[lennyf]

Thinking of getting my son a used 2006 BMW 325Ci Coupe....
It has 60k miles and a clean Carfax.
Should I be concerned with any possible issues ??
Its an Automatic.

Thanks in advance.

[jarsdad1]

It a BMW. Issues are standard, not an option. Get a PPI and try to get the maintenance history. The car you are looking at is an e46, not e90.

[lennyf]

my bad.

thanx

[Brandicular]

Originally Posted by lennyf

Thinking of getting my son a used 2006 BMW 325Ci Coupe....
It has 60k miles and a clean Carfax.
Should I be concerned with any possible issues ??
Its an Automatic.

Thanks in advance.

I've got an '02 E46 330CI and it's been a marvelous car. Only has 77k miles, and have had very few issues.

Bad door-lock actuator, valve cover gasket, weird airbag code that eventually just went away.

[CTinline-six]

As with any car, research the potential issues it may have, and be prepared for them.

E46 cars have their fair share of issues, just like the E90, but I would say they are cheaper to own, and easier to DIY (more mechanical less electronic). Cooling systems are big maintenance items, but you can replace the entire cooling system on an E46 for like 200 bucks and a day in your driveway. The water pump alone on an e90 car costs more than that.

Also, a 2006 car is now 11 years old, so be prepared for little plastic bits to break and certain wear items like valve cover gaskets and other things to get brittle. It will be a good car to teach your son DIY maintenance though.

[Pierce330]

Not the quickest car and the E46 automatic trannies aren't that great!

[Efthreeoh]

I have a friend who bought her son a 2001 325Ci. It had about 275,000 on it. I've been involved with consulting her on keeping it operating while he gets through college. I've driven it. This a BMW that has not been well taken care of, but it still drives damned great for 285,000 it has on it now. She just had the clutch done over Christmas break. I spoke with the shop owner that did the clutch and he went over the car and said it was in good shape (he's a BMW enthusiast and racer). The engine purrs like a kitten and the trans and diff are in good shape.

I say all this because the E46 chassis seems to hold up well to time and mileage (I have a lot of experience with BMWs that have time and high mileage on them). So I'd say at 60,000 miles for the last year of the E46 it would be a good buy. It will have its share of issues as all older, used cars, and especially BMWs, do, but you can get a whole bunch of miles out of it.

Now if I had a kid of driving (and texting) age, I'd look for a manual transmission'd car. A manual does four things for you: (1) keeps his hands busy and off the phone, (2) will keep most of his friends from asking to borrow his car since most kids these days can't and don't want to drive a manual trans car, (3) has a bit more reliability over an automatic, and (4) helps make for a better, interested and more involved driver, which may save his life one day.

My 2 cents.

[TheBingoBalls]

Uncle had one, it was a great car when it worked but it was plagued with electric problems and ultimately the transmission blew/failed and that was it for the car. I know we all joke about the problems BMW have but I truly believe the E46 is/was the best 3-Series but also one of the worst in terms of reliability.

[tcphoto]

I owned an '01 325Cic for nearly seven years and it was a love/hate relationship. The cooling system was poorly engineered, plastic and rubber deteriorated and needed replacing but it drove so well. I averaged $100 a month to keep it at a decent level but learned a great deal by doing maintenance and repairs myself.

[cwbmw]

Boring engine, great gift to a kid though. You'll need to re-haul the entire cooling system right after you get it.

[E46driver]

I had a 06 325ci prior to my e92. Traded it in because of the headaches it was giving me at 78k miles. Fantastic car when it's working! I miss that car sometimes.

[6ixSpd]

Other than the gearbox, it will be an amazing reliable car. The M54B25 is one of the best inline 6 BMW motors ever and suffered from none of the major issues that plague the M54B30. Expect to replace various plastic trim bits inside/out though as they wear down quick, especially now that its over a decade old.

Parts pricing for them are so cheap it's laughable. You can practically replace all the motor accessories on that car for like $1200 in parts. Suspension components are just as cheap now.

It's very hard to find a fun, cheap to fix, solid daily driver than an E46 325i/Ci. The dollar:fun ratio is impossible to beat.

[KNS]

Sorry if I sound like a broken record but my 2004, 210,000 mile 325i has been the best/most reliable car I've ever owned. I've owned it since new and it astonishes me how good this car is. Yes, I've done a lot of preventive work on it, cooling system, control arm bushings etc., but it's a BMW - you know those are weak points going in.

Things that have failed on me: a window regulator and a fuel level sending unit - that's it. The only check light (a SES light) I've ever had was for an O2 sensor. Every single light bulb is still the original bulb (and I do a lot of night driving). The AC blows ice cubes and I've not done a damn thing to it.

I've thought of selling it but I can't bring myself to do it.

[grovedale]

I owned a 2003 325Ci for 5 years, as others have mentioned, I did have to replace a thermostat and housing, coolant reservoir, and windshield washer pump. Other than standard consumables, that was it. A very reliable car, and a very engaging car to drive. Here's a pic.

[siphor1989]

2006 was the last production year of the e46 coupe and I believe the m sport package also came standard. So you automatically get the updated headlights, LED taillights, along with all the M sport parts (bumpers, wheels, steering wheel, door sills). And that year won't have any of the bugs or known defects that earlier e46s suffered. IMO, it's a great buy!

[litxus]

I agree with what most said above, as my 2000 323Ci Manual was one of the more reliable cars I owned and was more fun in some cases than my current E90 (especially corners and reliablity!).

[trjn]

I had 01 325CI before e92. Loved it. Chassis is well balanced, engine is really smooth.
During my 7 years of ownership(upto 185k miles), I never had to change the water pump(had a new one as a backup just in case). Thermostat went out twice, fuel pump once, VCG three times, OFHG once, guibo and CSB once, CCV once, full suspension overhaul once, etc etc. These were all repairs not maintenance.

All in all, its a good car. Very fun to drive, never left me stranded but things kept breaking. Spent more than the car's worth to keep it running in top shape. Its a good car to own and learn how to work on cars. I would say its a perfect platform to start liking BMWs. That M54 engine is a gem.

[lennyf]

Thanks guys.
So sorry I had posted to the wrong forum but fwiw you guys gave me more input.
I picked it up Saturday.
My son is VERY happy.
Automatic though no manual.