BMW — German reliable cars that can serve for a long time if the owner takes care of the car and services it correctly. However, quite often BMW 3 E46 cars are encountered with issues related to suspension, engine, and body.
To what extent these difficulties will be costly for the owners of these cars, we will discover today.
What to Look for When Choosing a Used BMW 3 E46
When acquiring a BMW 3 Series in the used car market, there is no doubt that the mileage on such a car is real, as it is impossible to tamper with the odometer. The driven kilometers are recorded simultaneously on some electronic blocks, sometimes the ignition system flash drive contains mileage indicators. Therefore, it is impossible to transform all mileage indicators in many areas simultaneously.
There is a built-in battery in the source that charges only when located in the ignition lock. Therefore, it is recommended to use two keys that come in a set so that they can charge. With the key, you can extract information such as the year of manufacture of the BMW 3 E46, VIN code, equipment, engine numbering, mileage, etc.
Additionally, plastic lenses are installed on the headlights, which may deteriorate over time, but they are affordable (around fifteen euros) and can be easily replaced as they are all attached with clips. Xenon headlights do not have such issues. As for the headlight washer nozzles, they may get stuck in cold weather.
When purchasing a BMW 3 E46, it is necessary to thoroughly diagnose the quality of the car's body. Although protection against rust formation is good, approximately after nine years, corrosion may appear on wheel arches, near the license plate lights.
If there is blistering paint on the body, it is likely that an unprofessional body repair was done, eventually leading to more significant issues with the suspension or steering. Therefore, before buying, it is essential to test the suspension geometry; if the suspension is still intact and the wheels cannot be aligned correctly, it is probably safer not to purchase that particular model.
Possible Issues with BMW 3 E46
If the car has been in an accident, this can be detected by the power source located in the trunk. There is a black box on the positive wire, with a special cartridge that breaks in case of a strong impact to disconnect the power supply chain, all done for safety reasons.
To change this cartridge, you need to spend around 150 euros. Also, if you want to disconnect the power source terminals in the trunk, start with the negative cable first to prevent the pyro cartridge from activating.
In older models, cups holding the leading shock absorbers can wear out, and the body in areas where the rear subframe is attached can crack, especially when driving on rough roads. After restyling, these areas were reinforced, but for those who enjoy fast starts at traffic lights, be prepared for potential body welding on post-restyling cars.
Corrosion affects the electrical components, causing issues with light covers, illuminated license plates, and the trunk lock button. To fix this problem, you need to replace the entire trunk lid handle trim.
This issue can cause problems with the climate control and engine cooling system. You can restore the terminals, but it is temporary; in any case, new harnesses need to be installed.
There are cases where the door locks do not respond to key fob commands, and only the owner's door opens with the key fob. In this case, installing the latest electronic device that will control the power windows and side mirror electric drives is necessary.
Additionally, the cable mechanism that raises the windows may squeak, and the oil may dry up over time. If the windows are fully lowered, they may rattle in the middle of the doors when the car hits bumps.
Similarly, the monitors of the climate control unit may turn off, and if the regulating resistor cascade or the climate control device burns out, the heater fan may start running on its own, changing the speed or completely disconnecting. If only one of the two sensors fails, the fuel level indicator on the instrument cluster may malfunction. One of these sensors is part of the fuel pump and replacing such a unit costs around 420 euros.
In the interior, the «wooden» inserts are considered a weak spot, which may deteriorate over time. As for the leather surfaces on the seats, they are very durable, do not tear or wear out easily, and after around 220,000 kilometers, they may slightly change color in the most frequently used areas.
Overall, the quality of the interior trim materials is excellent, and even after a considerable period of use, the car's interior will remain very attractive. Some BMW 3 E46 models even have double-glazed windows on the rear and side windows. Such windows could be ordered as an option.
Regarding the rear seat capacity, there is slightly less space in the rear part of the car compared to similar cars in this class.
BMW 3 E46 Engines
While these engines are proven, they require regular servicing. It is recommended to use only low-viscosity synthetic oil 0W30 or 5W40 with BMW specifications LL-98, LL-01, and LL-04. Also, the engines do not tolerate flushing of the lubrication system, feeling the chemicals in new oil.
