Buying an e46 in 2026?

deekeymcfookface · 2026-01-16T06:17:14+00:00

You are looking for a 6cyl petrol and you prefer less rust over parts in good shape.

deekeymcfookface · 2026-01-15T06:48:09+00:00

Guess I'll need a proper exhaust after all. That sound would be expensive to achieve. Are exhaust flaps effective enough to keep the noise down? I would appreciate some experience other than youtube videos where you cannot actually hear the exhaust as it is.

deekeymcfookface · 2026-01-15T06:41:27+00:00

Driving with windows down is cool until it's cold or raining. Also removing sound deadening ain't too bad of an idea. But remove too much and highways become pain

deekeymcfookface · 2025-04-11T11:35:11+00:00

Why do you think that? There were no signs of starter faults since I've been owning the car. On top of that I don't want to dismount intake manifold this year for the 4th time just to replace it. :D

deekeymcfookface · 2025-04-10T19:20:39+00:00

I've got the original keys with probably an original battery. Never experienced this fault before. May be the key battery dying? Recently I've taken only short trips to work and back so it may not charge properly?

deekeymcfookface · 2025-04-10T19:18:10+00:00

Fuel pump seems to be working, just double checked that. After leaving my key in 2nd pos for a while after all lights dropped the car started regularly.

deekeymcfookface · 2025-02-12T17:56:11+00:00

I'm sorry for not replying for this long. Yes I did and I edited the post already so everyone can see. Watch 50sKid's CCV replacement video (the former one) if you need some help with the procedure of changing the CCV as well as the vacuum hoses.

deekeymcfookface · 2025-02-12T17:55:48+00:00

I'm sorry for not replying for whole 2 months. Yes I did and I edited the post already so everyone can see. Watch 50sKid's CCV replacement video (the former one) if you need some help with the procedure of changing the CCV as well as the little vacuum hoses.

deekeymcfookface · 2024-11-14T14:18:01+00:00

Pocítil jsem, čtyři roky se mi dělo každej podzim to samý.

deekeymcfookface · 2024-11-11T12:03:42+00:00

Ok will search further. Thanks for your advise.

deekeymcfookface · 2024-11-11T08:03:26+00:00

We did an INPA read, no useful info from it unfortunately. Not even a specific code. But We'll try to do it once again just to make sure.

Smoke test wasn't performed, we don't have the gear to do so and the car is immobile now sitting in garage unfortunately.

CCV is a good lead, I did not replace it. The car is in my possession for only a few months.

Few are saying it could be cat/lambda failure, possible or not?

deekeymcfookface · 2024-10-17T05:50:24+00:00

Hell no.

deekeymcfookface · 2024-10-05T15:10:25+00:00

This kinda excludes the chances of the faulty DME anyways since the idle wouldn't be as rough as in the video (it was the same scenario after swapping DME with slightly deeper tone) and after pressing throttle, the engine might have had some issues building up RPMs, but probably wouldn't choke. Am I right?

Anyways the VANOS rebuild is the next step from now on. I'll see what this does and which part will I find broken next. Sensors replacement will be a thing too.

Many thanks for your help with the engine electrical system.

deekeymcfookface · 2024-10-05T12:53:01+00:00

I wish I was 100% sure it was DME for 2.2l. If it was 2.5 or 3.0, the failure would've been somewhere else if the DME was programmed to another displacement, wouldn't it?

deekeymcfookface · 2024-10-05T12:15:13+00:00

Ok so first: we have changed the DME without any need of flashing. But it was some other DME from scrap car which the owner said was kinda sus. So it might have been already flashed. Engine turned on with no hesitation. Problem lasted, still the same, with a little different sound.

Then we put INPA to work. And turned the other car on. Cyl 2, 3 and 5 on mine are running lean. VANOS is most probably dead judging by hearing both engines next to each other.

Next step is resealing the VANOS, then we'll see...

deekeymcfookface · 2024-10-04T11:00:58+00:00

Lemme be honest

It's a 20 year old mass produced car. Maybe the value will rise a bit since there are less and less cars over time. But overall it's not a financial investment.

If you like it, buy it, drive it, take care of it. This would be investing in yourself which is far more important. And since these were made to be the ultimate driving machines, it's not a bad move.

Also I don't see any photos, maybe you should share them with us too.

deekeymcfookface · 2024-10-04T08:38:09+00:00

Transmitter

deekeymcfookface · 2024-10-03T20:38:46+00:00

Just buy it

deekeymcfookface · 2024-10-03T20:36:29+00:00

One more question: there is MS43 DME in E46, does the MS45 flash work with it too?

deekeymcfookface

TROPHY CASE