Why You Should NOT Buy a Used BMW

If I’m buying a 20 year old BMW than I’d care less about some crap interior and more focus on the engines

My guess is this car baked in the sun resulting in the interior trim flaws like the headliner fabric pulling away.

BMW big money waster :(

My understanding of that soft rubber paint is that it is a two-shot molding process. The first soft touch layer is injected and they retard the cure or otherwise soften the plastic while a second harder structural plastic is injected behind it to fill the mold.

its honest people like him who save you from banging your head on a concrete wall

This guy bought a car someone neglected to take care of at all just to crap on BMW. So much misinformation in this video, too.

Window regulators are NOT $700 a piece. Total bunk.

You do NOT need "proprietary" tools or "proprietary" knowledge to fix common E46 issues. Watch "50's Kid" videos or check out the E46Fanatics forums. Most jobs are easy and can be accomplished in a few hours even with limited experience.

Replacing cooling system components on the M54 engine is probably easier than any other job on any other engine on the market today. Thermostat, water pump, expansion tank, radiator hoses etc are all on the front of the block held on by a few bolts or clips. Even bigger jobs like the Valve Cover Gasket are remarkably easy.

The E46 is one of the best used cars on the market for their value and ease of maintenance. Just find one that is 2001 or later, as the models from 2001-2004 had stronger subframes than the earlier models, and have it inspected before you buy, like any other car.

I was considering the purchase of a 2003 325 i but you have completely changed my mind. Thanks for a refreshing review of the TRUTH!

Clearly this has all the earmarks of a flood car from Florida that was never garaged! I’ve had the 2001 330Ci Convertible, a 2001 325Ci Coupe, and am currently going through a 2005 330xi AWD Auto fully fully optioned. Never abused but tons of differed maintenance …. WHAT A CAR! The best e46 built! Overall a much better car then the e46 M3! I believe this car will eventually be known as BMW’s best kept sleeper secret! To this day (17 model years later) it is still one of the most absolutely best balanced and handling 4 door sedans in the automotive galaxy! You can still find styling ques from this e46 on today’s 2022 BMW’s! Seriously timeless styling! IF you can find a fully loaded (Sports Pkg, Premium Pkg, Cold Weathet Pkg) 2005 330xi that’s been garaged, kept on maintenance schedule, and had records to verify, BUY IT! No matter the miles! You will enjoy grand touring adrenaline thrills EVERY TIME you drive it! With 37/63 full time AWD I can literally feel the car pull and push me through the curves at the same time! What a sensation!!! 2005 was the final year of the e46 sedan and the very last of the “simple” BMW’s ever built! Snatch them up while they are at the bottom of the value curve! It’s to the moon from here! I’m actually in the process of building a fleet of these 2005 e46 325i and 330i sedans to rent out on Turo! (The Xi will remain as my personal cheap thrill!) Happy hunting!

I was loyal to BMW from 1969 - 1996. I have the 69 BMW 2002 I went with my father to buy new in Frankfurt. My first car in 1980 was a worn out 70 2002 with 140,000 which was a daily driver for 7 years. I later owned a 76 2002, a 71 2800cs, and a 91 e30 318is (with the M42) as daily drivers (plus a bunch of restoration projects and junkers). These were great cars. They needed some maintenance, but they were easy to work on, and had quality materials (well, ah, except for the seat padding in the later 2002s whereby you eventually had a spring poking up your ass - easily fixed though). BMW designed and built for the true enthusiast at heart. The e30 (and the big sedans of that era 83 - 93) were the true high point for BMW - especially the 89 - 92 e30 (M42s). My daughter had a relatively low mileage 5 year old 95 BMW e36. True to the video author's reflections, this car was an embarrassing departure from what I was used to. Plastic radiator neck that crack in half, the head liner falling out, the interior treatments drying up, chipping off, etc. At least the engine and driveline were reliable. I didn't think it could get any worse and stupid me, I bought an e39 528is. It got worse! This is the same generation as the e46 mentioned in this video. Window regulators breaking constantly (I wouldn't use the sunroof least I had to eventually pull out the headliner to fix it), sensors going bad, the entire suspension including the rack and pinon steering unit had to be replaced at 120,000. Plastic water pump impeller! Really?! Luckily I could do most of my own work, but you shouldn't have to do this on a daily driver at that age and mileage. It all changed in the mid 90s. This is when BMW changed its philosophy placing profit over owner satisfaction. As the years ticked by BMW got more greedy and more and more detached from respecting their loyal owner's satisfaction. Their new target buyer market was increasingly the clueless with money to burn wanting a status vehicle with those kidney grills and the blau mit weiss propeller emblem. By the mid-2000s owners wound up at the dealership A LOT but always got the loaner for a month as the tech guys worked on their car (do you ever wonder why you see SO MANY BMW loaners driving around?) Lease it and turn it in. Management at BMW should be ashamed of what they have done to the solid gold legacy built by their predecessors. I have a lot of enthusiast BMW friends who stand by the marque, but most of them are willing to spend the time, have the resources, and knowledge to DIY it to keep them going. Hats off to them. Tell you what though, they put in far more blood, sweat and tears on their newer BMW than I ever did on my pre-96 BMWs back when . These post 96 BMW are like British-Leyland marques from the 1970s. And it keeps getting worse! The BMW V8s as found in the 2000 era 750li. I love hearing BMW techs swap horror stories over a couple of beers on a Saturday night. Plastic timing chain guides disintegrating, spun bearings, seal replacements that take 20 hours and on and on. Then of course there is the modern N63 V8 twin turbo engine. BMWs advice to owners. Just keep adding oil and lots of it and often. OMG.

