Sold No bucket wrong'un: the stoner cast off E46 318CI

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I'm glad I didn't buy this one

[dollywobbler]

I'm glad I didn't buy this one

 

TOO SHITE FOR BOLLOX! It exists. That's some effort HMC.

[HMC]

Does that mean you'll be turning it into a "poundland gangster" replica, with loud exhaust, bubbling tints and ebay ///M badges on every panel ?

I was more thinking blacked out windows and an Irish cover plate. I will then turn this "cherished registration" into an e bay sales tactic where it will be "unique" and "told its wurf 800"

[Sigmund Fraud]

I was more thinking blacked out windows and an Irish cover plate. I will then turn this "cherished registration" into an e bay sales tactic where it will be "unique" and "told its wurf 800"

 

"WUD B WIKKID M8", as we* used to say back in the day...

[strangeangel]

Never mind the push iron, I would have walked home in bare feet over red hot broken glass if it meant not buying that.

[mrbenn]

Doesn't look too bad from here.

 

My brother has had a yr2000 325 auto for over 8 years now and it's been really good. He's had to replace the expansion tank (cracked), radiator (bowing at the bottom), water pump (knackered bearing), thermostat housing (cracked - are you seeing a theme here...) and fairly regular suspension bushes but so far it's been rock solid. Done 140k now. I drove it at the weekend and it still feels spot on, only the odometer reading gives it away.

[John F]

Is that an actual skidmark on the driver's seat??

[mrbenn]

Doesn't look too bad from here.

 

I've actually just looked at the pics again on the computer rather than my phone and my comment above feels a little premature.

 

On the plus side, the leaves in the drivers footwell are quite a nice autumnal shade.

[binbag]

 

Doesn't look too bad from here.

 

My brother has had a yr2000 325 auto for over 8 years now and it's been really good. He's had to replace the expansion tank (cracked), radiator (bowing at the bottom), water pump (knackered bearing), thermostat housing (cracked - are you seeing a theme here...) and fairly regular suspension bushes

 

Tell me about it and to that you can add power steering pump and high pressure line , alternator, tensioners, shock absorbers ,brake pipes and rust.

 

I must have the second worst car on Autoshite, one extra point for a 6 cylinder engine lol.

[binbag]

Well I must have the second worst car on Autoshite as I have sprayed my rusty wings silver.

[Split_Pin]

It would be very difficult to find a reference point for "worst" on here.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

 

Doesn't look too bad from here.

 

My brother has had a yr2000 325 auto for over 8 years now and it's been really good. He's had to replace the expansion tank (cracked), radiator (bowing at the bottom), water pump (knackered bearing), thermostat housing (cracked - are you seeing a theme here...) and fairly regular suspension bushes

 

Tell me about it and to that you can add power steering pump and high pressure line , alternator, tensioners, shock absorbers ,brake pipes and rust.

 

I must have the second worst car on Autoshite, one extra point for a 6 cylinder engine lol.

 

 

And to that you can add front wishbones, wishbones bushes, diff clonk, central locking/GM5 module failure, airbag sensor in the seat cushion breaking, window regulators, rear light electrical plugs burning the earths out. A good E46* will be a great car, a bad one will put you off BMW for life.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I think this one is worse.....?

 

The grim reality................. 

 

 

[Split_Pin]

That looks flood damaged tbf

[HMC]

Good grief a worse one! I'm having to tread carefully with this and spend tactically. The drop link is essential. The temperature sensor wise- but what about the radiator fan? Over 100 on that isn't making sense to me or it's 30 for a tested used part.

 

I occasionally start thinking about putting a better interior in but that doesn't make sense either. But it's tempting.

[HMC]

Anyone any experience with coupe window regulators on these? The drivers one is apparently shagged, the window is up at a strange angle, the rocker switch snapped off, and a "window regulator repair made in turkey" kit is lying in the boot. Haynes (found one in the boot) seems to try and ward off budding DIYers with mentions of extreme hassle and offloading to a main dealer, which seems an odd thing to put in HBOL.

[They_all_do_that_sir]

DO NOT start spending on this. Seriously they are absolute money pits.

