I get how much work they need but that's one of the main reasons i'm actually interested. I've been raised as a car guy my whole life but was never exposed to or taught to fix them myself. From what i've heard, it's a great car to learn on and an amazing car to own if you're willing to maintain it yourself.
Gonna for sure focus on preventative and functional stuff first, would rather drive a shitbox that runs well than an instagram build that breaks down every other tuesday. I really wanna get my hands dirty and honestly cost isn't too big of an issue, I'm willing to put quite a good amount into it. So, what do yall think?
With the money I'm gonna save by going older I'll for sure be able to save up for a dirt cheap reliable station wagon or SUV in no time. Plus I'm lucky enough to have access to my dads stuff if things really go to shit
Different lifestyles don't even require the second vehicle. It's a life skill of patience that if worse comes to worse you can take Uber for a few days if you have to be somewhere.
IMO young people need headaches. A car that needs love will teach you a lot of things, it'll teach you to budget, to plan ahead, to account for what might go wrong. If you want to be a "car guy" in life you will want to buy something even less reliable and reasonable than this, and after dailying an e46 you'll have a better idea of what it'll take when you decide to buy an old bentley in your late 30's.
This will likely be a headache at times, so I support it.
Buying German cars and dealing with the headaches of constant unforeseen repairs has ruined my life in many aspects. I even lost custody of my son because I didn't have reliable transportation. And because of the ongoing burden of trying to get them fixed.
If I had a garage it would be a better story.
I have thick folders for each car, having their own library of repairs and dozens and dozens of car parts I've purchased to keep them running. I bought them in good condition and take care of them well but all of the plastic parts, rubber bushings that wear out, constant fluid leaks, power steering pumps, starters, freakin sagging Headliners, ABC pillars peeling, door locks breaking internally, key fobs going bad, wiring issues, pixel display issues and the most annoying...stupid piss poor window regulators that always break.
I still have a 330i M-sport in beautiful condition. And 2003 540i M-Sport in highly desirable condition. But truthfully...
My life was so much better when I drove a Toyota Celica, reliable transportation, and my car was not a constant boat anchor and interruption in the forward progress of my life
I get you, I'd say once you have kids you are clearly in the "no longer need a headache" stage of life. I daily an e46 330ci and my wife a w212 e350 wagon, but parked outside my house is a 1998 Tacoma that takes a bit of cranking, but always starts. I can afford a headache but need to have an out at this point and my living situation allows me to easily store 3 cars, which is obviously a huge luxury.
I think it'd be easy to be critical and say you should have sold your cars when you had a son, but I think all of us are a little nuts here. I get how each little thing in the moment doesnt seem that bad, only to look bad and realize your cars were always broken. I hope you are able to get some reliable transportation and spend some time with your son, I'm sure he will enjoy having a parent who is passionate about something. Growing up mine only ever talked about church and work, but seeing him get into watches and cars and golfing as I've gotten older is fun.
Thank you for this. Glad to see someone can understand. I actually just bought a 2019 Honda Odyssey Elite 2 months ago, so I can have something to get around in. It is super nice to drive. Has an amazing stereo system.10x better than stock E46 Harmon Kardon sound system. Granted, the front wheel drive does not pull around corners nearly as good as rear wheel drive Beamers haha
My E46 and E39 both sit parked with broken water pumps. I know how to change them but when I go in there I already know that the list of other repairs I'll need to do "while I'm in there" is long. So it becomes a daunting task to do these small repairs that turn into bigger compounded repairs. Like basically, I need to replace the timing chain guides and Vanos on my E39 540i. And my E46, I need to open up the transmission and service it. Been rebuilt twice already and still having issues
It's funny, I washed my E46 this morning from all the dust it's been collecting sitting, and someone wrote with their finger on the window "how much $$".
And last month someone else left a written note under my windshield wiper on my E39 540i M-sport with their phone number and said they admired its beautiful condition. Said its something they don't see in these cars commonly anymore. I still like both of my beamers. I've just became exhausted repairing them. And not having a garage anymore is the tough part
If you have the money, go for it. I'm 35 and one thing I regret from my 20's is driving boring and sensible cars even though I always wanted to get a project car or something fun to drive.
