Looking at a 2005 325Ci. Any thoughts or experience?
 

The daily driver is getting a little long in the tooth, and beginning to develope some chronic issues. I found a 2005 325 Ci (Coupe) with 98,600 miles. It has a 5 spd, and is nicely optioned with the sport package, cold weather package, HK stereo system, leather interior, and sunroof. Looks very nice but haven't driven it yet. What's getting ready to go, or will go soon, wear item wise? The last BMW I had was a 75 2002 back in the early 80's, so I know little about the newer ones.

Also saw a 2006 MB C230 sport sedan, with approx 116,000 miles. Has a 6 speed, and most of the features of the 325. Same question as to this one.

Given the choices, and knowing potential problem areas, which would you lean towards?

The E46 series is very DIY. I had a 2006 325i and did all of the work on it. The window regulators go out with regularity, but you can get aftermarket ones for less than $50 and the install only takes an hour.

Hopefully at 98K miles someone has gone through the cooling system. It is recommended that you replace the belts, water pump, thermostat, hoses and expansion tank. Some replace the radiator. I did all but the radiator in my driveway on a Saturday in about 4 hours and cost around $600. The 6 cylinder engine is virtually indestructible. Some have had problems with the VANOS, but again, the fix is DIY. The manual transmission will last forever.

Oh and Bentley makes a very comprehensive manual for the E46 and there is great online support.

I don't know squat about MB's so can offer no opinion there.

What Kurt said. Rule #1 of used E46 ownership is to go through the cooling system. You can get all you need for $500 as a package deal and it's not hard to do.

The 325ci is pretty but not very powerful. If you can stretch to a 330 motor you will probably be much happier. Happiest might be a ZHP edition.

Warning: those cars are nothing like a 2002. Compared to the old 4 cylinder, those modern inline 6s engines are so smooth as to be *completely* devoid of character, I know it's a quality for most people, but they bore the $hit out of me (like driving a rubber band wrapped in butter with caramel filling - only indication of what RPM you are pulling is the Tach)

E46s are infamous for rear subframe cracks, but the 325 is so low on power it won't be an issue ;-)

I have an '01 330i. Pretty much what is said above (I need to do the cooling system go-through though). I have replaced the water pump, but not the various hoses and expansion tank. I too had to do the window regulators. As noted above, you can DIY, about 1 hour per door is about right.

The other area to look at is the suspension. If the wheel shakes on braking at decent speed (50+), then it needs new control arm bushings. Easy fix, especially if you can get time on a lift.

The other thing to know is that when the shocks / struts go on these, I can imagine it being n not so obvious on a test drive. The car does not get "bouncy", instead, I'd say it gets "saggy". For example, it will bottom out on speed bumps. That too is a DIY job, but took me while. It was not clear to me how bad it was until I replaced them, and then I was like "woah" - so that is what the car drove like when I got it! :)

When I picked out my car, it was clear there was a significant performance difference between the 325 and 330. Same can be said for sport package. Premium package is nice, in that I do like the rain-sensing wipers.

I also respectfully disagree with the engine being devoid of character. It has character, it's just that it has the character that Greg describes. I think it pulls nice and smooth, power comes on in a very nice, even way. 330 has plenty of torque, and mine makes nice sounds. I guess this comes down to a personal preference. I don't like "buzzy" engines that feel like they are working hard all the time.

Another anecdotal comment about the 330i: My wife does not drive manual much. She had to drop me off in the car, and I saw about 1/2 the time she was starting off in 3rd (she is secretly afraid she'll throw it into reverse, go figure - so is timid about going too far left to go into 1st). She just thought it was hard to drive, had no idea she was in the wrong gear. The car will handle it!

Yup.. I may have been a tad harsh ;-) They are lovely and inherently smooth engines with a completely linear torque/power curve. That's what bores me after 3 of them, I don't like trashy buzzy engines either, but it's kinda nice to feel a motor get "on the cam" or punch you in the kidneys at a certain RPM... That does not happen on those, they are smooth as glass throughout. Some might construe this as sophisticated, some as boring. Just a warning to drive and see if you like it, I meant that especially in the context of the OP's experience with the old 2002 4 cyl. Completely different animal. Ditto on reverse, my wife had to use 2 hands !!!

LOL! Same with my wife. That is the funny part. How can you be scared to use 1st because it is so close to (and in the same direction as ) reverse, yet you need 2 hands to get it into reverse?!?!

Women!