Do I buy an import? DoI have a choice?

[qube 3568]

Ive has a 99 e46 328ci (as in my signature) for 2 years without any major issues while i had it around 140-180k's

and also a 2000 e46 328ci NZ new for a year or so with no problems either.

seems to be fine to me but im no expert either.

ive looked at trademe and there seems to be a number of decent 328ci's around year 99, 2000, priced around the 14-17k mark

just a matter of having a look in person, get a feel of how it drives and go from there.

that being said, when i test drove a 02 e46 facelift 330i motorsport sedan, it was a whole different feeling.

something from a different world compared to the ones i had b4.

but prices go anywhere around the 20k mark so...

[simke 0]

Weren't the e46's of these prone to the dreaded read sub frame failure.

Thats what happened to my one, however BMW NZ have kindly sorted that out for me.

[Apex 693]

I remember that, gave me the shits so we had mums looked over by a professional and all was well, hers has been old lady driven since new though.

Was your car NZ new?

[simke 0]

I remember that, gave me the shits so we had mums looked over by a professional and all was well, hers has been old lady driven since new though.

Was your car NZ new?

Yep NZ new, and I guess my cause was helped by the fact that I had no mods, all stock standard.

[hybrid 1039]

man theres some turd in this thread..

[smiddy 76]

Imported mine 2.5 years ago from Japan with history 40kms on clock. On road for 14k, do the maths, never missed a beat, not a mark on it!

[johnm51 0]

Here is a good nz new smg 330ci , Maybe over your price range but very well spec'ed and a good service history.

>>Trade me link click here<<

Hi guys had a few days away so just catching up. Jason the SMG model seems odd to me as it is listed as a 2003 but the pre-delivery paper states it is a 2002. What puzzels me is it has a 2001 front?

Thanks for your comments on the blue 330. Guess I just fell in love with the colour and the wheels.

Edited July 16, 2010 by johnm51

[kiwiland 3]

Interesting comment from Clinton re fitting Jap imports with hour meters. I have a 2001 E39 I privately imported from Japan in dec 2005. Nicely specd was complete with most keys etc but not with full documentation. So I am going on for 5 years local experience with minimal troubles (touch wood)

When I landed it I had BM Workshop run a full DIS diagnosis and on recently looking at the printout again I see that for many of the fault records the DIS lists how many (operating?) hours since the fault occurs,at least I think thats what it means. Seems to me that somewhere in the DME there is a record of total operating hours. Having this hours figure and the total mileage some simple maths would give a good picture of the cars history in Japan. Any comments from the knowledgeable ones?