Common Problems With Your E46

[J4M3S]

maybe i'll just try that first then see if does the trick nice one gav

[sarbmw]

Hi,

If you can remember to drive along at about 30 mph,

and at the same time pull up on the hand brake slightly

it shouldclean them off and keep them working well.

About once a month should be alright.

Regards

[Wainzor]

Front and rear suspension arm bushes, handbrake loosens over time and had some slight rust issues.

[tay447]

Bought in jan 2012,2002 E46 330 Ci sport 101k on the clock - now 108k, brilliant to drive, goes from a quiet motorway munching tourer (50 mile round trip to work - which I enjoy now!), to a tarmac shredding beast when you forget about fuel and look for corners ; ) mind you she gets around 30ish if you resist. Can get high 30's on long motorway runs if you stay at 70!!!!

Anyway, problems - replaced lower control arm rear bushes, get Powerflex!!! Pretty common problem in mags.

- Anti-roll bar bushes- powerflex again!!! Buy them!!

- Brake light switch, !Removed! thing was cancelling cruise control to boot, £5 salvage part- prob sorted!

- Broken rear coil springs- doing next week, seems common on here.

- OBC not appearing on display- hoping for help on this one, have posted on here.

- Unsure of gearbox action, tends to feel 'sticky', more when cold I'd say, again posted on here.

- PDC doesn't work- will get round to it- suggestions?

- Airbag, fog and dip/main tell tales don't come on at start- test program doesn't light them either!

- Driver's wing rotted and paint bubbling on bonnet, salvage wing and re-spray for both- fresh paint makes you notice

the other marks doesn't it :(

- Leak from passenger headlight washer motor unit- looks an ##### to swap/ get parts, I'll do it in a bit!

- Alloys need a refurb, saving up! Feb had new front tyres, last week new rears, ouch.

- Driver's side bolster wearing, saving up!

- Crackly passsenger speaker- getting done next week- don't think it's the extra Harmon-Kardon one luckily- no idea

where I'd find another of them.

Hope this helps in making a list of common faults, have been ultra critical, it's still a hell of a lot of car for £3700 with FSH and the handbooks up against something similar for the same sort of dosh, considering all the equipment you get, rep for reliability, how it looks, goes, drives- as Gav says try a French car (I have) and see how one of them seems after 10 years and 100k!

[NikNak]

I have /have had problems with my 2005 E46 Convertible;

1. The drivers window winds the whole way down when opening the drivers door, and winds all the way up on closing (annoying in the rain!)

2. The TV always says mute in green at the bottom. Says it could be poor signal but always says it...

3. Just had the swirl flaps and intake and inlet manifolds replaced because they were leaving oil/diesel.

Otherwise, so far so good!

[mr metatarsal]

Hi,

Just thought i would ask this for a mate. He has a 2000(or somewhere in that region of time) plate E46 323i. When he does long distances at speed He gets out the car and smells hot/melting rubber on the rear passenger side. He has had it a BMW specialist who cant figure it out. So has anyone here had this symptom and found out what it was? There isnt any wear on his tyres etc. Possibly a rubbing brake heating a wheel and in turn heating anything attached to the wheel?

Im outa ideas

Andy

MMMMMM mine does this too after a thrashing,done it for years.Any ideas crew?

[marsw1]

Hi guys. I'm the new owner of a 2003 330ci Clubsport.

My brakes failed yesterday and rather than crashing into the car in front of me I managed to swerve and mount a high curb which damaged my alloy and tyre. Anyway, when I pressed my brakes there was a grinding, crunchy type feeling and the brakes did not work. I experienced something very similar in a previous (non BMW) car, which turned out to be related to the ABS.

I drove off and the brakes have been absolutely fine ever since, but it's an issue that only happens every now and again. There are pretty new pads and discs on the car but like I said, it feels like a similar issue with ABS I've had before. I can't quite remember but I think it turned out to be a fairly cheap job to fix because it was only a perished rubber part - or something like that.

Any idea what it is exactly so I can instruct a garage? Or any similar experiences on here?

Took it to a garage today, they had it all day and said at the end of the day "we took it for a spin and the brakes were fine, so we didn't do anything. If it happens again bring it back in and we'll have another look".

If it happens again, that could be the end of me!

[Billy78]

325cise 2003 89k

Rear parking censors not working ? not long had this car so could do with some hints, thanks, billy

[Billy78]

325cise 2003 89k

Rear parking censors not working ? not long had this car so could do with some hints, thanks, billy

[Billy78]

325ci se 89k 2003

Rear parking censors not working ? Only just got her lovely car but need to fix this ASAP..