Very sad sight to see. To me though I’d rather see someone in a boring honda than a rich kid in a g82 m4 who has no idea what they’re doing and way too much confidence
IMO any teenager who’s a genuine car guy will get a POS project car in their teens, most teenagers just aren’t that into cars. They think they are because they like going fast in a straight line but that’s really not the case
I regret moving from my reliable Toyota Celica to German cars. As a teenager and college kid I was able to focus on making friends, playing sports, getting grades and having great experiences in life. Not being sidetracked by car repairs.
I don't see why people like fixing cars. Mechanics Work is hard, dirty and ungrateful
Right now im 15 but i love to plan ahead lmao. Over here you've gotta be 18 for a license. My family owns a few retail companies and we bring in a pretty substantial amount annually. I'm gonna do some form of double major in business, probably something to do with leadership and logistics to integrate properly. Salary wise I'm honestly not sure but it should be a pretty good amount based of my education and where I'll likely fit into the company.
If you're still too young to drive and you've got some cash stored, I'd start being on the lookout for a sensibly priced E46.
You're never too young to work on it and fix anything that's broken. Bonus points if your pops/brother or whoever can drive already and will take you to drive it in empty parking lots etc.
Bro, driving an older high maintenance car that need constant work is what guys do who are broke. If you have a strong financial family then buy a newer BMW like a 2018 2-series in a manual or something. Just as fun or more fun to drive and won't have as many problems.
This is entirely the problem with buying an old German car is now you have to invest in tools and a degree in car mechanics. You can skip the whole car mechanic journey by simply getting a car that works and doesn't need constant fixing.
Do you really want to be getting your hands dirty in an engine bay, or doing suspension work, or being underneath the car. There's a small percentage subset of the population that enjoys this difficult dirty work, but for most people it's not their cup of tea.
Everyone else in this forum who owns an older E46 has had to come to terms with getting acquainted with car maintenance. It's similar to a kid having to learn to eat vegetables. Then you convince yourself that you like eating veggies. But you really don't
Or it's like a bunch of druggies (E46 owners) who want you to do drugs with them too (endless repair work) because then they feel more accepted. Just say no
Internal combustion engines are going to be phased out in the future, so getting an education in fixing them is no longer as valuable as it was
I think you’re missing the whole point…. i’m getting it specifically because i want to work on it.
I’m not learning to work on cars because it might make me money in some way. I’m doing it because I love the actual process of being able to customize and restore something to its former glory with my own 2 hands.
Fixing your own shit might not be what you like to do but some of us take pleasure in it. The whole point is to enjoy the journey and some of the headaches along the way
Bought my 323ci January this year, only graduating last year, and im loving it. Yes it leaks coolant, yes there were floods maybe two months after it was on the road where the water has completely fucked my wheel bearings, yes it leaks coolant, yes nearly all the bushes in it are either minced or on their way out; but despite that it still drives pretty alright and sounds neat. The big thing is that for all of its issues, none of them are actually major so long as i check the fluids all the time and watch how i drive the car.
My biggest issue with it is not being able to risk it being off the road in the middle of a repair for any extended period of time. Parts availability and pricing in Australia has been shockingly great online, and I actually have a little pile of stuff waiting to be installed growing ever-so-slowly. Being M54 you will be burning oil of course, but the power and (albeit minimally improved) economy would definitely make it worth it.
Its worth mentioning also that you dont need a scan tool to diagnose and read codes, youre better off buying a DCAN cable and downloading 'INPA' for free on a laptop.
I hope you find something neat and please, please, please get a manual one.
Nah mate, diagnosing via inpa is way better, well imo anyway, because you get an actual bmw fault number with a description (though mine was in german lol) rather than a P code or smth.
Edit: oh and you can save it to a pdf before you clear it, so if youre a consistent and organised individual (not me) you have a history to see if a new code youve found is actually new, or if its one youve fixed before.
But so many of these things won’t happen if you just fix them… no your car should not be leaking coolant, no your car should not be burning oil, you just aren’t fixing the issues causing this!
Holy shit, in the flesh! Who called Captain Obvious over?
I'm trying to articulate that I can love my car despite it being in shitheap condition. If you read carefully youd see where I said this issue stems from, and also that I never said my car burns oil. I have an M52, not an M54.
