My E46 Lemons candidate - 2000 323i auto, 189k mi.: Scrapped for $500 (Page 1 of 2)

We had one of the first E46 Lemons cars and fought cooling issues a lot once it got overheated once.  1/3 gallon is a lot.  Either it's being pushed out of the overflow or out the tailpipe.  Either way is bad.  If it's me, the head comes off and gets checked out by a machine shop.  We ended up fixing the cooling issues once and for all by adapting in an M3 radiator.

Just put an LS in it and run be done...lol

If you smell coolant could be the heater core.  That might be lucky as you could bypass it, but defrost might not work well.

Update:

1. I don't see white "smoke" in the exhaust.
2. Still now only about a cup of water per trip to the "coolant" - though I think by now it's pretty far along to being "racecar" appropriate coolant.
3. There's very little - if any - color left, and I can't see any oily film in the reservoir, or mixed in. There's very little antifreeze smell anymore - anywhere.
4. There's condensation on the _inside_ of the windows every day in the morning, as well as the outside; but I don't think that's an _absolute_ indication of a heater core leak, because of the broken rr window, the sunroof leaks, and we've had a number of heavy thunderstorms recently. But I think it's still likely. And it's summer, and the inside is pretty dry by the time I leave work in the evening - unless it rains.
5. Still no milky character to the oil.

So: I'm thinking with 189k mi., unknown history prior to purchase, and this situation, this doesn't seem like a deal breaker for a Lemons candidate for me.

I think a head gasket replacement is an obvious step for long term use either as a dd or a racecar, as is diagnosing _any_ source of leakage - especially for racing.

Though, as a $350 dd car, as long as it passes the safety and emissions inspection here in PA and i can get to-and-from work, I really don't care about a cup of water per trip. Until winter, that is.

Thanks, all, for your input.

Now to see what it needs for inspection!

Well, dammit, that would be extremely inconvenient to me.

I think with the copper flecks in the fill opening when I got it, and losing coolant (though only just a little) if I decide to build this car, it'll include a head gasket and checking out the head while it's off. And checking out the timing thing (I think it's a chain, but I don't know that for sure).

Also likely checking out every part of the cooling system, as well as the heater core. Yes, I'd like to keep the defroster function - the many suggestions on that are compelling.

I know someone who might help, perhaps as part of a team.

I've replaced a head gasket on a Honda D16 engine, and a couple of easy timing belts - Honda and Toyota; but I didn't have to deal with a head - that was someone else's car. And I can watch a YouTube video for this BMW (which makes me an expert, of course).

Maybe that's not in the Lemons spirit, but "I'm a pretty cautious citizen."

Now, I just have to remember to keep any receipts from the PnP, and I'll be golden (maybe I can even pull an LS while I'm there ;-).

Thanks again, all!

I'm fairly certain a head gasket job on an E46 requires special tools. Double VANOS and all.

It is a bmw...  Many bmws have "torque to yield" headbolts ads well which are supposed to be one time use.  I cannot personally report on the consequences of reusing these headbolts so do research on that as well.

Some special tools aren't strictly needed and one can make it work, but also I've bought shitty knock off special tools on amazon which have worked at least once, may not hold up to repeated constant use (ie dealership ect)

Lol. 
Our car is converted to drive by wire with our engine swap. I took it out for a short wot run for logging and hit limp mode like the night before tech..  Turns out I would floor it too hard and go past 100 % and cause an error.   Had to fab a pedal stop real quick.

Nobody else on the team floors it like me lol.  I'd feel bad but I did the swap and wiring and fixed the problem I caused so yay.

Good to shake it down in advance.

That engine, I’m pretty sure, is drive by wire, you won’t find any throttle cable if so.

I KNOW that is a timing chain engine, BMW’s only one with belt is the M20 which ended its run about 1992.

Dirty Duc is right, special tools needed to situate the cams and pulleys when removing and installing the head. Fortunately they are readily available from EBay or other sources. Don’t need OEM BMW tool, equivalent aftermarket has done the job IME.

At minimum, you are going to want the diagnostic tool described here https://www.e46fanatics.com/threads/bmw … s.1067835/

If you really, really want to get much further deep in this crap than you want to and you get a kick out of chasing down a rabbit hole in English only to discover the info you need is in German, get INPA.  https://www.e46fanatics.com/threads/how … s.1274003/

I believe the early e46s with the M52TUs had throttle cables.

There are lots of coolant pipes and hoses that can leak. The coolant pipe right under the intake manifold is a common fail. Of course the shear volume of plastic cooling parts is a whole lot of fail waiting to happen.

The 4 valve heads are thin and easy to crack. I an not sure if the head or gasket is weaker.

I like BMW Scanner. I have not gotten it to work on Windows 10. I got INPA working on Win 10 but I am not very good with it.

I recommend getting a dual vanos service kit. They are about $100 on Amazon.

Lasty, safety wire the oil pump nut or do something better.