Whats a better project car between these two?

[covance]

A 2000 bmw 323i or a 2011 mb e class 4matic. Can only pick between these two.

Both have a little over 200k miles. The bimmer has a oil leak and keeps turning itself off (possibly a sensor problem, hopefully not ECM). The mb needs a pulley replaced but other than that mechanically sound.

Which car would be easier to work on? I have done oil changes, battery changes, cabin and engine filter changes myself so far but nothing else. Still new to doing my own work on my cars. Planning on this being a long term project car.

Thanks !

[strat61caster]

E46 bmws are well loved and there's lots of support for them. I can't say the same for non amg mercs and even then I don't think there's much of a strong community, at least I don't see any big diy forums or anything, and I've actually done some research on that era E class because my wife wants a real wagon again. Take the e46 hands down. The engine is a little lame but depending on how much of a project car you want you could easily build a faux m3 and have a hoot.

Build it right and driving an 86 might be a bit of a letdown depending on what makes you happy in a car.

[RToyo86]

I'd jump for the BMW all though the 323 is kind of a dog.

I would want a 328, ideally a 330.

[NoHaveMSG]

Project with what end goal?

[DarkPira7e]

E46 gets my vote for sure. But I had an E46 that also had the random shutdown issue, someone bought it and never told me if they fixed it or not. Mine was a 325XI though, so far and away not a project car candidate for anything.

[covance]

thanks for all the replies so far!

to answer some questions/provide some clarity:

both these cars belong to my dad who is selling them, so they are my only choices as I wasn't planning on going out and buying a project car. But, he is willing to give me one and sell the other.

I think currently for me a project car is something to continue practicing my at home mechanic skills on with the goal of fixing and maintaining something, and also having some fun with it. Maybe some bolt on modifications down the line as I get better at wrenching?

[covance]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

E46 bmws are well loved and there's lots of support for them. I can't say the same for non amg mercs and even then I don't think there's much of a strong community, at least I don't see any big diy forums or anything, and I've actually done some research on that era E class because my wife wants a real wagon again. Take the e46 hands down. The engine is a little lame but depending on how much of a project car you want you could easily build a faux m3 and have a hoot.

Build it right and driving an 86 might be a bit of a letdown depending on what makes you happy in a car.

This has me convinced haha, plus theres the nostalgia factor. The e46 was the car I first used when I got a license in high school, and I miss the orange glow that bmw no longer uses for their interior dash

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by covance

thanks for all the replies so far!

to answer some questions/provide some clarity:

both these cars belong to my dad who is selling them, so they are my only choices as I wasn't planning on going out and buying a project car. But, he is willing to give me one and sell the other.

I think currently for me a project car is something to continue practicing my at home mechanic skills on with the goal of fixing and maintaining something, and also having some fun with it. Maybe some bolt on modifications down the line as I get better at wrenching?

You probably could not chose two worse cars to learn to wrench on. There are German car techs that shudder about working on such vehicles.
That said since the car itself will not cost you anything it leaves you lots of cash leeway to mess around. In the end you should be able to work with anything.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

You probably could not chose two worse cars to learn to wrench on. There are German car techs that shudder about working on such vehicles.
That said since the car itself will not cost you anything it leaves you lots of cash leeway to mess around. In the end you should be able to work with anything.

Totally disagree on the E46, it's nuts and bolts like anything else. The only tricky thing would be a VANOS rebuild but even replacing the whole unit with a remanufactured one is easier and cheaper then fixing the same problem on an FA20 which is $200/cam sprocket since they're not rebuildable. And they learned their lesson on the E36 so most of the plastic parts got beefed up and go longer between replacements.

Can't speak to the Merc, but from what I've seen the V6 is tight in that engine bay and I expect the bumper has to come off for anything not routine.

[covance]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

Totally disagree on the E46, it's nuts and bolts like anything else. The only tricky thing would be a VANOS rebuild but even replacing the whole unit with a remanufactured one is easier and cheaper then fixing the same problem on an FA20 which is $200/cam sprocket since they're not rebuildable. And they learned their lesson on the E36 so most of the plastic parts got beefed up and go longer between replacements.

Can't speak to the Merc, but from what I've seen the V6 is tight in that engine bay and I expect the bumper has to come off for anything not routine.

so for something like a oil gasket change or crank sensor replacement I would need to take the bumper off the e46?

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by covance

so for something like a oil gasket change or crank sensor replacement I would need to take the bumper off the e46?

Depends, where is the oil leak?

No on the crank sensor.

[covance]

Originally Posted by NoHaveMSG

Depends, where is the oil leak?

No on the crank sensor.

Not sure yet - haven't gotten my hands on either car to assess them well myself.

most common e46 leaks seem to be oil filter housing gasket, the valve cover gasket and the oil pan gasket

[strat61caster]

All of those should be doable without removing the front end. I meant the Merc was likely to require it due to the more crowded engine bay.

Audi 'service position' is a thing.

Bmw didn't get bad until the e39 and e90 came out, an e46 is the newest bmw I'd buy with confidence that I could fix most things myself. Merc lost it sometime in the mid 90s.

[covance]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

All of those should be doable without removing the front end. I meant the Merc was likely to require it due to the more crowded engine bay.

Audi 'service position' is a thing.

Bmw didn't get bad until the e39 and e90 came out, an e46 is the newest bmw I'd buy with confidence that I could fix most things myself. Merc lost it sometime in the mid 90s.

thanks, very helpful!