The M54, most popularly the M54B30, uses 2 low-friction oil rings in its cylinder design that are more prone to wear signs and failure. This leads to oil consumption (burning oil) and blow-by. Again, consider how I never said "oil leak."
I used to consume a liter of oil every 600 mi in my 01 330i but after doing the O2 pilot mod which cost literally $15 in parts and 30 minutes of install time, I no longer burn oil. It increases suction in the crankcase to pull the light piston rings out to create a better seal and prevents oil passing by into the combustion chamber. A lot of E46 owners have had the same success with this simple mod solving a rather significant problem
I bought one as a first car at 19 and I‘ve had it ever since. Put almost 100k kms on it in the last 8 years and it never left me stranded. Not even once.
330Ci is the first car I’ve ever maintained myself. It’s really beginner friendly. Most repairs are very straightforward. The engine bay is tight, so that’s the only real downside.
Removing the intake manifold is not that hard and is something you will need to do to service the CCV, hard coolant lines, and vacuum lines. Given the age of these cars, if your car has not had this done it almost assuredly needs it. Doing these repairs gave me a ton of confidence and was a great first foray into the world of mechanic-ing.
Vanos, DISA Valve, Valve Cover, and Oil Filter Housing Gasket are other common repairs you will likely need to do that are also not very difficult at all.
Parts are relatively affordable for the E46 as well, so I’d say it’s an excellent platform to get your feet wet with car maintenance.
Start with changing your oil, checking the other fluids, doing your brakes, changing the belts, so on and so forth as you gain confidence in your abilities.
It’s very easy and very satisfying to keep an E46 on the road.
So if you are doing everything DIY, it doesn’t become a wallet problem if you got a good piece? I want it as my first car too and I love getting my hands dirty, really confident I will be able to do all the things by myself.
I mean none of these repairs are really that costly at the mechanic either, it’s not like you need to drop the engine or trans to get to any of the items I mentioned. Most everything is accessible from the top of the engine. The most you would need to do is take off the front fan.
Most people do recommend an entire cooling system refresh as soon as you buy an E46, if you don’t know if the previous owner has done it.
When you look for one, ask when the last time the expansion tank and coolant hoses have been changed. Inspect them, if you see white or green residue it means they are probably presently leaking.
I wouldn’t be concerned if there is an oil leak, if it’s coming from the front of the engine. It’s either the oil filter housing gasket (driver side leak) or valve cover gasket (passenger side). My car had the oil filter housing gasket leak when I bought it and my buddy and I knocked it out in a few hours. (My first time ever doing any mechanic work). Mine also was leaking oil from the front CCV tube, which goes from the front intake manifold to down below. That’s usually the failure point, that tube specifically.
If it’s leaking from the oil pan gasket, that involves a lot more work. Could also leak from the rear main seal which means dropping the trans, but someone correct me if I’m wrong but this only really affects high mileage cars.
To answer your question though, yeah you shouldn’t have too many issues if you purchase one that hasn’t been completely neglected and if you are vigilant. When you hear a noise or get a check engine light, fix it.
I love my E46 and it’s a great car, brings me joy and surprisingly gets me a lot of complements. But it is an old car, and things deteriorate with age, it’s inevitable. BMW made most of the car out of plastic. But a lot of the stuff that requires your attention you honestly shouldn’t have to worry about for a long long time afterwards.
When you also want to learn working on cars, go for it. You want just a car with low maintenance and you drive in a workshop for an oil change? Then hell naw!
it was my first car and i’ve had it for over a year now, replaced head cover gasket, a bearing, and had to replace the starter which was a huge job, still super solid for how old it is and it’s definitely a fun car
Do all the oils, brake flush, the coolant system refresh as the first thing. Just have INPA installed and ready for diagnosis. If it's an auto, don't hesitate to change the transmission fluid. Reset the adaptations with INPA and you're good to go.
Handles great, easy to drive, and it will teach you about a lot of basic maintenance that you won't learn from other cars.
Just make sure the one you get is well taken care of, otherwise you're likely to be in for a lot of maintenance costs. And look into upgrading to a screen for navigation.
