BMW 330ci sport
Discussion
liller said:
nice, really like the imola red. It took me while to find one which hadn't been blacked out and lowered.
Driving one at 20 though? good lord, your insurance must be sky high - mines over £1k a year and im 31!!
That's what i was thinking insurance wise - but time and time again i've seen "uninsureble" insured- and at charity rates.I'm living in a parallel universe i reckon.Driving one at 20 though? good lord, your insurance must be sky high - mines over £1k a year and im 31!!
Mr Pies said:
Stunning car OP. How may miles has it done? Any tips on what to look for when buying one of these?
Thanks, its on 95K with full history. I'de say look out for worn bushes, steering judder and a tired cooling system.Steering/brake judder can sometimes seem simple to cure but you can replace an awful lot of parts trying to fix it!
The cooling systems are really bad, they need replacing every 5 years IMO as the radiators will start to bow at the bottom (you can see this through the grill).
But none of the problem are £1000 jobbies and every e46 will or would have had them at some point. Just make sure you have a couple of bob spare
tali1 said:
liller said:
nice, really like the imola red. It took me while to find one which hadn't been blacked out and lowered.
Driving one at 20 though? good lord, your insurance must be sky high - mines over £1k a year and im 31!!
That's what i was thinking insurance wise - but time and time again i've seen "uninsureble" insured- and at charity rates.I'm living in a parallel universe i reckon.Driving one at 20 though? good lord, your insurance must be sky high - mines over £1k a year and im 31!!
Also helps to state that the car is parked on the street rather than a driveway/garage (no idea why), and don't put 1000 miles a year... choose between 3k and 8k is often best as they know everyone ticks £1k to get the lowest premiums
When I turn 21 next month my renewal for this will be £890 on my own policy with 1 years NCB
HughesR1 said:
tali1 said:
liller said:
nice, really like the imola red. It took me while to find one which hadn't been blacked out and lowered.
Driving one at 20 though? good lord, your insurance must be sky high - mines over £1k a year and im 31!!
That's what i was thinking insurance wise - but time and time again i've seen "uninsureble" insured- and at charity rates.I'm living in a parallel universe i reckon.Driving one at 20 though? good lord, your insurance must be sky high - mines over £1k a year and im 31!!
Also helps to state that the car is parked on the street rather than a driveway/garage (no idea why), and don't put 1000 miles a year... choose between 3k and 8k is often best as they know everyone ticks £1k to get the lowest premiums
When I turn 21 next month my renewal for this will be £890 on my own policy with 1 years NCB
The garage theory is that if burglars nick keys from house they know exactly where car is -rather than searching on street.Not convinced myself with that personally
liller said:
How's the carbon interior in yours? mine is scratched to buggery around the door trims - thinking about getting them wrapped as they look crap currently.
I also switched the roller tray in the centre console area with the cup holder - good upgrade!
Mine is also scratched to hell, I was gonna spray them satin black but they will just get scratched again. I think the carbon wrap is close to OEM look as your gonna get but its still a bit max-power for me :/ Do they do those panels in smooth silver/brushed ally?I also switched the roller tray in the centre console area with the cup holder - good upgrade!
greggy50 said:
Let us know how you get on with this as considering one myself in a few months...
How much did you pay out of interest if you dont mind saying?
I managed to pick it up for £3k, with new tyres all round, 12 months MOT and 6 Months tax.How much did you pay out of interest if you dont mind saying?
I'm in the process of eliminating a steering judder during braking. If you got on E46zone forum there is plenty of info around. It seems that whatever E46 you get, it will have or is going to have steering/braking judder from a component on the front, its just a matter of time. Its not a big deal though if your handy with spanners and the car will still be driveable forever just not at its potential.
Also look out for signs of an old cooling system. They usually need replacing after around 5 years, but again all the components can be had for less than £200 and due to way the engine is mounted its not a bad job to do (even waterpump is easy!)
HughesR1 said:
Mine is also scratched to hell, I was gonna spray them satin black but they will just get scratched again. I think the carbon wrap is close to OEM look as your gonna get but its still a bit max-power for me :/ Do they do those panels in smooth silver/brushed ally?
I know what you mean about the carbon cube trim being a bit 'max-power' but I can't be bothered to change the whole lot as OEM trims change hands for surprising money on ebay. I found a place on the bay that you can send your door trims to and they will wrap them for you in identical carbon trim which doesn't wear as badly as the OEM trim. In an ideal world it would be piano black...I paid £3k for mine as well, except mine is slightly newer on a 52 plate but I don't have leather! Saying that, I actually quite like the sport alcantara trim now I have it.
liller said:
I know what you mean about the carbon cube trim being a bit 'max-power' but I can't be bothered to change the whole lot as OEM trims change hands for surprising money on ebay. I found a place on the bay that you can send your door trims to and they will wrap them for you in identical carbon trim which doesn't wear as badly as the OEM trim. In an ideal world it would be piano black...
