Does Driving an Old Car Save Money? BMW E46 Cost Breakdown

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.

My conclusion: while an old BMW E46 can be affordable for daily use, the frequent service visits and potential risks on longer journeys make it a questionable choice if you rely on it as your only car.

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.

If you are interested in more ownership cost reports, check out my other posts: