Looking at 2003 BMW 328 Wagon With Motor Issues (Should I?)

Local Pick and pull had a 2003 328 wagon for sale. The problem is that just about the entire top end of the motor is sitting in the back of it. Suposidly every part is there. They said it needs a motor then they re frazed things as they know I rebuild things and said that it needs a new head. I am looking at it thinking since I did not take it apart I would probably just go get another motor. It also eliminates the chances that there is somthing else wring with it.

The car is otherwise in VERY nice shape. Interior is very clean. Not a scratch on the outside. Tires look to be 80-90% Other than the motor problem it seems to be a very nice car.

I offered 2K for it half joking and they cam back with 3K. I am sure we could meet in the middle.

So how hard is a motor swap in one of these things. Should I just run away?

Ya I know LSx is the answer but this one is so nice I really think it should go back to stock.

What do you all think? No photos I will get some monday as I am going back for a 2nd look.

I know I would have already countered and probably been working on it today....

Add a manual transmission, an s series motor, m suspension and you'll have a Rockin Wagon!

There is no way it is a 2003 328; 99-00 models were 323/328, 01-05 were 325/330. The 99-00 cars still had the dreaded subframe tearing issues, the 01-up cars don't, so keep that in mind.

Sounds like an OK deal with the bad motor. JThw8 on the board here sold his running E46 wagon for $5k, so it's not that great of a deal at $3k.

If it's a factory manual wagon, on the other hand, it is worth twice as much. They are extremely rare.

$3k for a non-runner, not a chance in hell. Even at $2k the body, interior and suspension better be pristine.

I would assume the head is off because it was overheated and warped or cracked. If its not an iron block engine there is also a possibility that the block was damaged in the overheat incident (at least thats what I've heard about the alloy block bimmer engines, I have no personal experience, YMMV).

If it has an auto trans I would also assume it has problems too.

If its still there in a few weeks offer $1500.

FWIW I recently scored a clean E34 525i sedan with a bad engine for ~$750. If ran well enough to test drive it and confirm the trans was ok.

I would take it for 2500! GRM did a review on their e46 wagon recently, they sold it for more than they bought it for. They are excellent cars that are going up in value still. The motors are plentiful, you will have no trouble finding a replacement head or new motor. They came on the 3 and 5 series and are pretty easy to work on. Depending on mileage its easily worth 3 to 4 times what you will pay for it...fix the motor and sell it!

I'd counter with 2200.......get it for as cheap as possible, if they happen to have another I-6 bmw floating around, perhaps have them throw in its engine for $2500-2750.

I'd throw another I-6 in there and call it a day. Also, for some reason I'm thinking they still offered the 2.8L all the way through e46's. Friends dad had a manual awd(iirc) e46 wagon.....he sold it to the oddball bmw dealer people for more than he wanted and the next day after listing it. He has my friends old e46 m3 now....

If it's an aluminum block, the head's off because it overheated. If it overheated, there's a very good chance at least one of the head bolt holes in the block is stripped. Plan for a new engine and a complete cooling system. Depending on the mileage, and if you were planning to keep it, I'd say you'd want to do motor mounts and all the front suspension bits while it's apart. The valve cover gasket, oil filter housing gasket, intake plumbing, CCV and VANOS seals should also be replaced.

Do you really want one?

Otherwise I wouldn't buy it. Cars that don't run/need a new engine.............I don't pay more than what I KNOW I can get parting it out. And being honest with selling parts cheap, etc.

I'd jump on it, no question. That car plus a wrecked 330i w/6-speed would be my dream commuter. Vorshlag's working on a kit to put the LS1's in these, apparently....

I like the car but it is not really something I am looking for. I just stumbled on it and thought.

1. I like the color (metallic blue)
2. Has enough space for my needs
3. Other than the motor issue it looks to be a really nice car.
4. The looks of the car are quite nice. It is an attractive car. I really like the early 2000's look of the 3 series.

But to answer your question no do I really want on? Not really, I am indifferent to it. Really take it or leave it is how I feel about it.

Unforchantly I feel that way about virtually all cars with the exception of just a rare few and that list seems to change as as time moves on. At the moment I really have a lust for a mid 2005 - 2006 s500 AWD But give it 2-3 weeks and I am sure I will be lusting after something else. IT is the whole car ADD thing.

Betting back to the BMW. It really peaked my interest simply because I can probably get it cheep. Dropping an OE motor back in it is a weekend job if all the parts are present. So worst case I would be in to it for say 5K plus my time and have a decent vehicle to commute to Boston and hall kids when necessary. Who knows if I did it BMW's may grow on me and it would be a keeper. OR I would find I hate it and sell it in a couple months.

yamaha wrote: Also, for some reason I'm thinking they still offered the 2.8L all the way through e46's.

Nope...starting in '01 the 2.3/2.8 M52 was a thing of the past, replaced with the 2.5/3.0 M54.

Just leave room in the budget for a new auto trans too...they are not known for their robustness.

A nice one of those is a $7k car around here, and I've been shopping "European wagon" for a year or so.

I'd buy it and an S52 w/ trans and make me an e46/36 M3 touring.

In reply to SlickDizzy:

Ah, was the 2.8 just in the z3 for '02? Or were all of those 3.0/3.2's