Bmw inherently doesn’t understand gaskets or hoses. Or it is a targeted ‘profit centre’ for Bmw. They leak. The rubber fails. Beautifully calculated for that 700-1200 sweet zone of repair costs that everyone swallows. Replace your hoses on day one with silicone hoses and you will have 20 years of service. Aluminum expansion tanks and rads by Zion and you can drive to the moon.

this car is superb, M54 engine totally no issues in timing chain, just change the VANOS seals will be fine, 3 hours job!

You mentioned the very small issues except for the rear suspension and cooling system failure , there's many more bigger issues , like oil leak from every where , vacuum leak due to made of cheap plastic .. also the moon roof is another issue ,the radio , the cluster , etc. I owned a 330ci , 325ci , 325i , 325i wagon and they're all the same shit...

why you should NOT buy a used BMW if you don't know how to fix stuff Fixed :)

That’s THE WORST BMW interior I have ever seen. Who owned this car before you reviewed it? That example is just trash. What year is this Bimmer? I must have missed this. I’ll go back and check. That car is a disaster!

I am a BMW enthusiast & I agreed with this video. However if you buy a well maintained one & know what you are getting & maintain it well, most BMW models will treat you very well. The car in this video has been abused so if you buy a car like that just because of the cheaper price, prepare to pay for your mistake.

Most of these problems extend into the new Mini Cooper's as well.

I have all the same issues on my E46 160k miles.

I would indicate that your thumbnail needs to be modified because it is generalizing BMW completely which would not be correct. I have 1991 bmw 525i with 235,000 plus miles, 1994 bmw 530I with 260,000 plus miles, 1999 bmw 740il with over 221,000 plus miles and just purchased a 2007 bmw 328xi with 134,000 plus miles and I have not spent nowhere near what other people have said they have spent on just one bmw. This is being stereotypical which is ignorance.

I have had a few of these cars as well and yes they have a few gremlins but what a lot of people just dont seem to get is that leaving your car in the baking hot sun with the windows up will do a lot of harm to upholstery etc, Have seen it so often. I have seen e46s that are over 20 years old with no interior damage and that is because those people know just how to look after there cars! If it is a hot day just put your windows down..... Simple!

Almost bought a 2002 X5, 167,000 miles. No wonder these 20 year old German junk are so cheap. Glad I did research. You're not the only guy spreading the bad news! Thanks!

Why would you buy this heap of rubbish brand for the badge.
Even the badge breaks.

These cars do have there problems. Still at least they are better than the E90 3 series. The wear out much quicker and in my opinion the E90 design has aged so badly.

ITS SO SAD, THAT THESE CARS ARE SO EXPENSIVE AND THEY ARE MADE WITH THE CHEAPEST MATERIALS, HORRIBLE. I OWN A 2002 325I AND YES, I SEE WHAT THIS VIDEO IS ABOUT, THIS IS SO PAINFUL TO WATCH FROM A VERY EXPENSIVE MAKE.

Would you look at that?!
I mean JUST LOOK AT IT!!👀

Great videos Greg💯

This guy must a bought the worst bmw and now has a grudge. I have a 2004 E46 330ci I bought new when i was 18 so that tells you my age lol my point is your car will treat you like you treat it the only thing I had to do to my car was the regular maintenance and the valve gasket and car still runs and looks almost the same as when I drove it off the lot . BMWs are great cars . I want him to grab a Honda of that same year and compare the maintenance and things wrong with it and I bet that Honda is just as beat if not worse. I’ll say it again it’s all on the owner how they drive and how they treat there cars. Don’t listen to this dude his hair cut tells you a lot about his IQ he just wanted to make a video review and did a horrible job. Stick to your day job Joe Dirt

I am toyota owner but this the only bmw I would buy if I am michanic

I would definitely recommend getting a used BMW 6 cylinder if you want to own one. my car has over 100 miles on it and i always keep up on maintenance and my car last longer. mines a e90 and I've always heard a n52 natural aspirated is reliable.

Lol...piece of shit...lol...first time I've heard you curse...just bought a 2013 Highlander mostly based on what I've learned from your videos...amazing history on this car...all records, 1 owner, garage kept and polished with a diaper

Appreciate all in this video, but to be honest,who builds a car to last today, Australian Fords and Holdens are no better,surfaces delaminating,linings coming away

BMWs are absolute money pits! 💰
People would do well to stay the heck away from them. They used to be pretty solid.

