd like to spend around €3k-3.5k.

So, some questions I have.

1. Is there anything in particular I should look out for when buying?
2. What are the dead giveaways that will show the previous owner hasn't been taking care of it?
3. While I'm not expecting amazing fuel economy, how much driving do you do and how much do you spend on petrol?
4. Is there any other car similar to an E46 that I should consider, or any other variant apart from the Ci I should be looking at?
5. What's your insurance like and how old are you?

Any help with any of these questions would be great guys, cheers!

e92335i

I owned a 05 318ci

Check for rust around the wheelarches - I only noticed when going to sell that my paint had some small rust 'bubble' patches.

As with most cars you'll need to drive it and feel its tightness - mine had 87k when bought and was very well kept - I sold it at 97k and it was still just as tight.

It had started to drink a small bit of oil.

Try go for an Msport.

Heres mine a month before sold:


I was getting around 24mpg around town, 32mpg on longer drives.

JP 1800

The N42 engine is known to drink oil and needs to be serviced more frequently than the service interval suggests. Watch out for rattling VANOS and timing chain, also ask to see if the crankcase breather has been replaced. The vacuum pump can be noisy also ensure that the coolant expansion tank has been replaced as they can fail spectacularly and overheat the engine very quickly. With electrics ensure that the rear LED brake lights work as it can be an expensive repair. On the body work side look for rust and listen for noisy window regulators.

ptyloch

Google bmw e46 wiki, can't remember which forum I found it on. Only read it after l bought an e46 with the N42 engine and ghat was a BIG mistake. Maybe I was just unlucky but mine was a complete lemon and cost me a 1000e in parts over 8 months.

Cooling system is very high maintenance item, had to replace the rad, thermostat, the bottle and some piping. And that's called normal on those cars every 120k kilometres!

Make sure the one you go for has those things done in the recent past.

UnknownSpecies

@e92335i: Looks like you kept yours in great nick, gorgeous car. What would the main differences be with the M Sport edition? Are they much harder to find?


@JP 1800: Thanks a lot for that, great info and exactly what I'm looking for. I'll have a list of those bits and pieces ready to go when I start viewing.


@ptyloch: I'll definitely be looking into the N42 engine problems so thanks a lot for the heads up. Sorry to hear you'd such trouble with it. Do you know how common the N42 engines are in the models found in Ireland/UK?

HJL

Front suspension are a bit of a weak point, ball joints are a common fail and the wishbone has to be bought at the same time as they are one piece unless the previous owner has bought the Meyle HD kit and if so you can get a new ball joint separate AFAIK. Drop links are also consumables on the e46, cheap enough fix although re-alignment is recommended after they have been replaced.

Tell tail signs of the above would be rattling at the front over bumps or uneven surfaces, and uneven front tyre wear.

It wouldn't put me off an otherwise good car, but use it as a haggling tool if buying private or insist it be repaired if buying from a garage.

On the coupe and convertible the door window should drop about a 1/4" when opened, and raise again when shut. Make sure this is working. And i would advise buying Einszett Gummi Pflege http://www.micksgarage.com/proddetails.aspx?pid=1584628 for the door and window seals as they can rattle and this stuff rejuvenates the rubbers.

ptyloch

As per wikipedia:

In 2001, the 316 was given a smaller, yet more powerful, 1.8 L BMW N42 engine producing 116 hp (87 kW) and 175 N·m (129 ft·lbf).[22]

318
Along with the 316, the 318 received an updated engine in 2002: the 2.0 L BMW N42. It produced 141 hp (105 kW) and 200 N·m (148 ft·lbf).[22] The 318 was not released into the United States market.[14] N 46 introduced in 2004 with modifications to the ecu

Realoem.com is a great tool for finding original parts numbers.

Google e46 buyers guide and e46 wiki for all the forums with loads of info on those cars.

Hope you get a good one!

Idbatterim

there have been multiple detailed threads on this OP, try searching for them. I would go for a facelift M sport if I were you, they are so much better looking than the SE in my opinion. If not doing much mileage, you could go for the nicer and more reliable engine 6 cylinder 320 or 2.5L 325... How much mileage will you be doing?

Keep an eye on the below site and for sale thread...

http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=15

bazz26

Rear sub frame is a common weakness on the E46 3 Series. Plenty of info on the web about it. Timing chains can stretch on the 4 cylinder petrol engines too. Also make sure the cooling system is working fine.

UnknownSpecies

Big thanks for all the info lads, didn't even think to search for buyers guides on other forums but I've found a new good guides so thanks for pointing me in the right direction! Just one last question for previous owners though...

• Do you regret buying the car and why/why not?

Last question until I actually decide to buy

ptyloch

dorgasm wrote: »

Big thanks for all the info lads, didn't even think to search for buyers guides on other forums but I've found a new good guides so thanks for pointing me in the right direction! Just one last question for previous owners though...

• Do you regret buying the car and why/why not?

Last question until I actually decide to buy

Do I regret it? Never in my life have I made so many new friends :
- my BMW indy mechanic
- BMW dealers parts guy
- various lads on worldwide BMW forums
- all the sales people on the internet. ..

It cost me a lot of money and time to sort out a lot of issues but I'd get one tomorrow if I could (or if my wife would let me ;-))

Idbatterim

Do you regret buying the car and why/why not?

Last question until I actually decide to buy

have had a 318ci (2001) and currently have the below. my bro has had 3 of them, all 3 series m sports. So cant say we have ever regretted them, quite the opposite, we love them, the current 325ci's we have are by far our favourite.

The subframe issue mentioned, was supposed to have been rectified around 2002. Make sure to have any car checked by a specialist beforehand. Also post up any links to cars you are interested in here, there are several experts on these boards on this car in particular. The amount of them I have driven, looked at and info I have read up on them, is bordering on pathetic...

the 5 series m sport might also be worth considering, gorgeous cars...

http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=36085
http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=99801 (my bro's)

http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=14139 (my current car but previous owners photos etc)

the below looks good...

http://cars.donedeal.co.uk/cars-for-sale/bmw-2004-320ci/8026390

UnknownSpecies

Idbatterim wrote: »

have had a 318ci (2001) and currently have the below. my bro has had 3 of them, all 3 series m sports. So cant say we have ever regretted them, quite the opposite, we love them, the current 325ci's we have are by far our favourite.

The subframe issue mentioned, was supposed to have been rectified around 2002. Make sure to have any car checked by a specialist beforehand. Also post up any links to cars you are interested in here, there are several experts on these boards on this car in particular. The amount of them I have driven, looked at and info I have read up on them, is bordering on pathetic...

the 5 series m sport might also be worth considering, gorgeous cars...

http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=36085
http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=99801 (my bro's)

http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=14139 (my current car but previous owners photos etc)

the below looks good...

http://cars.donedeal.co.uk/cars-for-sale/bmw-2004-320ci/8026390

Sorry, I completely forgot to address the questions in your first point. I don't do massive miles at the moment anyway. Around 60 miles during the week and around 250 on weekends. The reason I decided to stay away from the 320 or 325, both of which along with an M3, I'd actually prefer, was financial. I'm just about 24 now with 3 years no claims in my own name which makes insuring a bigger car more punishing. Then there's the up front cost of the car. I have a nice bit saved up and I was considering loaning the rest since I wouldn't mind upgrading now rather than waiting, but at the same time I don't want to take a big loan or be paying it off for ages. Also, the jump in tax between the 318 and the 320 is slightly significant for me too on my current wage.

Basically it boils down to the fact I could buy and run a 318 on my current wage comfortably. Anything more and I'd be stretching myself financially. Just had a look at you and the brothers car, both absolutely gorgeous, fair play! Maybe a couple of years down the line I'll have something similar

Here's some links on dondeal of what i've been looking at.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw/7996965

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-3-series-m-sport/7829800

Both look pretty clean from the photos anyway. Although I'm not fussy on colours, I do love the colour in the second link. Steel blue or silver grey possibly?

Idbatterim

Id go for a facelift if I were you, the problem when you get into a bm is, you usually want the newer or facelifted or a more powerful model nearly immediately, if you are going for say the 318ci... which I get on the tax and insurance front at your age. In my opinion, the facelift m sports, look far more current, that said I love the shape of the pre facelifts...

where are you based?

UnknownSpecies

Idbatterim wrote: »

Id go for a facelift if I were you, the problem when you get into a bm is, you usually want the newer or facelifted or a more powerful model nearly immediately, if you are going for say the 318ci... which I get on the tax and insurance front at your age. In my opinion, the facelift m sports, look far more current, that said I love the shape of the pre facelifts...

where are you based?

Oh, I actually thought those two I linked were both facelift models. Any pictures of the facelift so I can see the difference? Tried a Google search but every type of front bumper is showing up.

I'm due a bump in salary over the next couple of years so hopefully I can resist the itch for more power until then! I'm living in Kilkenny at the moment but I'd be in Cork almost every weekend.

Idbatterim

the below or mine which I linked to, are example of the facelifts. Rear LED lights and front lights are the main changes...

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/318Ci-M-/75514098399688770/advert?channel=CARS

UnknownSpecies

Idbatterim wrote: »

the below or mine which I linked to, are example of the facelifts. Rear LED lights and front lights are the main changes...

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/318Ci-M-/75514098399688770/advert?channel=CARS

Ah yes yes I see the differences now. Big difference in the headlights and front grill when you know what to look for. Found a handy picture that I'll paste below which might help someone in the future if they stumble on this thread. I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with exactly what you say there, 318 Ci msport with facelift. Hoping I won't have to spend much more than €4k so I've a feeling my patience is going to be tested!

e92335i

That updated grille makes a huge difference to the e46.