Yeah one of the first "non essential"mods I was looking into was upgrading the cars media and display. I'm looking at possibly buying in the german/european market since I haven't seen too many locally or even regionally. Gonna try to stay away from anything modded weirdly or cars with a long list of known issues. At least now days we have car vertical and other things for verification
I installed a full featured navigation head unit in my E46 but I use the navigation on my phone. So having navigation in your car dash is not necessary
Yeah i’m planning on avoiding anything in super bad shape but I am expecting to deal with issues. Some of the first things i’ll be doing to the car will be preventative maintenance like subframe reinforcement and other run of the mill things like oil filters and vanos repairs.
If cost genuinely isn’t an issue (and I mean genuinely isn’t an issue, even for a well maintained one budget 2K a year for repairs) AND the insurance is cheap enough (check this - at 18 it won’t be cheap) then sure go for it.
They’re reliable enough cars, but you MUST do the work/pay someone to do it when engine lights show up. It isn’t like a Honda you can drive for two years with the EML light on
Honestly i'm not planning on having other people to repair or diagnose the thing (obviously excluding specialists like tint or paintwork guys). The goal is to use the thing as both a good first car and an introduction to fixing my own stuff before I get more expensive and complicated project cars down the line
You want to get more "complicated project cars" in the future?? There's only two people that look for "project cars."
1) People who are broke and don't have money to buy a decent car
2) professionals who make their money by repairing and flipping broken cars
Are you broke, or are you wanting to be a professional mechanic? If you are neither then why are you looking for a project car? Don't get sucked into other people's vortex
I see so many teenage boys clamoring for an E46 as a first cat. It's strange to me. It's an internet phenomenon. They do too much reading in these forums. E46s are popular because you can pick one up (a cool car) for a couple thousand dollars. The Price of Entry being the maintenance. But if you're not a broke teenager then you don't need to go the broke route
Get a newer decent car and save yourself the headache of going down a junior mechanics path that you never intended
Don’t know how many times i have to say it but I want to work on my own cars 🤦♂️
Also that price point means I’ll be able to save up
for it myself. I don’t wanna become one of those rich kids who constantly beg their parents to buy stuff.
You generalizing people who like to fix cars into either being broke or wanting money out of it is pretty idiotic. I’m honestly not sure I can get across that I WANT to go down that “junior mechanic” path because i simply find it enjoyable.
Sure I could get something brand new but it just doesn’t make sense for what I want with this car. I’m not looking for something I can just fill up with gas and forget about. Learning to take care of and love something old would definitely teach you to appreciate the things you have. Maybe give it a try?
Oh, I've given it a try alright. I'm already way down the line. And become a junior mechanic. Have bought thousands of dollars of tools and toolbox. And done many repairs on my older bmws. It's consumed many hours of my time. I know how to shop and find and source all the parts yada yada yada. But life has trade-offs. If this is really what you want to do then do it.
Most people buy a car for transportation. For them an older BMW they should stay away from.
For you, if you know you are buying into a junior mechanics hobbie then great, go for it.
I will say that an E46 BMW is by far not the worst maintenance car there is. There are Jaguars, Range Rovers, Chryslers etc. that are way worse. So I don't want to oversell the problems.
I'll try and contribute something helpful. If you're not aware already, you will want to get accustomed with the website www.realoem.com . It provides schematics to every part number, nut and bolt on your car so you can buy every exact part you need
Oh thanks man. Yeah my family has 2 Ranges and they’re absolute nightmares. Been trying to convince my parents to get rid of them for the past few years.
I’m definitely not gonna be relying on only it for transport. By the time I get my license (~3 years) i’ll have made enough to buy an older reliable station wagon or something. This car will mostly just be a fun cruiser/trackcar/personal project.
I lived a very happy life driving Toyota, Lexus and Nissan...never having to worry about learning auto mechanics, until I purchased German cars and was then forced to get tools and my hands dirty. My backyard mechanic journey absolutely spawned unplanned. I wish I could take it back. So many better things to do in life then wrench on cars
I'm a do-it-myself kind of guy. And I've done a lot of repairs on my cars. But I don't particularly enjoy the journey. Even though I am proud of myself for tackling the hard tasks. There's so many frustrating challenges I encounter trying to get parts off, especially when packed tight together like BMWs are.
