BMW 3 Series E46 (1998-2005)
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19 reviews · Statistics
2004 BMW 325ti 6 speed manual M- sport
3 Series E46 (1998-2005)Absolute pleasure to drive, extremely economical on long trips, plenty of power and handling is superb. Needs to be serviced at correct intervals by a mechanic or technician that knows these cars and they won’t give you much issues. Cult classic with major drifting or racing potential if that’s your thing. Minor problem with mine is the sunroof mechanism apart from that just general service items tbh. If you can find one in this spec highly recommended!
Purchased in for $6,000.
- Transmission: Manual
- Bought: Used
- Year: 2004
Stay away from high mileage E46
3 Series E46 (1998-2005)Do NOT Buy a high mileage E46 period!!!! These cars have great engines and styling but that is as far as it goes!!! The interiors fall apart! The leather seats are made of some kind of cheap plastic type leather!! Cooling system components SUCK!!!! Tire wear is horrible as the front suspension has no adjustment. Trim parts interior and exterior fail horribly!! Window Motor mechanisms fail repeatedly!!! I tried to like these cars but, they will cost you big $$$$$$$ to keep on the road!!! Stay away at all costs!!!!!
Purchased for $2,500.
- Transmission: Automatic
- Bought: Used
- Year: 2002
Very nice car just be careful when buying second hand cars,,,,,, it's not because it's a BMW at fault !
3 Series E46 (1998-2005)Very nice car just be careful when buying second hand cars,,,,,, it's not because it's a BMW at fault !
some reviews here say we bought it on EBAY or auctions where you usually can't even test drive or put the car under stress ?? wow if you don't have a bit of basic car savvy and are vulnerable to smooth sales guys then don't go online go to Gumtree or similar and test drive the car etc in person or get an RAC inspection pre purchase. This model the E46 is solid and powerful. I have a 320i 2003 and it cost me $2500 AUD i spent $320 fixing a few
Purchased in for $2,500.
- Transmission: Automatic
- Bought: Used
- Year: 2003
Great car but you certainly do need to do more in care than a reliable Toyota or other Japanese brand!
3 Series E46 (1998-2005)I have had 7 BMW’s and once you used to their common issues- oil leaks, coolant pipes (being plastic) breaking, window regulators going, you can own and enjoy one without too much heartbreak or wallet destruction ! Like other reviews here, I used click automative for parts, also eBay and local wreckers! Also Facebook market place a wealth of parts available! Also YouTube great for learning things. Shoplifetv is brilliant as he does just about everything and anything with bmws! I also have bmw dealership who I go to occasionally for diagnosing a
... Read morend bigger jobs where it’s not worth buying the tools for. My E46 318i is my weekend car and current project I’m getting back on the road! Loving it! Great driving and easy on the eyes! Oh and did I mention it does help a lot when you can do most or all of the preventative maintenance yourself!Purchased in for $500.
- Transmission: Automatic
- Bought: Used
- Year: 2003
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BMW won't help with a faulty airbag
3 Series E46 (1998-2005)After a BMW recall to fix the airbag in 2019 the airbag light has come on yet BMW won't review the fault without getting paid a substantial amount. I have heard on many instances of this occurring. BMW has continued to not take responsibility for faulty airbags which have been well documented as being a manufacturing issue. BMW product backing is extremely disappointing and will destroy their resale value if they continue down this path. BMW shame on you.
Purchased in at BMW Dealers for $75,000.
- Transmission: Automatic
- Bought: New
- Year: 2001
Put off BMW for life
3 Series E46 (1998-2005)I bought my 2002 BMW 318i with low km in 2017 because another driver at work liked BMWs. I saw this one on eBay at auction about $2k and went to see it. Having seen it I got soft for maybe the first time in my life and offered the guy what he wanted for the car, $5000. Roof liner drooped, radio wouldn’t turn off. And ‘ohh no, we don’t have service record books’.. dead ringer for a problem.
Never have I made such a soft hearted and soft headed mistake but at the time all I wanted to do was stop my wife from having to drive me 1/2 hour to work
Purchased in for $5,000.
- Transmission: Automatic
- Bought: Used
- Year: 2002
Great car if properly maintained, not suggested for winter
3 Series E46 (1998-2005)I've had an 03 325i for 4 years with 148km, now with 212km and I can say they are a beauty to drive and fairly easy to work on compared to newer cars in general. Just get a scanner and it'll tell you everything you need to know. There are things that break such as the fuel pump, expansion tank, water pump, wheel bearings, a/c, window regulators and oil filter housing gasket. These are all the things I've replaced, all on my own. And this car has never broken down while I was on the road. I find these car to be under powered for an inline six wi
... Read moreth only 184 HP but then you look at the 330i with 240. This car still gets up to speed faster than some 2019 cars. If you live where it's cold, this car will cause you a lot of sensor problems as it ages and rust will form, that is what I'm dealing with now and it will eventually die or just be too problematic to deal with. I wouldn't suggest this car for an average joe . These are classic cars especially the m3 which can cost 10,000 CAD and up, so parts are pricey along with labour which is why seomeome who is capable of working on these cars would love it.Purchased in at Family.
