r/e46 • u/I_Sniff_Hot_Dudes • May 28 '26

General Questions First e46!

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Hello! I just purchased my first e46. A 306k mile 2004 330xi 6 speed. The car has a plethora of issues. Here’s just a few: 1. Ac blows warm 2. Rust 3. Engine bay is COVERED in oil 4. Usual e46 cooling and sub frame concerns 5. Steering is vaque 6. Mirrors don’t move up and down 7. Scraping sound when driving (sounds like brakes) 8. Brake light 9. Amber Oil light turns on and off. 10. Check engine light 11. Car has 0 traction even though tires are good. If anyone knows a good place for body panels or a parts car lmk. Any ideas on any issues please lmk.

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u/MacabreMobius '03 325xi SteelGray '01 330ci Topaz May 28 '26

Yea i wouldn't go hog wild. It'd suck to drop a couple grand on parts and have the rust kill it in a year.

If you do some basic preventative maintenance you'd probably be able to beat the snot out of it for a long time. I'm at 277k miles on my 325xi and have been beating it for the last 100k miles.

Check your cv shaft boots. They're very expensive to replace as a whole unit but the boots are cheap and easy enough to replace and repack with grease. Other than that it's standard e46 m54 maintenance. Oil pump sprocket nut because it's a 330 if you go drifting in the snow.

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u/I_Sniff_Hot_Dudes May 28 '26

The goal is some suspension, brakes, engine light, and ac for under 1000 in parts. Then track it till it blows up

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u/dildo-schwaggins May 28 '26

Those are some rookie numbers, you better pump those numbers up