[Guest]

The lite under the "P" (Park) indicator next to shifter stays LIT even after car is turned off. WTH???

And, the car seems to lurch at times when in SPORT mode......not too sporting, if you ask me.

Can't download the danged Address Book from my Moto Photon Q to the car. What a royal pain.

[Kopfschmerzen0]

I own a 318i and has had so far the head gasket replaced and head skimmed + Thermostat , expansion tank, suspension arms +bushes , antiroll bar link + hoses etc etc , and its only done 76000 miles !!!

Now i have the yellow oil lamp on after starting ,but goes out again ( guessing oil level sensor is fault ? ) And a sometimes lumpy idle ( not always ?? )

I still Love this car , but my bank does not !!!!!!!!

[Guest]

The "P" lamp on the shifter console stays on all the time.

The car lurches from a stand-still, like at a stop sign. Does so less after car is warm.

Car is slow to turn over, sounds like a bad battery. Local BMW repair place says 'That is normal for this car'. That does not sound normal.

[tony pa]

normal things air bag light comes on if passenger seat moved just wiring water in battery tray through boot lid dont know why thats all

[G4VHD]

It's leaking through the light cluster

[Kopfschmerzen0]

Need some Help !

I own a 318i and have a new problem , When starting cold all is fine , but when engine hot and i try to start it either revs really low and will not take on throttle ,or it stalls again , After a little revving it runs then fine again ?? I am sure it makes when warm a funny sound when engine turning over ( maybe not ?/ )

Does anybody know what the problem might be ???

Cheers

[Dannyboy]

hi all i am new to the forum and at this moment looking for a 330 ci sport have about 3k ( not the most but all i have ) and wondering are these cars reliable - i am not looking for a guarantee of course - reassurance i think now lol

thanks you

[OllieGibbs]

I've had a 316 Compact ti SE (53 plate) for four years.

The electrics are never quite what they should be:

1/ Rear wiper and washer haven't worked for three years.

2/ Ignition block had to be replaced three years ago.

3/ Starter motor was replaced a year ago.

4/ Remote central locking failed six months ago.

5/ Stereo occasionally jams on at full volume.

6/ Intermittently turn key with zero response from starter motor.

7/ Now refusing to start at all.

I suppose I need recommendations for E46 mechanics in West/Central London that aren't going to take me to the cleaners.

Help!

[STE320d]

Now then peeps got a dsc light and amber hand brake on my 320d msport 03 I understand its the steering angle sensor can this be cleared or does the sensor have to be replaced ?? Help please got no dsc aka slide ways allot

[phil67]

Got car back from the garage after clutch and DMF change and was told that i have a crack in the centre pipe on my exhaust which he reckons is a common fault, something to do with the weight and location of brackets not supporting it.

[tabernsj]

Hi All,

2002 318i, owned 1 year 108k miles (I bought it with 102k)

Chain tensioner replaced

Brake vacuum pump seal replaced

Crankshaft speed sensor replaced

Camshaft Sensor replaced

Radiator expansion tank replaced

Passenger seat air bag mat fixed

Clutch replaced

and now I am told the rear brake hoses need replacing.

[chris_maclachlane46]

2000 318 120,000 both ns and os rear brake lines corroded. (over fuel tank )

[chris_maclachlane46]

I own a 318i and has had so far the head gasket replaced and head skimmed + Thermostat , expansion tank, suspension arms +bushes , antiroll bar link + hoses etc etc , and its only done 76000 miles !!!

Now i have the yellow oil lamp on after starting ,but goes out again ( guessing oil level sensor is fault ? ) And a sometimes lumpy idle ( not always ?? )

I still Love this car , but my bank does not !!!!!!!!

i have the same problem with the yellow oil light .. what does this mean ?

[Kopfschmerzen0]

Yellow oil light on after starting ,then goes off after about 50 seconds means you need a new oil level sensor , Not sure how much they cost ,but guessing about £20 , You can change it when you change your oil as it is down there too and cannot be replaced otherwise ,I just live with it and check my oil Weekly, Damm sensors !!!!!!

[bullencraig]

2001 e46 320td se compact - owned for 5 years

rear wind screen wiper intermittent - current not working

passenger side door lock intermittent - currently working fine

front suspension bushes - replaced 12 month ago

oil light going yellow on startup then going out - fixed by replacing oil level sensor

clogged egr valve - fixed by removing egr valve and replacing with egr replacement pipe

swirlflaps - removed and fitted blanks from pmw

turbo - died after less than 3 months of ownership replaced under warrenty by bmw as brough used from a dealer

apart from above been a good car.

craig