Learn Me: E46 AWD Version

With the Blazer sold and the weather still rather bad and snowy, I'm looking for another 'daily driver'-class car to pick up cheaply to get through the rest of the winter (because the DeLorean is NOT an ideal car for the snow), ideally something that can be driven but needs some things fixed that would let me re-sell it for a bit of a profit a few months down the line.

My search today had me come across this: http://lexington.craigslist.org/cto/5433652059.html

A 2001 325xi with 175,000 miles that is supposed to be in good shape but might need the thermostat replaced. The seller is supposed to call me after work to get the details on why they think it needs a new thermostat. KBB for it comes out to about $1k more than they're asking.

What in particular should I be really on the look-out for as far as red flags go that would indicate that this isn't anywhere near a good buy? At a guess if they're claiming it's a thermostat, it's overheating which could indeed be the thermostat- but could also be anything else in the cooling system including a head gasket, which is something I do NOT particularly want to try doing outside in freezing weather (or at ALL on a BMW 6-cylinder from some of what I've read...). Of course, the other car that has my interest is a supercharged Park Avenue that likely needs the intake gaskets replaced...

Is that a door dent on the driver's side?

I think if there are ABS problems in these, the AWD will not work.

How easy is it to pull the thermostat out and drive it to see if it overheats?

Brett_Murphy wrote: Is that a door dent on the driver's side? I think if there are ABS problems in these, the AWD will not work. How easy is it to pull the thermostat out and drive it to see if it overheats?

It's hard to tell whether or not there is a dent from the picture- it could be, or it could just be that what it's reflecting is odd-shaped.

I've done some reading up on replacing the thermostat (and the water pump, since they tend to fail and replacing both at the same time is common), and it's pretty much integral to the system so you can't drive without it.

Yeah, the thermostat is cast into the water outlet on these. Not possible to run without it.

Cooling system problems are sometimes bad juju on newer BMWs, as you're supposed to pretty much replace all of it every 100k (especially the radiator and expansion tank), with warping that beautiful all-aluminum six as the consequence of not doing so. If it's overheated, not really much point to trying a head gasket because the head bolts have likely stretched out their threads in the aluminum block by that point and the whole motor is trash.

The thermostat is stupid easy to replace (ten minute job, it's RIGHT THERE when you open the hood) so I have no idea why they wouldn't just replace it...the ZF automatic transmission is the real deal-killing part of that car, though. They drink expensive unicorn piss fluid and aren't known for their longevity.

At 175k, it needs the entire cooling system done yesterday, if it hasn't already warped the head and ripped the head bolts threads out of the block. Unless you can document good compression and leakdown numbers, I suggest running away as fast as possible from any aluminum-block BMW with cooling issues.

some e46s also suffered from a faulty oil breather problem that fills the intake with oil and hydrolocks in cold conditions. I think there was a recall on them but don't know how many never got the work done.

Unforunately, my search is pretty much limited to automatics until my long-lived project (the El Camino) is done so we have a backup car SWMBO can drive. I'll see what the seller has to say about it and go from there, and probably try calling up the guy with the Park Avenue Ultra that supposedly has a head gasket problem (http://lexington.craigslist.org/cto/5407695103.html) and see what the deal is with it too.

02Pilot wrote: At 175k, it needs the entire cooling system done yesterday, if it hasn't already warped the head and ripped the head bolts threads out of the block. Unless you can document good compression and leakdown numbers, I suggest running away as fast as possible from any aluminum-block BMW with cooling issues.

Or a cracked head like I found on my 04 with 123K.

Thermostat is a bit more than just "10 minutes" to replace, but not too difficult. The question is why does it "possibly need a thermostat"? Fault code (Map cooling), running cold, running hot?

The Hoff wrote: Or a cracked head like I found on my 04 with 123K. Thermostat is a bit more than just "10 minutes" to replace, but not too difficult. The question is why does it "possibly need a thermostat"? Fault code (Map cooling), running cold, running hot?

Yeah, that's what I'm hoping to find out when the owner calls me later this afternoon.

The good news for me is that it's supposed to be up in the 50s by the end of the week so if I do pick up something that needs some work I'll at least not be freezing my ass of quite as badly!

Brett_Murphy wrote: How easy is it to pull the thermostat out and drive it to see if it overheats?

E46 thermostats fail safe and the car will overcool if the stat is bad. Ask me how I know when it is in the teens outside this last week or 2. If the car is overheating, it has bigger issues.

Robbie wrote: some e46s also suffered from a faulty oil breather problem that fills the intake with oil and hydrolocks in cold conditions. I think there was a recall on them but don't know how many never got the work done.

Even the updated parts don't fully resolve the problem, as the crankcase vacuum remains too low to handle the amount of moisture that builds up in cold-weather states. There is, however, a simple mod: http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1629018-Oil-consumption-after-CCV-replacement

Duke wrote:

Brett_Murphy wrote: How easy is it to pull the thermostat out and drive it to see if it overheats?

E46 thermostats fail safe and the car will overcool if the stat is bad. Ask me how I know when it is in the teens outside this last week or 2. If the car is overheating, it has bigger issues.

VERY good to know- if it's overheating, it's almost certainly NOT the t-stat. If it's overcooling and not warming up to temp, it's likely to be the t-stat....

Well, I never for a call from the seller of the E46. I didn't get a chance to yesterday, so perhaps I'll try calling about the Park Avenue Ultra with a presumed head gasket (hopefully just the intake gasket...) problem today...

I think you should call about this one.

non-running caddy

KyAllroad wrote: I think you should call about this one. non-running caddy

Are you assuming that it doesn't need nearly as much work as they're thinking it does?

I'm currently trying to get in touch with the sellers of this one- it sounds like it only needs an alt and/or maybe a battery if the only problem is that it needs to be jumped, and KBB for it is around $2500.