Info/opinions on buying an E46 330D Touring
Discussion
I've kind've decided that this is the car for me for the next few years.
I understand that there are issues with rear springs breaking and turbos blowing on older cars, but that this is mainly limited to 320s are there any other known problem areas?
I'll be looking for some sort of warranty, does anyone know roughly how much a BMW warranty will be to renew?
Sport suspension or normal? Is the sport too hard as some suggest?
Does anyone know the service intervals/costs?
Finally, where the heck can I get my hands on one? they seem rare as hen's teeth!
Any other opinions/views on ownership would be appreciated (apart from petrol v derv rants) would be most welcome.
Cheers
Dave
I understand that there are issues with rear springs breaking and turbos blowing on older cars, but that this is mainly limited to 320s are there any other known problem areas?
I'll be looking for some sort of warranty, does anyone know roughly how much a BMW warranty will be to renew?
Sport suspension or normal? Is the sport too hard as some suggest?
Does anyone know the service intervals/costs?
Finally, where the heck can I get my hands on one? they seem rare as hen's teeth!
Any other opinions/views on ownership would be appreciated (apart from petrol v derv rants) would be most welcome.
Cheers
Dave
djfish said:
Sport suspension or normal? Is the sport too hard as some suggest?
Entirely dependent on your personal taste. Drive both and choose.
For me, the normal is way firm enough. Others think I'm getting
soft in my old age, but then I don't have access to a good
osteopath or dentist.
djfish said:
Does anyone know the service intervals/costs?
Service intervals depend on how you drive it. Most folks seem to
get about 15K per service.
Costs are dependent on where you take it - main dealer or not.
Try giving your local BMW dealer a ring for some service quotes.
djfish said:
Any other opinions/views on ownership would be appreciated (apart
from petrol v derv rants) would be most welcome.
Of all the people I know that own BMWs, all of them are happy with
their cars and none of them plan to replace them with something else.
One or two are considering buying another, however.
Just to add my bit. I ran a 330d Touring for two years and it is a nice car. Mine was an SE but with Sports Suspension, which was to my liking with the 17 inch rims. I test drove a Sport model with 18’s and didn’t like it as much.
The other main choice is Auto or Manual? Everyone says the Auto is the one to go for (which I had) but in hindsight wish I’d got a manual, and I suspect that if I had I might have kept in longer. I found the auto sluggish with the diesel (I’d previously had a steptronic 328ci and really liked it) in both Auto and Manual modes and found for pushing on only Sport Auto (with DSC off) really seemed ok. For me the benefit of the diesel is the torque and then with the auto the torque converter seems to sap a lot of it away when you most want it. Mine was a 184bhp model and I also later drove the 204 in manual and that felt really quick.
I was also disappointed with the fuel economy overall, averaging just under 32mpg over 20k miles, and I didn’t do the Sport Auto thing that often. On a long run it would nudge up towards 40mpg but I suspect my motorway/other road ratio was probably a bit wrong to maximise the fuel benefits of diesel ownership.
Servicing was normal BMW dealer rates (i.e. not cheap) but in 20k miles I only had an oil service and got about 13k between services (I believe the diesel service intervals are slightly shorter than the petrol ones). About a week after my service (which included a brake fluid change) I found brake fluid all over one of my wheels and the calliper (which was diagnosed as faulty) was changed under warranty, but the BMW Assist Tech who came out reckoned the bleed nipple had been cross threaded during the service!
Overall it was a good car, practical, comfortable and fast. 90% of the time it was great, but the other 10% of the time when you wanted to have a little fun I found it rather disappointing . But hey, that’s only my opinion, I’m sure for every one of me there are several who will say it’s the best car in the world.
Good luck with your search.
The other main choice is Auto or Manual? Everyone says the Auto is the one to go for (which I had) but in hindsight wish I’d got a manual, and I suspect that if I had I might have kept in longer. I found the auto sluggish with the diesel (I’d previously had a steptronic 328ci and really liked it) in both Auto and Manual modes and found for pushing on only Sport Auto (with DSC off) really seemed ok. For me the benefit of the diesel is the torque and then with the auto the torque converter seems to sap a lot of it away when you most want it. Mine was a 184bhp model and I also later drove the 204 in manual and that felt really quick.