- Transmission: Automatic
- Bought: Used
- Year: 2015
Where do i start?
3 Series E46 (1998-2005)Where do i start with this car? A lemon from the get go.. we had to replace two lots of electric windows and put the proper sized battery in. We had a BMW 318I.
Car kept just randomly dying after driving it to go out then get back in it to leave and nothing. :/ it did this to me on the bypass on my way to work. Lucky i had enough time to pull over. I lost many shifts and my son and i were constantly stuck at home because of this car. Was also stranded out with my son several times. Not happy. Took it to MANY mechanics who couldn't find the pr
- Body: Sedan
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- Badge: 318i
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- Line: Executive
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- Transmission: Automatic
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- Date Purchased:
e46 325i Sedan - Understated beast which i love to drive.
3 Series E46 (1998-2005)I have a 2001 325i sedan, 3rd owner, currently has approx 130k kms on the clock.
I got it at a steal and luckily it has not been thrashed. Engine clean as a whistle. No oil leaks. Slight transmission leak.
This thing has enough power to feel safe and confident overtaking on the open road, it jumps off the line like an eager sprinter. I cant imagine, despite being 17 years old it has lost much power.
The steering is slightly heaver than some might be used to, especially small hatch owners, but i like like this. A much higher feel of security
- Body: Sedan
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- Badge: 325i
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- Line: Sport
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- Transmission: Automatic
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- Date Purchased:
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Great Car
3 Series E46 (1998-2005)Great car to own pleasure to drive. Parts are easy to obtain I deal with Clickable Auto in Melbourne for my parts. Just the common issues and are easy to fix once you understand the design. Running costs are normal parts and repair are easy to obtain, but always check with guys at ClickableAuto.
July 24th 2017 Update: Great after care
Great customer care , I believe I am the 3 rd owner and I was impressed they found me through the car registration to replace airbags after TANAKA recall. Its great to see they care about a driver who is in one of their cars even after 13 years of purchase.
- Body: Coupe
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- Badge: 320Ci
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- Line: M Sport
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- Transmission: Manual
Probably the best car I've ever owned
3 Series E46 (1998-2005)I bought this car with 186,000 kms on, much more than I would have liked but the car was in such immaculate condition I could not resist it for the price I negotiated. I love this car, the performance, the smoothness of the the transmission, the fantastic roadholding and handling and the huge brakes and did I mention the looks - best BMW body design ever and with big CSL replica mag wheels, it just grabs me every time I look at it. Down side is that I did have to have the air con evaporator replaced but my usual workshop did it for almost half
... Read morewhat the dealer quoted. The door lock actuator failed and the engine still has a slight oil leak despite two attempts to correct it. In the first 12 months of ownership it has cost me about $3000 in repairs and maintenance but the pleasure this car gives me every time I drive it can't be exaggerated and I've owned some very nice performance cars in the past.- Body: Coupe
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- Badge: 330Ci
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- Line: Executive
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- Transmission: Automatic
Don't want to let this car go
3 Series E46 (1998-2005)Bought this car brand new; drives beautifully; great road holding and handling. About to update to a newer model, but hesitant at letting this one go (I'm very attached to it). Never had a breakdown or needed major repairs, so repair and running costs have been minimal. Found a local BMW specialist mechanic who keeps my car in tip-top condition (anything that he doesn't know about BMW's isn't worth knowing) and charges a fraction of what the local dealership does to service the car.
- Body: Sedan
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- Badge: 318is
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- Line: Sport
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- Transmission: Automatic
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Of all the used cars I've owned, the one I like the most
3 Series E46 (1998-2005)2001 model 316ti, 1.8L, 115bhp, manual. Bought it four years ago with 65K km, now 13 years old done 124K km. Before buying, I was worried about whether or not the engine was up to NZ's mountainous roads, since my previous cars all had more powerful engines. Worries dissipated - the manual gearbox's top 3 gears are perfectly spaced for overtaking. Unusually frugal car - all my other cars, mostly automatics, averaged 8-8.5 km/L consisting of a mix of urban and motorway driving, usually without aircon. This car averages 11.5 km/L - for a car that
... Read moreweighs nearly 1300 kg, it is more frugal than the '81 Mirage 1.2 I used to have years ago. And on any long drive outside Auckland, I can average up to 16 km/L, which is really in diesel territory. The seats are perfect - the back support is right and I can drive five hours straight without a backache, and that's with no lumbar support adjustment. The body is solid, the doors thunk reassuringly. Having owned and driven front-wheel drive cars all the time, a trip to a friend's wedding in Napier five hours away through hills, gorges, and winding mountain roads mostly at 100 km/h and driving back at night in heavy rain, I realised that I made the right decision buying this car. Yes, there is a difference between FWD and RWD cars, and although this car doesn't manifest it as incisively as a Mazda MX-5, a tug of the wheel makes it very clear that the chassis and related components including the steering are there to see me through. I don't have to second-guess what the car is going to do when I suddenly get to a blind corner at speed. Third to fifth gear ratios are spaced perfectly - though at some expense of the 2nd-to-3rd gear gap which could be better-spaced for city driving. Its handling is sure-footed and confident - despite having 195/65-15 tyres, and a rear suspension taken from the previous 3-series cars to save cost. Problems? Three instances the car was not driveable: 4 years ago, after owning the car at 9 years old, one of the coils went. Last March (2014) the original 2001 BMW battery finally packed up without warning. And three weeks ago, a second coil failed. All my cars have been proactively maintained for wear and tear parts, so rollers and a tensioner for the alternator belt have been done (I thought it was the water pump and got worried), two front suspension control arms, front and rear brakes done about two years apart, minor oil leak near a vacuum pump fixed with an inexpensive gasket. Strangely the thermostat, water pump and expansion tank haven't failed yet. The clutch has a shudder taking off in 1st gear at times, I thought it was just me not having driven a manual in 10 years, but it hasn't gotten any worse over the last 4 years at all. Will get it done one of these days, mechanic isn't too worried. The timing chain has a stretch though, a common problem for a car of this engine and vintage. Fortunately the chain is up front, will get that done and replace the two remaining original coils while at it. Parts prices? Fair. Maintenance cost of this car is similar to my 2001 Mitsubishi Galant I had before this. None of the parts replaced had prices that took me aback, the coils for example were NZ$86 each (vs. $300 for a Mitsubishi Cedia). And I always use an independent mechanic.- Transmission: Manual
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- Badge: 316ti
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- Body: Compact
The love of my life sent me broke!
