buying a BMW E46 316 for a daily driver. thoughts?

[toyotaparter]

hello guys!!! :wave: I'm thinking bout selling my Civic FD to buy one of these. I'm thinking about getting one with around 50-60 thousand kms on it. and im planning to use it as a daily driver. I plan also to never bring it to the casa, imna just let the euro-inclined talyers maintain the car. Any ideas regarding maintenance and whatever impractical/expensive things that this might cost me?
any inputs would be highly apreciated.

[perrydel]

Maintenance cost is the same as FD. Try to find facelifted model with M43 engine. This engine is much reliable compare to modern N42 engine. N42 was too prone to oil leak at the upper back of the engine and too many engine electrical issue.

[toyotaparter]

Maintenance cost is the same as FD. Try to find facelifted model with M43 engine. This engine is much reliable compare to modern N42 engine. N42 was too prone to oil leak at the upper back of the engine and too many engine electrical issue.

ooh i see. realiable naman sir? ano pa po yung mga ibang "sakit" niya? How would i know if M43 or N42 engine?

[perrydel]

Napakadaming sakit ng N42 vanos engine yan na sakit sa ulo. Malalaman mong N42 black ang valve cover, M43 aluminun. Kung kukuha ka ng e46 kabisaduhin mo amoy ng interior ng BMW iisa amoy nyan, pag iba na amoy ibig sabihin flooded car. kahit 25 yrs di nagbabago original na amoy nya. Sa akin 15 yrs na ganun pa din amoy.

[perrydel]

Napakadaming sakit ng N42 vanos engine yan na sakit sa ulo. Malalaman mong N42 black ang valve cover, M43 aluminun. Kung kukuha ka ng e46 kabisaduhin mo amoy ng interior ng BMW iisa amoy nyan, pag iba na amoy ibig sabihin flooded car. kahit 25 yrs di nagbabago original na amoy nya. Sa akin 15 yrs na ganun pa din amoy. Sa parts napakadami sa labas.

[RF02]

yun po ba yun amuy genuine na leather?

[perrydel]

Parang ganun sir pero mabango.

[toyotaparter]

Parang ganun sir pero mabango.

ooh thank you sa advice sir. so okay naman po gawing daily driver ang 316i? Kasi the usual fear of people nabibili ng second hand na bwm is no parts and high maintenace cost. Ganun din po ba yung kaso sa bmw 316i e46?

[perrydel]

ooh thank you sa advice sir. so okay naman po gawing daily driver ang 316i? Kasi the usual fear of people nabibili ng second hand na bwm is no parts and high maintenace cost. Ganun din po ba yung kaso sa bmw 316i e46?

Ok yan sa parts walang problema, madami. Ang nagiging problema ng may mga BMW is finding a right mechanic.

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ooh thank you sa advice sir. so okay naman po gawing daily driver ang 316i? Kasi the usual fear of people nabibili ng second hand na bwm is no parts and high maintenace cost. Ganun din po ba yung kaso sa bmw 316i e46?

Ok yan sa parts walang problema, madami. Ang nagiging problema ng may mga BMW is finding a right mechanic.

[toyotaparter]

okay sir many thanks! Ill update this thread pag napagisipan na ng mabuti kung ano next step.

[David Mandeeli]

mahal ng maintenance nyan

[RF02]

mga sir kung bmw 116i or 118i ok bang daily drive?

[Sazabi]

Office gave me one back in 2001.

Reliable albeit a little on the slower side but it's still a bimmer (I even had 19 inch BBS rims installed).

Only problem I had with it was when I had to travel to the US for a work related activity, was gone for a month and a half and when I came back the fuel pump got busted (barado) spent 75k ata just to have it repaired.

One tip: Use it everyday but since you'll be having it as a daily driver it should not be an issue. My CFO drives one to work araw araw maganda pa din.

[rcr1203]

Sir, Kamusta? natuloy ba kayo sa pagbili? Im planning to buy a secondhand unit 96-00 model. Any thoughts on this? My current vehicle is a 11 ford sedan.

