Price: SOLD
Mileage: 139,800 Miles
Engine: M54B25 Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
Transmission: 5-Speed Automatic Transmission
Exterior color: Jet Black Exterior (Schwarz 2 - 354)
Interior: Black Leather Interior (N6SW)
Additional features:
Myrtle Wood Trim
Sport Package
Cold Weather Package
Premium Package
3-Spoke Multifunction Leather Steering Wheel
Power Memory Heated Leather Sport Seats
Headlight Washer System
Ski Bag Pass Through
On-Board Computer
Automatic Climate Control
Kenwood KDC-252U Stereo with USB and Aux Inputs
Harmon Kardon Premium Sound
Xenon Headlights
Fog Lights
Auto Dimming Rear View Mirror
BMW Rubber All-Weather Floor Mats
17-Inch Style 73 Sport Wheels
Bridgestone Blizzak Snow Tires
Clean Carfax
Old School Maintenance
The BMW E46 Generation (1999 to 2005 3 Series) Sport Wagon was one of the best BMWs ever built. Time has been kind to the E46, aging it with style and grace. It occurred at a sweet spot in BMW model evolution where refinement, luxury, sporting dynamics, and reliability all intersected. The Sport Wagon (“Touring” in BMW speak) was one of the best E46s. It was just the right size and one of the few models that looked as good, if not better, as a wagon than as a sedan. It was made up of the old-school recipe that defined the BMW Ultimate Driving Machine—a normally aspirated inline six-cylinder engine, 50/50 weight balance, and a sporting and connected driving experience. 2001 was the introductory year for the E46 Sport Wagon; many were equipped with the highly desirable Sport Package thanks to BMW focus on defining it as a true “sport’s wagon.” In Xi form, the added space and utility of the Sport Wagon driving through BMW’s rear wheel biased all-wheel drive system makes it the driver’s alternative to under-steering all-wheel drive Subaru and Audi wagons. As a result clean, well-equipped, lower mileage E46 Sport Wagons carry a significant premium over their sedan counterparts.
I purchased this 2001 BMW 325Xi Sport Wagon from a fellow BMW enthusiast. It is well properly spec’d with the Sport, Premium, and Cold Weather Packages. The bolstered sport seats keep you in place while the 3-spoke steering wheel allows proper inputs during spirited driving. In the mountains, the seat heaters will take the edge off, while the 38/62 split rear-biased all-wheel drive will keep you out of trouble. The most important element in buying any used BMW is finding one that has been properly owned. I have records covering the last decade and preceding 80,000 miles. All common E46 issues have either been addressed or are not present. The records show consistent “Old School Maintenance,” with the cooling system being most recently refreshed at 132,000 miles. All window regulators, a door lock regulator, O2 sensors, front CV axles, suspension, and brakes were also done. In preparation for sale, we replaced the oil pan gasket, CV axle seals, steering rack boots, right engine mount, flushed the transfer case fluid, and replaced the secondary air pump mounts. The cosmetic condition inside and out is presentable, but does show normal wear consistent with age and mileage. It is just imperfect enough to use as a guilt free wagon to haul your gear, dogs, skis, or bikes—all while hauling ass, because after all it is a BMW!
Jet Black 2 paint captures the E46 Sport Wagon’s form exceptionally well, but at the expense of showing some imperfections that might not be as conspicuous as other colors. Overall, the finish is presentable, but close examination reveals said imperfections. The worst are paint chips on the front bumper cover and hood, which also has areas of mildly opaque clear coat. The clear coat isn’t lifted or peeling, but we suspect it was repainted at some point. This has been a Colorado car since 2005 and 48K miles and is rust-free, except for one nickel-sized bubble in the left rear side skirt. Common areas like the lower doors, fenders, and sunroof drains have no corrosion. I’ve worked on this car myself and the underbody is also corrosion-free having no seized bolts or underbody fasteners. All panels are original and it has never been in an accident. The front and rear Roundel emblems are both in excellent condition. All trim and black-work are present and in good shape. The windshield is crack-free and un-pitted. The side and rear glass are in excellent shape. The Style 73 wheels have no bends or blemishes, except for very minor curb rash. They are wrapped with Bridgestone Blizzak snow tires have over 60% tread remaining.
The interior condition matches the exterior. There are no odors and it has never been smoked in. The carpet has no stains, rips, or tears; factory BMW all-weather floor mats have protected it. The seats are in good shape, except for a tear in the passenger seat back and minor separation of the outside driver’s seat back bolster. All seams are intact and the creasing is acceptable. The Myrtle wood trim does have some cracking, a cost effective remedy would be to wrap it with ZHP cube vinyl wrap. The instrument cluster and HVAC panel have no failed pixels. The BMW Business CD has been updated with a Kenwood KDC-252U Stereo with USB and Aux Inputs. All interior functions work; the power and heated seats work, the heat blows warm, the air condition blows cold, and all power door locks and windows work. The on-board computer cycles through displays on cue and the self-dimming rear view mirror still dims. The rear cargo divider, ski bag, and spare tire are present—the factory tool kit is missing. The original window sticker and two keys are included with the sale.
As I said in the summary, the previous owners have followed the Lifetime Maintenance Schedule or “Old School Maintenance” including regular oil and fluid changes. All records from the two previous owners are organized in a 3-ring binder along with the Carfax. Here is a list of significant recent items addressed in reverse chronological order:
Older relevant maintenance items include:
All common E46 issues are either not present or have been addressed. The M54 engine starts on command, idles smoothly, and pulls strong to redline. The transmission shifts smoothly and has never thrown any codes. All-wheel drive E46s were equipped with the less problematic GM5L40 gearbox, not the failure-prone ZF gearbox that early E46’s had. I say less problematic, because the GM gearboxes do eventually have problems, but they are easier and cheaper to repair. The transmission shows no signs of needing attention in the foreseeable future; it enters reverse with ease and shifts in all gears smoothly. The all-wheel drive system works perfectly and makes the Sport Wagon a formidable snow-driving machine! The suspension is firm and compliant and the brakes are strong. There are no driveline noises or vibrations. Like any E46, it will need continued care and maintenance, but, as it sits this Sport Wagon is a turn-key car.
We would like to find a new owner who will care for it and enjoy it for years to come. Clean, well-cared for E46 Tourings are hard to find and are worth every penny of the premium they carry. I have priced this one accordingly.
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Standard Equipment:
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