I was also disappointed with the fuel economy overall, averaging just under 32mpg over 20k miles, and I didn’t do the Sport Auto thing that often. On a long run it would nudge up towards 40mpg but I suspect my motorway/other road ratio was probably a bit wrong to maximise the fuel benefits of diesel ownership.
Servicing was normal BMW dealer rates (i.e. not cheap) but in 20k miles I only had an oil service and got about 13k between services (I believe the diesel service intervals are slightly shorter than the petrol ones). About a week after my service (which included a brake fluid change) I found brake fluid all over one of my wheels and the calliper (which was diagnosed as faulty) was changed under warranty, but the BMW Assist Tech who came out reckoned the bleed nipple had been cross threaded during the service!
Overall it was a good car, practical, comfortable and fast. 90% of the time it was great, but the other 10% of the time when you wanted to have a little fun I found it rather disappointing . But hey, that’s only my opinion, I’m sure for every one of me there are several who will say it’s the best car in the world.
Good luck with your search.
djfish said:
I've kind've decided that this is the car for me for the next few years.
I understand that there are issues with rear springs breaking and turbos blowing on older cars, but that this is mainly limited to 320s are there any other known problem areas?
I'll be looking for some sort of warranty, does anyone know roughly how much a BMW warranty will be to renew?
Sport suspension or normal? Is the sport too hard as some suggest?
Does anyone know the service intervals/costs?
Finally, where the heck can I get my hands on one? they seem rare as hen's teeth!
Any other opinions/views on ownership would be appreciated (apart from petrol v derv rants) would be most welcome.
Cheers
Dave
Had no problems with turbos or springs so far, touch desk. But did have a water pump fail, quite common apparently, £150 replacement (fitted).
Running 17" wheels and mtech suspension (sport), handles very well when thrashing a allows wet roundabout slidage. However, if the car is for pottering about and mainly transporting family then IMO the suspension is too harsh.
Service interval depend on how you drive it but seem acceptably long, and the costs are pretty low.
There's a thread on here re BMW warrenty, sounds like you need to bend over before buying.
Got mine off ebay, but there always seemed to be a few on autotrader.
General ownership views, like ours a lot, perfect ergonomics, comfey seats, nice to drive at 5/10ths as well as 10/10ths. Counter points, not as roomy as I would have liked, now need something bigger to transport expected new baby and toddler (although a couple of friends seem to manage alright with the same set up), not as quiet as I'd hoped, mainly tyre roar (doesn't have the hush of a 5 series). Does have nicely pointy handling but is still a fairly heavy car. Its a manual and generally does around 40mpg (used to do more when the wife commuted 60miles a day).
All told, a 9/10 ownership experience so far.
Thanks for the replies, drove an 02 sport with 57,000 on the clock today, presumably that would've been a 185bhp model, even with the auto it was very impressive, really liked it a lot.
Now I just have to figue out a way of persuading my other half (and myself) why I need one!
What I was considering was picking one up at an ex-fleet auction, I can't see the point in putting money in a dealer's pocket when I can get exactly the same car for less money and with (realistically) the same amount of customer support.
Really nice car though.
Now I just have to figue out a way of persuading my other half (and myself) why I need one!
What I was considering was picking one up at an ex-fleet auction, I can't see the point in putting money in a dealer's pocket when I can get exactly the same car for less money and with (realistically) the same amount of customer support.
Really nice car though.
I took delivery of mine a couple of months ago. 18 months old 22k miles, fully loaded and I mean fully. Cost the previous owner 42k new.
Anyway, it's on the sports suspension, 18" wheels and with the 5 speed auto. It's also the 204bhp version.
First thing is the suspension is firm, no doubt about it. Sometimes it can be a little too firm i.e. when engaging road humps, but overall, on motorway and A roads it's no problem. It also means when you do get frisky it doesn't feel half as heavy as it is.
The auto box is a lazy mans choice no doubt about it, but where do you spend most of your time? negotiating round-a-bouts, junctions, traffic lights, traffic.... then it's great.
As for loosing power to the box, well it must be true, but the torque surge is still amazing off the line.
It's a lovely car that does 99% of everything very very well.
I get 36mpg on mixed driving and 40 ish on the M-way.
Anyway, it's on the sports suspension, 18" wheels and with the 5 speed auto. It's also the 204bhp version.
First thing is the suspension is firm, no doubt about it. Sometimes it can be a little too firm i.e. when engaging road humps, but overall, on motorway and A roads it's no problem. It also means when you do get frisky it doesn't feel half as heavy as it is.
