e46 reliable?

[Lean L]

I've been searching all over the internet trying to find the answer to this.... I've gotten mixed reviews, some saying that at that point the mileage is too high and others saying that most of the costly things have been taken care of by previous owners. Assuming that I can do all simple maintance tasks such as oil changes, brakes, MAF cleanings, how many more miles can I expect from a '99 E46 with 98K miles?

 

[Doggiedog]

I didn't have an E46 but I did have a new E36 from 0 to 112K miles. After about 75K, things started breaking like the AC (2x), radiator, brakes, lights, heater, radio, etc. The clutch was going too but I consider that wear and tear. Stupid things like a broken windshield wiper from a rusted bolt cost me $120 to fix because I could not get under the windshield to change the bolt myself. I had to hire a mechanic to take out the AC system which was in the way to replace a 25c bolt. I think I must have spent $7K plus on the car after year 6.

My mechanic said BMWs mechanically don't break down very often. The I6 engine is bulletproof. It's the electrical and other stuff that will get you.

Regardless, I bought an E90 335i recently. But it too has had problems. The radio sometimes refuses to turn on and the CD player never worked from day one. I'm sure other things will break but you have to expect that with German cars. They are not as reliable as Japanese cars.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Money pit.

/thread

 

[Lean L]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Money pit.

/thread

Well, I was more concerned about the mechanical aspects of the car. From what Doggiedog has said, it seems like many of the issues can be ignored or taken care of cheaply ie radio... I don't drive too much so some failing electronics won't bother me, I'm mostly worried about the engine and drivetrain.

edit: stuff like the radiator seems like a weekend job + the price of a new radiator.. or am I being too ambitious?

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: iamanidiot

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Money pit.

/thread

Well, I was more concerned about the mechanical aspects of the car. From what Doggiedog has said, it seems like many of the issues can be ignored or taken care of cheaply ie radio... I don't drive too much so some failing electronics won't bother me, I'm mostly worried about the engine and drivetrain.

edit: stuff like the radiator seems like a weekend job + the price of a new radiator.. or am I being too ambitious?

It is but at least with my experience with E36, there will always be something going wrong with the car. One week it'll be the radiator leaking, the next week it'll be the AC controls not working.

The engine will go forever without a critical failure but it'll always have small problems. I didn't have one but I always had to fix my friend's car for him.

If you don't consider doggiedog's problems issues (no AC, no heater, fritzy brake lights, problematic brakes,) which all seem to me to either, 1. impacting basic amenities, 2. impact the road legality, or 3. impact how it drives. Then it's no big deal, but then you'd be driving in effect a stripper honda civic with a M3 body.

It wont leave you stranded on the road, but if you aren't keen to fix the issues, it wont feel like a M3 either.

BMWs: Fun when they're working, if you can get them fully working.

 

[makken]

Heh I've had my e36 from 121k to 178k now and still going. I've had 4 issues outside of reg maintaince: a cracked coolant expansion tank (cost $150ish), leaking windshield washer fluid pump (cost $20 for a generic one off autozone), AC controls went haywire (turned out to be a bad capacitor on the climate control unit, cost $0.25 for a new capacitor at radio shack + a few hours of soldering), and weather striping is starting to peel around the windows (haven't gotten around to replacing yet)

 

[Vette73]

European cars have lower relibaility then Asian/American cars. They also cost more to fix for parts/labor.

I saw all problems when I was a auto tech. I also used to own a Saab. My SiL had a BMW and now has a Audi. I work on the Audi everymonth. Last month was fuel pump and fuel filter. Before that was dash peice. Before that was computer saying there was a burned out light but they all worked. Oh her car has less then 40k on it.

 

[Lean L]

Originally posted by: mwmorph

Originally posted by: iamanidiot

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Money pit.

/thread

Well, I was more concerned about the mechanical aspects of the car. From what Doggiedog has said, it seems like many of the issues can be ignored or taken care of cheaply ie radio... I don't drive too much so some failing electronics won't bother me, I'm mostly worried about the engine and drivetrain.

edit: stuff like the radiator seems like a weekend job + the price of a new radiator.. or am I being too ambitious?

It is but at least with my experience with E36, there will always be something going wrong with the car. One week it'll be the radiator leaking, the next week it'll be the AC controls not working.

