BMW E46 3 Series Buyers guide +reliability (1998-2006) Avoid buying a broken used BMW E46

BMW E46 1997-2006 3 Series Buyers Guide for 3 Series reliabilty. Avoid buying a cheap broken 3 Series and find a sought-after E46 with problems and reliability issues before you buy. Used E46 models have begun holding value if well maintained and some long-term owners want to keep their E46 instead of buying a new 3-series. The BMW E46 can be a reliable choice of car if you buy the best years and avoid the worst production years. The E46 generation has five variants, the sedan/saloon, the estate/touring, coupe, convertible, and the compact. Due to its biggest problems of Vanos unit and swirl flaps failure, and oil leaks, we suggest being aware of what to look for with our review.
The BMW E46 review covers model years from 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and the 2006 model years for the BMW i, d, se, sport, M Sport. If you are deciding between the E46 and E92 or are an owner looking for a guide we have both on our channel. If looking for the performance model, we also have a guide on the BMW E46 M3. The issues discussed in our buyer's guide to the E46 BMW include rear subframe mounting failures, VANOS failures, and oil leaks.
Check out our links to the podcast and website below and if you want to support The Miles Driven check out the products below 😁
Podcast - linktr.ee/themilesdriven
👕 Merch shop -- themilesdriven.myspreadshop.com/
www.themilesdriven.com
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🚚 == BMW E46 parts ⬇️
🚗 - Subframe mount repair/strengthening - ebay.us/M8eRJu
🚑 - Window regulators (Front left/nearside) - ebay.us/MtEpxB
🚑 - Window regulators (Front right/offside) - ebay.us/uceKCq
🚑 - 330d Diesel Service kit - ebay.us/3kw9wY
🚑 - 320d Service kit - ebay.us/VuikLx
🚙 - 330i Bosch Service kit - ebay.us/VeDcXr
🚙 - E46 Rear suspension top mounts - ebay.us/yU1iqr
🔦 Cheap car inspection wand -- ebay.us/MgE1fg
📒 Haynes workshop manual --
E46 Prefacelift - haynes.pxf.io/q4yxrY
E46 Facelift - haynes.pxf.io/q4yxrY
--- Fiction books written by Miles
-- First book - amzn.to/3W8owip
-- First in Heist series - amzn.to/3w6JBiU
-- Short read (Novella) - amzn.to/3ZCcVLC
Legal and disclaimer - Any content not originally created by The Miles Driven remains the property of the original owner and is editorialised for media reporting. All content is used within the confines of media reporting/editorial use and is transformative in nature to inform others with new information and content about cars and vehicles. We use no more of the original content than necessary in alignment with U.S copyright law for fair use and U.K fair dealing. We accept no liability for the purchase of vehicles using our guide and suggest thorough due diligence by individual professional inspections before making a buying decision.

[@themilesdriven]

📖 -- Miles Driven book - amzn.to/47NeoC2 if you want to support The Miles Driven check out the products below 😁 👕 -- Merch Shop - themilesdriven.myspreadshop.com/ 🟡 -- (UK 🇬🇧) Casio Mudmaster G-Shock watch - amzn.to/3R5h5cu 🟡 -- (USA 🇺🇸) Casio Mudmaster G-Shock watch -amzn.to/47tuCAl 🚚 == BMW E46 parts ⬇ 🚗 - Subframe mount repair/strengthening - ebay.us/M8eRJu 🚑 - Window regulators (Front left/nearside) - ebay.us/MtEpxB 🚑 - Window regulators (Front right/offside) - ebay.us/uceKCq 🚑 - 330d Diesel Service kit - ebay.us/3kw9wY 🚑 - 320d Service kit - ebay.us/VuikLx 🚙 - 330i Bosch Service kit - ebay.us/VeDcXr 🚙 - E46 Rear suspension top mounts - ebay.us/yU1iqr Podcast - linktr.ee/themilesdriven www.themilesdriven.com instagram.com/themilesdriven/ facebook.com/themilesdriven ➡ Check out fiction books by Miles 📖 -- First book - amzn.to/3W8owip 📚 -- First in Heist series - amzn.to/3w6JBiU 📘 -- Short read (Novella) - amzn.to/3ZCcVLC

[@hornox4life]

I have one for exactly 10 years. I still like it a lot. Design wise, inside and out. I wouldn't know what else car to get, in some aspects this one can't be beaten so I keep it.

[@yusuferdem2674]

Bende 10 yıldır biniyorum çok memnunum

[@aristos1984salonika]

The Best Trilogy cars of all time from BMW 7er E38, 5er E39, 3er E46

[@crustybmw]

I had an e46 exactly like the thumbnail- Arizona Sun Metallic- Individual- only car I ever bought brand new- Was written off in a storm worst day of my life

[@themilesdriven]

Sorry to hear it was written off, very rare to see these in Arizona Sun, after a fresh polish it must have looked stunning 👍

[@crustybmw]

I never saw another one on the road, the dealer had ordered it for the showroom so it had every option

[@Oxigan2win]

Hi I am german and have had E46's (3 so far) since 20 years. Now I own a 330 CI 2001 26 Dec built. Your biggest enemy is obv. other people driving your car and or other traffic. When it comes to buying a used one, your biggest enemy is rust. Especially in the sills - I replaced the whole left sill on my current car because of massive rust problems - I had to weld it in and also had to do a whole paint job (to make the color fit again). Rust is our biggest enemy, do not buy rusted E46! If you see rust under the door (on the small exposed colored sill bar under the door), do not buy it. It means that the sill already has lots of rust inside. If you see rust on the BACK wheel arch - do not buy it (the front do not really matter, can be easily replaced). There are still E46 without rust, people who were smart enough to do cavity sealing when the car was new.

[@timothyer2447]

Glad to hear the ZAM was mentioned in passing! I imported my ZAM to California but just call it a ZHP for simplicity. The only difference being the needles not being red, but everything else is the same

[@startingtech3900]

Not real zhp bro

[@timothyer2447]

@@startingtech3900 on paper it's not. For all intents and purposes it is - it has every single performance and visual upgrade aside from red needles

[@thedomestic-6383]

mate do e36 and i’ll subscribe. great content 👍

[@themilesdriven]

We'll add it to the list 👍

[@id10t98]

I have a 2001 330Ci, 192k miles, just started having dashboard going bonkers issue. Anyone else have/had same issue? Going to change battery and ground, hope it fixes, but may change alternator if I have to as well...

[@SibRevs]

I'm about to pick up a rough condition 2003 325xi with 150000 miles for $1200. Still runs and drives.

[@Xepthys01]

Lol here in europe 2002 325xi starts from $4000. I envy you guys :D

[@voodoocars2134]

Now do an X5 E53 guide.. wait - I’ve found it.

[@imnotusingmyrealname4566]

8:18 Is this a facelift or pre-facelift model? The headlights only have one round intent on this compared to two on the other models.

[@themilesdriven]

It’s the facelift coupe which has a slightly different style to the facelift lights than the saloon/estate. An interesting side note is the M3 E46 didn’t get the facelift front lights but did get the facelift rear lights 👍

[@imnotusingmyrealname4566]

@@themilesdriven huh that's neat, so it's more unique that way

[@robi6713]

i found a 1998 320i with double vanos 150hp, sun roof, front electric windows, 5spd manual sedan with 250.000km on clock at 2500 euro, is this a good buy?

[@phalomaho9598]

Great price point, but with a very high mileage. Brace yourself for possible issues, but if you have the pocket to repair and maintain it, I don’t see why not.

[@victorveneto1957]

hi Team, my 2003 E46 has a indicator, Hazard and headlight failure i can not figure what is the problem please help

[@siphetebeka]

Plesse Check Your RELAYS

[@corneliusmakuwe5144]

Check your fuses

[@Supraifyification]

Didnt you forget to mention the M56

[@themilesdriven]

Great spot, the SULEV (M56) was in the original script but since it was only sold in 4 U.S states we cut it for time. Apart from the inlet manifold you can follow the guide for the 325i motor and it will be mostly the same 👍

[@kirkyoung4979]

Except for the $10k gas tank with the sealed inside full pump!

[@TimQwant]

the poor video quality is a bit annoying. hd, please! edit: otherwise great video.

[@themilesdriven]

Cheers 👍 I used the original footage of the E46 from back in 2000 for this video so we couldn’t get HD quality but whenever I can get HD I do 👍

[@imnotusingmyrealname4566]

0:52 Today's 3 series is probably 30% heavier than the E30.

[@themilesdriven]

Just had a quick look at an the average spec E30 320i and G20 320i kerb weight, it’s almost 40% more 😬

[@imnotusingmyrealname4566]

@@themilesdriven ouch

[@guy4469]

i fell asleep .