Gonna buy a 325xi soon

I am new to the forums but I have always loved BMW's and now I finally can afford one and I really like the E46. I found a 2003 325xi with 91XXX miles for $9980. I was just wondering if that was a good deal or what you guys thought about it. The delearship is about an hour from me and I'm going to check it out tomorrow. I wanted know if there is anything I should look out for or be looking for that would give it away of being bad. Thanks for helping me out! And I can't wait to own my one E46 and be an active member of this community!
G.

1.) Maintenance records.
2.) How it drives, should be tight and without a floaty feeling. Also shouldn't have any creaks, groans, vibrations, rattles, etc.
3.) Maintenance records.
4.) How the engine sounds, no rattles, squeals, groans, etc.
5.) Maintenance records.
6.) Condition of the interior. Should be obvious.
7.) Maintenance records.
8.) Condition of the exterior. Should be obvious, no rust. Tires should have good life left in them.
9.) Maintenance records.

Whatever you do and no matter which E46 you buy, reserve ~$500 for maintenance expenses that will come up within the first 6 months to a year you own the car. You will have to change all driveline fluids immediately because it's likely never been done. Also, engine oil should be changed immediately just for good measure. This is especially true if you aren't buying the car from a BMW shop.

Did I mention the car should have maintenance records?

What do you think of the price?

Price is about right if it has a manual transmission and a clean PPI.

It's automatic

Link to the car online?

http://www.elitemotorsonline.com/web...inois/1180067/

No premium package, no sport package, no xenons, and no factory stereo. If this car is in spectacular condition, I'd say it's priced fairly. It is, however, probably not in spectacular condition (both mechanically and cosmetically) so I'd peg this car no higher than $8500. Go in with an offer of $8k and work up from there but don't pay asking. Make sure you have a good pre-purchase inspection through either the local BMW dealer or good BMW shop and give the results of the inspection to the dealer. Tell them to either fix these issues or drop the price.

details about that car:

VIN WBAEU33483PH90606
Type code EU33
Type 325XI (USA)
E series E46 (4FL)
Series 3
Type LIM
Steering LL
Doors 4
Engine M54
Displacement 2.50
Power 141
Drive ALLR
Transmission AUT
Colour BLACK SAPPHIRE METALLIC (475)
Upholstery STANDARDLEDER/HELLBEIGE 2 (ARBEITSN (N6HC)
Prod.date 2002-11-11




Code
Description (interface)
Description (EPC)
S203A ALLRADSYSTEM 4-wheel drive
S205A AUTOMATIC GETRIEBE Automatic transmission
S240A LEDERLENKRAD Leather steering wheel
S249A MULITFUNKTION FUER LENKRAD Multifunction f steering wheel
S403A GLASDACH, ELEKTRISCH Glass roof, electrical
S431A INNENSPIEGEL,AUTOMATISCH ABBLENDEND Interior mirror with automatic-dip
S438A EDELHOLZAUSFUEHRUNG Fine wood trim
S441A RAUCHERPAKET Smoker package
S459A SITZVERSTELLUNG, ELEKTR.MIT MEMORY Seat adjuster, electric, with memory
S465A DURCHLADESYSTEM Through-loading system
S473A ARMAUFLAGE VORN Armrest front
S494A SITZHEIZUNG FUER FAHRER/BEIFAHRER Seat heating driver/passenger
S495A 3. KOPFSTUETZE HINTEN 3-point belt and headrest, center rear
S502A SCHEINWERFER-WASCHANLAGE Headlight cleaning system
S520A NEBELSCHEINWERFER Fog lights
Code
Description (interface)
Description (EPC)
S521A REGENSENSOR Rain sensor
S534A KLIMAAUTOMATIK Automatic air conditioning
S550A BORDCOMPUTER On-board computer
S640A AUTOTELEFONVORBEREITUNG Preparation f tel.installation universal
S650A CD-LAUFWERK CD player
S676A HIFI LAUTSPRECHERSYSTEM HiFi speaker system
S692A CD WECHSLER I-BUS VORBEREITUNG Preparation, BMW 6-CD changer I-bus
S818A BATTERIEHAUPTSCHALTER Battery master switch
S925A VERSANDSCHUTZPAKET Transport protection package
S926A ERSATZRAD Spare wheel




Code
Description (interface)
Description (EPC)
S210A DYNAMISCHE STAB. CONTROL (DSC) Dynamic stability control
S279A LM RAEDER/STERNSPEICHE 45 BMW light-alloy wheel star spokes 45
S354A GRUENKEIL-FRONTSCHEIBE Green windscreen, green shade band
S411A FENSTERHEBER,ELEKTRISCH VORN/HINTEN Window lifts,electric,front/rear
S645A RADIO-STEUERUNG US BMW US Radio
S661A RADIO BMW BUSINESS Radio BMW Business (C43)
S823A HEISSLAND-AUSFUEHRUNG Hot-climate version
S832A BATTERIE IM KOFFERRAUM Battery in luggage compartment
S845A AKUSTISCHE GURTWARNUNG Acoustic belt warning
S853A SPRACHVERSION ENGLISCH Language version English
S876A FUNKFREQUENZ 315 MHZ Radio frequency 315 MHz
S992A STEUERUNG KENNZEICHENBEFESTIGUNG Control of number-plate attachment

^ I love the internets.

Welcome to the world of perpetual maintenance.

Germans are fun! From the VIN dump >

"FUNKFREQUENZ" ( a radio that loops the tune - Brick House)

Originally Posted by Rickna

Welcome to the world of perpetual maintenance.

perpetual maintenance syndrome?

Take a hike to the dealer, skip the xi and eyeball the s4 .
http://www.elitemotorsonline.com/web...inois/1126365/

Its a far better car. Mine made it over 200k without issues and it was an auto. Stock vs. stock i bet that thing would rape a 330xi at the drag strip, track even autox (flame suit on).

^ If you made it over 200k miles in an S4 without any issues either you're the luckiest person alive or are lying. Those cars are the poster childs of unreliability, well them and Land Rovers.

Originally Posted by SamDoe1

No premium package, no sport package, no xenons, and no factory stereo. If this car is in spectacular condition, I'd say it's priced fairly. It is, however, probably not in spectacular condition (both mechanically and cosmetically) so I'd peg this car no higher than $8500. Go in with an offer of $8k and work up from there but don't pay asking. Make sure you have a good pre-purchase inspection through either the local BMW dealer or good BMW shop and give the results of the inspection to the dealer. Tell them to either fix these issues or drop the price.

How can you tell there is no premium package? (So I can tell the dealer that is do not have it, any obvious clues?)

Originally Posted by GSchneider

How can you tell there is no premium package? (So I can tell the dealer that is do not have it, any obvious clues?)

Just reviewed the options, it actually does have the premium package. Doesn't have xenons or HK sound though.

ZPP - Premium PackageThe premium package has been available on all 3-series cars. It typically included:

Different wheels/tires [if ordered with the sport package, the sport package wheels/tires superseed]
A multifunction steering wheel [IF it was not already standard on the vehicle]
Wood grain interior trim [if ordered with the sport package, the premium package wood is typically installed, unless specifically requested otherwise]
Rain-sensing windshield wipers (became standard equipment in 2004)
Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
Power seats
Lumbar Support (not available on the 325)
Moonroof (note: moonroof can also be ordered separately)

Originally Posted by jasonbimmer

perpetual maintenance syndrome?

PMS...Clever, LOL

Originally Posted by e46alfonso

Take a hike to the dealer, skip the xi and eyeball the s4 .
http://www.elitemotorsonline.com/web...inois/1126365/

Its a far better car. Mine made it over 200k without issues and it was an auto. Stock vs. stock i bet that thing would rape a 330xi at the drag strip, track even autox (flame suit on).

Pffff. S4's are garbage after 70k. My buddy's B5 exploded while parked. Audi's feel like ****, tear themselves to pieces at the track, and never beat me in autox.

I found another one. What you guys think?

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...&&aff=national