I saw this on Facebook and I'm wondering if it's a good idea or not

[-]

emra700@reddit

A BMW with engine codes……color me shocked

[-]

Familiar_Palpitation@reddit

There's nothing more expensive than a cheap European car.

[-]

EEpromChip@reddit

The ‘85 Jag getting dragged into my shop will disagree with you. The LT1 motor also would like a few words. And the standalone ECU had some choice curses to throw in.

[-]

Familiar_Palpitation@reddit

Gen 1 LT1?

Personally I would start over with a modern LS/LT series motor rather than mees with the old 90s LT1.

I would go with an old school SBC with modern fuel injection.

[-]

EEpromChip@reddit

Technically it's a Gen 2 LT1. 93 / 94 Corvette motor. It's got fuel injectors and a Megasquirt coming. It's modern fuel injection.

[-]

punkassjim@reddit

This is usually the most relevant axiom, except when the potential buyer has tons of experience and knows wtf they’re doing. In which case, they wouldn’t need to ask.

Regardless, the best way to handle something like this is to pay a known-good euro mechanic for two hours of their time to come out, scan with a platform-specific scan tool, and climb in/on/under the car to build an accurate punch list. Then and only then should the price negotiations commence, if the mechanic hasn’t told you to walk away.

[-]

awright69@reddit

If it is a euro, just say “no”

[-]

Due_Strawberry4161@reddit

I had a 328i while living in Houston. I know why all my friends kept leasing or buying new ones when the warranty ran out. Maintenance can be astronomical on German cars out of warranty.

[-]

NervusBelli@reddit

Problem is - this is veeeeery likely not to be simple issue as switch, expect engine to be dead, like dead dead

[-]

nikediboi@reddit

Nah, these M54 engines doesnt die so easily even when neglected. Probably just some electrical problem.

[-]

hangindawg@reddit

Multiple cam codes usually means its due a time set. I work at a junkyard. Cool car...money pit.

[-]

nikediboi@reddit

Or just some simple electrical problem. These M54 engines doesnt have timing chain problems.

[-]

iwfabrication@reddit

Lol. $2? For that? Hard pass. Newer models can be had for that or a bit more.

[-]

nikediboi@reddit

Newer models at that price range are the real money pits, these older ones you can do everything yourself and are reliable when taken care of.

[-]

Daemonsblaze0315@reddit (OP)

Thanks guys! Hard pass on this it seems

[-]

nikediboi@reddit

If you can wrench yourself, go for it, but haggle the price down abit.

[-]

Nutbardelete@reddit

good call. my buddy bought an E39 5 series a while ago, got onto the highway and immediately threw #5 and 6 rods through both sides of the block. his E46 has had thousands upon thousands put into it. I've been the only person telling him not to buy beemers this whole time lol

[-]

nikediboi@reddit

He shouldnt buy bmw's that havent been taken care of.

[-]

Tuques@reddit

Might cost you 2k to buy, but 15k to get running properly lol

[-]

nikediboi@reddit

What are you even talking about? For 20k, you can refresh that whole car lol. If you can wrench yourself, these old bmw's arent even expensive to maintain.

[-]

Big-Energy-3363@reddit

Simply put, NO

[-]

themwnn@reddit

The people telling you this is high risk are crazy imo. Looks like all easy stuff to me.

There’s a couple of sensors you could prob replace easily with parts from a wrecking yard. Check fuses as well, some new fuses could likely fix a lot of those errors.

Take out the air filter and spray in a bit of brake clean when u crank it and if it fires then you know it’s not getting fuel and that’s why it won’t start. Most likely dead fuel pump which is cheap and easy to replace.

A compression test would let you know if the engine is completely stuffed but you can get an idea just from cranking it if it has a rhythmic sound as in each cylinder is compressing air like it should

[-]

the_fools_brood@reddit

Instead, open your front door, and just start throwing money out side. At least then it might end up with someone who can do some good with it.

[-]

SnooMacarons3689@reddit

Keep stepping

[-]

follow_the_dopamine@reddit

Plot twist, it’s the fuel system

[-]

pawsforbear@reddit

I got a bmw running that only needed a fuel pump. It was actually the fuel pump relay wiring.

But after I got it running i discovered it had obscene chain slap and valve train noise.

[-]

pawsforbear@reddit

2k for a non running e46 is a stretch. With an auto? Let reality set in for him. Under 1k for sure.

[-]

CableMartini@reddit

any time u see a german car for sale, be wary. theyre always for sale for a reason

[-]

lord_flashheart2000@reddit

The seller has already fired the parts cannon at it, so there’s obviously something very wrong. Hard pass for me.

[-]

punkassjim@reddit

Firing the parts cannon is what people do when they have no idea how to diagnose something. So, I wouldn’t take it as a sign that there’s anything particularly serious wrong with it. Just that the person spent money without knowing for certain that they should. I’ve definitely bought cars where people threw thousands of dollars at a problem that took me $30 and a half hour to fix.

[-]

teeheEEee27@reddit

Some euro haters here. But my answer is "it depends..."

...on your lok, comfort with troubleshooting/diagnostics, experience with bmw/german/euro.

Euros are my favorite, but they will make you work for it.

I had a friend that bought a b6 a4 for $500 in near mint condition with 60k miles because it wouldn't start. The fix was a $45 clutch pedal sensor.

That's an extreme rare case, but the seller here has already done a lot but maybe overlooked some smaller things...look at the reader, do some research, decide if you're up for the challenge. Then offer him less to pick it up same day.

$20k into that car is gonna do a lot more than get it running for the year. Only way you're dropping that coin just to run is if you take it to a shop that doesn't know what they're doing.

[-]

punkassjim@reddit

I had a friend that bought a b6 a4 for $500 in near mint condition with 60k miles because it wouldn't start. The fix was a $45 clutch pedal sensor.

Man, if I had more space to work with, I’d be trawling Craigslist for things like this as a side hustle. I see things like this fairly often.

[-]

shupack@reddit

I have an old Land Rover. I NEVER recommend anyone buy an old Land Rover.... no matter the condition.

[-]

No-Excitement-395@reddit

Well yeah thats a land rover not a bmw

[-]

Particular_Witness95@reddit

it may cost you $20k to get running and moving for a year or so, but at least by the time you are done, you will have become an expert on old bmw electrical and timing systems.

[-]

No-Excitement-395@reddit

$20k?? Maybe $10k and you refreshed everything in engine bay and suspension

[-]

punkassjim@reddit

Man, even that $10k figure seems way overboard to me. For a complete e46 with nothing but sensor and/or circuitry problems, I’d drop $200 at the pick-n-pull yard for my first wave of “throw parts at it,” and replace those in the driveway. That should at least get things working well enough for a clearer diagnosis. Long as the engine has good compression, the rest is just implementation details.

Even if it needed a motor, I’m certain I could get a good condition lump for under $500 and throw it in on an idle weekend with some buds.

[-]

kabobkebabkabob@reddit

Assume it's a shell pay 300 bucks

[-]

andrewkpt@reddit

gif

No

[-]