The Beater BMW E46 Review - How I Fell In Love With A 15 Year Old 320D
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- My #BMW #M3 is being worked on at A Reeve Performance in King's Lynn. Things took a little longer than we hoped, so they gave me their courtesy car.
It's a 2004, 190k mile 320D SE. Now I initially turned my nose up at it, but after a while I began to see the light, and eventually fall for this old car. Here's why.
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I actually prefer these reviews compared to when he's reviewing a £50,000 Porsche or Lotus. They're more helpful to about 80% of his audience because it's more realistic we'd end up in one of these than a new M3.
Yeah, I feel "old" for saying it, but older cars were better in a lot of ways.
i realize Im kinda off topic but do anyone know of a good website to stream new movies online ?
@@sergioxander9809 fmovies dumbass
@@sergioxander9809 fmovies is the one I use
@@adelinogoncalves11802 years late I love it
I’ve got E46 325i LCI. Had it 11yrs now. Hanging onto it for as long as I can. Engine is so smooth I often drive around without putting the radio on, and just listening to the engine purr. Been almost flawless too. ECU needed replacing few months after I got it but that was covered by warranty (phew). My boot release switch packed up a while ago too. No one seems to know how to fix it. Accidentally locked the key in it one night. No fold down rear seats either. That was a fun evening!! 🥳
Change the micro switch in the handle, at least thats how i have fixed 2 now. My daily beater is a 99 318i, slow as shit but its great!! 175000 miles and still solid (except the arches)
99 328i at 160k pretty much prestine mechanically and appearance wise. My dad's a painter and I did a summer job at a bmw shop. He's absolutely right about the feel of the interior. Everything is just granite solid. An f30 feels vaguely hallow and cheap by comparison. The only complaints with the e46 interior is the fragile sunroof shade, the awful peely center console coating, and the kind of cheesy seat belt height adjusters. However, for the stuff thay really matters the interior is superb.
190,000 miles ??? It's just getting to the sweet spot. My E46 330d Touring is a drive away 250,000 miles and still going strong!
My e46 330ci had 331k before I sold it lol they last forever
ive seen 320d’s for sale with 400k +, they are built like absolutely tanks
Any advice for an 86,000 mile e46
@@joshhallisey4544 Advice of what? If you’re looking at buying it then do. If you already own it just look after it and it’ll look after you pal
@@alexcoupe. is the 330d still alive?🍺
Picked up a £500 E46 318i on 16s as a stop gap - rust everywhere and a leaky cooling system. Ended up running it for two years as underneath it all, it was just a good, comfortable car.
Just bought a 320CD with 174.000 miles on it in very good condition. First car ever :')
Ok here is the thing. This guy can sell me anything. I absolutely see myself buying a performance zebra after this guy reviews it. This is my favourite youtuber. He is so much lovely to live with.
Ha very kind
I have an E46 clubsport 330i. Absolutely incredible car, just the perfect daily driver
Same here :) Check out my humble channel.
i just sold my 02 330ci clubsport as im getting into an n54 build, all i could say is e46 to my grave
@@ImMrCola Aren't n54's known to be really probematic engines ? I've already been warned to stay away from them.
@@bimmerclubsport depends on how you look at the word problematic, they are amazing engines, but like any other car, how the engine breathes all depends on how the driver feeds it. my family has been in the bmw "business" for over 40 years and myself working on n54/n55/m52/m54 ect daily, i can say that in the stock form they are great engines. extremely reliable and way over built from factory, the n54 block can easily take up too 750-800hp (400-600 safely with stock internals) turbos are good but not great, would recommend the twins are changed every 100,000kms. its once they start being upgraded/tuned do you see issues such as misfires, turbo oil leaks occurring. as i am building a 800whp single turbo rig ill have problems along the way and they are all going to be apart of the experience/build. also for alot of the common problems there are costly but amazing aftermarket alternatives.
@@ImMrCola Good luck with it man. Hope it becomes all you want it to.
I had a similar experience and bought a 1998 E46 318i, cheapest car owned, love it's drive in manual, impressive fuel economy. I wish I got one back when they were produced as new. Surprisingly good.
About 8 months ago purchased same spec 2l diesel and of all those cars I ever had most of them was newer this is the best one I ever had. Not the fastest car but the torque amount it gives is incredibly good. Car is fantastic you get best for your money. I will get another one in a future
The boot noise brought back quite a few fond memories. Had one of these 320 diesels for 55k miles, amazing fuel economy all the way through. Managed to clock 850 miles on a single full tank. Mine was extremely reliable too. 10/10 would recommend.
...makes me wanna buy the one I've been eyeing right away ❤❤❤
2004 330d with 160,000 miles here. Replaced both front wings due to rust, some coming through on one back wheel arch. I still think it's a smart enough looking car today, but that's just my opinion. Feels solid despite its age and mileage. I can get 300 miles to half a tank from it and it hardly sees a motorway or much dual carriageway, so aside from getting an E90 I think I'll struggle to replace it with anything.
This is facts ... old cars were built with a better build quality compared to whats been made nowadays everything is build to crumble opposed to the olden days where things were built to last .
I was surprised at the low spec of that car. I drive a 2004 model 320d and very naively thought that they all had a somewhat similar spec. It seems that the previous owner (I am the second owner) went to town regarding specs! Anyway, I really LOVE my 320d. It is like driving an armchair. An armchair with an array of buttons. Also it helps my baby daughter fall asleep really quickly when we drive somewhere.
In Portugal, you see these everywhere, but you'll always see a downward tailpipe :D
Not always. You can put a straight tailpipe ;) É fácil.
Those heater controls looks great, I hate the stupid little fiddly radio buttons my higher spec one.
Your prices in the UK are so ridiculously low for these cars, everyone should get one just for fun...
When i am 17 i will probally be my first car if i can afford it
I got one and it's been to the garage more times than I visit the loo
@@JunaidJDM you must be constipating 😂
Nah I like to sort out any little problems before they get bigger. But I did once have a fuel pump pack up on me whilst driving with no prior symptoms and leave me in a supermarket car park. Good fun.
@@JunaidJDM i was pulling your leg but please share with me any major repairs because im in a dilema, dont know which to buy. e90 or e46. i have not seen a very direct comparison or an unbiased one. i have never owned either too but my dad has an f10 and it has never ever caused problems. its not 8 years old. i also dont think hte fuel pump will get blocked because in malaysia the climate is hot so i dont think part will freeze or seize
Haha the "owl" sound! It's on a lot of 320Ds, mine does it too. I believe its comming from the turbine, because every 320D I've heard so far has this iconic sound while the turbo is as healthy as it can be :)
My X3 (same engine) had it as well when you gave it a bootfull.
JayEmm is a national treasure if not the World's. If Britain doesn't want him, me in California will wait for his majesty.
Maybe not a king majesty, but the head of secretary.
We do want him. You can't have him!
Can I just say when I was a teen that key was the most incredible key in the world as far as I was concerned
Had a E30 325i and thrashed everywhere even from cold and it never missed a beat, then moved on to a E34 535i Sport, loved that car ran it for 10yrs (its spent another 10 in my garden pending restoration). I've had a M140i for the 18months and its a great car, it just doesn't feel as cool..
I had a powerty spec e46 and loved it,only sold it cause rust started popping out every corner. Have decent spec e90 now and it doesn't have that special feel. Thinking to go back to e46 frequently.
@hater with hpas and earlier cars it is still a good car. It feels more grown up and bigger but it can be just as rewarding with a six pot and a nice exhaust as well as good tyres
I've had similar thoughts when driven around in old taxis like big Peugeot or big Vauxhall diesels. One memorable drive was in a chauffeur driven Merc diesel in Germany many years ago that cruised at 130mph in silent comfort, faster than I'd ever driven in any of the sports cars I've ever owned. The thing is, even though I appreciate the sentiments of the 320D test above, I'd still never be seen dead in a car like this. Illogical I know, but some of us have to be daft enough to drive Lotuses.
I have a 22 year old E46 diesel 5 speed. Amazing on fuel especially for a non common rail M47 engine and yes incredibly comfy and easy to drive
Remind me of my e46 320 6 cyl....lovely engine... the reason i fall in love with BMWs...
My daily is now a 2004 320D ES saloon after watching this video. Thanks for the good advice, I love the car, everything you said is spot-on, with the only difference that mine has no rust, the AC does not work (even though the previous owner said it did a week ago), and low and behold, it has leather seats, other than that, identical to the car in the video.
