>2006 330 Ci>68k miles on it. >automaticShifts very smooth. AC has an odd sound to it but ice cold. Is it a money pit or would you keep? Neighbor said it’s the last reliable bmw. Any truth to this?
>>28896211My friend has one from 2001 with 170K miles and an automatic transmission, they're nice cars
>>28896211I had over 200k on my 330ci when I sold it. It was decently reliable while I had it. I had to replace the radiator so I just replaced the hoses and expansion tank while I was in there.
>>28896211It's not the last reliable bmw but it's the last one that an eastern european teenager can afford to maintain
>>28896211I love my little '01, but it's had its share of problems. I was honestly happy to pay to fix it all though, I bought it expecting stuff and had the funds.>DISA valve failed almost immediately, replaced, been fine for 20k+ miles now (easy DIY fixable)>valve cover had a leak when purchased>DSC light came on one day, probably a wheel speed sensor or something but I paid the shop ~2k to do whatever they wanted (no tools or wrench xp back then)>fuel pump failed a year later (fixed myself, $300 for OEM part, ez pz job)>there's some sort of oil leak stillI haven't tried to figure out the new oil leak. It's all black and oily under the oil pan. I thought oil pan leak, but I haven't had to top up oil and it's not leaking onto the drive way. Maybe power steering, I had to top that up once, but again it doesn't drip and it hasn't gone down noticeably in ~5k miles.Honestly, with all the BMW horror stories I hear, this wasn't as bad as I prepared myself for. I thought I'd have to trash the car after 5k miles because of catastrophic failure or too many electrical or undiagnosable issues. One positive note is every problem was fixed with a single visit to the mechanic or an afternoon of work and never came back. Electricals are all perfect too. I do have a manual, which might help. 100k miles now, bought at 76k in '21.
>>28896211By the E46, imo, point had already jumped the shark. Less reliable than earlier models and needless overcomplication had set in. Lots of little things go wrong that constantly nickel and dime you. Not as nice to work on as earlier BMWs, and cost cutting had started to creep in. Plastic waterpump impellars and shit like that is where I get off. Cooling system grenading is the biggest issue but I think by 06 they had improved upon the issues in the pre 04 cars.Not denying they aren't nice cars to drive when they're in good working order its just that they never are in my experience.
>>28896278the plastic impeller water pumps last 150k miles and cost $40 to replaceThat's an order of magnitude cheaper than the electric pump in later cars
>>28896292They should've been metal to begin with. I can't abide it on principle.You shouldn't have to worry about a plastic impeller grenading your engine, that's taking the piss on BMW's part. I'm sure the later cars are even worse I have no doubt about it. I don't care if I sound like a boomer. Old car good nu car bad.
>>28896302You may want to reconsider your opinion on plastic impellers
>>28896342Ofc u still have to replace the metal ones after long enough, like anything its a maintenance item. But when the E46 came out the plastic ones on the 3 series were known to disintegrate at like 60k miles. That's pretty shit. I understand the new composite ones are better, but if anon hasn't got a record of his ever being replaced he'll need to do it.
>>28896211Sell it while you can get some BMWeetawd who thinks like your neighbor and buy an Acura or Lexus for luxury.
>>28896379Lexuses have a weird sitting position and they aren't all that reliable after the 90s
>>28896211>2006 car>FUCKING 68K miles, aka 3400 miles per year, aka around 3-4x less than the average>one of the more reliable bmws>still has doubtsyou burgers are so fucking hilarious. you have such an ease of access to cars in generals. too bad you're all wrenchlets afraid to do some maintenance on a german. this kind of e46 would probably go for +20k in Germany. i bet its like 5k. no it's not one of the last reliable bmws. it's just poor cope for those who can't afford a +2018 bmw aka one with a B series engine/keep up with preventive maintenace/buy the cheapest variant clapped by a zoomer who couldn't keep up with preventive maintenance.
