# Problems to look for on an e46?

**URL:** <https://forums.speedlife.net/t/problems-to-look-for-on-an-e46/33334>\
**Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\
**Created:** [August 2, 2007, 1:31pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/problems-to-look-for-on-an-e46/33334 "2007-08-02T13:31:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 16\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![93dx\_hatch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/9/90ced4/32.png) [@93dx\_hatch](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/93dx_hatch)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2007, 1:31pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/problems-to-look-for-on-an-e46/33334/1 "2007-08-02T13:31:35Z")

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I am going to look at a 330 coupe, stick, with a sports package, for a friend

What should I look for, it has 60k, what are the typical problems with these things

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**Author:** ![tonymitss5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b77776/32.png) [@tonymitss5](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/tonymitss5)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2007, 1:43pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/problems-to-look-for-on-an-e46/33334/2 "2007-08-02T13:43:26Z")

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Bushings in the Rear.

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**Author:** ![93dx\_hatch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/9/90ced4/32.png) [@93dx\_hatch](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/93dx_hatch)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2007, 1:44pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/problems-to-look-for-on-an-e46/33334/3 "2007-08-02T13:44:46Z")

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should i push on the rear and see if they make noise?

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**Author:** ![Fry](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fry/32/7284_2.png) [@Fry](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Fry)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2007, 2:06pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/problems-to-look-for-on-an-e46/33334/4 "2007-08-02T14:06:09Z")

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[quote=“93dx–hatch,post:3,topic:33334"”]

should i push on the rear and see if they make noise?

[/quote]

Why not? Works on women…

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**Author:** ![MPD47](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mpd47/32/7383_2.png) [@MPD47](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MPD47)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2007, 2:13pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/problems-to-look-for-on-an-e46/33334/5 "2007-08-02T14:13:10Z")

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[quote=“tonymitss5,post:2,topic:33334"”]

Bushings in the Rear.

[/quote]

:hang:  
Generic statement about the rear FTL.

Check to make sure the subframe mounts havent ripped out of the unibody, it’s a common problem even on the motorsports (///M or ///M Race car) chassis. If it’s an auto, just look elsewhere because BMW auto’s are the worst in the industry. If you’re looking for a GT/daily get the e46, if you want a weekend track toy/daily get the e36, much more a “drivers” car.

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**Author:** ![93dx\_hatch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/9/90ced4/32.png) [@93dx\_hatch](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/93dx_hatch)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2007, 2:19pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/problems-to-look-for-on-an-e46/33334/6 "2007-08-02T14:19:36Z")

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so Im looking for subframe mounts and rear bushings

It will def. be an e46.

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**Author:** ![turbociv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@turbociv](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/turbociv)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2007, 2:24pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/problems-to-look-for-on-an-e46/33334/7 "2007-08-02T14:24:05Z")

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I highly doubt that the rear subframe is broken unless the car has been beat on HARD. I beat the living snot outta my car and have had no subframe problems yet.

If it drives good, and looks good your probably in the clear. Id still do a carfax just incase its been in a major fender bender.

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**Author:** ![93dx\_hatch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/9/90ced4/32.png) [@93dx\_hatch](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/93dx_hatch)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2007, 2:26pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/problems-to-look-for-on-an-e46/33334/8 "2007-08-02T14:26:03Z")

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I am usually pretty good at spotting paint work, but I will carfax if everything else checks out

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**Author:** ![speedracer18t](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@speedracer18t](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/speedracer18t)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2007, 5:09pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/problems-to-look-for-on-an-e46/33334/9 "2007-08-02T17:09:35Z")

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i just bought an e46, check the front axels, ball joints… ususal things in the front end. look at the power steering lines for leaks, as well as bottom of the engine for randoms leaks…

check the washer fluid bottle for leaks there too.

my e46 ws not orginally a nys car so the bottom of it was crazy clean! i got a XI though. only thing i could find wrong was the washer fluid bottle had a small leak for its o-ring lol

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**Author:** ![MPD47](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mpd47/32/7383_2.png) [@MPD47](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MPD47)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2007, 5:58pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/problems-to-look-for-on-an-e46/33334/10 "2007-08-02T17:58:34Z")

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BMW AWD is just about the worst system on the market in terms of how it drives, it’s design, and working on it. What a waste.

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**Author:** ![walter](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/walter/32/7202_2.png) [@walter](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/walter)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2007, 7:16pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/problems-to-look-for-on-an-e46/33334/11 "2007-08-02T19:16:35Z")

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Faggots behind the steering wheel

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**Author:** ![MPD47](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mpd47/32/7383_2.png) [@MPD47](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MPD47)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2007, 7:40pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/problems-to-look-for-on-an-e46/33334/12 "2007-08-02T19:40:58Z")

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I rofl’d so hard walter I actually sent that to my father. (an e46 owner, :lol:)

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**Author:** ![snowracer101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@snowracer101](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/snowracer101)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2007, 9:10pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/problems-to-look-for-on-an-e46/33334/13 "2007-08-02T21:10:50Z")

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I’m thinking I should have started my thread like this…

I’ll help here…

Make sure the rear end does not look like this…Ripped subframe OBVIOUSLY.

![http://www.turnermotorsport.com/image/suspension/reinf_e46_subframe_2.jpg](http://www.turnermotorsport.com/image/suspension/reinf_e46_subframe_2.jpg)

Also check all windows and sunroof. The motors tend to die out…if they move slow or not at all…problem.

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**Author:** ![Rx3](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/rx3/32/7194_2.png) [@Rx3](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Rx3)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2007, 2:16pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/problems-to-look-for-on-an-e46/33334/14 "2007-08-03T14:16:53Z")

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[quote=“MPD47,post:12,topic:33334"”]

I rofl’d so hard walter I actually sent that to my father. (an e46 owner, :lol:)

[/quote]

That’s why we can’t take him (Walter) anywhere 🙂

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**Author:** ![Fry](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fry/32/7284_2.png) [@Fry](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Fry)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2007, 10:20pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/problems-to-look-for-on-an-e46/33334/15 "2007-08-15T22:20:24Z")

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So I’m driving with my woman a couple of days ago. We’re having a fairly serious conversation. She’s telling me about her friend that was physically abused by her boyfriend (who is a personal injury attorney, \<3 irony) and she’s pressing charges, he’s pulling strings to make the charges disappear, blah blah blah. When I notice that there’s a dude in a BMW riding my ass.

In the midst of this somber conversation I’m turning red in the face trying not to burst out laughing because all I can think is:

[quote=“walter,post:11,topic:33334"”]

Faggots behind the steering wheel

[/quote]

:lol: Probably had to be there…

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**Author:** ![bigtymer7463](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ab992/32.png) [@bigtymer7463](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/bigtymer7463)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2007, 11:15pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/problems-to-look-for-on-an-e46/33334/16 "2007-08-15T23:15:51Z")

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for a friend huh?