If i wanna get a second hand E46, what kind of condition of car i should really look?

[Chris_will57]

Hi every E46er, I'm new in here actually not only here, in the BMW world as well. I not really look into it cause since i know about brand i've been told that the maintenance of BMW is the highest of all. Can someone tell me something about this ? Is it true or anything? Anyway, the main reason i post this is to i plan to get a E46 soon, so what kind of things that i really need to look for in this E46 ? How to define whether its a good car or not that good wan. I'm from Penang, anyone in Penang can guide me ? I plan to go down to KL to look for better specs as well. So any pro from KL willing to help too ? Thanks for the respond.Best Regards, Chris

 

[Mouse]

welcome to the club, its a tradition to introduce yourself in newbies section as a new member, pls do so. dun rush into buying your E46, visit as many dealers or direct owner as u can and view their car, after viewing more and more, finally u will have the 'click' when u c the car and u will say to yourself "yesss.....this is the best condition car i seen so far". after u have the 'click' with the car, take it for full dignostic test. u may have to pay 150-200 for such inspection, but its worth it to know the condition before comitting yourself in paying any downpayment

 

[acidburn]

Hey Chris_will57

Please refer to below link that my friend wanna sell his E46.
Reason of selling : Upgrade to E60

http://www.bmwclubmalaysia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14563&page=6

 

[astroboy]

I can almost write a book on this based on the materials I have collected for the last 2 weeks of shopping. Nothing in my shopping cart yet..

Seen both lemon and jewel but the problem is if its a jewel, you need to confirm there and then. One day of delay to decide, only lemon are left behind, the jewel will be snatched faster than u can imagine

The are so many angle to look at but since u only asked a generic "what kind of condition", you will get my generic answer or rather opinions.

1. Go for the newest manufacture year.
2. Go for the lowest mileage.
3. Insist on service record if you know how to read them because lots of story can be told about both the owner and the car by looking at service records.

If you have seen CSI enough, you should be able to tell how a car is driven/treated, guess its mileage (odo can be tempered) and to tell if its accident free or not. There's just too many things you can look at. For example, if u see the brake pedal rubber pad has been stepped until can see the metal and odo only show 25k km. You know someone is not being honest. Oily or missing tools in the tools compartment is suggesting a road side break down has occured or something, and many more...

An experience foreman will even tell if the car is a potong car by looking missing clips and OEM fastener on the chassis which are not suppose to be meddle with unless there's structure alteration. Obviously, I have not work with BMW enough to identified this.

My problem is I get attracted by bodykit and big rims.. damn..

Luckily my wife is always around to pull my hand brake.. "Dear! are u sure? Look at the year / mileage.."

Another way is to be patient and get your trusted foreman to recommend because if the owner maintain the car at the foreman's workshop. He can definitely tell the lemon from the jewel. That will be the best bet I can think off.

 

[Chris_will57]

welcome to the club, its a tradition to introduce yourself in newbies section as a new member, pls do so. dun rush into buying your E46, visit as many dealers or direct owner as u can and view their car, after viewing more and more, finally u will have the 'click' when u c the car and u will say to yourself "yesss.....this is the best condition car i seen so far". after u have the 'click' with the car, take it for full dignostic test. u may have to pay 150-200 for such inspection, but its worth it to know the condition before comitting yourself in paying any downpayment

i couldn't find the newbies sexction to introduce myself as a new member? can u show me the link ? ...bout the dignostic test... is it i can asked the car dealer to do that or how to do that ? Anyway...this is the 1st time i'm going to brought a car.... so still need a lots of advise from u all....thanks for the quick reply anyway..

 

[Chris_will57]

Hey Chris_will57

Please refer to below link that my friend wanna sell his E46.
Reason of selling : Upgrade to E60

http://www.bmwclubmalaysia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14563&page=6

Thanks for the info.... I couldn'd really see it actually ... can i have more information about it ?

 

[Chris_will57]

I can almost write a book on this based on the materials I have collected for the last 2 weeks of shopping. Nothing in my shopping cart yet..

Seen both lemon and jewel but the problem is if its a jewel, you need to confirm there and then. One day of delay to decide, only lemon are left behind, the jewel will be snatched faster than u can imagine

The are so many angle to look at but since u only asked a generic "what kind of condition", you will get my generic answer or rather opinions.

1. Go for the newest manufacture year.
2. Go for the lowest mileage.
3. Insist on service record if you know how to read them because lots of story can be told about both the owner and the car by looking at service records.

If you have seen CSI enough, you should be able to tell how a car is driven/treated, guess its mileage (odo can be tempered) and to tell if its accident free or not. There's just too many things you can look at. For example, if u see the brake pedal rubber pad has been stepped until can see the metal and odo only show 25k km. You know someone is not being honest. Oily or missing tools in the tools compartment is suggesting a road side break down has occured or something, and many more...

