[vexith]

Hi Guys,

I'm going to be graduating soon and i plan to buy something like a 335i once (if) i land a graduate level job. So with that in mind i'm thinking to sell my 2006 E90 320D M Sport now before the value drops even further and replace it with something like a E46 320/325 petrol to drive about until i can afford to buy my next car.

The logic behind this move is that if i buy an E46 for 4k, i'm confident i can sell it for near the same amount in half a years time where as the E90 could depreciate by 2k at least within the same time frame.

The E90 is the first and only Bimmer I've driven so i have no idea how the E46 is like hence why i am writing this post here to ask for opinions. I've heard good things about the E46 and i'm quite fond of it's looks so that's a good start i guess.

I'm looking to invest around 3-4k and have found some decent examples on auto trader. I'm only going to own the car for 7-8 months roughly if everything goes to plan and with that in mind, i don't really want to splash a lot of money on the car during ownership. Hoping for a smooth ownership. (of course i understand that is not guaranteed but fingers crossed.)

So what can you guys tell me about the much praised E46? Do you think it would be a good buy considering any other car in the same price range?

Cheers guys!

[Jamie_E92]

I've had 18 E46's now (i'm 25... dont ask haha) and my advice that i wouldn't touch a 320/325 because the insurance/tax/running costs arent any different between the 3 variations of the M54, stick with the 330! 231bhp is nice & the same MPG as a 320, its a no brainer. Coolant systems are weak on the E46 as are front control arm bushings.

[dest]

Id stick with what you've got/know. Buying an older car could be a false economy

[vexith]

Originally Posted by dest

Id stick with what you've got/know. Buying an older car could be a false economy

Let's say i buy an E46 for 4k. I'll more then likely be able to sell it for 3k, (have an agreement with a friend provided the car is maintained) making a 1k loss. My E90 is currently worth 8k at least after comparing similar year and mileage cars on auto trader, but i have a bad feeling that in 6 - 7 months down the line it may only be worth around 6k which could make me potentially lose 1k in savings.

That potential 1k loss is tempting me to go down the E46 route.

Of course all this is just rough figures and can't give accurate numbers in the world of car sales but i'm basing this logic on the most likely estimates.

[breathe3asy]

I would personally keep your current car & save yourself some aggro vs. marginal gains (if all goes to plan)

[ukbeemerboy]

Originally Posted by vexith

Let's say i buy an E46 for 4k. I'll more then likely be able to sell it for 3k, (have an agreement with a friend provided the car is maintained) making a 1k loss. My E90 is currently worth 8k at least after comparing similar year and mileage cars on auto trader, but i have a bad feeling that in 6 - 7 months down the line it may only be worth around 6k which could make me potentially lose 1k in savings.

That potential 1k loss is tempting me to go down the E46 route.

Of course all this is just rough figures and can't give accurate numbers in the world of car sales but i'm basing this logic on the most likely estimates.

And so you sell up, buy a E46 and that costs you £1.5k in repairs or to get through an MOT and your then into false economy.

Your E90 won't lose that much now. It's already done its heavy depreciation.

[AlwynMike]

I had 2 E46 330d Tourings over a few years
I did many, many thousands of miles in them, home and abroad.
I loved every single mile of it. Great cars. Not without faults, but they never let me down.

The late type Sport Touring is still one of my favourite looking "normal" cars

Saying that, the E9x is a better car all round, if somewhat more bland.

Take a ride in an E46 - the comfort level varies between bad and godawful around town, but redeems itself on the open road.

Get the E46 out of your system - it may not be financial sense, but get a larger engine'd car, take the loss(es) and look fondly back at it in years to come. If you want to be sensible, buy a Ford Ka or something boring.

Mike

[J Dub]

E46 is a great car I think, still love the way it looks, yet for 6 months? I would keep what you have, add the agro factor of selling and buying, if you buy a lemon you have had it and my guess the E46 could drop faster in value than the 9x as E46's are within the chav reach and more so all the time, so they are dropping in value.
It will cost more on fuel and all the messing of changing insurances around.
Up to you, yet I think its a false economy doing that for a short period of time, if you are going to get a calendar car, get a £500 banger, worse you will loose is 400 if you sell it for scrap.

[mikeouk]

A 2006 320d m sport isn't worth £8000, that's what I got for mine in September 2011.
I'd keep it if I was you.

[AMG KLR]

I myself have a e46 M3 and tbh I prefer my 325i. Although the power is amazing and I love the transmission's rev matching and speed, etc, I prefer the modern styling of the e90. That being said, I have had very few problems and within the 3-5k miles done in the past year on the E46 i have had a broken tps sensor and a broken oil level sensor. E90 is still strong. Overall, get the E46 for 4k, sell it for 2k WORST CASE down the road. Then get the 335

[a11y]

False economy. Only 2 options imo:

Keep current car

Or

Sell, buy a sub-£1k shed, and swallow your pride.

No point doing it by halves, a mid-priced car could be a money pit (as could a £1k shed) but at least a £1k shed is effectively disposable if it goes tits up. Check out Shed of the Week on Pistonheads for some inspiration!

[Russbmw]

^^

What he said.

You will be able to get a nice 330 for that money (hell, I could barely shift my one 6 months ago for £3500, and that was immaculate and faultless on a 52 plate with only 74k!) - but there's no point.

e46 325 is gutless - don't bother - same fuel economy as the 330 anyway. (I know, as I've had both).

e46 320 is not the same economy as the 330. It's not fantastically economical though, so I wouldn't bother. Only worth it if you get strung up on insurance. The 2.2 ltr isn't actually much slower than the 325 - again from experience, as my wife had a 320 when I had my 325. Sounds nice though. My wifes one had a lovely exhaust note.

Any e46 you buy will be depreciating at a greater rate than your current car, so you'll loose money there for starters. Especially the 330, as no-one wants an old technology large petrol engine in todays world with petrol prices as they are.

You'd be better off keeping your current car very clean and tidy, because at anything over a couple of years old, any sale will be based on history and condition rather than mileage.

[CustomColours]

False economy imo aswell. Buy an old e46 and run into the issues my friend is having now. E46 325i, 78k. Needs; new diff, radiator, abs sensor, speedo stopped working and parking sensors ho mad in reverse. That there is more than the car is worth and way more than your dreaded depreciation. Let alone the fuel in the fuel in a 6 cycle 325 over a 4 cycle 320. Whoever said they are the dame on fuep, is fully sniffing bleech. Just keep yours dude. Or buy a smart for 3k. Lose now money and see 60mpg.

[vexith]

Originally Posted by mikeouk

A 2006 320d m sport isn't worth £8000, that's what I got for mine in September 2011.
I'd keep it if I was you.

I don't know the exact value of the car but comparing similar mileage on auto trader (53k), it's going for around 8k.

[Russbmw]

I wouldn't say the e46's are unreliable, nor any more likely (or expensive, for that matter) to fix than an e9x.

The only weak points really are the water pump, radiator and rusty front arches.

I never had any issues with any of mine/ours other than the cooling systems - which all 3 needed doing.

(the e46 320 was a 6 cylinder BTW)

[Sparky68]

Originally Posted by vexith

I don't know the exact value of the car but comparing similar mileage on auto trader (53k), it's going for around 8k.

I will take a stab in the dark here and say that is based on Forecourt prices.