2000 3-series: replace or restore?

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Edwe

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I have had a 2000 318i (e46) since 2007 and it is approaching the quarter million km mark. I am torn between restoring it, replacing it, or starting to save up and only do emergency repairs until it literally falls apart.

When it does run, it's still nice to drive (considering the mileage), but bit by bit it is dying on me. The mass flow sensor has broken twice in the past 3 years (R8000 every time) and the air con has packed up three times. The CD player is also dead now and I am seeing "strange" behaviour in the electrical systems (indicator, brake lights, interior lights or even the centre console lights will intermittently go out and later come back to life). The electric windows are also acting up and the manual gearbox sometimes refuses to go into first, and makes a disturbing "thud" noise when it does. The car has only broken down on me twice since 2007, but I fear that it will happen again, and the N2 in Cape Town (my daily commute) is an especially bad place for it recently.

Note: I have virtually no savings at the moment, but will have ~R3500pm to spare soon. My logic is telling me to save up and wait, but my primal fear of being a sitting duck on the N2 during a violent protest is nagging at me to replace the car immediately even though I can't really afford to. I really don't know if the car is worth restoring at this point? Any advice would be appreciated.
 
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werner

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its a fairly "cheap" car nowdays to replace. And if you spent a lot of moeny bringing it back to prime it'll still be a 2000 318i e46 with quarter million km's on it (to the next buyer)

it all depends on your finances, and the timing of when you can get money, but there comes a time when you need to take it out to pasture and shoot it.

note: I have an e36 with 320,000+km's on it as a backup car and it is still fine, but I'm not kidding myself that it'll be worth fixing should anything half major go wrong eventually. Dont get emotionally attached to metal.
 
spiff

spiff

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my e36 316i 1996 (dolphin) coming up to 350k on the clock - is still going strong - everything works.

difficult to let go, as they are good cars. also considering getting a decent newish 2nd hand car and keep the e36 just for work.
 
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Edwe

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werner said:
its a fairly "cheap" car nowdays to replace. And if you spent a lot of moeny bringing it back to prime it'll still be a 2000 318i e46 with quarter million km's on it (to the next buyer)

it all depends on your finances, and the timing of when you can get money, but there comes a time when you need to take it out to pasture and shoot it.

note: I have an e36 with 320,000+km's on it as a backup car and it is still fine, but I'm not kidding myself that it'll be worth fixing should anything half major go wrong eventually. Dont get emotionally attached to metal.
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When you say it's cheap to replace, what do you consider "cheap" and with what would you consider replacing it? I am not thinking specifically another BMW (although I would love another 3-series). Just something which is less than 5 years old, and which has more or less the same power to weight ratio, handling, features and interior space.

Maybe a second hand Audi A3 or a Volvo C30?
 
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Istari.6

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Was in a similar position recently with a 1999 e36 318. It was still a solid car +- 300,000 km on the clock but also started to have various niggles (aircon, electrics etc), and got to the stage where it was going to either require a major investment to keep it in decent running order, or I'd sell and buy something else. I got a new job which meant I had around R4000 per month to spend on a car, so we decided to sell the beemer, and added a bit of savings to ad to the sale price of the BMW to make a decent deposit.

We found an immaculate 2010 Civic 1.8 hatch (automatic, heated leather seats, aircon, usb mp3 etc) and absolutely love it. It's costing me just under 3k per month and I'm glad we made the swap. We don't use the car daily but the reliability issue is a big one as my wife sometimes drives alone, and for that alone it was worth changing. Having working aircon on our recent road trip up the garden route was just the icing on the cake :)
 
Pitbull

Pitbull

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Edwe said:
I have had a 2000 318i (e46) since 2007 and it is approaching the quarter million km mark. I am torn between restoring it, replacing it, or starting to save up and only do emergency repairs until it literally falls apart.

When it does run, it's still nice to drive (considering the mileage), but bit by bit it is dying on me. The mass flow sensor has broken twice in the past 3 years (R8000 every time) and the air con has packed up three times. The CD player is also dead now and I am seeing "strange" behaviour in the electrical systems (indicator, brake lights, interior lights or even the centre console lights will intermittently go out and later come back to life). The electric windows are also acting up and the manual gearbox sometimes refuses to go into first, and makes a disturbing "thud" noise when it does. The car has only broken down on me twice since 2007, but I fear that it will happen again, and the N2 in Cape Town (my daily commute) is an especially bad place for it recently.

Note: I have virtually no savings at the moment, but will have ~R3500pm to spare soon. My logic is telling me to save up and wait, but my primal fear of being a sitting duck on the N2 during a violent protest is nagging at me to replace the car immediately even though I can't really afford to. I really don't know if the car is worth restoring at this point? Any advice would be appreciated.
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If you have a BMW that is not an E30, best just to move on. No use keeping it alive :p
Restoring a car that will never have any value is pointless. If you had an E30 though I would have said restore and hold on to it as long as you can.
 
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Edwe

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Pitbull said:
If you have a BMW that is not an E30, best just to move on. No use keeping it alive :p
Restoring a car that will never have any value is pointless. If you had an E30 though I would have said restore and hold on to it as long as you can.
Click to expand...

I had an E30...
 
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zizo911

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I have a e36... was in a accident and still drives, although not like a BMW should though.
 
WaxLyrical

WaxLyrical

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R8000 for a air flow sensor is just insane.

By the looks of it this car is going to cost you an arm and a leg in the near future especially if you have to source the parts from agents. I say flog it while you can and rather get a citi golf of something. Will be cheaper to repair.
 
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jansdejager

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Judging by this thread, sell the car, or swop it for an e36. Don't go any earlier, especially not the box model. If the engine is not too big, you can do all the maintenance. There is nothing complicatd about that car.
 
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Edwe

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jansdejager said:
Judging by this thread, sell the car, or swop it for an e36. Don't go any earlier, especially not the box model. If the engine is not too big, you can do all the maintenance. There is nothing complicatd about that car.
Click to expand...

Why on earth would I swop it for an older car?

Istari.6 said:
We found an immaculate 2010 Civic 1.8 hatch (automatic, heated leather seats, aircon, usb mp3 etc) and absolutely love it. It's costing me just under 3k per month and I'm glad we made the swap. We don't use the car daily but the reliability issue is a big one as my wife sometimes drives alone, and for that alone it was worth changing. Having working aircon on our recent road trip up the garden route was just the icing on the cake :)
Click to expand...

I am currently thinking second hand Honda or Volvo (2010/2011 Civic and S40 are more or less in the same price bracket). My impression is that Volvos have slightly more "premium" trim and are more exciting to drive, while Hondas are more reliable. Can anyone comment on running costs between the two options? Pros and cons of both?

I know this is an illogical thing to say, but I find the idea of owning a Honda somewhat depressing. I mean, I don't feel that negative about it as I would about being exiled to Siberia or driving a Tata. It's just that I imagine the Volvo would at least make me smile sometimes.
 
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