An experience foreman will even tell if the car is a potong car by looking missing clips and OEM fastener on the chassis which are not suppose to be meddle with unless there's structure alteration. Obviously, I have not work with BMW enough to identified this.

My problem is I get attracted by bodykit and big rims.. damn..

Luckily my wife is always around to pull my hand brake.. "Dear! are u sure? Look at the year / mileage.."

Another way is to be patient and get your trusted foreman to recommend because if the owner maintain the car at the foreman's workshop. He can definitely tell the lemon from the jewel. That will be the best bet I can think off.

Thanks for the info Astroboy.... I will need all this .... ^_^ ... Anyone who is willing to leave me his contact like messenger contact so that i can asked anything i dont understand from time to time ? Anyway what is OEM and UDM... Thanks !!!

 

[anaksarawak]

OEM is Original Equipement for BMW -made by 3rd party company
UDM - Ultimate Driving Mechine.

Most important of a E46 is the engine... bad engine and gearbox will cause you to go bankrup and go botak

 

[Zoggee]

I actually got 2 friends who wants to sell their cars.

1. CBU 2001 E46 330 coupe( 18" Breytons & michelin dough and PSS9 set up,colour red)
Price- I still dunno


2. CKD 2000 E46 328 ( 2 digit no....W*K 98, mileage 180K just change to a new gearbox with Auto Bavaria)
Price- RM100K

If you want then pm me...I'll give you their contacts. No...they are not use car dealers. Boh car in PJ.

 

[Zoggee]

A full service record will help you understands more of the car maintenance.

 

[acidburn]

Thanks for the info.... I couldn'd really see it actually ... can i have more information about it ?

Hey Chris,

I already PM u last few days. If u wanna know the details do welcome and join us in next TT. You can find the link inside your PM which was located on the top right of your screen which shows.

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[Mouse]

OEM is Original Equipement for BMW -made by 3rd party company
UDM - Ultimate Driving Mechine.

Most important of a E46 is the engine... bad engine and gearbox will cause you to go bankrup and go botak

clap clap clap.......:top: well said

 

[Mouse]

i couldn't find the newbies sexction to introduce myself as a new member? can u show me the link ? ...bout the dignostic test... is it i can asked the car dealer to do that or how to do that ? Anyway...this is the 1st time i'm going to brought a car.... so still need a lots of advise from u all....thanks for the quick reply anyway..

never let the dealer bring the car to his own workshop for inspection and dignostic test, insists on going to your own workshop, to minimise any hanky panky between the dealer and his workshop. standard inspection fees is more or less around RM 200, u can go to Stuggart in taman mayang PJ, they will inspect your car fully with computer print out on parts recommended to replace as show by their system. show the quotation to the dealer and ask him to absorb, if he doesnt want, u absorb yourself but ask him 2 give u further discount

 

[astroboy]

Workshop also I see a lot of them when see BMW coming, they will be drooling lio. Better "appoint" your workshop because if u just drive up to any workshop and the shop keeper never see your face before, trust me, your price will be very different than mine.

Why? They have seen ghost and scared of darkness. They rather charge u more costly first before u turn back and bite them later. Either that, or they don't do your car and send u to other workshop.

If u have a chance to sit down and chat with the foreman, they will "relate" to u those "horror" stories.

One of them worth sharing is:

One BMW, which he has not seen before, pull up to his shop and ask to flush gearbox. After flushing, the owner return the next day and claim the foreman damage the gearbox during the flush as the car is jerking violently now.

HOW?

Hope these dishonest customers are not our forumer as its a real disgrace.

And when inspecting the car, don't forget to ask the foreman to pay attention to the chassis. Same of these cars may have involved in kao-kao accident and sambung balik using half cut. Not easy for us public eye to spot. Even an experience foreman can hardly tell.

 

[Chris_will57]

What is CBU and CKD ? Sorry not really know anything about BMW terms ^_^ . Anyway my budget is around RM100K ... Plus-minus a bit no problem. And a black colour wan.

 

[Chris_will57]

oh... And prefer a 318 ^_^

 

[Chris_will57]

Hmmmm..... I'm from Penang...And i dont not know any foreman... Can someone recomend me ?

 

[astroboy]

CBU = Complete Built Unit

CKD = Complete Knock Down

CKD means assemble in Malaysia, CBU means assemble oversea, depending CBU where.

 

[c-square]

CBU = Complete Built-Up (the vehicle is assembled and imported from overseas in its whole form)
CKD = Complete Knock Down (the vehicle is assembled locally)

Since you are from Penang, you may want to contact "Anxious". He is also from Penang and I believe knows where to go as far as Penang workshops are concerned. Look him up and PM him

 

[c-square]

Oops... sorry for the repost. Didn't know Astroboy had posted the reply earlier.