3 Series E46 (1998-2005)My deceased father purchased a brand new 325Ci auto coupe in 2002. In 2010, a year after my father passed away, my mother didn't want to keep it. I decided to swap my Ford Fiesta which I purchased new in 2009 with the bimmer. As it had been in the family, I knew the car's history. No accidents, serviced by BMW, always garaged and regularly washed. Basically showroom condition. Car had done 125000km. The first 2 years no problems at all. I was loving the luxury, the style, the power, the handling, the steering! Yes I was hooked! Then the cracks
... Read more began to appear! Things were starting to wear out or break! One rear parking sensor - $500. Drive belt snapped (replaced with air con belt) - $800. Air con resistor packed it in - $600. Servicing costs between 1200-1500 dollars each time. Suspension bushes - $600. Father had replaced them 4 years earlier too. Rubber door seal on passenger side came apart. Quoted a $1000 to replace. Father replaced drivers side previously. Recently went for wheel alignment thinking the car needed it. Turns out one of the struts have bent thus the shocks need replacement. Quoted between $1700-2000. Recent service $1500. They also told me the diff is cracked. Leaking some oil, may require replacement. 4 new tyres needed soon. If they are the same "continentals" looking at about 3k to replace the four. Rear brakes due - $700. Reversing passenger side mirror packed it in last week. The love affair had to end along with my credit! Traded it in on a brand new Hyundai! Oh the shame! Moral of the story... if you can't afford to buy a new or near new BMW and maintain it... Forget it! Styling, handling, steering, luxury leather and wood trimmed interior. The power and the fact it made me feel good! Too expensive to maintain. If anythings breaks or wears out you are up for a fortune.- Transmission: Automatic
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- Badge: 325Ci
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- Body: Coupe
Very good
3 Series E46 (1998-2005)2001, 330i, bought in NZ. Sold before moving to Australia. Stunning car to drive. A nice example and fairly well looked after. Solid feel, brilliant handling, seamless power to blow off standard Commodore & Falcon V8's. Had a couple of repairs under warranty that when I compare with the cost of the old Honda I have now, makes the back up service and cost of running these far better than most people realise. Euro cars have a bad rap because people buy older ones that people have not looked after and passed on before they have to pay repair bills
... Read more. Four days for a light control module to come from Germany and fitted to a small NZ town!! Typical German service. Japs couldn't do that... Solid feel, awesome handling, smooth, powerful, brilliant parts service from factory. Light control module went under warranty, poor rear seat room for big people, back seat not comfortable on long trips.- Transmission: Automatic
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- Badge: 330i
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- Body: Sedan
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Details
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Cars and Sedans | Cars and Sedans | Cars and Sedans | Cars and Sedans |
| Starting Price | $77,105 | $73,953 | ||
| Transmission | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic | |
| Drive Type | Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) | Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) | Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) | |
| Fuel Type | Petrol | Diesel | ||
| Wheels | 19" Alloy | 18" Alloy | ||
| ANCAP Safety Rating | 5 Stars | 5 Stars | 5 Stars | |
| Fuel Consumption | 6.1 L/100km | 4.8 L/100km | ||
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 59 L | 40 L | ||
| Engine | 4 Cylinder 2.0L | 4 Cylinder 2.0L | ||
| Max Power | 190kW @ 5000rpm | 140kW @ 4000rpm | ||
| Max Torque | 400Nm @ 1550-4400rpm | 400Nm @ 1750-2500rpm | ||
| Country of Manufacture | Germany | Germany | Germany | |
| Manufacturer Warranty | 3 year(s) | 3 year(s) | 3 year(s) | |
| Release date | ||||
| Discontinuation date |
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