The engine will go forever without a critical failure but it'll always have small problems. I didn't have one but I always had to fix my friend's car for him.

If you don't consider doggiedog's problems issues (no AC, no heater, fritzy brake lights, problematic brakes,) which all seem to me to either, 1. impacting basic amenities, 2. impact the road legality, or 3. impact how it drives. Then it's no big deal, but then you'd be driving in effect a stripper honda civic with a M3 body.

It wont leave you stranded on the road, but if you aren't keen to fix the issues, it wont feel like a M3 either.

BMWs: Fun when they're working, if you can get them fully working.

Those are all issues that would dimish the overall value of the car, they are really random though... They sound like they can be fixed easily and at a low cost though. How are some of these even possible? I've never heard of a broken heater before. Isn't it just using the engine heat?

Now that I think about it, my friend's bmws were all like this, small issues that didn't really affect how the car drove excluding the brakes.

Would a 99 328i at posted mileage be a good deal at $6000? The kbb is slightly higher but I'm just trying to get opionions

 

[ballmode]

toss up, window motors go bad, subframe could be torn, bushings, a/c units, radiators...

parts are more money and dealers charge too, but if you do the work yourself its not too bad compared to other brands of cars.

YMMV imo

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Money pit.

/thread

Hardly,
I see e46 sedans with 150K miles all the time. Expect the usual (control arms, ball joints), but outside of that they're pretty reliable.

My brother put 40K on his since late 07 w/o any issues besides regular maintenance.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: iamanidiot

Originally posted by: mwmorph

Originally posted by: iamanidiot

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Money pit.

/thread

Well, I was more concerned about the mechanical aspects of the car. From what Doggiedog has said, it seems like many of the issues can be ignored or taken care of cheaply ie radio... I don't drive too much so some failing electronics won't bother me, I'm mostly worried about the engine and drivetrain.

edit: stuff like the radiator seems like a weekend job + the price of a new radiator.. or am I being too ambitious?

It is but at least with my experience with E36, there will always be something going wrong with the car. One week it'll be the radiator leaking, the next week it'll be the AC controls not working.

The engine will go forever without a critical failure but it'll always have small problems. I didn't have one but I always had to fix my friend's car for him.

If you don't consider doggiedog's problems issues (no AC, no heater, fritzy brake lights, problematic brakes,) which all seem to me to either, 1. impacting basic amenities, 2. impact the road legality, or 3. impact how it drives. Then it's no big deal, but then you'd be driving in effect a stripper honda civic with a M3 body.

It wont leave you stranded on the road, but if you aren't keen to fix the issues, it wont feel like a M3 either.

BMWs: Fun when they're working, if you can get them fully working.

Those are all issues that would dimish the overall value of the car, they are really random though... They sound like they can be fixed easily and at a low cost though. How are some of these even possible? I've never heard of a broken heater before. Isn't it just using the engine heat?

Now that I think about it, my friend's bmws were all like this, small issues that didn't really affect how the car drove excluding the brakes.

Would a 99 328i at posted mileage be a good deal at $6000? The kbb is slightly higher but I'm just trying to get opionions

Definitely a good deal,
I was shopping for an e46 this time last year and couldn't find one for under 10K. Ended up going with 2.7T A6.

Don't listen to people here, vast majority takes their cars to the dealer for everything and thus will bitch and moan about labor and parts cost there. It's obvious when you're buying a lux brand, you'll pay more at the dealer for everything. If you DIY it's no different than owning a buick ...except that it wont rust and head gasket won't fail at 100K miles.

Case point:
I just replaced valve cover gasket, combi valves and rebuilt secondary air pump on my A6, total cost $150. If i had it done at the dealer, it would be around $2500 (180 a pop for combi vales, 450 for the air pump, who knows how much for the valve cover stuff etc.)

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Money pit.

/thread

Hardly,
I see e46 sedans with 150K miles all the time. Expect the usual (control arms, ball joints), but outside of that they're pretty reliable.

My brother put 40K on his since late 07 w/o any issues besides regular maintenance.

Sorry but the facts are clear. European cars are much more costly and also less reliabile then most Asian/American cars.
Your several you have seen are just that, several. The average and history is well known.