The auto box is a lazy mans choice no doubt about it, but where do you spend most of your time? negotiating round-a-bouts, junctions, traffic lights, traffic.... then it's great.
As for loosing power to the box, well it must be true, but the torque surge is still amazing off the line.
It's a lovely car that does 99% of everything very very well.
I get 36mpg on mixed driving and 40 ish on the M-way.
I've got a 2002 E46 330d Saloon Auto.
Amazing car. I do 1800 miles a month and it just eats them up.
Get out of it after 2 hours, relaxed, no headache, smiling.
Auto box is great seeing as the rev range is 1200 - 4600rpm. Let it do the changing...
38mpg for me including some enthusiastic driving.
Getting mine chipped soon. From 180 to 210bhp, the 204bhp version quite easily chips to 240 I'm told.
Previous car was 225bhp TT, and the power of the 330d is not lacking much compared to the Audi.
Amazing car. I do 1800 miles a month and it just eats them up.
Get out of it after 2 hours, relaxed, no headache, smiling.
Auto box is great seeing as the rev range is 1200 - 4600rpm. Let it do the changing...
38mpg for me including some enthusiastic driving.
Getting mine chipped soon. From 180 to 210bhp, the 204bhp version quite easily chips to 240 I'm told.
Previous car was 225bhp TT, and the power of the 330d is not lacking much compared to the Audi.
just bought mine and like it a lot, bloody hard to find the one you want, mine had to be 204 model, sport, auto, mega loaded, had to buy from a stealer. the ride is firm but better than 4wd's i owned. mpg between 30 and 40. plenty of grunt, it's good for everything, journeys, shopping, school run etc etc.
I've had 3 E46 330d Sports and my current car is an E90 330d M-Sport! You could say that I like them. 
I believe that they are genuinely the best all rounder you can buy. The 184bhp model was great. I had an original 2000 X-reg when they first came out. That was replaced by a facelifted 2002 model. This had the revised steering rack, which gave more feel.
My 2003 204bhp car was brand new and fully loaded. Loved it to bits and sold it last year to get an M3. However, that love affair was short but sweet, and I'm now back in a 330d, albeit a 231bhp E90.
On two of my cars, I had the plastic inlet manifold crack. Effectively it turned the car into a non-turbo diesel! Easy fix under warranty. About 300 quid outside of warranty. Turbos can go, just idle the car for a while following a quick run and you'll be fine. Ball joints can wear.
I averaged 42 mpg in my 204bhp version and 40ish in both 184's. The E90 is returning 40.3, but is still tight(ish) and is being "enjoyed".
All cars have been manuals.
A cracking car, and if you find the right one, it'll never do you wrong.
Matt
I believe that they are genuinely the best all rounder you can buy. The 184bhp model was great. I had an original 2000 X-reg when they first came out. That was replaced by a facelifted 2002 model. This had the revised steering rack, which gave more feel. My 2003 204bhp car was brand new and fully loaded. Loved it to bits and sold it last year to get an M3. However, that love affair was short but sweet, and I'm now back in a 330d, albeit a 231bhp E90.
On two of my cars, I had the plastic inlet manifold crack. Effectively it turned the car into a non-turbo diesel! Easy fix under warranty. About 300 quid outside of warranty. Turbos can go, just idle the car for a while following a quick run and you'll be fine. Ball joints can wear.
I averaged 42 mpg in my 204bhp version and 40ish in both 184's. The E90 is returning 40.3, but is still tight(ish) and is being "enjoyed".
All cars have been manuals. A cracking car, and if you find the right one, it'll never do you wrong.
Matt
MattOz said:
IOn two of my cars, I had the plastic inlet manifold crack. Effectively it turned the car into a non-turbo diesel! Easy fix under warranty. About 300 quid outside of warranty. Turbos can go, just idle the car for a while following a quick run and you'll be fine. Ball joints can wear.
From what I understand that "seems" to be a contributory factor. Turbo's have advanced so much in the last few years, but its easy to forget they are there. As a result its a simple thing to forget what you really should do - let em warm up and cool down. But its an odd one - the BMW turbo is pretty advanced and therefore quite expensive. Give it a couple more years and they will become cheaper. This makes them reasonable to replace. Cit/Pug turbos are renowed for going after about 120,000 miles, but are pretty cheap to fix. The 330d / 530d engine is still seen as "expensive" and hence it is costly to fix. In a couple of years the prices will drop and indies will be able to do the work..... a few hundred quid to fix a blown turbo? Hopefully soon....
