Disclaimer:
This post is based on my personal experience and intended for informational and educational purposes only. Procedures, tools, and parts may vary depending on the vehicle and situation. Always consult your service manual or a professional before performing any maintenance.For more information, please read the full disclaimer here.
⚠️ Conclusion — Is Driving an Old BMW Worth It?
- 🛠️ Service Frequency: On average, I had to visit the workshop about once every two months. This takes both time and money, even if the repair itself is not expensive.
- 💶 Repair Costs: I was lucky to pay relatively low prices for parts and labor (see service table). At official dealer prices, keeping a car like this on the road would not make financial sense.
- 🚧 Reliability Concern: I had one case where the car would not start at all, which shook my confidence in its reliability.
- 🛣️ Long-Distance Travel: Driving longer trips can be risky since many original components (such as the turbocharger, clutch, and gearbox) have never been replaced. Their failure could easily leave you stranded.
BMW E46 Cost Breakdown
Does Driving an Old Car Save Money? Many people think driving an old car is a cheap way to get around. But is that really true when it comes to a 20-year-old BMW diesel? As always, I carefully tracked all expenses using the My Car app, which is available for free on the Google Play Store
In this post, I’ll share the full cost breakdown of my 2002 BMW E46 318d over a two-year period. From fuel to insurance to repairs, here are the real numbers that show whether keeping an old BMW on the road is actually worth it.
BMW E46 318d Usage Overview
| Period | 01.01.2022 – 31.12.2024 |
|---|---|
| Start Odometer | 368,807 km |
| End Odometer | 425,322 km |
| Total Distance | 56,515 km |
| Average per Day | 53 km |
| Fuel Efficiency | 5.67 l/100 km |
| Fuel Price (avg.) | €1.45 / l |
| Cumulative Costs | €8,758 |
| Cost per km | €0.15 |
Fuel Consumption
Over the period, the BMW covered 56,515 km with an average fuel efficiency of 5.67 l/100 km.
- Average monthly fuel cost: €129.83
- Total spent on fuel: €4,674
For a 20+ year old diesel, this is still a respectable efficiency.
Daily Usage
Over the two years, I averaged around 53 kilometers per day. This means the car was not only used for short city trips but also for regular longer drives. When looking at the costs, it’s important to keep this daily average in mind. Car was in constant use, the maintenance and service visits reflect real daily driving conditions, not just occasional weekend use.
Cost Structure
- Insurance – Expenses: €2,299
- Services: €1,785
- Fuel: €4,674
Average monthly cost: €243.28
Service Structure
- Engine oil changes: €440
- Tires: €150
- Other repairs: €1,195
Service Visit Frequency
Looking at the data, there were 21 maintenance/service records. However, multiple entries at the same odometer reading represent a single workshop visit.
- Total service visits: ~14 in 2 years
- Average: one visit every 2 months
- Most common task: oil changes (every ~7,000–8,000 km)
- Bigger repairs: engine mounts, starter motor, alternator belts, glow plugs, windshield, headlights
This shows that while the car is relatively cheap to fuel, it required frequent attention due to age.
Maintenance and Service Log
| Type | Date | km | Description | Price (€) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | Aug-24 | 421,600 | Oil and all filters replaced | 75 |
| Service | Aug-24 | 421,600 | 🚨 Starter motor repaired | 100 |
| Service | Aug-24 | 421,600 | 🚨 Engine cover gasket replaced | 125 |
| Maintenance | May-24 | 415,800 | Oil and oil filter replaced | 50 |
| Service | May-24 | 415,800 | 3 glow plugs replaced | 30 |
| Service | May-24 | 415,800 | Windshield replaced | 110 |
| Maintenance | Feb-24 | 408,560 | Oil and oil filter replaced | 30 |
| Maintenance | Nov-23 | 404,700 | Two winter tires replaced | 130 |
| Maintenance | Sep-23 | 402,300 | Oil and all filters replaced | 75 |
| Maintenance | Sep-23 | 402,300 | Alternator and AC belts replaced | 100 |
| Maintenance | Jul-23 | 395,900 | Oil and filter replaced | 50 |
| Maintenance | Jul-23 | 395,900 | Headlights replaced | 220 |
| Maintenance | Mar-23 | 389,000 | Oil and all filters replaced | 60 |
| Service | Dec-22 | 385,000 | Window regulator replaced | 60 |
| Service | Jul-22 | 380,600 | Rear parking sensors replaced | 35 |
| Maintenance | Jul-22 | 378,500 | Oil and oil filter replaced | 35 |
| Service | Jul-22 | 378,000 | Windshield washer pump replaced | 20 |
| Service | May-22 | 375,600 | Air conditioning serviced | 25 |
| Service | Apr-22 | 372,200 | Brake hoses replaced | 100 |
| Service | Apr-22 | 372,200 | Engine mount replaced | 100 |
| Service | Apr-22 | 372,200 | Gearbox mount replaced | 100 |
| Service | Apr-22 | 372,200 | Rear bushings replaced | 100 |
| Maintenance | Feb-22 | 371,000 | Oil and all filters replaced | 35 |
🚨 Note: On this occasions, the car would not start on its own. I had to push-start it and then drive it to the workshop.
Cost per Kilometer and Cost per Day
The overall cost per kilometer was €0.15 (last value on the graph)
For comparison:
- Fuel alone: €0.08/km
- Service + insurance: €0.07/km
This makes the E46 318d one of the cheaper ways to cover mileage if you don’t mind visiting the workshop often.
Conclusion
Running an old BMW E46 diesel is still affordable in terms of fuel and insurance. However, the high frequency of maintenance visits adds complexity. Over the two years, there was even one breakdown where I could not start the car at all, which slightly shook my confidence in its reliability.
- Total cost: €8,758 over two years
- Average monthly cost: €243
- Cost per km: €0.15
If you enjoy driving and don’t mind regular repairs, an E46 can still be a budget-friendly daily driver, but occasional surprises like a no-start can be frustrating.
Related Posts
If you are interested in more ownership cost reports, check out my other posts:
