Should I Buy The N46
- Thread starter Gwest44
- Start date
A couple of years ago I bought one with fairly low mileage for £2,500 as a bit of a project. After spending loads on tyres, suspension etc it started misfiring so I changed plugs and coils. Got a bit better but still not right, ended up selling it for about £1k as a MOT failure 5/6 months after purchase (emissions) with the indie saying it was likely a worn concentric(?) shaft or something and could cost £1k+ to fix - can't really remember the details.
The indie's recommendation... get a 6-pot instead. My recommendation... make sure it's in very good condition if you really have to have 4 cylinders. I only bought the 2.0i because I have a strange addiction to eBay "bargains". If you are making a considered purchase then I can't really see any good reason not to get 6 cylinders.
The indie's recommendation... get a 6-pot instead. My recommendation... make sure it's in very good condition if you really have to have 4 cylinders. I only bought the 2.0i because I have a strange addiction to eBay "bargains". If you are making a considered purchase then I can't really see any good reason not to get 6 cylinders.
Attleborough, Norfolk
North West Surrey
I've owned a 2.0 N46 for nearly 7 years now & haven't regretted a minute of it. Don't get me wrong, there have been a few things that needed sorting like the vac pump needed replacing early on & about 4 years ago the vvt had to be replaced, not stupidly expensive though. 
Apart from the usual serviceable parts needing attention from time to time, this car has got to be the best car i've ever owned. If you take into account the well documented little niggles as in, the emission code & a slight lumpy idle which have over time led a lot of folk to assume the N46 is not a very reliable product.
In my experience the N46 is as 'bullet proof' as other 6 pot engines have been described. My advice is that the N46 needs to be thrashed whenever possible to "keep it clear" so to speak & i very rarely have any codes thrown by driving in this fashion.
Also "cracked Manifolds" have also been discussed, mine has never suffered this but did have a cracked Cat Casing once which was quickly sorted by TIG welding at little cost.
It has now passed 135000 miles and still drives like a goodun.
Just a few things i have learnt over time bout my little 4 potter.
Cheers, tug
Apart from the usual serviceable parts needing attention from time to time, this car has got to be the best car i've ever owned. If you take into account the well documented little niggles as in, the emission code & a slight lumpy idle which have over time led a lot of folk to assume the N46 is not a very reliable product.
In my experience the N46 is as 'bullet proof' as other 6 pot engines have been described. My advice is that the N46 needs to be thrashed whenever possible to "keep it clear" so to speak & i very rarely have any codes thrown by driving in this fashion.
Also "cracked Manifolds" have also been discussed, mine has never suffered this but did have a cracked Cat Casing once which was quickly sorted by TIG welding at little cost.
It has now passed 135000 miles and still drives like a goodun.
Just a few things i have learnt over time bout my little 4 potter.
Cheers, tug
Absolutely echo points made by Tug. For real world driving in town, camera blighted main roads etc the 2.0 /N46 does it all and more. I actually find the standard exhaust gives a lovely raspy but muted note and the journey to licence losing speeds is quickly achieved. Also experienced eml very occasionally but these seem to reflect the type of driving / how the N46 was engineered rather than any particular fault with the car - a brisk drive and occasional use of Catacleane cures any issues.
If you're anywhere near herts /essex border / stanstead would be happy to meet up and let you have a drive
If you're anywhere near herts /essex border / stanstead would be happy to meet up and let you have a drive
No.
If you need to get a “small engine” get a 2.2
I’d avoid the 2.0 ... for the simple reason if you get a lemon you’re fcuked!
The pre facelift 2.2 / 2.5 / 3.0 engines are m54 and generally they’re bullet proof. Easy to fix when little things go wrong too...
If you need to get a “small engine” get a 2.2
I’d avoid the 2.0 ... for the simple reason if you get a lemon you’re fcuked!
The pre facelift 2.2 / 2.5 / 3.0 engines are m54 and generally they’re bullet proof. Easy to fix when little things go wrong too...
and I'm very happy. No engine problems, on first service in asked the garage to check the timing tensioner for peice of mine which was fine.