They seem to be calling these “analog” cars because of the lack of modern day electronics. For me the nicest thing about these cars is that they have a soul to them, something largely lacking in 2020 equivalents. I hope Jay comes across more of these beauties!
Gonna have to start calling them "Jay Emm W's" soon xD
I’ve got a 2000 323i and I love it. The E46’s have unparalleled handling are supremely comfortable and are unencumbered with modern automotive farkle, what’s is there not to love?
Great review, can’t beat a 2l Diesel BMW, best all rounder
My 1st BMW was an E90 320d and it was brilliant. The engine is so far back its actually front mid engine layout. One of the reasons Alpina took it racing. My suspicion is that the LCI (phase 2) E90 Alpina D3 with its twin turbo set up is the pick of the bunch: better handling than a 330, plenty of real world power and more confortable than a standard BMW. Would be great if you could get your hands on one (Maybe from Sytners in the UK) as reviews are very rare.
A very straight up review of the "old" E46 and bloody good it was too, i've only drove a couple of modern cars and yes they don't have the feel of cars built years ago but it's down to cost and trying to make everything lighter to squeeze every drop of fuel out. But you and everybody know that. But the old E36, 46, 39 were bloody great and of!
My 320d 2003 touring made the same noise when you liftoff , and it was a blown flexipipe leadiing towards the catalytic , the converter was fully jamed and the pressure has blown the flexipipe .
I agree, I'd take an old rwd saloon over a new SUV.
Can we talk about that key for a second. When I was young that net was the height of success lol
At one point I had loads of them in my key cupboard. I had an E46, the OH had an E46, and my 645 had the same
Would love to grab one of these E46 320D Manual wagon in CANADA. But sadly they don't exist here.
:(
Pretty much how I feel about my 2 15 year old Audi a4s. You summed it up perfectly
i've owned a 2005 320cd m-sport for 2 years now, great car with a remap, decat downpipe and stage 2 map - 210hp
Base spec is actually a ES, not a SE. This must be a ES!
balsingh1 it absolutely is an ES.
Definitely an ES
No climate control ... ES!!!
The mid 2000s cars are the bread and butter of cars they don't moan and just get stuff done my family owns a 2006 Vw golf 1.6 and we didn't do an oil change for 3 years by accident, gave new oil and filter and the old thing is still happy to start up
'The Beater BMW E46 Review - How I Fell In Love With A 15 Year Old' is what come up on my notifications, was like wth?!
Haha #thatdoesntsoundgood
Drove an E46 320D from Edinburgh to the South of France and back a long time ago - and did 2 weeks pottering while there. Got 40 mpg. Motorway stuff was mostly at 80 with the occasional blast. 130 downhill into Dover was enough for me altho it felt like there was quite a bit left...
I've always liked the E46. I almost picked one as my first bimmer, but saw an opportunity and went for an E92 330i pre-LCI eventually. Manualy gearbox, hydraulic steering, port injection N52 delivering 272hp, reasonable fuel economy if not driven hard (33mpg), enough to make me happy.
I used to have a bottom spec 316i. 1.9l from the year 2000. It was twelve years old when I bought it and fourteen and a half when I sold it. Still miss that car, and yes, the boot made the same noise as in this vid!
I drive a Mk1 focus, 1.6 base spec. Want to have a look at it for another cheap car video? In the summer, some time?
Long live the E46. Enjoyed your review 👍🏼
I have a 318 CI SE Convertible, 2005 Cream Leather, all mod cons. I LOVE IT. 35mpg. What an amazing drive. I have had 7 TVR's 1 Porche Etc. I love my BMW TANK...
Just bought an E46 320d touring, it's an SE but fully spec with the leather. It's just a cheap second car for our family but I'm a huge fan. You really can't go far wrong with the old work horse 💪🏻
What is so horrible about manual seats? Manual seats are completely better unless different people drive on a regular basis and there is a memory feature. In the USA virtually all cars are equipped with a sunroof that adds 73 lbs to the roof and electric seats. We didn't get the option of simple featured cars.
I think the e46 is the best looking generation apart from the classic e30
The E30 doesn't even get close to the E46
Ci Guy in what way?
@@Birmingham_racing since you were speaking about design, just that
Although the E46 is also superior in almost every other way
@@strohhalm1326 yes, but a nice E30 like a E30 320 or 325i is 4 times the price of an E46 ^-:)
So you said the seats were not comfortable at all but the car is also comfortable?
Another thing you missed out in bangernomics is that it has a chain rather than a belt for timing. One less service item to worry about :D
NIce video - well done! My old man's '98 320i is still a pleasure to drive in after all these years.. great engineering and, combined with careful ownership.. still feels new! Plus the 6 pot always feels nice!
I have a 1999 323i E46 with the gasoline 2.5l six. Bought it about a year ago with about 150,000 miles on the odometer. Yes, a bit tatty, only 170 hp, but it rides solidly, quietly, and comfortably. Had to replace the battery and alternator. Sunroof shade needs repair and headliner is sagging in the back, but the seats are so comfy, the heater/AC work perfectly, audio is fine once you turn up the bass and turn down the treble. It's in incredibly good shape for a 20 year old car and I'm enjoying every mile.
i have got one of those too, i love it. love the sound of that 2.5 straight six and it is so comfortable
Looks like a homeless guy pissed the driver's seat.
.... or sweated through the crack of his arse.
I drive a 55 plate 2.0tdi passat, trip states that I average combined 63mpg. The problem with bangernomics, is it makes you question why you’d drive a nice car!
tell me about it... I mean, I do love my Corrado. But i've bought a Saab 900ng 2.0t wich runs about 260-270hp now, for less than 1500 euro's. And recently I've bought a Saab 9-5 2.3t for 500 euro's. (ok, the turbo was broken.. but thats a 100 euro fix.)
The Saabs dont look perfect, but nice enough.. and I dare park them everywhere. With my corrado I'm actually really carefull where I drive it and perk it, because I dont want anyone to damage it. :x
good review...auto mfr's think we all want bells and whistles.
Just give me a dependable hatch with a smooth 6 sp manual, good visibility and handling a high redline and 250 hp.
Had a 54 plate Imola Red E46 coupe a couple years ago, absolutely brilliant car, will easily do 650 miles on a tank. Was easily the prettiest car I've ever had anyway. Miss it and get very nostalgic about it like you do with your 330.
I'm currently looking for a MK5 Golf GTI as I'm doing less miles these days so can go back to a petrol. After watching this I may just go for a nice 330ci coupe..
I have a 2002 325iSE - it’s totally wonderful ! 6 cylinder petrol with an LPG conversion, 45~50 mpg equivalent and bought off eBay for £1,100 2.5 years ago. Full leather, 145,000, as unreliable as e46s generally are but I can fix most things. I also have a high spec b8.5 S4, an e46 325ci M-Sport cab and an e46 M3 CSL - but the car I drive is the SE, comfort, very nippy, cheap as chips to run - it’s just . . . lovely!
Used to have one of these, first the turbo blew and a bit of it got stuck down the side of a piston, after the engine was rebuilt a while later the dual mass flywheel broke.Banging from the back end turned out to be the rear sub frame had torn out of the floor which necessitated cutting through the boot floor to repair.Finally the high pressure injection pump went, after that i sold it and a couple of weeks later the car welcomed the new owner to bmw ownership by the crankshaft damper pulley exploding.
My memory of that engine is a keen revver for a D. Up to 4K. Lack of power and diesel smell, this one obvs needs work but it’s very tidy for its age. Strangely lust after the low spec, I bet it’s easier to find a tidy one than anything wearing an M badge (sport) for the money.
I have a 330ci with sharper camshafts. I love that Car, never had any problems with the engine and it got 250k kilometers on the clock
Great review. The E46 really was (and still is) king! Just a shame this one had two too many doors :D
Had a courtesy car from BMW recently myself also, as they were working on my e92 coupe they gave me a loaner coupe, which turned out to be a nearly new 2020 218i SE, a 1.5 3 cylinder !!!.......Bright red!! When they dropped it off at mine and took my car away I instantly drove it round the back of the house and there it stayed for the 2-3 days I was without a car. Had absolutely no interest in it whatsoever.
O love it! Sam here: I hate most of the new bimmers, if not all of them....They look just like rubbish!
Standard turbo, with a hole in the exhaust... this is why you smell diesel and why you have the turbo sound.