I have worked on just about every car line out there and see a lot of the same.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Money pit.

/thread

Hardly,
I see e46 sedans with 150K miles all the time. Expect the usual (control arms, ball joints), but outside of that they're pretty reliable.

My brother put 40K on his since late 07 w/o any issues besides regular maintenance.

Sorry but the facts are clear. European cars are much more costly and also less reliabile then most Asian/American cars.
Your several you have seen are just that, several. The average and history is well known.

I have worked on just about every car line out there and see a lot of the same.

Text

Both audi and BMW are better than industry average...

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Money pit.

/thread

Hardly,
I see e46 sedans with 150K miles all the time. Expect the usual (control arms, ball joints), but outside of that they're pretty reliable.

My brother put 40K on his since late 07 w/o any issues besides regular maintenance.

Sorry but the facts are clear. European cars are much more costly and also less reliabile then most Asian/American cars.
Your several you have seen are just that, several. The average and history is well known.

I have worked on just about every car line out there and see a lot of the same.

Text

Both audi and BMW are better than industry average...

And you would know that is based on surveys. Also notice that VW, which uses the same parts as Audi, is very low? Also Audi was well below average less then 2 years ago in the same study.

Audi, like many other cars makers, know how to work the system for JD now and is making its ratings much more less reliabile. That and even Audi/VW top people admited they have problems.

Also parts cost more and most people do not work on their own cars. I know this very well from not only being a former auto tech, and had my own shop, to just recently replacing tghe fuel pump in my SiL's Audi A4 with less then 40k on it.

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: iamanidiot

Originally posted by: mwmorph

Originally posted by: iamanidiot

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Money pit.

/thread

Well, I was more concerned about the mechanical aspects of the car. From what Doggiedog has said, it seems like many of the issues can be ignored or taken care of cheaply ie radio... I don't drive too much so some failing electronics won't bother me, I'm mostly worried about the engine and drivetrain.

edit: stuff like the radiator seems like a weekend job + the price of a new radiator.. or am I being too ambitious?

It is but at least with my experience with E36, there will always be something going wrong with the car. One week it'll be the radiator leaking, the next week it'll be the AC controls not working.

The engine will go forever without a critical failure but it'll always have small problems. I didn't have one but I always had to fix my friend's car for him.

If you don't consider doggiedog's problems issues (no AC, no heater, fritzy brake lights, problematic brakes,) which all seem to me to either, 1. impacting basic amenities, 2. impact the road legality, or 3. impact how it drives. Then it's no big deal, but then you'd be driving in effect a stripper honda civic with a M3 body.

It wont leave you stranded on the road, but if you aren't keen to fix the issues, it wont feel like a M3 either.

BMWs: Fun when they're working, if you can get them fully working.

Those are all issues that would dimish the overall value of the car, they are really random though... They sound like they can be fixed easily and at a low cost though. How are some of these even possible? I've never heard of a broken heater before. Isn't it just using the engine heat?

Now that I think about it, my friend's bmws were all like this, small issues that didn't really affect how the car drove excluding the brakes.

Would a 99 328i at posted mileage be a good deal at $6000? The kbb is slightly higher but I'm just trying to get opionions

Well, my heater broke so I don't know what else to say. In the winter nothing but cold air would come out of it regardless of how long the car was on. Fortunately, I traded it in during summer so the dealership never bothered to check.

Something like an AC is not cheap to fix. It was $1500 each time. I have no idea why it broke. It's not as if I beat my car up. I just turn it on and drive.

I have owned a Lexus GS300, Infiniti G35 and an Acura MDX. Out of the three, the only problem the Lexus had was a busted LCD in the radio display in 3 years. I would say it was our most reliable car. The Infiniti had a stuck clutch which wouldn't come up all the way everytime. The MDX had a tranny recall and a bunch of electrical problems. The BMW E36 325i I had was a total money pit. I can't even remember all of the problems it had but it was a lot more than what I wrote down. Despite that, it was a fun car to drive. I had it simultaneously with my GS300 and for short trips I would take the 325i. For long road trips I would take the GS300. They were two cars on opposites sides of the spectrum.

My favorite car out of all of them was the G35. I loved that car from day one. I haven't had my E90 long enough to say but so far it's been great too.