Sometimes the engines may switch from the stellate mode, chains, and their tensioners, which can cost around 1000 euros along with the labor. Therefore, it is more reliable not to flush the lubrication system, as the engine may not last beyond 250,000 kilometers.
If there is a tapping noise under the valve cover, it is probable that the Double Vanos camshaft deformation device has failed, which can cost 800 euros to replace. However, for engines with four cylinders and Valvetronic equipment, it is essential not to skimp on oil, as it may lead to ignition issues or gaps in the ignition system.
On six-cylinder engines, oil may start leaking through the seals if the engine overheats during operation. These six-cylinder engines do not overheat more than other BMW engines, but the consequences of excessive heating are substantial – the aluminum cylinder head may deform, and sometimes even replacing it entirely costs around 3,000 euros.
Mainly, the elevated temperature in the cooling system is caused by plastic fan blades on the water pump, which rotate on the axis. After restyling, these blades became metal, which reduced the heating issue to some extent.
Similarly, the viscous fan couplings on the four-cylinder engines do not differ in durability from the electric fans on the six-cylinder engines.
To ensure better cooling of the radiator, it needs to be cleaned once a year, which costs around 70 euros. The main cause of high temperature in the engine is often an extensive expansion tank, where a valve may get stuck in its cap or plastic fasteners may break, holding the thermostat components in the center of the housing.
There are cases where six-cylinder BMW 3 E46 engines do not develop their absolute power after exceeding 4000 rpm, but the DISA intake manifold flap may tinkle during idle movement.
This means that it is time to change the functional drive of this system. This part costs 220 euros. As for the ignition coils, they last less than 40,000 kilometers. They need replacement because damaged spark plugs can lead to changing subjective ignition coils, each of which costs 40 euros.
Regarding BMW 3 E46 third series with a diesel engine, there are not many changes in the Russian market; mostly, these are cars imported from European countries, and almost half of all Europeans are station wagons.
Diesel models can be quite problematic. For example, in three-liter diesel versions, high-pressure fuel pumps often need replacement. And in two-liter diesel engines, fuel pressure sensors and airflow meters may frequently fail.
Sometimes injectors last less than 150,000 kilometers, and replacing each injector costs around 300 euros.
Transmission
The five-speed automatic transmissions ZF Steptronic are durable, with the option for manual gear shifting. These automatic transmissions are as robust as manual gearboxes.
Until 2001, four-cylinder versions were equipped with General Motors transmissions, which were not as durable, sometimes failing before reaching 200,000 kilometers. These American automatic transmissions require an extensive repair involving replacing the hydrotransformers, bearings, and seals.
The cost of such repairs can reach 2000 euros. There are variants with mechanized SMG transmissions. These were mainly installed in restyled 325i and 330i models.
These transmissions feature paddle shifters on the steering wheel. Sometimes the electronic control system of these transmissions malfunctions, but there are cases where after 100,000 kilometers, the clutch needs replacement, which can cost around 350 euros.
As for manual transmissions, the shift lever bushing may wear out, and after some time, the reverse and main gears may have difficulty engaging. There are instances where after 120,000 kilometers, the seals of the gearshift lever rod start leaking.
The clutch with a hydraulic drive, which has a self-regulating free play, can last around 200,000 kilometers. If driving aggressively, the clutch's lifespan of the car is halved. In case of clutch problems, immediate replacement is necessary. An worn-out known disk may cause the dual-mass flywheel to malfunction, leading to noises during engagement. Replacing the flywheel costs around 850 euros.
If after 150,000 kilometers, a noise or vibration occurs when moving from a standstill, it is essential to address the issue promptly. Simply replacing the center support bearing at 80 euros and the flexible coupling at 90 euros may suffice. If left unattended, a new driveshaft assembly may be required, costing 700 euros.
The rear axle of the BMW 3 E46 does not require much attention, sometimes it is necessary to check the motor oil level there. However, there are cases where the silent-block mounts attaching the differential to the subframe may break.
