So our 1993 Civic Hatch is dead . Blew head gasket few days ago. Don't want to fix it anymore, time to move on. Looking at BMW 3 series E46 this time. Going to look at a 325i tomorrow morning. Its a 2004 black on black 325i automatic with navigation and it has 87000 miles on it. Dealer is asking $10900 for it. I know there are some people with E46 3 series here, just want to know things to check and be aware of? Wish me luck...

oh, and any tactic to talk dealer down a little bit...

 

The E46s have rear strut tower issues.

Pull the carpet and look for rust. If there's an issue, you'll see it.

 

Thanks, I will take a look at it.

and how much you think inspection at dealer can cost?

 

I'd be soooo nervous buying a BMW of that age and mileage. My general rule of thumb has always been that if the car is out of warranty, go Japanese....

 

We had nothing but Honda's in our family and I am kinda getting sick of driving FWD 4 doors. Need something different this time..

 

Get an M3 instead, totally worth the more you have to pay...IMO

 

Ahh if I were you I'd stay away from the 3 series. Better luck/chance with a 5series. Get a 540i you'll love it =).

 

IMHO- the 3 series in general is the most reliable of the brand.

 

My sister's 97 328i is about to hit 190K miles, runs flawlessly. She got it with 160K a few years ago and all I've ever done is fix a few minor known quirks (climate control panel & final stage resistor) and regular maintenance.

They run great and are relatively reliable as long as you perform routine maintenance. The thing about these cars is that if you don't regularly maintain them, they are less forgiving about break downs compared to Honda's, Toyota's, etc.

 

If it doesn't come with records, budget a full cooling system rebuild (water pump, expansion tank, hoses, maybe radiator) into your budget.

 

that's what i thought

 

I don't think they are inherently unreliable. Its just that if it DOES break, its gonna cost you to fix it...

 

I have a friend who has two 04 3 series, a 330xi manual and a 325xi auto, the 330xi is his and has just passed 100k miles. Both have been in at least 2 accidents each so he can't trade them in, he's upside down on them and refuses to drive ANYTHING other then a BMW - aka he's the typical BMW douche-bag. He enjoys constantly giving me flack because I could have bought a "real" car instead of the Si, by real he only means something wearing a BMW logo. At the same time his car is awaiting $2800 in maintenance he cannot afford and his payments are in the $500+/month range and he has 2 years left on his loan - the car will not make it. Every step of the way both of these cars have been very expensive to own/operate, he bought them both used and thankfully for a lot of the maintenance they were CPO cars so it was under warranty but anything they could weasel out of they did.

For example the car needed lower ball joints as diagnosed by someone else, so they replaced the part, but refused to cover the alignment - the alignment was $189. He leaves the lot the steering wheel is not straight so he heads back they tell him they are busy so he makes an appointment, needs an outer tierod end, which is covered under warranty but the car will need to be aligned again and it will be another $189. Stuff like this has been happening EVERY time he used his CPO warranty. Yes it offers piece of mind on the big stuff, but when you factor in the premium price he would have been much better served paying for repairs himself and not paying for a warranty that is pumped full of fluff.

Honestly, with a $10k budget I think you're insane to be thinking about getting a BMW - I would be looking into Honda, Nissan, Toyota and Hyundai, you may want something different this time but this is not going to be a fun experience. In particular a 325, kind of a turd in the realm of BMW.

 

lol, that's the 1st time i have seen hyundai grouped with the usuals. interesting to see it, but it's about time they belong there.

 

Yeah, I forgot about Hyundai, but would really only recommend the newer ones....

 

I say 5 series or M3, but 3 series ARE generally reliable.

 

Go to the bimmerforums and there is a 3 series buyer's guide it tells you all the potential maintenance issues, recommended diagnostics and recalls/issues with the car. Its very comprehensive, enough to deter you from purchase.