Supposedly Honda suffered the same with the 2.2 CTDI engine. Early ones suffered turbo failures due to insufficient warmup and cool down. Changes made to the lubrication and ECU to retify this - never happened since. Even manufacturers such as Honda fall for this one...
Chaps,
Of course turbos can go, even if you baby them. It's sometimes just one of those things. I'd estimate that I've done about 100 laps of the Nurburgring in my 330d's. I've always completed a lap and then gone for a warm down drive on adjoining roads or let them idle for a few mins. Never had a problem with them.
Matt
Of course turbos can go, even if you baby them. It's sometimes just one of those things. I'd estimate that I've done about 100 laps of the Nurburgring in my 330d's. I've always completed a lap and then gone for a warm down drive on adjoining roads or let them idle for a few mins. Never had a problem with them.
Matt
Well my car is seriously up for sale, I'm selling off all the spare bits and bobs I've got & I have approval from the boss so its all systems go!!!!
I will try to drive a manual at some point but I was seriously impressed with the auto box so will have to have a think about that one.
There are a few cars I have my eye on, but they mean serous mileage to go and view so I'll wait until I get shot of my car before I look to buy one but I'm hoping to have it for Lemans.
I'll be the chap chugging past all the service stations looking smug and not using my indicators
Cheers
Dave
I will try to drive a manual at some point but I was seriously impressed with the auto box so will have to have a think about that one.
There are a few cars I have my eye on, but they mean serous mileage to go and view so I'll wait until I get shot of my car before I look to buy one but I'm hoping to have it for Lemans.
I'll be the chap chugging past all the service stations looking smug and not using my indicators
Cheers
Dave
What are your thoughts on this little beauty?
BMW 3 SERIES 330d Sport 5dr Touring LOW MILEAGE , 5 Doors, Manual, Estate, Diesel, 2003 52 Reg , 34,000 miles, Metallic Sapphire Black over Full Black Leather. ABS, Air conditioning, Alloy wheels, Central locking, Computer, Driver airbag, Electric mirrors, Electric windows, Foglights, Electrically adjustable seats, Front armrest, Head restraints, Headlight washers, Immobiliser, Park distance control, Passenger airbag, Power assisted steering, Rear armrest, Remote locking, Roof rails, Radio/Cassette, Side airbags, Rear headrests, Sports seats, Traction control. Upgraded Sports Alloy wheels, Multifunction steering wheel, Detachable towbar (unused) CD System, Antracite headlining, Carbon Fibre Dash and door cappings, Climate control, M-tec Steering wheel and kick plates
Seems too good to be true, only three months warranty which probably isn't worth the paper its written on but I'd probably spend £300 and get a decent aftermarket warranty,it's probably due a service, tax and mot, does anyone know when the cambelts are due on 330s?
Would it be worth taking it to a BMW dealer for a pre-purchase inspection?
Seems to have all the toys except xenons, whats the catch?
I throw myself at the mercy of your collective experience.
Dave
BMW 3 SERIES 330d Sport 5dr Touring LOW MILEAGE , 5 Doors, Manual, Estate, Diesel, 2003 52 Reg , 34,000 miles, Metallic Sapphire Black over Full Black Leather. ABS, Air conditioning, Alloy wheels, Central locking, Computer, Driver airbag, Electric mirrors, Electric windows, Foglights, Electrically adjustable seats, Front armrest, Head restraints, Headlight washers, Immobiliser, Park distance control, Passenger airbag, Power assisted steering, Rear armrest, Remote locking, Roof rails, Radio/Cassette, Side airbags, Rear headrests, Sports seats, Traction control. Upgraded Sports Alloy wheels, Multifunction steering wheel, Detachable towbar (unused) CD System, Antracite headlining, Carbon Fibre Dash and door cappings, Climate control, M-tec Steering wheel and kick plates
Seems too good to be true, only three months warranty which probably isn't worth the paper its written on but I'd probably spend £300 and get a decent aftermarket warranty,it's probably due a service, tax and mot, does anyone know when the cambelts are due on 330s?
Would it be worth taking it to a BMW dealer for a pre-purchase inspection?
Seems to have all the toys except xenons, whats the catch?
I throw myself at the mercy of your collective experience.
Dave
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff