Need e46 325i Touring advice

[Matu]

Hi all,

Lately, I have been getting nostalgic about the e46s.
I have been stalking a neighbour (well, more like a friend of a neighbour) for her to let go of her e46 325i Touring.

***updated car info***
2000
186k on the clock
Auto
Black

I wanted to get some help and understanding on the going prices and rareness/collectability

Thank you all!

 

[M3boi]

Its not going to be a "collectable", and they're not rare. I'd say around the R75k - R85k mark would be fair, depending on condition?

 

[VinceM]

Those E46 Auto boxes are not cool. I owned four E46’s for more than 7 years (combined)

That auto box is a weak-point.
141kw and 245nm (when new), now probably less….that auto box will spoil the experience…

If you don’t mind a manual, try find one. Makes it a little more fun to drive.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[TBP88]

Hi all,

Lately, I have been getting nostalgic about the e46s.
I have been stalking a neighbour (well, more like a friend of a neighbour) for her to let go of her e46 325i Touring.

***updated car info***
2000
186k on the clock
Auto
Black

I wanted to get some help and understanding on the going prices and rareness/collectability

Thank you all!

They're relatively rare, mostly as a function of Safricans hating wagons in general (and especially in the late 90s and early 00s as the SUV trend went into hyperdrive). But collectability on these is 0. It's a runabout usable car, not something to save. If it's absolutely perfect perhaps 90k, but realistically around 70k is what I'd be willing to spend. 25yr old black cars are gonna need all the normal stuff *and* at least a proper detail (most likely a blowover) before it looks nice.

 

[msm]

I've owned and driven several E46 and E39 325i/330i/525i/530i cars of that generation.

The 2.5l motor with the auto box is a terrible combination. It's a nice motor for a manual box as it revs freely. However, with the auto box, the lack of low end torque (which the 3.0l partly addresses), makes it very unsatisfying to drive. You're either feeling sluggish in the wrong gear, or the box is hunting too much when trying to get going - hence, the driving experience is terrible. Real life fuel consumption is much worse, as a result of this too.

Unfortunately, since the touring only came in 2.5 versions in SA (both E46 and E39), I would recommend avoiding the auto box if you really want a touring - for that reason, it's also probably not a combination any enthusiast would want and hence, not going to be collectable in any way...

IMHO a rare option would be E46 330i touring manual M sport - which never officially existed in SA, but there are a few around. For context though, not million rand collectable, as the "collectable" terms seems to be misused often with weird expectations.

 

[Matu]

Thanks all!
Some great info!
Need to internalize why I want the car in the first place I guess...

Auto box issue well understood, worth it to source a manual box and do the swap?
-clutch kit
-flywheel
-box itself
-shifter, cables, interior facia bits
-can the same ECU be used?
-driveshafts and mounts
-pedal
-clutch cylinders
-labour
...
...

wow the more I think about the parts... the less I want to attempt this hahaha
Rather not..

 

[M3boi]

Thanks all!
Some great info!
Need to internalize why I want the car in the first place I guess...

Auto box issue well understood, worth it to source a manual box and do the swap?
-clutch kit
-flywheel
-box itself
-shifter, cables, interior facia bits
-can the same ECU be used?
-driveshafts and mounts
-pedal
-clutch cylinders
-labour
...
...

wow the more I think about the parts... the less I want to attempt this hahaha
Rather not..

My E36 manual swap was ±R30k, I assume E46 would be fairly similar. Included a lot of new OEM parts though.

 

[tamgoem]

It is not rare, it is not collectible so unless it has a rather unique colour combo it is a 0.

Auto will be soul sucking as a fun thing, if you just want to run to the shops there are better ways of doing it.

You can manual swap and also 3.0 swap it should you be so inclined. But your final bill ends up being probably what you would pay for a nice 330CI with a 6 speed.

 

[Riaad]

It is not rare, it is not collectible so unless it has a rather unique colour combo it is a 0.

Auto will be soul sucking as a fun thing, if you just want to run to the shops there are better ways of doing it.

You can manual swap and also 3.0 swap it should you be so inclined. But your final bill ends up being probably what you would pay for a nice 330CI with a 6 speed.

Just to add...

Any E46 these days are pretty much project cars, you will likely pay a pretty premium for a 30i with a 6 speed manual...and these so called nice examples are likely going to need a R20k cooling system refresh and R20k suspension overall to get them driving as they should. Not to mention the general maintenance and sorting out oil leaks etc.

I've seen a few models for sale over recent years with FSH and what not, but still have a 20 year old expansion tank 😅

 

[Benji]

E46 touring is an epic car and probably all the car you could ever need/want. Granted, mine is has been 330i swapped with a 6 speed manual.

I bought my relatively sorted example for 70 and quickly spent another 70k on it, tho not all of that spend was strictly required... I still need to refresh the front suspension and sort a few other odds and ends, but I love my car to bits