E46 B3 S COUPE #020

[Bob]

Fresh eBay auction now running

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203893250223

[Bob]

After the auction failed to meet reserve with a high bid of £7.2K this is back as a classified at £12k.

E46 B3's seem to be a tough sell at the moment. The last few 3.3's have only reached £7-8k in auctions and this B3S doesn't seem to be fairing much better. Do you think it's the fear of Head Gasket failure and cost of a genuine suspension refresh at 100k-ish that's limiting values?

B3 S COUPE [E46] #020; 475 - Black Sapphire/N6HC - Light Beige Montana Leather; 2002_52; £12.0k; 93k; eAuction

[simon13]

The headgasket issue is a bit internet overhyped imo on the 3.4 engine. The torque converters and gearboxes don't help, as for why they aren't selling some of them who knows. Boring colour specs on alot won't help

[Charles]

The headgasket issue is a bit internet overhyped imo on the 3.4 engine.

Not from where I am sitting, Simon

On average, my 4 or 5 HGs have lasted 85k miles each time but I see it simply as part of the ownership experience

The torque converters and gearboxes don't help, as for why they aren't selling some of them who knows.

Fair point but it is perfectly possible to have a TC refurbished or, in worst case scenario, use the internals of a 330i and rework them to Alpina spec (which is what I had to do a while back).

As for the gearbox, mine needed a refurb at 190k miles, which is perfectly acceptable. It also cracked the D drum at 250k miles which is just one of those things, I guess - so I don't believe either the TC or the gearbox should be deal breakers on these cars.

Boring colour specs on alot won't help

On this we agree!!!

[simon13]

Charles! going by your average my car is just due a head gasket as its just ticked over 170,000 miles and as far as i am aware no other B3S in the UK is on more miles. Mine engine is on its 2nd gasket

None of the E46's issues would put me off owning one, 9 years on mine so far