I'd say decat, eml would be caused by that too.
M9 100% decat, just like almost
every 320
I bought a 1999 320d as a temporary car. I wanted it for half a year, maybe a little bit more. Definitely didn't plan to keep it longer than a year. Guess what? That was 5 years ago. I am still driving it the most of all my cars. The only thing I wish it had would be a sixth gear for highway because I drive quite fast. Mine has manual gearbox, cruise control, wiper sensor, webasto heater, automatic air-conditioning and everything just works. Apart from the parking sensors which I couldn't care less for. It is quite basic and ugly, but I still have a hard time not using it. It is so comfy with well positioned arm rests and back rest shape, the suspension smooths-out the road like no other car and it barely uses any fuel. It is also narrow and has a small turning radius. I have been tempted to replace it with something more exciting or interesting, but it is the absolute optimum. True work horse. Getting closer and closer to 300k kilometers.
Great video...watched a few this evening from XJ220(for dreams)to 320d(for day to day)...they all get you down the road it's just how others perceive you I guess...e92 330i(242000 miles) and e46 330d (343000 miles) both brilliant and a 50 year old triumph 1300fwd(scratched an itch)..k10 micra nxt on the list...keep up the good video content (always prefer the more realistically priced stuff) best regards.Paul
Question for E46 owners: Is the 325 or 330 the better one to get nowadays? Is either better at withstanding the test of time, more parts readily available, etc?
Get the 330i! More performance with virtually the same fuel economy of the 325i.
I would say the biggest problem with the x2 was the run flat tires. Ditched those on an f30 and it completely transformed the feel. Steering is still very numb compared to an e46 with well sorted steering components. Numb steering kind of defeats the purpose of a bmw...
Wow nice talking and I am impressed how u review the car.easy to understand especially like people like me hard headed 😬from Philippines 🇵🇭
I learnt how to drive in a Citroen 2010 C4 1.6 hatchback diesel manual! To me that was a good car, my comfort zone and my husband had his BMW 2008 320d manual I never did understand his love for the car, he drove it until it hit 174,000miles (all motorway) and now got himself a 2022 Audi A4 Avant? Needless to say I'm not sure I like the look of it either and I'm pretty sure he plans to drive it until it breaks or goes 300,000miles lol but he seems to like it. Anyhow just before he was going to sell his BMW I thought I'd try and drive it myself seeing as iv never in my life driven one and my Citroen only has 99hp and this thing has 174 so a big leap, and I've got to say, I haven't stopped driving it since! And I refuse to give it up. Absolutely solid car I actually feel like I'm having fun! I've been eyeing up a BMW 3 series 2020 but not sure how the newer cars will compare to the one I have now which is still going strong. I thought I'd be buying myself a Citroen C4 grand picasso next lol but no chance definitely buying myself a BM
My wife had the M sport version/ exact same colour / year when new, superb motor & mpg over the 3 year's she had it .
I'd say it's more likely ES spec, rather than SE. The manual HVAC and grim seats fit that description.
Sure I know this noise. I'm very pleased with my very well spect 320d. It's also very efficient
My old 320d es touring had those heaters, but it had the normal m sport multifunction wheel, it was wierd though, it had m sport suspension, cloth heated seats, cd changer etc, and it was factory debadged according to vin decoder, some things where better specced then its replacement 320cd, but thats got leather and is an m sport. Oh and the airfilters on the left hand side of the engine as its a long tube type filter.
My e46 325ci had the trim bits on the windows that fell off (I just cut them off after the 30th time), rear lights that liked doing impressions of a fish bowl, water pump that was virtually an annual service item, wings that I think were more rust than metal by the time I sold it, but, I still miss and regret selling that car.
This was actually a Es model and not SE, there for it came with a few m sport goodies like, steering wheel, gearknob and the suspension
It may have been said before, but I’m not gonna go through over 300 messages to check, but the SE is not base or poverty spec, that is actually the ES model which owns that name! Lol.
My completely standard 318d does make the turbo howl when you let off the throttle.
Nothing to do with modifications.
I've got an '02 320i coupe and it's a great car. I had a 323i saloon before and the coupe definitely has stiffer suspension but it drives so much better, particularly in the corners.
