You know, reading about your car on the Internet...

[Fritzo]

In general, German Engineering = overly expensive/overly complicated for no apparent reason (see my thread on this).

That's absolutely not true. Complicated systems are there because they work better---Porsche is one of the most reliable and bullet-proof manufacturers on the planet.

As I said, a lot of these cars get into the hands of 2nd and 3rd owners off lease, and the scheduled maintenance has often been skipped (or you get an idiot tuner-guy that does a lot of half-assed shade tree maintenance). This is where the problems come in.

I can say the the BMW e46 I have now is fantastically easy to work on despite it's advanced engineering, and parts aren't out of line with any other car so far.

 

[Jimzz]

That's absolutely not true. Complicated systems are there because they work better---Porsche is one of the most reliable and bullet-proof manufacturers on the planet.

As I said, a lot of these cars get into the hands of 2nd and 3rd owners off lease, and the scheduled maintenance has often been skipped (or you get an idiot tuner-guy that does a lot of half-assed shade tree maintenance). This is where the problems come in.

I can say the the BMW e46 I have now is fantastically easy to work on despite it's advanced engineering, and parts aren't out of line with any other car so far.

Hahahahahahahahahahahah ......

Tell that to mercedes and their SBC brake system.

 

[Fritzo]

Hahahahahahahahahahahah ......

Tell that to mercedes and their SBC brake system.

OK, how many total problems has that system has as compared to regular brake systems? People tend to point out problems with systems that are expensive to fix. In reality, those problems either affect a tiny portion of the owners or happen well past the car's intended lifespan.

There are a few examples of just plain poor engineering (Porsche's IMS issues on the Boxster for instance), but by and large these systems bring more benefit than hindrance.

 

[SSSnail]

Whos to say this was not a BMW issue? He did not say someone worked on it. That and what maintaince is there to a fuel line?
I have worked on hundreds of european cars and unless its under warranty or you yourself will be doing all the work would never tell anyone to buy one. I have a mercedes in my driveway and will be selling it soon. My wife got the "must have a european car..." bug out of her system after only owning 1.

I don't know the specific history of this particular car, so I can't comment, but let's say someone screwed around with the fuel pump, which is under the rear seats and didn't put it back properly. Because it wouldn't get loose by itself, and wouldn't have waited until Jules own it to start loosen up.

My comment was directed at the general populace who wanted a ”German” car, but bought second hand, sometimes third, or forth, and started blaming the car for maintenance neglect, or lack thereof. According to the statistic I just pulled out of my ass, that's damn close to reality.

 

[hoorah]

As an owner of an E46 330Ci with 160k miles, I know what you mean. I haven't been on bimmerforums in awhile and I sleep better at night.

I bought my car because I wanted something that I knew could handle track days, but am nearly too afraid to take it out on the track because I'm worried about the subframe ripping out.

I do have to say though that with my amount of miles, I HAVE had to fix almost every E46 failure out there. Intake boot, water pump, radiator, expansion tank (2x), thermostat (P0128 code), control arm bushings (3x), ball joints, shocks, valve cover gasket (2x), oil filter housing gasket (this one was a pain of a job and leaked a ton of oil), and on and on.....

My opinion is that if you're going to go out and drive the car hard, its going to be worth all the trouble you have to put in for the way it feels. If you drive the car like a Honda, buy a honda instead.

Some cars are worth more than their trouble, some cars are more trouble than they are worth. I'd have to say that overall, even with all the trouble of an E46, its a pretty darn reliable car unless your subframe tears out.

 

[rh71]

It's a collection of folks who have car issues, no one talks about their cars when they don't f*ck up. Ya know?

unless you're on enthusiast-brand forums which there are also plenty of.

 

[boomhower]

I agree. I drive what is generally a bullet proof vehicle outside of the ABS module, a body on frame SUV with a Chevy small block. Read the internet and you'd think it would disintegrate into the bowls of the earth at 100k.