20 codes and $3000 later....

So what have we learned?

- Don't just throw parts at it from now on. If you have a problem, post it on here or do much more reasearch on here than you were doing, before buying parts.

A lot of people in your situation blame the car. But the problems your having are very normal for a car with >100K miles. They are normal maintenance items or might not have been broken from the beginning.

- Don't buy cheap parts. My local BMW shop will match online prices, so take ECStuning prices and see if your place won't match that. It will save you A LOT of money.

I'm surprised Going Nuts hasn't said "Trade it in for a Honda"

Originally Posted by AW325i

I'm surprised Going Nuts hasn't said "Trade it in for a Honda"

A car with 160k miles is a car with 160k miles. I've basically only ever owned Hondas, Toyotas, and BMWs and, ironically, my BMWs (my current 2003 330Ci with 60k miles, a 1998 540i 6-speed that I just sold a few months ago with 98k miles, and a 1996 740iL that I owned for six years and sold with 110k miles) have been the most absolutely trouble free cars of the lot. Of course, that's probably because they've all been relatively low mileage. We own a 2004 Civic with 145k miles that I've pumped a decent amount of money into, but I'd never call it a money pit or unreliable - in fact, I'd call it incredibly reliable given the mileage and usage it sees.

What I'm saying, slowguy, is that I think people in this thread are responding as much to your tone as anything else. Every high mileage car I've ever owned has been at its most expensive in the 120-180k mile range. It's just the point where all the not-quite-maintenance-but-not-quite-lifetime stuff begins to fail and you start to see the longterm impact of neglecting regular maintenance at lower miles. It doesn't help that you seem to be ignoring the #1 and #2 rules of DIY car repairs: the cheapest possible fix always comes first and take it to a professional when your only other option is throwing money at multiple possible solutions.

Good luck in any case. Hopefully you're coming up on the light at the end of the tunnel.

Originally Posted by Jools

A car with 160k miles is a car with 160k miles. I've basically only ever owned Hondas, Toyotas, and BMWs and, ironically, my BMWs (my current 2003 330Ci with 60k miles, a 1998 540i 6-speed that I just sold a few months ago with 98k miles, and a 1996 740iL that I owned for six years and sold with 110k miles) have been the most absolutely trouble free cars of the lot. Of course, that's probably because they've all been relatively low mileage. We own a 2004 Civic with 145k miles that I've pumped a decent amount of money into, but I'd never call it a money pit or unreliable - in fact, I'd call it incredibly reliable given the mileage and usage it sees.

What I'm saying, slowguy, is that I think people in this thread are responding as much to your tone as anything else. Every high mileage car I've ever owned has been at its most expensive in the 120-180k mile range. It's just the point where all the not-quite-maintenance-but-not-quite-lifetime stuff begins to fail and you start to see the longterm impact of neglecting regular maintenance at lower miles. It doesn't help that you seem to be ignoring the #1 and #2 rules of DIY car repairs: the cheapest possible fix always comes first and take it to a professional when your only other option is throwing money at multiple possible solutions.

Good luck in any case. Hopefully you're coming up on the light at the end of the tunnel.

Good Post

Originally Posted by slowguy

As I read these posts I am wondering if I am the one being replied to?? 15 year old car - it's a 2000; cheap chinese parts? - with the exception of one cps sensor, all have been german made oem? My wife driving caused the problems?....yes, I'm sure that's why the vanos seals were bad, the fuel pump went, the alternator burnt up, and so on.....I is her car - I drive the Mercedes.

I just simply wanted advice about simple procedures - with the help of the board I've done every single procedure with no problems - I own my own mechanical/technical business and I have a masters in IT...I think I can handle it. Finally, "AAA"...."kids"..... I have neither.

I don't need opinions about chinese crap, or being called an idiot for no apparent reason...those posts are just glossed over anyway. Those post are put up for the poster only to make him/her feel better about themselves.

For those of you who are here to save money, like to do projects yourself, and like giving constructive advice...I thank you. Your advice and experience has been invaluable. It would have been a much "bumpier" road without you.

Yes E46 is a 15 year old car. 15 year old technology and parts, there is nothing new about this.

Didnt say a word about kids. I said a man with a family, if you dont consider your wife as your family then I cant help you. AAA or some other type of road side assistance is a must when you drive around in a 15 year old car.

Originally Posted by Jools

What I'm saying, slowguy, is that I think people in this thread are responding as much to your tone as anything else. Every high mileage car I've ever owned has been at its most expensive in the 120-180k mile range. It's just the point where all the not-quite-maintenance-but-not-quite-lifetime stuff begins to fail and you start to see the longterm impact of neglecting regular maintenance at lower miles. It doesn't help that you seem to be ignoring the #1 and #2 rules of DIY car repairs: the cheapest possible fix always comes first and take it to a professional when your only other option is throwing money at multiple possible solutions.

Good luck in any case. Hopefully you're coming up on the light at the end of the tunnel.

So far, I think this is the most relevant post when considering "opinions". All things considered, I didn't need or want opinions I just wanted mechanical answers. I guess some took offense when lightly calling the car a money pit...and I do have a very competent indy shop...when I need it.

For those of you who consider alternators, fuel pumps, cps sensors, the entire cooling system.. etc...maintenance, I beg to differ. No other car have ever owned required a complete cooling system replacement recommended at 80K miles...oh yeah, and the indy shop agrees. Ball joints I can see, but the bushings and all the joints in the car? All the window regulators?

Please don't take my posts as complaining...just surprised at the what is considered maintenance for this car. Up until this point it has been fairly reliable...and I have done "maintenance". Change filters, change oil, replace parts as they break, tires rotated, etc...this is what I typically know as maintenance. In the past it seemed that if you did these things, break-downs were few and far between and spaced out so as to deal with them easier.

With in the span of six months I've had thousands of dollars worth of failed parts...oh yeah, and guess what...until i bought the car at 120K it had always been maintained by the dealer.

Finally, I will say that EVERY SINGLE part I've replaced...with the exception of ONE CPS sensor was defective. That was my fault because I bought it off ebay...never happened again. after that all parts were genuine bmw parts. Thank you for the posts that are actually constructive...I couldn't have done half the repairs without this forum. And I hope someday I can meet with wasp9166, so we can have a "discussion" about intelligence.