Another shit E46 BMW and collectioneering NOW BRAKING 4 SPEARS

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

I was led to believe HGF on some BMW's necessitated a new motor because removing the head bolts usually brought the threads with them as well.

 

Yes, but that's more 6 cyl alloy block stuff. I don't think anyone's ever dared to take the head off one of these turds.

 

 

Are the engines that fragile?

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

WHAT!!!!! Old cars break???!!!!! No one told me old cars are not 100% reliable when you get them for peanuts, if they had I would have bought peanuts instead. But being serious, you can find a list of issues for any old car. The quality/ cost ratio is superb, if you want crappy build quality you should see my wife's Mazda and that's an 08. As with anything, be careful of the one you buy and at least with the e46 there is no shortage of cheap spares.

 

 

E36's rust. Rear arches mainly but other places nose because they're really getting on. The engines are pretty okay, M43 (head gaskets) or M52. Single Vanos. Boot floors okay, non Canbus electrics. Rads can be swapped in about 25 minutes including bleeding. Steel control arms meaning £8 replaceable balljoints.

 

The E46 equivalent of my Touring would be the N42/N46 version, very much like the piece of shit we're discussing here. The N42 engine is complete and utter garbage, an unreliable money consuming engineer's wet dream that answered a question nobody asked and no more powerful or economical than the 16 valve M44 as used in the 318Ti. Today, working on this fucking heap reminded me how grim the E46 is. The snap fit hoses that weld themselves to the stubs, the thermostat that some genius decided would be better tucked down on the exhaust side of the block with three very hard to access torx bolts. That's what the E46 is about - take a simple design and turn it into a bastard unfathomable nightmare. You wait until you have the replace a heater fan (30 mins top on an E36) on yours!

 

All old cars are shit really, but an old car that is piss easy to keep going versus an old car that's a pain in the rectum to work on? I'll stick with the older one thanks.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Are the engines that fragile?

 

 

Not fragile, but it's an alloy block with torqued and 90/90 degree stretch bolts. Head gasket gone - engine in the bin.

[Tamworthbay]

But you wouldn't find an e36 for the same money, they have become a bit 'fashionable' and we all know what that does to prices. My Capri is gorgeously simple to work on but I couldn't afford to buy it now, similar with the older beemers.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

E36 four cyl value - Next shoes. Can't really affords the mpg of a six pot!

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Day 2. Oel und wasser still not mixing. Have I* actually fixed the bastard?

[Tamworthbay]

Another win for k seal, the second hand car salesmans best friend.

[Bren]

Car mechanics had a 320D project a few years back - an utter piece of shit that needed new wings, recon turbo and many other parts.

 

They actually admitted it had'nt really been economical to repair and was very fragile. The car had had a hard life, no doubt bought by somebody who thought owning a german marque meant it would never go wrong.

 

To put things into perspective, the next project was a laguna dci - it was a nice example they actually rated more than the kraut krap.

[Dave_Q]

It got worse after that, they welded up a rusty Ka.

 

The bloke who writes those articles must have done something bad in a previous life to get landed with such heaps.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Car mechanics had a 320D project a few years back - an utter piece of shit that needed new wings, recon turbo and many other parts.

 

They actually admitted it had'nt really been economical to repair and was very fragile. The car had had a hard life, no doubt bought by somebody who thought owning a german marque meant it would never go wrong.

 

To put things into perspective, the next project was a laguna dci - it was a nice example they actually rated more than the kraut krap.

 

Two turbos, intercooler, lower arms, all four dampers, springs, flywheel.

 

The sad thing is that when they're on form, they're a really nice car.

 

A mate is looking for an E46 320i/325i or 330i auto Touring. Must be petrol six (no 4 cyl), touring and automatic. Around £1500. And there's nothing but rusty shit out there. £1500 will buy a stunning mega low mileage Vectra B 2.0 estate (and change) but it's not a BM innit.

[Vince70]

I don't know BMWs can be had in mint condition and with low mileage and full history if you shop about and are prepared to travel for Vauxhall money.