>>28896554Anon has doubts but he hasn't said if it is even for sale or for what price. My buddy paid $3K for >>28896219 an older car with another 100K miles but still drives great. He wrenches often times in my garage. Pic related the old air filter before we changed it
>>28896599Cabin filter I had a replacement
>>28896211Buy it or forever wish you had. Of course it will cost some money down the line, but it's a generally reliable car and your not trying to daily it anyway.
why are bmws so fucking ugly thoughbeitlike i get it's a lot of car for the money but does it have to look worse than a camry?
>>28896635Nice bait
>>28896635Sour grapes
>>28896637>posts a picture of a typical ugly BMW owner
>>28896640
>>28896644How does this apply to a BMW that is 20 years old? It is retroactively ugly because new cars are all ugly?
>>28896648bmws realistically never looked good. there was a point in time where the sharp sterile germanness of them was appealing because everything else was either an aerodynamic jelly bean or a volvo.now they're just trying too hard to look aggressive and stand out which ironically makes them blend in with the rest of the aggressively styled shitboxes. if you took the badge and kidneys off an M2 and told me it was a new kia i'd believe it.
>>28896648>How does this apply to a BMW that is 20 years old?anone driving a bmw is a tastelet wrenchlet badgewhore who thinks they will get laid simply for driving a dishwater grey german pencil shaving salesman's rental car until they realize you have to replace the shitty weak I6's floppy ass crank bearings every 80k and another random plastic gubbin every week
>>28896656>now they're just trying too hard toSorry but what they are trying to do now isn't germane OP is talking about a car that is 20 years old
>>28896663wow so not only is he completely tasteless he's also poor
>>28896664I don't get it. The car is too expensive to keep on the road but the driver is also poor?
>>28896672many such casesunironically
The last truly bulletproof BMW was probably finished by the mid 90s. A M50 with a manual would run forever. Once they went complex with VANOS shit went down hill.All the diesels were very reliable until 2010 or so.
>>28896728another poor cope who can't afford a B series engine. actually, all of the six pot diesels are very reliable, except for N57, which is still pretty reliable.
>>28896780It's long oil change intervals that fucks up the chains and rod bearings
>>28896728The M54 is fine.
>>28896642He drives a Smart.
>>28896211The autotragics from that period were so fucking shit bro.
>>28896272>I haven't tried to figure out the new oil leakIt's probably the oil filter housing gasket. Even if it isn't, you should still replace it because it will fail. Get it done when you next change your oil.
>>28896211I'd literally give it to my mom
>>28896211People drive 20yo BMWs ???Civic, fits, accords yeah… but bmws?
>>28899360People drive BMWs that are even older than that
>>28899360I drives a 30 yr old bmw
>>28899419>>28899420Are you one of those more money than brains?
>>28898895That's your mom?!??!?!? I'd give it to her too FUCK
>>28899424I only got my BMW because it was cheap and I was broke. If you can wrench and inspect a car before you buy it BMW has the opposite of a Toyota tax, everyone is afraid of them
>>28896211It really depends on how expensive it is, keep in mind these are painfully slow before overpaying
>>28899482well yes even the M version is pretty slow by today's standards, like new 330i slow. but measuring dicks is not the point of an old bmw. when you'll grow up you will understand.
>>28896211>least reliable BMWfixed>20 years old>shit GM automatic>rear subframe almost certainly fucked>every cooling system component about to explode, which turns out in an i6 is a death sentence
>>28899517whatever the point is you shouldnt pay 20k for an old shitbox thats slower than a yaris, which is what a clean model goes for in europe (sadly)
>>28899547well yes its 0-60 is barely slower than a 45k gr yaris. pretty good for a model more than 20 years old. but you have to be retarded to pay 20k for a e46. plenty in fine shape in EU at 5-10. Just don't expect to get mint. Mint cars are for fags anyways.
>>2889954720k easily gets you a US salvage e46 m3 after repairs rofl, while you're being a pussy thinking of some overpriced "EU original" 330i?
>>28899551thats why I asked OP to specify price duhhh. 10k? easily go for it, 20k fuck no noggaa
>>28899424Its an E34 literally nothing ever goes wrong with it. Cost me like 800 bucks over 3 years in maintenance.
>>28898877Thanks. I looked into it and that sounds promising.