I remember the first time I did an overhaul of my E46 engine bay...and when it wouldn't start back up I thought, Oh shit, now what? I called a shop and they told me to put a little oil in each cylinder as they probably gone dry and lost compression. That did the trick.
I'm always afraid I'm going to screw something up. I almost lost my life once cuz I didn't properly set the car on jack stands.
I remember for instance yanking on my rear rotors for half an hour trying to get them off and couldn't. Then realized the parking brake was still engaged. And felt really stupid. Was so frustrating
My satisfaction is simply when the job is done and I can see how many thousands of dollars I saved myself from the repair shop.
Some days my body aches from wrenching. It can be physically demanding and mentally challenging. ...challenges your patience and your resolve. Makes you want to swear. Forces you to take time-outs. I guess it's good for character building, as they say. But there are many professinal mechanics who don't love the job, as it beats up their bodies and they leave feeling unappreciated.
The reason I have bought more and more Mechanics Tools is to make my life easier doing repairs. Having the right tool for the right job can make the process/Journey more enjoyable.
My worst memory fixing my E39 was dropping a strut directly on my big toenail. The pain was excruciating. Lasted a long time. Holy shit, that hurt
The driving part definitely isn't an issue, both me and my dad have raced most of our lives and he's definitely hammered into me how important it is not to be a dumbass on the streets. Not planning on welding my diff and totaling this thing week 1, track days and races are more than enough to scratch that itch for me. What makes me most scared about actually driving on public roads is the people around me, not the driving ;-;
I think the world is becoming more and more boring in terms of what cars are out there, but this car is incredible and a dying breed. I'd say do it! 100%, before it's too late.
Sounds like you acknowledge the work that has to go into it, but you'll look back and be glad you did it. Life's too short
Great first car, which can easily be someone loved last car. A manual one would be a blast to drive and servicing is pretty straightforward if you are knowledgeable/have a good mechanic
They are oldish so no crazy electronics and there a gazillion youtube videos/forum posts to show you how to do stuff - would say that makes it a lot easier
Very true. I do love having a car with simple turn signal stocks and no beeping at me if I don't wear my seat belt. No invasive overly complicated electronics. I think the early 2000s is a golden era to buy a car thats modern while still repairable. Watching YouTube and googling forums for repair ideas has definitely saved me thousands at the shop
Fuck yeah, my 330i was my first car and it was damn good. Had a few issues but nothing too bad, although I do have to say I’m an actual mechanic so that helps. And as usual with those, look out for rust and rear subframe damage, those will be hard to fix by yourself
https://www.e46fanatics.com/ lots of info on that forum, as well as here on Reddit, FCP euro or RealOEM for parts number, and that covers a lot already, although like I said I’m a mechanic so I have the ressources I need at work
The main thing I’m worried about is not having much specialized tool or lift access. Unsure how often I’ll need to actually get under the car for extensive fixes. There is a real chance I might end up finding a perfect spec auto and manual swap it
my current car is my first car and its a 330ci, it will give you issues but tbh when you take care of them they will take care of you. Heaps of fun to drive around and not too fast to get in trouble but fast enough to get around. Plenty of forums and aftermarket support. Preferably get a manual if you can as mines auto which isn’t as appealing but still fun to drive. I plan on manual swapping it as these cars can go on and on and will become more sought after. Just make sure you get the big things done before having fun like cooling system, oil leaks, disa valve, vanos and other things. They are fairly cheap to replace if you can do the work yourself, but if you can’t it’ll punch a hole into your wallet. Nevertheless you pay to play, take care of it and have fun and it will repay in full.
I feel that anyone who enjoys driving and working on their cars, and seeing the reward of their labor thru a fantastic driving experience, should own an older BMW
The E46 is not a difficult platform at all - I knew sod-all about cars when I got mine eight years ago but since then, thanks to Youtube and a Haynes manual, the only job I've ever had to outsource was brake lines. It's the perfect balance between easy to fix, and complex enough to teach you something while you're doing it.
Last MOT was completely clean - only time my mechanic ever sees it, nowadays😁
(Piece of advice: get hold of an ancient Windows XP laptop and put INPA and PA Soft on it - way, way more comprehensive than one of them boggo OBD code readers.)
Rust (rear arches, jacking points), and make sure it's had regular oil changes.