I'm more of an E36 person myself and have two immaculate examples sitting on the drive now both were bought with approximately 55000 on the clock one was £700 and the other was £795 but I paid that bit extra for a Ti badge on that one.

I have to admit the prices are starting to rise so you have to get in quick but there's still a few compacts knocking about cheap and early saloons and the slush box versions seem to be a little cheaper for some reason but if your a Vauxhall person at least you can say it's got a GM box.

[Guest Breadvan72]

I have to sell my brother's 316i E46. Should I assume that it is worth fooken feck all?  

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I have to sell my brother's 316i E46. Should I assume that it is worth fooken feck all?  

 

 

Depends what year/motor/MOT and the rust situation. 

[Supernaut]

I don't think anybody has mentioned the other "fun" thing E46s like to do.

 

They rust around the rear subframe mounts, right through the floor pan, making the car a bit wobbly when power is applied.

BMW's fix is to weld in extra plates on the floor, but it's a BIG job.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I don't think anybody has mentioned the other "fun" thing E46s like to do.

 

They rust around the rear subframe mounts, right through the floor pan, making the car a bit wobbly when power is applied.

BMW's fix is to weld in extra plates on the floor, but it's a BIG job.

 

It probably is a rust thing up there!

 

But normally they rip the passenger rear mount out. Some do, some don't and it's down to how accurate the spot welder was when the threaded mounting lug was welded into the box section. It's not that big a job. I did it on my 1999 323i - cut the boot floor open above the area )within the boot) to reveal the broken bit, mig it back in and then mig a beefy repair plate on top before welding the cracks up underneath and zipping the boot floor up again.. It took me an and mate 2-3 hours to do mine.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

This pile of shit is now being BROKEN 4 SPEARS.

 

I had a live victim on an auto box at £150 so took the money like the whore I am. A smelting plant is the best place for an E46 so have no guilt whatsoever.  It will leave this parish pretty well picked in 2 weeks time.

[Tamworthbay]

Not exactly a massive part but do you have the plastic blanking plug that fits in the passenger front arm rest where the electric mirror control would go on a lhd car?

[Tamworthbay]

And if the rad is the same as an 01 318 auto and in good nick I would be interested.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

And if the rad is the same as an 01 318 auto and in good nick I would be interested.

 

 

Yep, same rad. £30 if you collect it and you can have any of the interior trim bits gratis - come on down.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I'd like a driver's wiper arm please, a large dose of bird shit has destroyed the plasticote on mine.

 

 

No probs. I'm sure it's fine - a tenner posted do you?

[Tamworthbay]

Yep, same rad. £30 if you collect it and you can have any of the interior trim bits gratis - come on down.

whereabouts are you?

[Lord Sterling]

Rear light wires? Mines playing silly buggers. Floor mats too, are they light Grey?

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

whereabouts are you?

 

Notts M8, near Mansfield on Thames.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Rear light wires? Mines playing silly buggers. Floor mats too, are they light Grey?

 

 

You'll need the wires, plug and bulb holder. I've sold one side already - which side do you need.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

This is being collected Weds morning to be weighed in so will be busy raping it on Tuesday.

[Lord Sterling]

You'll need the wires, plug and bulb holder. I've sold one side already - which side do you need.

Drivers side please if you've got it still, thanks.

 

Also what's the interior trimming like, I.e the finisher above the radio, mine is Silvery Grey and one part is slightly missing it's paint.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Ok, will check which side I have...and get bak 2 u m8, orate?

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I have one side with part no BMW 63.21-7165 867, bulb holder with plug (new) and a length of wiring. You'll need to unclip the bulb holder from the taillight from within the boot and there on the lower metal bulb holder 'rail' will be the part number. The other side is knackered alas. 

 

I've served the automatic box already and wheels are spoken for, engine pretty much stripped now.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

This turd is being hauled to the bridge at 8am tomoz, got all I want off it and now it's gonna be baled. 

[Bren]

This turd is being hauled to the bridge at 8am tomoz, got all I want off it and now it's gonna be baled. 

Are you going to wave it off?