Should I buy a E46 328ci?

Procide · 03-09-2011, 09:16 PM

I am coming from ClubRSX after my car was totaled. I was considering buying a blacked out 2000 328CI coupe. I was looking for some opinions on the car itself. It has 120k miles on it, HIDS, moon roof, 35% tints, blacked out grill, a sound system, all the fix-ins and is the sport model. I realize it's older but I might be getting it for $8k. Can't afford any other BMW that i know of and thinking of moving away from sport, to come to performance. Car was kept in good condition and carfax only shows that one owner backed up into something, and had it fixed. Opinions?

MrFukengruven · 03-09-2011, 09:21 PM

8k is a tad high in my opinion. I'd look for an E36 M3 for that price, but do u have any pics of the 328Ci?

Dirtyeldiablo · 03-17-2011, 06:53 PM

I sold a 97 M3 for 7k

alexckma · 03-17-2011, 10:35 PM

why is this post here...

quiksi · 03-17-2011, 10:37 PM

wouldn't buy a pre-modded car, especially with what was listed

AlwayzUnce · 03-17-2011, 11:39 PM

you might want to try e46fanatics.com... and that price is too high

fdsasdasdf · 03-22-2011, 01:00 AM

I'd remove the black-out tint on the lights. It's tacky to me, but that's just my own opinion. To each his or her own.

I purchased an E46 because I decided I didn't want to save more for an E92 335i. I don't regret the decision one bit. It has some high mileage, ~95k, but it's in beautiful working condition save for some minor repairs and no dings on the sides. I'll use it as a trade-in later when I graduate, but I'm loving the E46 experience right now. Great first BMW.

Things you gotta look out for on this car since it is above 100k:

1. VANOS seals. You won't know if they are bad until you get the symptoms (erratic idle, hesitation at 4k rpm, worse gas mileage than usual). The seals BMW provides really suck, and there are great aftermarkets by Beisan Systems available and an incredibly detailed DIY on installing them. See here:

http://www.beisansystems.com/procedu..._procedure.htm

The DIY looks scary, but the process is supposedly much easier than it looks from what other forum members have said. I'm probably going to tackle this in ~7-10k miles on a weekend once I get the proper tools.

2. Water pump and expansion tank. They tend to fail a little over 100k. Make sure they have been replaced. If not, do that immediately. The engine will overheat instantly when those go. Not a fun time.

3. Control arm bushings. Have they been replaced yet? They wear relatively quickly.

4. Are the window regulators all working? Early builds of E46's had failing window regulators.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head to really look out for, but check E46 Fanatics to get more info before buying. http://www.bimmerfest.com/wiki/index.php?title=BMW_E46 is your E46 bible. Other than those issues, they're really reliable and are a blast to drive.

Also, $8k is certainly too much for a 328Ci with 120k miles and those mods. Try to get it down to $6-7k.

03-09-2011, 09:16 PM	#1
Procide Audi Tech 8 Rep 13 Posts Drives: SG/CR 2008 e92 335xi Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0)	Should I buy a E46 328ci? I am coming from ClubRSX after my car was totaled. I was considering buying a blacked out 2000 328CI coupe. I was looking for some opinions on the car itself. It has 120k miles on it, HIDS, moon roof, 35% tints, blacked out grill, a sound system, all the fix-ins and is the sport model. I realize it's older but I might be getting it for $8k. Can't afford any other BMW that i know of and thinking of moving away from sport, to come to performance. Car was kept in good condition and carfax only shows that one owner backed up into something, and had it fixed. Opinions?
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03-09-2011, 09:21 PM	#2
MrFukengruven Private 20 Rep 87 Posts Drives: 1999 E36 //MThrizzle Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Norwalk, CT iTrader: (0) Garage List 1999 E36 M3 [0.00]	8k is a tad high in my opinion. I'd look for an E36 M3 for that price, but do u have any pics of the 328Ci?
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03-17-2011, 06:53 PM	#3
Dirtyeldiablo Enlisted Member 1 Rep 40 Posts Drives: 2007 E90 335i Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Woodstock, GA iTrader: (1)	I sold a 97 M3 for 7k
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03-17-2011, 10:35 PM	#4
alexckma Lieutenant 30 Rep 518 Posts Drives: P. Panorama 10, L Gallardo 05 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Hong Kong, Canada iTrader: (0)	why is this post here...
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03-17-2011, 10:37 PM	#5
quiksi Captain 76 Rep 906 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (1) Garage List 2018 Toyota Tundra ... [0.00] 2011.5 E90 M3 [0.00]	wouldn't buy a pre-modded car, especially with what was listed __________________ 2011 E90 M3 6mt AW/Speed Cloth - ZCP, Moonroof, non-iDrive - PCD 12/9/10 Painted reflectors, matte black grills/gills, Deansbimmer Belly Pan, DEI Alarm, Homelink/compass retrofit, Passport MAX2 Hardwire, GP Thunder 8500K, modmy3 LED interior, Dinan Mufflers, HRE P40 19" Satin Charcoal, Michelin PS4S
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03-17-2011, 11:39 PM	#6
AlwayzUnce Petey G 10 Rep 352 Posts Drives: 2011 128i Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Wayne, NJ iTrader: (1)	you might want to try e46fanatics.com... and that price is too high
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03-22-2011, 01:00 AM	#7
fdsasdasdf Captain 129 Rep 778 Posts Drives: 330Ci ZHP 6sp Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC iTrader: (0)	I'd remove the black-out tint on the lights. It's tacky to me, but that's just my own opinion. To each his or her own. I purchased an E46 because I decided I didn't want to save more for an E92 335i. I don't regret the decision one bit. It has some high mileage, ~95k, but it's in beautiful working condition save for some minor repairs and no dings on the sides. I'll use it as a trade-in later when I graduate, but I'm loving the E46 experience right now. Great first BMW. Things you gotta look out for on this car since it is above 100k: 1. VANOS seals. You won't know if they are bad until you get the symptoms (erratic idle, hesitation at 4k rpm, worse gas mileage than usual). The seals BMW provides really suck, and there are great aftermarkets by Beisan Systems available and an incredibly detailed DIY on installing them. See here: http://www.beisansystems.com/procedu..._procedure.htm The DIY looks scary, but the process is supposedly much easier than it looks from what other forum members have said. I'm probably going to tackle this in ~7-10k miles on a weekend once I get the proper tools. 2. Water pump and expansion tank. They tend to fail a little over 100k. Make sure they have been replaced. If not, do that immediately. The engine will overheat instantly when those go. Not a fun time. 3. Control arm bushings. Have they been replaced yet? They wear relatively quickly. 4. Are the window regulators all working? Early builds of E46's had failing window regulators. That's all I can think of off the top of my head to really look out for, but check E46 Fanatics to get more info before buying. http://www.bimmerfest.com/wiki/index.php?title=BMW_E46 is your E46 bible. Other than those issues, they're really reliable and are a blast to drive. Also, $8k is certainly too much for a 328Ci with 120k miles and those mods. Try to get it down to $6-7k.
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