[minicarph]

Sira kagad yan sa monstrous traffic


_________________________________
If you are wrong, turn right.
If you are right, turn left.

[ptk675]

Only problem I had with it was when I had to travel to the US for a work related activity, was gone for a month and a half and when I came back the fuel pump got busted (barado) spent 75k ata just to have it repaired.

common with Euro cars, especially as they get older. you really have to drive it often. had a similar problem with my Merc when I went to the US for 2 months. Fortunately it was a 5k part only that needed replacement.

[balongbalong]

not worth your time and money.

get at least a 325 if you want to go thru the hassle of owning a bimmer (old one at that), at least you get to enjoy its famous inline 6 engine which bmws are known for.

i consider it a downgrade from your civic fd to be honest.

with regards to servicing, doesn't matter if you service it outside, and get smuggled parts for it, oil change basic tune up would cost roughly the same as your fd but new bimmer owners do not realize that its the non consumable parts that are still expensive and are the ones that break often.

e46, at this age, if it hasn't been replaced, better ready your wallet for a new abs module, gm5 module, a/c compressor and evaporator, window regulators, door actuators, interior roof lining, multitude of gaskets in the engine among others.

been there done that (e53 3.0d, e36/7 1.9, e85 2.5, e46 318) no bimmer = no headache especially if its your only daily driver.

[vinj]

not worth your time and money.

get at least a 325 if you want to go thru the hassle of owning a bimmer (old one at that), at least you get to enjoy its famous inline 6 engine which bmws are known for.

i consider it a downgrade from your civic fd to be honest.

with regards to servicing, doesn't matter if you service it outside, and get smuggled parts for it, oil change basic tune up would cost roughly the same as your fd but new bimmer owners do not realize that its the non consumable parts that are still expensive and are the ones that break often.

e46, at this age, if it hasn't been replaced, better ready your wallet for a new abs module, gm5 module, a/c compressor and evaporator, window regulators, door actuators, interior roof lining, multitude of gaskets in the engine among others.

been there done that (e53 3.0d, e36/7 1.9, e85 2.5, e46 318) no bimmer = no headache especially if its your only daily driver.

They are reliable, when maintained properly. However this is a highly probable scenario when buying second hand, Euro at that. It's good to use it regularly but prudence would dictate that one still maintain a no-brainer daily driver, at least in the transition while you go over the car and get it up to spec, find a reliable shop and mechanic, etc.

Here's a good read on the reliability versus durability.

There Is a Difference Between a Reliable Car and a Durable Car

[unmarked]

I think a Bimmer would make an excellent project car or pang halili, but kung daily drive be prepared and have a sizable emergency fund. malakas din talaga ang dating nya kahit luma, pero I heard ang bigat din ng gastusin sa piyesa =)

[balongbalong]

They are reliable, when maintained properly. However this is a highly probable scenario when buying second hand, Euro at that. It's good to use it regularly but prudence would dictate that one still maintain a no-brainer daily driver, at least in the transition while you go over the car and get it up to spec, find a reliable shop and mechanic, etc.

Here's a good read on the reliability versus durability.

There Is a Difference Between a Reliable Car and a Durable Car

All cars regardless of brand and make when not maintained will obviously be not useable. Thats why the assumption is you really maintain just like any vehicle.

Now even if you do maintain a bimmer properly, it breaks down A LOT. Simply isn't reliable.

And if your definition via the article of a durable car is simply not a rust bucket, all modern cars, including e46 will be one eventually. Its metal, it will rust eventually including those 124s mentioned. Modern cars are just faster to become one. Its how cars are being made today with thin sheets of metals. My e85 has some already early on its life. Same with e46 they are prone to rust also. So they arent durable too as per the article.

Anyway the difference between old benzes and bimmers having a durable myth is because these cars had owners keep them, put money into restoring them.

If you do the same thing to any other vehicle, put money into restoring it and you too can add a durable tag to it if thats is your definition.

Thing with cars as long as you have the money and parts and willingness to maintian and restore it, you can run it forever. Just that not many people apply the same principle of keeping and restoring their econo jap boxes. But if they do its still cheaper to do so.