 

I mentioned elsewhere I done a bit of work on a mates, I'll have to dig out the video our tame welder took of the underside before refusing to work on it.....

 

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[twosmoke300]

Yup. Got a 320d estate in at the moment that is bleeding its owner dry . Spend nothing

[Eddie Honda]

Haynes (found one in the boot) seems to try and ward off budding DIYers with mentions of extreme hassle and offloading to a main dealer, which seems an odd a standard thing to put in HBOL these days.

FTFY

[Split_Pin]

I was considering an e46 for next year perhaps but this has put me right off. How can they be so bad?

 

I see my 1.8 Astra Coupe as a comparable, if lower priced car to a 318ci and with a similar spec but my Coupe has been absolutely no bother and is a doddle to sort.

 

Is an e36 completely different to an e46 i.e. not a living nightmare.

[Sigmund Fraud]

I was considering an e46 for next year perhaps but this has put me right off. How can they be so bad?

 

I probably shouldn't be admitting this on a public forum, but I've always had a soft spot for E46 estates... It's a real shame they're not built to last.

[mk2_craig]

I don't think theyre inherently bad - just that all the things that make them good when new, eventually deteriorate and stop functioning properly if the ownership pattern is roughly as follows:

 

Owner 1. Company. Either maintained regardless or thrashed to bits and dollied up for the auction.

 

Owner 2/3. Runs it for 3 years/40,000 miles with fuck all servicing. Car sees a mechanic only when something eventually prevents it from moving.

 

Owner 4. Deid chuffed to get a premium German motor for a fifth of its new cost. Sinks £2500 into tyres, suspension, brakes, fuel pump, replacement switches, keys, lamps, cooling system parts, etc etc etc. Trades it in after a year against something much newer.

 

Owner 5. Dopehead/my wife.

[vulgalour]

Must suck to be owner 6, what sort of chump would step in at that poi... oh.  Sorry.

[stormee]

I don't think theyre inherently bad - just that all the things that make them good when new, eventually deteriorate and stop functioning properly if the ownership pattern is roughly as follows:

 

Owner 1. Company. Either maintained regardless or thrashed to bits and dollied up for the auction.

 

Owner 2/3. Runs it for 3 years/40,000 miles with fuck all servicing. Car sees a mechanic only when something eventually prevents it from moving.

 

Owner 4. Deid chuffed to get a premium German motor for a fifth of its new cost. Sinks £2500 into tyres, suspension, brakes, fuel pump, replacement switches, keys, lamps, cooling system parts, etc etc etc. Trades it in after a year against something much newer.

 

Owner 5. Dopehead/my wife.

Add 2 years and E60/61 will face same fate, which are known to be better built. Drove an E60 525i manual with 60k km on the clock today and it felt like new.

[They_all_do_that_sir]

I was considering an e46 for next year perhaps but this has put me right off. How can they be so bad?

 

I see my 1.8 Astra Coupe as a comparable, if lower priced car to a 318ci and with a similar spec but my Coupe has been absolutely no bother and is a doddle to sort.

 

Is an e36 completely different to an e46 i.e. not a living nightmare.

The e36 had quality that went beyond skin deep, wheras while the e46 looks impressive, is nice to sit inside and isn't a bad steer it is built to a price. That price being 49 pence.

 

I honestly think the Astra of that vintage is better built and easier to work on.

 

I changed all the brake lines on my mates, which involved dropping the fuel tank. I think I could count on one hand the amount of fixings that could be reused. Everything a spanner went near just dissolved.

 

I'll have to try and post the rot video. It was properly grim

 

 

 

 

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[Split_Pin]

Dont you have to drop the tank on a E36 as well for that job?

[They_all_do_that_sir]

Dont you have to drop the tank on a E36 as well for that job?

Aye but there's a better chance all the bolts will come off without being completely destroyed.....

 

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[Sigmund Fraud]

Everything a spanner went near just dissolved.

 

They must use the same fastener supplier as VAG, then...

[Split_Pin]

E36 it is then!

[binbag]

The E36 will be the better choice as there will be less electronics to deal with.

 

As for the mechanicals the undersides look very similar to me and the early E46's had the same engines.

 

So,as usual buyer beware.