BMW E46 320cd coupe opinions ?

Colash

im in the market for 2004 - 2005 BMW e46 320cd coupe . im on the lookout for an msport model if possible., im trying to find one with test and tax if possible and low enough miles, by low i mean anything under 130k would be fine,. is there any e46 owners out there who can offer advice on this model and what to look out for \? i have heard horror stories about the BMW 2.0 litre diesel engine in this model car

challengemaster

Have a 05 myself, with over 170k miles on it now. Engine is perfect.

In general with the E46 you'll want to give the suspension a good look over. Rear springs are prone to crack/break. Front wishbone / bushes are a weak point.
Check when the DMF was replaced last.
Check if the swirl flaps have been blanked - if not that's your first priority when you buy the car.

EGR will most likely need a good clean if it hasn't been done. Here's what mine looked like around that milage

Aside from a small bit of TLC here and there, the majority of problems I've had have been routine stuff you'd expect for the mileage. The handbrake on E46s are shíte though

Colash

challengemaster wrote: »

Have a 05 myself, with over 170k miles on it now. Engine is perfect.

In general with the E46 you'll want to give the suspension a good look over. Rear springs are prone to crack/break. Front wishbone / bushes are a weak point.
Check when the DMF was replaced last.
Check if the swirl flaps have been blanked - if not that's your first priority when you buy the car.

EGR will most likely need a good clean if it hasn't been done. Here's what mine looked like around that milage

Aside from a small bit of TLC here and there, the majority of problems I've had have been routine stuff you'd expect for the mileage. The handbrake on E46s are shíte though

im looking at one with 125k on clock. no mention of swirl flaps or dmf being replaced,. would 100k be the kind of mileage a dmf gives bother in these ?

Rowley Birkin QC

challengemaster wrote: »

H. Front wishbone / bushes are a weak point.

If these do need to be replaced, go directly to BMW for the parts. They do a valueline kit on OEM Lemforder parts that was significantly cheaper than anywhere else I could find them.

MetzgerMeister

challengemaster wrote: »

Engine is perfect.

Ah so you've changed it to a petrol have ya? :P

challengemaster wrote: »

The handbrake on E46s are shíte though

Not much better in the E92. I'm hoping new rear discs, new upgraded handbrake shoes and new upgraded springs etc. will work!

challengemaster

Rowley Birkin QC wrote: »

If these do need to be replaced, go directly to BMW for the parts. They do a valueline kit on OEM Lemforder parts that was significantly cheaper than anywhere else I could find them.

Actually what I'd recommend if the wishbones need to be replaced is to get a set of Meyle HD ones - they've got a replaceable balljoint, so if you're keeping it long-term the next time round its a very small cost. Bushings wise - powerflex polybushes if you want to do it once and forget about it.

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Ah so you've changed it to a petrol have ya? :P

I thought you were getting a diesel?

MetzgerMeister

challengemaster wrote: »

I thought you were getting a diesel?

Sense kicked in again! But what I do has nothing to do with your totally and utterly false claim above!! :P

Colash

whats the story with swirl flaps on these ..how and where do u get them done and how much we talking for the procedeure ?

challengemaster

Colash wrote: »

whats the story with swirl flaps on these ..how and where do u get them done and how much we talking for the procedeure ?

If you're confident with doing work on the car you can do the job yourself. Thanks to the way the diesel engine is crammed into the e46 it's only partially more tricky than doing a full filter change!

There's a DIY guide here

If you're not so confident, I'd recommend getting a BMW specialist indy mechanic to do it. Not that any mechanic is incapable, but more so that someone doing it regularly will do it quicker and may save you time and money. Especially if they're doing it regularly they will probably have a supply of swirl flap blanks on hand, rather than you having to order them and wait.

Cost wise I'm farily sure it wasn't more than €70-80 including the cost of the blanks.

Colash

thanks for the info lads. ive attached a link to the car im very interested in,, see what ye think

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-320d-cuope-m-sport/8637099?offset=22

challengemaster

First things standing out at me - That's an M3 or M3-style front bumper, and it's missing its front fog lights. Aside from that it looks fairly clean.

I'm actually curious where he got the bumper!

Colash

challengemaster wrote: »

First things standing out at me - That's an M3 or M3-style front bumper, and it's missing its front fog lights. Aside from that it looks fairly clean.

I'm actually curious where he got the bumper!

i noticed the fogs too,.perhaps the bumper was replaced? do all msport e46 coupes come with front fogs ???

challengemaster

Yup. Like I said that's a non-standard bumper as well.

Colash

challengemaster wrote: »

Yup. Like I said that's a non-standard bumper as well.

well im glad i posted on here so as alarm bells are slightly ringing if the bumper has been replaced,.thanks for the help:D

bazz26

The red gear stick is aftermarket too. M Sport front bumper has a front splitter.

Just remember that diesel coupes fetch good money especially tidy M Sports. If your looking at something that appears cheap then there is a good reason for it. You will pay for a decent one.

Not a M Sport and it's a year older but looks and sounds like it is owned by someone who knows these cars very well.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-320cd/8589178?offset=14

Or another M Sport here:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-320-coupe-diesel-m-sport-2-0-automatic/8635149?offset=16

Idbatterim

the limerick reg, that bumper and those alloys! fairly brutal IMO... The other two bazz linked to, they just look so much better in m sport, if I were paying that money, not a chance I would go for SE personally. the below looks decent enough to me...

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-320-coupe-diesel/8358528?offset=16

Colash

thanks for the tips and the links ye supplied lads.i think i will give that one i was looking at a wide berth now.. ive noticed a few automatics online,. are they a good buy ??

challengemaster

bazz26 wrote: »

The red gear stick is aftermarket too. M Sport front bumper has a front splitter.

M3 replica bumper :P

Colash

challengemaster wrote: »

M3 replica bumper :P

i noticed the fogs but the bumper would not have stood out to me since im not used to bmw's .

bazz26

challengemaster wrote: »

M3 replica bumper :P

Yeah, what I meant was that the original M Sport bumper has a front splitter on it rather than the aftermarket M3 bumper fitted to that car.

bazz26

I recommend driving an auto for comparison, they work well with diesel engines plus you have no flywheel to worry about.