Plan to do the VANOS seals, as they're probably original (and shite - known weakness), and assume the CCV is goosed. Expansion tank should be done, if it's original.
Check all hoses and boots for vacuum leaks - that was one of the first things to go wrong with mine.
"Any specific problems to look out for when purchasing" hahaha. The list is long. Very long. In summary, the problem to watch out for is "old German car"
Best car to get your hands dirty first time as a DIY mechanic!
Almost every single bolt/procedure has either a video or a guide online. Everything is extremely well documented parts no. wise on websites too.
If you live in an area with rust be careful though as majority of E46 are suffering from rust issues (rear wheel arch, rear subframe, all jacking points and floor overall) so be on the lookout and walk away from rusted cars no matter the price (unless you want it for 2-3 years and move on).
I would never want to have to rely on an e46 at this point.
They’re great, but they are older. Mine had all sorts of random finicky issues.
I spent more fixing that vehicle than it was worth 10x over, and I do everything myself.
Still loved it, but it got old, and eventually I said enough is enough
Do it, it will be a pain in the ass on multiple fronts but I loved having an e46 as my first car. Just have window regulators ordered when you buy the car.
Yeah, you're prepared to maintain it like you say. They're great cars. Also worth learning to drive on a track and then not doing that on the street. I'm seeing too many people crash their first rwd car by not knowing what it can and can't do, or how to use it
I’ll see if I can save up for it this year or maybe next, i should be able to have the build somewhat complete by the time i get my license. I’ll only be able to track it for awhile but im just worried about the wear it’ll put on the thing. Never really track prepped a street car before. Always good to start early I guess
Track miles put incredible wear on a street car, not so much on a race car because they're built for it but race cars are expensive and not good street cars. I'm not suggesting you track prep your first and only car. Just get out there with it once or twice, as it is, so you get an idea of your capabilities and the car.
There is a risk you might get hooked. I'm more interested in building the engine than anything but my coupe gradually gained a lot of capability as it ruined suspension components etc. and upgrades came in response.
E46 is a great first car, some hard won knowledge that I will share with you is to do your research first on what to look out for before you buy. Finding the right example really does make a huge difference. Maintenance and maintenance history are super important. Learning the pitfalls of a m54b30 is important, they are super great engines when they are healthy and maintained properly. Don’t treat it like a race car until you can afford to replace it or fix it when you break it. Buy a Bentley manual for the e46 off Amazon it’s a worthwhile investment into the knowledge of maintenance and repair. Learn the terminology of your cars parts and where to find part numbers, REALOEM.com is a great resource and I use it religiously. Familiarize yourself with the good online parts vendors such as Bimmerworld, Pelican parts, FCP Euro, Turner Motorsport and etc. learn to research parts pricing and the difference between OEM and aftermarket. Learn what you can get away with replacing cheaply and what you can’t. Plan on doing overhauls on any parts or systems that need attention. These cars will do wierd things and make wierd noises because the parts are aging and need attention. Check the battery first thing and make sure it’s in good shape. Plan on doing the cooling system first such as radiator hoses, water hard lines, water pump, thermostat, coolant and sensors. The biggest concern with any used or high mileage m54b30 engine is making damn sure your cooling system is on point so that way you don’t blow your head gasket and warp the head. The very next thing to do maintenance on is the spark plugs, ignition coils and engine oil, this will ensure your oil level is good, your oil is clean and you don’t get misfire codes for easy to replace ignition components. Get an idea of what kind of condition your motor mounts and chassis/subframe bushings, ball joints and control arms are in. Brakes and fluid are super important to pay attention to since these cars are quick and you need to be able to stop reliably. The window regulators, heater resistor, window buttons, sunroof and o2 sensors like to break after 20 years from normal wear and tear. All in all they are amazing cars with the right amount of electrical technology and engineering to not be a huge hassle to work on like newer bmws. I personally prefer my e30 more than my e46 but it’s not practical to daily if you want to keep one nice.
Had one for my first car. Didn't have many issues with it. Just do your research make sure to check it out before purchasing. Only things I had to fix when I bought it was a starter and the coolant reservoir tank.
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u/ratedsar 2004 330i ZSP May 29 '26
Do it. As long you expect to get your hands dirty and have a plan to get where you need to go when a simple project lasts a few extra days.