Second hand BMW E46

[hyperian]

I'm looking at buying a second hand car (been looking out for Golf 4's) and have recently started checking out the BMW E46's (318i standard). For some reason they seem to have a very low resale value, and come in at just a little more than a Golf 4 with similar mileage and year.

Is a second hand E46 (non-turbo'd) monsterously-expensive to maintain (if not done through BMW directly)? There are so many 3 Series driving around, surely second hand parts shouldn't be too expensive? Or am I just trying to convince myself that I can afford a car that is out of my league at the moment?

 

[Fazda]

They have very low resale for good reason!

Don't touch the bloody things...horrific to maintain...why do you think all new BMW's are sold with maintenance plans, and sold the minute the plan is finished?

 

[Voicy]

What Fazda said.

As soon as they go over 100,000km theyr'e sold for about R110k as well. Horrifically expensive to maintain. I was interested in getting one myself. Settled for a new corsa GSi instead. <_<

 

[hyperian]

Thanks for the responses guys. Looks like I'll be sticking with the idea of getting a Golf 4!

 

[Brawler]

BMW are expensive to maintain.

A guy who works for me got a 320d out of motorplan, R1000 to change the oil lol. Anyway he ended up blowing the engine at 120k km(not the turbo which is strange, automatic transmission). Cheapest quote to fix is R47k or something for a refurb.

 

[hyperian]

Are Audi's similarly expensive to maintain? i.e.: the standard 2 liter 4 cylinder variety?

 

[Fazda]

Audi should be OK, but be careful of going the expensivegermanoutofmaintenanceplan route. Can end up being VERY expensive in the end.

Buying second hand is best done via the KISS route.

 

[hyperian]

Have any of you had experience with Bosch Maintenance Plan? http://emperitus.ix.co.za/

 

[Fazda]

Have any of you had experience with Bosch Maintenance Plan? http://emperitus.ix.co.za/

No, but Bosch should be a sure bet.

 

[hyperian]

Hmmm ... perhaps the standard A4 2.0 might be an option. It seems like Audi spares are almost as readily available as VW; most of the VW spares places I've seen stock Audi parts as well.