Schaefft's Bargain Barge Extravaganza - £400 BMW E46 'Vert Acquired

[Matty]

10 hours ago, R Lutz said:

I do not know how you have the patience for all this. I'd be scrapping the lot and buying a Corolla. Fair play to you, these threads amuse the hell out of me. 

Aye definatly. When im mumping about as ive a little job to do on the small amount of cars i own, a quick glance at what the likes of @Schaefft are on with always pulls me up a bit sharp 🤣

[R Lutz]

I'm crying a changing a straight forward pair of wiper blades every 5 years. 

[TrabbieRonnie]

10 hours ago, R Lutz said:

I can sell you a factory authorised book on the design if you like.

I'd be interested in that...  My eldest's 9 should be back from it's sill refresh soon, and he's a little bit excited!

 

As always, great work Schaefft... and a great read 👍

[Schaefft]

So what have I bought this time then?

I spotted an ad for this 2003 BMW E46 Convertible on FB marketplace this morning. It was in Gateshead and we were heading that way today anyway. I quick exchange of messages happened and I got the Range Rover ready.

An hour later and I've arrived at a garage run by a Jewish family. The car was a customers car and snapped a spring, as BMWs like to do, which tore up the front right tyre, basically stranding the car there.

Apparently before those events the bonnet must have popped open (while driving), the garage owner replaced it with this silver one (probably in an attempt to make it a little more presentable). The windshield had already been replaced. Fine specimen of an E46 then.

Surprisingly it still has a bit of mot left. Even more surprisingly the electric soft top works perfectly fine and it even received a new battery somewhat recently!

Got it home without issues, it's filthy and full of drink bottles, no clue whether it was used as a bin or the guy just drove it like this but it sure will make quite the transformation once cleaned up...

It's a 2003 318ci, making this an 2.0 N42 with the 5-speed manual. Naturally the shifter was replaced with a fake carbon fiber M-Sport 6-speed knob, that should tell you everything you need to know... 107k miles only on this one though, so worth saving.

I hooked up inpa to see what the CEL is about. Looks like the canos is adjusting the intake valve timing to the absolute maximum it can do. Looking at the vanos solenoids they've probably never been cleaned in there life so before I even start replacing that spring I'll probably pull them out, clean them and replace the seal rings. I'm hoping that's the cause of the issues im seeing right now.

If anyone has any other theories why it would be that far out of whack, let me know. I've already switched the cam position sensors around, same results.

 

[Matty]

20 minutes ago, R Lutz said:

I'm crying a changing a straight forward pair of wiper blades every 5 years. 

I get that. Ive built engines and gearboxes, all that buggering about. Loved it. Problem is these days im more into driving them. Pissing about mending them is time lost 🤣

[Schaefft]

Appreciating the comments! Have some photos with the roof down:

Since the flat tire and snapped spring prevents it from going anywhere a plan was conceived:

The trailer makes a great ramp btw.

Yeah that'll be the problem.

Ended up cutting the remains of the spring. Once again the Dremel proves to be one of the best hand tools you can have.

Slammed yo. Fortunately my parts E39 came with this random E46 MV2 tyre seems to hold air. It's still hardly movable but at least I can get a jack underneath there now.

Have another look at the state of the interior...

Only quality motors here at bargain barge extravaganza...

[R Lutz]

1 minute ago, Matty said:

I get that. Ive built engines and gearboxes, all that buggering about. Loved it. Problem is these days im more into driving them. Pissing about mending them is time lost 🤣

When I worked in the trade, it was no hassle. But having left it, everything is a major hassle, even though I have the contacts for work and the accounts for cheap parts. I still have access to trade plates, trailers, etc. But real life gets right in the way.

[IronStar]

Very fond memories of mate’s e46 330i cabrio. Now that E30s and E36s are mostly gone and prices went stratospheric, these are now appreciating. Fast. 

[High Jetter]

2 hours ago, R Lutz said:

I'm crying a changing a straight forward pair of wiper blades every 5 years. 

Only if needed, tho? 😀