Small dealership by my work I pass every day. The ad popped up on Facebook and now I'm curious. I have been looking at $1k beaters but maybe I should spend a bit more for something decent.
RWD would be fun, I miss the MR2. I have the $ and tax return will give me back a few grand. Thoughts?
Looks like the paint on the front half is different from the paint on the rear, so a Carfax may be in order. The biggest thing with the M54 engine is overheating. See if they'll let you do a combustion gasses test on the coolant to be sure there are no head gasket (or head) issues. Expect to do the cooling system soon if there's no record of it being done.
In reply to 02Pilot :
Yep and if needs tie rods and CABs, might as well do the control arms as well.
Unless you just really want a high mileage BMW, I'd pass.
Yeah, all the suspension and steering stuff is probably due at 190k miles. That's not a problem if it's been rigorously maintained, but I'd still be a lot happier paying half the asking price, knowing that it probably needs another 3-4K in deferred maintenance costs.
In reply to 02Pilot :
And we haven't addressed power steering lines and the reservoir. Top mounts, anything in the rear suspension. You're talking about potentially being $8k into a 200k lowest of low end model E46s.
Looks like a great $1k car...but, asking $4k 
$4k G35 manual or same guy's $2k WRX
In reply to Jerry :
It's a pre-facelift E46, too, which means it has the overboosted power steering, too.
I think you can do better for $4k.
As a point of reference, I sold my 2003 325i, manual, sport and cold packages, 130k on the clock, for $3750 in 2017. I let it go a little low, yes, and this is post-COVID, yes, but mine was newer and needed less work, and it was a better trim.
Around here, I'd expect that car to be listed for $2750, dropped to $2500 and sold for $2k.
I don't see it mentioned yet that '99-00 were the E46 years with the astronomically high subframe mount failure rates (unibody metal cracks and tears away). Absolutely something to check on an earlier car. But overall just seems like not a good deal.
I've had 5 BMWs . . . including a 1999 323i. I loved that car -- despite the fact it wasn't a powerhouse.
The price would be in line with what we'd pay in Ontario, but we would also be running the risk of rust. That looks pretty clean . . . The only issue we ever really had with ours (a 15 year old beater when we bought it) was with window regulators, and a leaking oil filter housing gasket. E46 parts aren't too spendy, and there are plenty of resources that will help you keep it going.
My parents once had a silver '99 E46 sedan.
If that is a SULEV motor I would pass. Not sure they sold by you. That is the $6K fuel pump according to inter webs. This crew will correct me if I am wrong.
GTwannaB said:If that is a SULEV motor I would pass. Not sure they sold by you. That is the $6K fuel pump according to inter webs. This crew will correct me if I am wrong.
Wait, are you saying the fuel pump for that car is $6k? If so, I have no idea who is saying that and how it seems even remotely believable.
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-fuel-pump-right-side-oem-16146766942?ads_cmpid=352576039&ads_adid=22972407319&ads_matchtype=&ads_network=g&ads_creative=85218275839&utm_term=&ads_targetid=pla-28630442231&utm_campaign=&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&ttv=2&gclid=CjwKCAiAlfqOBhAeEiwAYi43FxOh-BrHJ0-QbkwPN4zl68LfyYZ8HxO3zsjpFK4LltH-YphCch1KzBoC_eoQAvD_BwE
I copied/pasted a bunch of these comments into an inquiry email from the website, said I'd still be interested at $2500 if they were. See what happens.
z31maniac said:GTwannaB said:If that is a SULEV motor I would pass. Not sure they sold by you. That is the $6K fuel pump according to inter webs. This crew will correct me if I am wrong.
Wait, are you saying the fuel pump for that car is $6k? If so, I have no idea who is saying that and how it seems even remotely believable.
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-fuel-pump-right-side-oem-16146766942?ads_cmpid=352576039&ads_adid=22972407319&ads_matchtype=&ads_network=g&ads_creative=85218275839&utm_term=&ads_targetid=pla-28630442231&utm_campaign=&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&ttv=2&gclid=CjwKCAiAlfqOBhAeEiwAYi43FxOh-BrHJ0-QbkwPN4zl68LfyYZ8HxO3zsjpFK4LltH-YphCch1KzBoC_eoQAvD_BwE
Can't speak to the $6K/SULEV concern, but having done an E46 330i fuel pump, it was a non issue. ~2 hours of slow work pace from taking the rear seats out to buttoning it all back up. Price was in line with FCPEuro. Could probably do it in 30 min if there was ever a 2nd time.
You have a Miata and a BRZ... two better rallycross cars, sitting right there!
z31maniac said:GTwannaB said:If that is a SULEV motor I would pass. Not sure they sold by you. That is the $6K fuel pump according to inter webs. This crew will correct me if I am wrong.
Wait, are you saying the fuel pump for that car is $6k? If so, I have no idea who is saying that and how it seems even remotely believable.
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-fuel-pump-right-side-oem-16146766942?ads_cmpid=352576039&ads_adid=22972407319&ads_matchtype=&ads_network=g&ads_creative=85218275839&utm_term=&ads_targetid=pla-28630442231&utm_campaign=&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&ttv=2&gclid=CjwKCAiAlfqOBhAeEiwAYi43FxOh-BrHJ0-QbkwPN4zl68LfyYZ8HxO3zsjpFK4LltH-YphCch1KzBoC_eoQAvD_BwE
SULEV vehicles have the fuel pump integrated into the tank and isn't replaceable. This 323i is not a SULEV vehicle.
That E46 looks like a terrible deal to me. The bodywork looks cobbled together; facelift front bumper slapped onto a pre-facelift car with paint that looks like the front half and rear half were from two different cars. That should be a sub-$2k car at that mileage.
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