I paid £3k for mine as well, except mine is slightly newer on a 52 plate but I don't have leather! Saying that, I actually quite like the sport alcantara trim now I have it.
I really like the alacantra seats in the sport too. I just wanted the xenon lights most of all and then when I saw Imola red... well, my mind was made up I paid £3k for mine as well, except mine is slightly newer on a 52 plate but I don't have leather! Saying that, I actually quite like the sport alcantara trim now I have it.
with 4 new tyres, tax, MOT and a FSH for £3k it's a blinding deal. I still find it amazing that you can pick these up for so little - so much car to be had for relatively little money.
If I had seen one in Imola I would have gone for it, when I was looking there just seemed to be loads and loads of silver and black ones about. I ended up with one in topaz blue which really suits the sport.
If I had seen one in Imola I would have gone for it, when I was looking there just seemed to be loads and loads of silver and black ones about. I ended up with one in topaz blue which really suits the sport.
I think they all look nice, but the Red & Blue takes away that chav factor on them. They're quite cheap these days down to people wanting diesels, but personally I think the initial high cost of buying the diesel version is too much to justify better MPG.
Proper chuffed with it though, MPG isn't that bad
Proper chuffed with it though, MPG isn't that bad
HughesR1 said:
I think they all look nice, but the Red & Blue takes away that chav factor on them. They're quite cheap these days down to people wanting diesels, but personally I think the initial high cost of buying the diesel version is too much to justify better MPG.
Proper chuffed with it though, MPG isn't that bad
this exactly...^^ the display shows mid 30's on a long run and mid 20's in town which more than a seat leon cupra I used to own. People see 3.0 and run a mile down the road and spend an extra £2k on a 320d. Makes no sense unless you pound the motorways on a daily basis.Proper chuffed with it though, MPG isn't that bad
wy906 said:
That’s a really good deal! Really smart and tidy for the price.
What’s the engine? 2.5, 2.8, 3.0? 4 cyclider or 6? How many horses? I’ve lost track on how BMW designate model numbers...
Its a 3.0 litre straight 6, as far as I'm aware the 325 is also the same engine. I assume its got smaller injectors and different fuel map etc.What’s the engine? 2.5, 2.8, 3.0? 4 cyclider or 6? How many horses? I’ve lost track on how BMW designate model numbers...
And yup MPG is better than my 2.2 VTEC Accord R and definitely better than my s14A turbo. Average 30 I would say.
HughesR1 said:
Another Fluffer said:
On the note off BBS alloys
To finish the look, IMO, whack a set of BBS LM's on there
Don't encourage me To finish the look, IMO, whack a set of BBS LM's on there
This is staying as close to OEM as possible as I'de rather spend pennys on tyres and trackdays for the elise
vsonix said:
you know it's funny; I'm really not generally a fan of MV1 wheels at all but somehow on this Imola Red car they actually look pretty swish. BBS LMs would suit, as would CH, but I think really what suits these cars is more dish, and even MV1s would look a whole lot nicer with some lip. It is a real shame the OEM rim designs all seemed to shy away from deeper dishes at this point in BMW's history...
First thing on my list when I wanted one of these was MV2 wheels, but I think the MV1's look much better on this. I'm not really a fan of modding post-2000 cars especially BMW as I think it tend's to devalue them a bit, but BBS would would look awesome with a small drop!I just don't want it to turn into one of these scene kid stretched tyred DUB car, front tyres are already tad to stretched for my liking
HughesR1 said:
First thing on my list when I wanted one of these was MV2 wheels, but I think the MV1's look much better on this. I'm not really a fan of modding post-2000 cars especially BMW as I think it tend's to devalue them a bit, but BBS would would look awesome with a small drop!
I just don't want it to turn into one of these scene kid stretched tyred DUB car, front tyres are already tad to stretched for my liking
I'm looking at BBS for mine too, just wish I could afford them, I know the purists hate it but google BM Auto Sport, they specialise in replica wheels for BMWs. Currently eyeing up some LMs for mine, and a 30mm drop all round too.I just don't want it to turn into one of these scene kid stretched tyred DUB car, front tyres are already tad to stretched for my liking
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