Llarry wrote Your question was answered well in the General BMW Discussion thread that you started. I owned three E46s -- all purchased new -- back in the day and remember them fondly. But I think the advice that you have gotten to look for something newer for your son makes sense.
Efthreeoh wrote Get him a Civic. He's going to crash whatever car you get him. Don't get him a 33,000 mile 20 year old E46. It will be a waste of a great car on a driver that won't and can't appreciate it.
Sell the E46 to a real BMW enthusiast.
Dagstar wrote Another vote for selling it. The mileage will attract attention. Certain parts, like rubber coolant hoses, are going to break down simply from age and if/when they do, your son might not have the knowledge to know something's wrong with it(neither do many adults) and end up driving the car to its grave. Something that's cheap to fix and great gas mileage is what I'd go for, so yeah, Civic or the like as suggested above. Or hang onto it and give it to him once he's had a few years behind the wheel of a "learner".
Speaking from experience, I agree with the above
Rtheda123