I've recently replaced both front wings due to rust but other than that I've had no real problems at all, the engine is still sweet as a nut underneath it all. To this day I still get the odd 'nice car mate' comment from people, not bad for a 17yr old car.
I want an M3 but it's taking much longer than I hoped, until then though I wouldn't swap mine for anything else.
Rewatching this video as in addition to my e46 clubsport I'm am tomorrow, buying a red e46 320d 😁😱
Very jealous of your Clubsport!
You should come to one of the meets in London. It would be incredible to see you there 👍
@@themanipulator1 Where and when?
@@JayEmmOnCars ace cafe in London. 24th of May 😁
Air filter is on the left hand side of the engine behind the corrugated square pipe. Same location as the 330d just smaller.
9:27 -- are you going 'Harry Hill' with your shirt collar? :)
Easily impressed, camp owl 😂😂😂 Absolutely hilarious!
*Just make sure not to forget the 320d part at the end*
Homeless guy spec is right up my alley
A good honest review as expected, did laugh at the I'm an arse comment! My mate had the 320D SE auto with the M Sport look and leather seats in it and that was a really nice comfortable car to travel in and great on fuel. Now he has an 06 Civic Type R and that thing for all that it does what it says on the tin shakes your bloody fillings out!
Had a 316i MSport, loved the styling and handling, but my god it was a bucket of ****. Needed almost €2k of repairs including almost every oil seal and coolant pipe on the car, not to mention the timing chain and all relative components. Wish I got the diesel or 6 cyl variant. Would love to have another E46 in the future.
Graham Healy sounds like you had the N42 engine, they weren’t reliable at all, too much going on for a 4-cylinder with vanos and valvetronic etc. I have the 2.0 version and I must have replaced everything on it 😅
@@robbieshaft Yeah that's the one! Totally agree! I almost bought an E92 320i/E90 320D. When I test drove them both were horrible. The petrol was misfiring the whole time and the diesel (with the N47 - time bomb!), doesn't need much more said than that!
E46 M3's are kinda cheap in Ireland now so I'd love to grab one of those when I get some space on the driveway in the near future! Fingers crossed!
Yeah the E90 320i got a revised engine over the one in the E46 I'm sure and a 6-speed box, it was equally as unreliable. I've got the N47 too in my E92, I got the chain and associated parts replaced on it and just a few other small bits, in terms of reliability it's very reliable compared to any N42 engine, its crazy how economical it can run when it's not exactly underpowered for a 2.0d. As long as the chain has been replaced they're a good engine
Very nice review mate. I myself have the same car in black color
This is actually the ES not the SE. ES had the m-sport steering with no buttons, non-electric rear windows and basic climate control. The SE was prettty much well specced in comparison
Man you should audition for top gear 👍 great video.i just bought one of these.i needed to see this after the criticism i have had off my mechanic😂
I'd be the guy badging one with an M2 badge and a matching lower-case d after an ECU reflash and call it a day. It's perfect
I drive a 2004 BMW 325i ZSP
My 330cd Vert is a dream. Get yourself 6 Cylinders instead of 4 and you’ll be ok
Regarding the fuel you can go 400m from full to half then just 200 until empty. I have e53 does the same thing. Fuel gage is always lying. Last quarter go to the station 😂
Same with every car.
My corolla diesel does 400miles first half of the tank and the second half usually 240 😂
The "Chooooo" Owl noise is actually the exhaust, well a small hole in the flexi most likely.
If it were to be straight piped it would me much louder, its actlh the variable vains in the turbo moving making the actual noise it self..
Just if anyone was interested😂😂😂
My 320d CI Msport does this also👍🏼😂
the noise sounds like there's a hole in the exhaust! 👍
Don't you find it's more often the base 320s that are plastered in M badging rather than the actual M models.
I love 2l BMW diesels for the performance/economy balance they provide.
I had 2x E46 320d Compacts, both remapped, the second was better - something like 200bhp and 6 speed but still 60 mpg was easy but the top gear torque was glorious. More recently I have had a 120D N47 for 7 years and ~100k miles. Slightly slower (std. map) but I toured France 2000miles and 65mpg avg. Currently driving 141bhp X3 and getting ~55 mpg with motorway use.
I have a BMW 320d 2000 with an extremly high spec its in the Family since new no complance about it I drive every day on the German Autobahn had no real problems at all since new