 

If you enjoy working on it yourself, BMW is a great car. If you decide to take it to a shop for everything, it's going to be expensive. I would definitely say it's not worth it for a 325, 184 hp is lame. Automatics are known weak spots for E46s as well. Owning a BMW has definitely changed my perception of having a great driving experience, and I will be going back to the brand in the future.

RWD > FWD if you love driving your car hard.

 

^This is the reason why I don't suggest getting one. For the year and whatever else you are looking for, you won't find a driver-happy one. The 325's are weak and not worth it. A 335ix is worth it though. AWD and a stronger engine. And BMW's are expensive to work on. My friend's dad works at the BMW dealership near my house and they charge out the ass for almost no work.

 

How about a Legacy GT? Try the 2005 - 2006/7 models, as they should fall in the price range.

 

+1

 

expensive to maintain, so don't buy if you are poor.

 

Good call, I have nothing against Subaru, in fact I REALLY like them, but I always forget to put them on my recommended lists.

 

So we looked at the car today, was as nice as I thought it would be. Drove nice and quiet. Clean Carfax with 2 owners. Didn't see anything unusual BUT I am still not sure if I want that car or if I say if I want a 325i. We'll see what happens. I think I am just gonna come back to Honda just as I did last time when I bought my TL...

Accord FTW??

 

And I wanted to take it to dealer for inspection just for my satisfaction but they were closed today.

 

You could probably find an early S2K for about the same money. M3 competitor and more reliable. Miles and miles, or laps and laps, around a 325.

 

I'd stay away from a base 04 325i auto...I mean if you are buying a car to have fun with, I don't personally find that car fun IMO. Maybe a 02-03 330i or ci with a sport pack and a MT would suit better?


If it were me, I'd go for something reliable...

I just realized that a 04 Camry is not much cheaper than a 04 3 series these days...

 

You wont find a better opinion than that even if you paid somebody.

 

For $2k more you can get a 2004 Infiniti G35 6MT with <100k miles on it.

RWD and will definitely run cheaper to fix in general than that BMW.

I've even seen a couple 2005s with clear titles for under $13k with less than 90k on the clock.

FWD sucks but you don't HAVE to go BMW to get it.

 

Find some extra $ and get a 04 330ci ZHP...soooooooooo much fun.

 

Agreed. Much better car ... 230hp too!

 

bimmers are reliable, they just cost a lot with parts and maintenance (especially with high mileage). a 3-series is a great choice. i'd suggest getting the car inspected by one of those professional car inspection companies. they'll probably be able to find any underlying issues that a regular mechanic won't fish out. i personally would suggest using aim mobile inspections (they were great with my mazda 3). check them out, hope that helps!

 

Yeah I know someone that is really into BMW and he says the same thing. I know someone who has had two 7 series and all I can say about those is avoid if it's not under warranty. Once it's out of warranty you better have a large bankroll.

 

Yeah! My cousin bought one and is looking to sell it with 5x,xxx miles on it. I might be looking into selling my RSX and picking up his BMW and working out payments, it's a really nice car.

 

That ZHP is sex.. But...but plans have changed now. Going Honda again... Found a one owner clean title 2001 Accord LX locally with 65000 miles for around $6000. Will report back how deal goes through..

The problem is we need a car ASAP and don't have enough time to look around and get the appointment at the dealership for the inspection. So, stick to Honda for now and once done with buying house and moving then will look into car shopping again by the end of this year or maybe in first couple of months next year..

 

^Sounds like a logical decision.

GL with the Accord, sounds like a good deal for $6K..

 

Thanks. Now our line up on our drive way is gonna be something like this..

1997 Acura TL.
1997 Honda Accord LX
2001 Honda Accord LX.
2003 Honda Accord LX.

A used Honda lot...lol

 

Good decision. better to have cars that are paid for, which lets you save on insurance. And money is freed up for the important stuff (house, hookers, whatever).

 

^

So, the car is here. It only has one quarter size scratch on front bumper. Other than that, clean car. Just needs a good wash. Interior is clean without any spots on it. Will post pics when car is home. Owner threw in new floor mats but it has the originals in there in great condition..