Japanese car have similar problems too and developed earlier.
The automatic window at the era are notorious for Japanese cars after 8 years of running.
The cosmetics though yes Japanese held up better, but if you want the Japanese quality interior, just leave the saggy BMW alone, it have about the same effect. And if you want to restore it, it's a easy job.
Many parts of the Japanese car are weak, but since most people who buy civic or corolla etc care less about drivability and also it was made to have huge wiggle room, it doesn't seem to be a problem for those buyers.
I think the most difference is sensors and location, I live in Asia and you have to be better than most of the mechanic here since they know nothing more than 4 speed auto, and nothing more than 4 cylinders.

I owned a 2003 E46 325i with a manual gearbox that I bought in 2013. The car was nearly perfect except for the cost of buying parts and fixing it. The only things that went wrong with it were the O2 sensors and the alternator but boy were they costly to replace. Even the specialist BMW shop, which charged only 50% of the dealership, was too much for me. The straight 6 engine was a joy but I didn't hang on to the car for too long because I knew I'd have to spend truckloads of money eventually.

You look like you time traveled from the 90s. As an e46 owner of nearly 20 years, only half the stuff you said is true. 700 dollars for a window regulator? Come on.. but yes, you have to know how to take care of these cars if you want to own one for the long haul. Thankfully if you know where to buy the parts, they are mostly cheap and not Chinese.. and car is is pretty easy to work on with plenty of DIY videos

omg straight into the flaws of non-critical plastic parts not even worth watching

this guys an idiot...

lol at the end lol

It looks like you have got a bad example there ? .... In the UK, I don't think I have seen any of the defects you have highlighted to be honest. ... The fabric trim sag on the A pillars and head lining might be something to do with your all year high temperatures

You have to look at this critically. The car he has here has not been maintained. If an owner lets all the cosmetic things go south without attention, you damn well know they haven’t taken good care of the motor/drivetrain.
I have an 02’ 330CI convertible. Had it about 5 years now. It is mint, garage kept, dealer serviced all its life. It does have the plasti coated issue with trim near the shifter, replaced it myself for a few hundred. But other than that, there has been nothing. Full disclosure, it’s a summer/weekend car for me so maybe I am one of the lucky ones.
My daily is a Mazda. Japanese car that you can practically weld the hood shut for 100k miles.
The Germans can never reach Japanese levels of reliability.

The Germans don’t run Germany so this is a good example of that

Just saw this video, I realise that it is six years old. However the feedback to give here is that it is somewhat not correct to say not to buy a used BMW. Perhaps the E46 had problems. I had a BMW 525i 1992 model (M50) drove it for six years no problem at all, especially about all the problems mentioned in this video. I sold it to my brother-in-law at 130000km, he drove it until 250000km, still had no problems. I then bought a 1998 BMW 328i E36. I drove the car until 180000km and sold it to my uncle in 2004, it is now at 355000km. Guess what? Still in its original state, no mechanical problems at all, the only major work was to change the clutch kit and the drivers window module. Interior of the car still original and intact and the exterior. Taking care of the car goes a long way in having a long lasting sound car.

BMW is nothing but the cheap plastics. ...

The worst car decision that I made was buying a used 1999 BMW 323i. The car was a money pit. I suffered through it for 6 years - 2004 to 2010. Anyway, we all learn. My lesson has permanently married me to Hondas and Toyotas.

Maintenance is very important, you have to stay on top of it. check for leaks and replace parts! Don't wait for it to break down! which will happen anyway. LOL / I have an E90 2006 325i / always something... Better to Lease New and turn it in at the end of lease!
Good thing I have a dependable Durango!

No, none of these things should be happening on a car like this.. However, should they be happening on a 20 year old car like this, or a 20 year old car in general? Every car has its fair share of issues. The engine in the e46 is great, aside from the flawed cooling system. Most of the issues you point out are cosmetic and come from time and exposure to the elements.

Everything Greg Macke is saying about the e46 is true! I regret ever buying one. I bought my e46 7 months ago and boy it’s a piece of junk. With 156,000 miles after doing so much work on it and changing the ignition coils, spark plugs, VANOS and DISA valve It’s burning oil and needs a new engine. The plastic in it is crap. I love the way it drives and handles but it’s a piece of shit! Shame on BMW !

Drove almost 100,000km on a used late model (2017) BMW and only had 3 problems that are very common for the model (X5) and engine (N55). Other than that owning a BMW is just like another car, oil changes, air filters, brake pads etc.

This horrible Material is called "Softlack" wich means soft cover and is a common problem of German cars from this time, in Germany BMW is the acronym for "Bring Me Workshop...or Bad Made Worse"

I went to check out 2001 330xi, it doesn't have these issues, was close to buying until when im slowing down pressing the brakes its shakes and vibrant at idle.... really liked how well it handled tho and has decent push power for a 20 year old car, sucks that it was shaking and had a p0440 code

BMW, be my wife to a mechanic, then only you buy one