For use as a DD.
For use as a DD.
No, but I have been driving junk for a while. I think that for the condition his price might be a little high.
I assume you mean in terms of being dinged up by idiots in parking lots? Yes.
No.
Yep, the 323 has the weakest motor of the E46 gen.
HP wise, not reliability that is.
Yes, but only because both of the E46 3-Series that I have experience with were total POS's (both family member cars). The taillights short out and melt causing all sorts of fun electrical glitches (they finally recalled them, though). The window winders break, the interior trim is all pop-in plastic that rattles and breaks, and they eat brakes and suspension like crazy.
Your experience may vary. 
Got kids? Imagine baby puke, chocolate milk and fig newton bits mashed into that light coloured Corinthian leather.
Yup. It is a BMW.
No - not if it has been taken care of. The drivetrains are incredibly robust if never overheated. I'd pay less than that though....
Things to look out for: control arms and control arm bushings, trailing arm bushings (rear susp). Wear items are relatively cheap.
We had an E46 touring that I "had" to sell when we inherited a late model Altima. It was a fantastic car to drive. I didn't find that consumables were a problem, and the interior was completely functional and rattle free at 120k miles.
No, it won't be the appliance a civic or coralla is...but it will provide a different (better, IMHO) driving dynamic that makes it worth while. Just my .02: most people who comment on the cost of BMW ownership have never owned one or take it to the dealer for everything. These cars are best owned by DIYers with good internet access.
$5700 and that mileage does not compute.
Is the CI designation the model that is supposed to be a bit more sporty than the other models. I was looking at a 330CI at one point and was told it was one step down from the m designation.
In reply to dean1484:
I'm no expert, but I believe the CI is a coupe or a convertible. Not sure it means anything more than that. I say that because I've seen them with and without the sport package.
CI means just means it's a two door coupe.
I'm not up on late model BMW prices, but $5700 sounds like it could be a scam. The car looks good in the photos and the mileage isn't necessarily scary if it comes with service records to indicate it's been taken care of, but if the seller replies that they just got transferred to Africa or they're stationed on an oil rig in the gulf run away.
12 year old car from the rust belt is a little concerning and the price seems up there. The way I think - BMWs demand to be treated like airplanes, maintenance-wise - I'd want to see a bit more than receipts for brake pads. The scruffy shift knob might be a clue.
A decent amount of preventive stuff and regular checks - tweaks and they're very good. If they haven't been kept that way - they have the capacity to rapidly deteriorate or eat you alive putting them right. Probably holds true for most car as well. Coming from someone who's had multiple 200k+ bmws - some had good PO care, others, not so much - gets rough down here on the bottom of the depreciation curve.
Oh, I think it's the zhp package on 330s that are sort of the near m-spec.
Its been hit in the rear.
A co-worker of mine who is up on his Bimmers claims that 5000 would be a great price for that car if it checked out, even at that mileage.
Check for torn subframes...
WTH kind of cheap ass tire is a "Stilette"??!?
That gives you a pretty good idea of this guy's idea of "maintenance"...
AutoXR wrote: Its been hit in the rear.
How can you tell? I don't see anything obvious in the photos.
Fits in just fine where I work. Every 30K millionaire in Dallas has a used BMW.
oldtin wrote: Oh, I think it's the zhp package on 330s that are sort of the near m-spec.
Not really, only another 10hp due to cams/tuning over the normal 330, but you get a 6 speed and slightly firmer suspension.
The E46 M3 is 333hp 8000 RPM monster.
If it's been well cared for and has no rust hiding underneath - well, I've got a commute 40 miles each way, and use an E36 with more miles on it for that drive.
bravenrace wrote: In reply to dean1484: I'm no expert, but I believe the CI is a coupe or a convertible.
Also no expert, but I think the Ci is a coupe and the iC is the convertible.
In reply to Woody:
That could be, but I see a ton of verts when I do a search on a CI. Maybe they are just listing them wrong. I've also seen CiC for verts.
z31maniac wrote: Yep, the 323 has the weakest motor of the E46 gen. HP wise, not reliability that is.
Yeah, the minimum I'd go for in an E46 is the 325i Sport package car. My stepson had one he got from his dad at 225k miles and daily drove it to over 250k miles. His dad had owned it since new and barely maintained it, so it needed the new rear window regulators, new brakes and a water pump. Lucily all of them are cheap and easy to do, and the car was a GREAT driving car. He sold it for $4500 with like almost 260k miles on it.
In reply to Chris_V:
Please elaborate on your first sentence.
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