I'd say 2004&05's are the better all around ones. Yes, these are some what a pain in the arse to maintain. The starter motor is located in between the engine and tranny, so far it has taken my indy 2 full days to work on it... ($700 in change) The window regulators go on these cars, CV BOOTs leak and will require attention ($300-400 w/o labor) Pressure control valves, Valve cover gaskets run $300 each. If your purchasing one of these, get your cooling system flushed, and make sure to replace the plastic parts of the motor. Such as, plastic water pump pulleys, plastic water pump in exchange for all metal ones (very highly recommended) Your right, this car is like a stuck up broad who demands maintenance. If she's running in the clear, she's a bubbly gem that pulls. However, when something goes, it's sorta annoying, but manageable. This car is all about the longrun, preventative maintenance is the golden rule of thumb here. Take care of the car and the car will take care of you. If you purchase a non XI model, be on the look out for broken/worn cracking rear subframes as this only happens to non XI's. ($1300.00) a body shop/indy will have to weld it back in place, or else the whole rear can tear off, like a torn piece of paper. Hey, don't let your hopes down on owning a BMW try purchasing a E30 (1986-1991) 325iX. These are cheap and cost effective to own and a great pleasure to drive. THE iX, is a beast in the snow and the motor should last over 250,000 miles if taken care of. Best of luck. Look for a decent condition e30 3 series, if your alil cautious on maintenance of these e46's! best of luck :thumbsup:
-Casper