Hey Guys, looking to get myself an E46 to daily drive for a year or so while we find a new house with a driveway for me to work on the drift conversion. What would be the ideal 'auto trader search'? Mileage, model, year etc etc. Any help much obliged!
Autotrader tend to be quite high priced. If you are going to use it for drifting and a daily at first, I’d worry less about mileage and more about general condition. Facebook Marketplace will probably be your place for a competitively priced car. Now E46’s – few key things to bear in mind. Radiator – replace it – they banana. Expansion tank – Replace it – they go boom. Rad hoses – replace them – they’re probably 20 years old and shite. Use best quality bits you can (Meyle HD) are notoriously good in BMW circles. Body wise – rear arches like to rust, you will also have to plan to drop the subframe at some point, for bushes - factor in re-doing the rear brake lines boot floor supports while you are in there. Usual suspects too – Track rods, Track rod ends, lollipop bushes, lower front control arms. Engine wise – well I like a 2.5 petrol or above – I have seen Diesel variations drift with success – up to you really, anything RWD can drift if you want it too. I’d personally look for a 325/328 with either the M54 or earlier M52TU (2.8 only) and using that – shape doesn’t matter – coupe/saloon/touring – they all party.
