£5-8k. E46 330Ci vs E46 M3?
Discussion
sparks_E39 said:
^ That's why I don't think it's worth taking a BMW to the dealers if it's over say 5 years old.
I see where you're coming from with the M3, but the dealer prices for the M5 are a lot cheaper compared to that indy.I have no idea what most indys would charge for the M5 though.
The Crack Fox said:
Vince, that's easy to say when it's not your money paying the petrol/servicing/spares bills 
i've got a bloody m3!go wan, go wan, go wan, go wan, go wan, go wan, go wan, go wan, go wan, go wan, go wan, go wan, go wan, go wan, go wan, go wan, go wan, go wan, go wan, GO WAN!
nsi said:
Yeah, I'm into my cars LOL! However there are loads of people on this forum running much more exotic stables than me. I prefer, in general, to get an older higher spec car and spend money on running costs/repairs vs. getting a brand new 320d and spending money on interest (lease payments) and depreciation.
Anyway, returning to the crux of the thread: Why would the running costs be double for the M3 vs. the 330Ci? I know the MPG's will be worse, and the servicing more - however nothing I've seen indicates 50% MPG or double servicing costs.
This guy will be doing my servicing.
* Assuming oil and air filter
** Assuming oil, air filter, micro filter and coolant
Again... maybe it's Man Maths seeing what I want to see, but the M3 doesn't look mental compared to the other two.
That guy has very bizarre pricing. Its the only place I have ever seen to charge MORE for an E39 M5 Inspection 1 and 2 than for an E46 M3. How can he do that, given the E46 M3 Inspection services are more labour intensive? Nobody charges more for the M5 except him. Is he missing out bits of the service, like the valve clearances perhaps?Anyway, returning to the crux of the thread: Why would the running costs be double for the M3 vs. the 330Ci? I know the MPG's will be worse, and the servicing more - however nothing I've seen indicates 50% MPG or double servicing costs.
This guy will be doing my servicing.
| Model | Oil Service | Insp 1 | Insp 2 | Annual Inspection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 730d | £162 | £236* | £380** | £?? |
| 330Ci | £120 | £175 | £285 | £90 |
| M3 | £170 | £405 | £555 | £110 |
* Assuming oil and air filter
** Assuming oil, air filter, micro filter and coolant
Again... maybe it's Man Maths seeing what I want to see, but the M3 doesn't look mental compared to the other two.
E38Ross said:
OP - M3 services alone may not cost 50% more, but parts will, and labour is probably a little more intensive on the M3.
if running costs is an issue, get the 330. please don't let another M3 turn into a poor example through poor maintenance.
Thanks for the advice. From what I've seen so far the running costs don't seem mental to me. (Bearing in mind I used to use the Evo as a daily... I'm used to these kind of costs.) The biggest concern at the moment is probably fuel. When I was running the Evo I was doing about 15k PA, but now I'm doing between 50-100% more. I was getting about 22mpg from the Evo on a motorway run. So if I can get 30ish from an M3 on a motorway run then I think that would be manageable.if running costs is an issue, get the 330. please don't let another M3 turn into a poor example through poor maintenance.
I've also had a look at some comparative stats from Parkers:
* Per Parkers Guide
21mpg for the M3 looks scary compared to 31 for the 330Ci, is that really right? Parkers only quotes a single MPG figure, which I therefore assume (hope!) must be a combined figure and that the motorway figures will be better.
On an earlier post I guessed at 730d = 37, 33Ci = 35 and M3 = 30. Is that realistic? Where can I proper motorway MPG figures for each car?
Cheers
| Model | Urban | Combined * | Motorway | Insurance Group | Power | 0-60mph |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 730d | ?? | 34 mpg | ?? | Grp 45 | 227bhp | 7.6s |
| 330Ci | ?? | 31 mpg | ?? | Grp 35 | 227bhp | 6.3s |
| M3 | ?? | 21 mpg | ?? | Grp 44 | 338bhp | 5.0s |
* Per Parkers Guide
21mpg for the M3 looks scary compared to 31 for the 330Ci, is that really right? Parkers only quotes a single MPG figure, which I therefore assume (hope!) must be a combined figure and that the motorway figures will be better.
On an earlier post I guessed at 730d = 37, 33Ci = 35 and M3 = 30. Is that realistic? Where can I proper motorway MPG figures for each car?
Cheers
not sure on the E46 M3 on the motorway but rumour was the new V8 M3 is very nearly almost as economical as the old straight 6, and my dad averages 19mpg in that, admittedly with more town than you're going to be doing and he does drive it as intended every now and again so i'd say 25mpg overall from the straight 6 M3 is doing more motorway miles would be a reasonable expectation.
you should get a tad more than 37mpg on a run in a 730d too if sticking to the legal limit. i'd have thought low 40's
you should get a tad more than 37mpg on a run in a 730d too if sticking to the legal limit. i'd have thought low 40's
For MPG I get an average of 25mpg with mixed driving out of my E46 M3.
It's not the servicing costs that are really an issue with the car, it's the consumables and unexpected large bills. Bushes, clutch, brake discs, pads, tyres. All of it adds up. For example, this year I need a clutch and oil service, this is an £1100 bill at a good independent, I will also need a new set of rear tyres (£500). Oil service can be done at home for about £100. See my blog for running costs, although I am totally OCD with my cars. At 8k for an E46 M3 you're scraping the bottom of the barrel, which means your running costs will be comparatively higher as you will probably buy a higher mileage one.
I had a 330ci before my M3, comparatively like night and day. The 330ci is very smooth and very cheap to run (other than fuel which isn't that much different to the M3).
The M3 is only worthwhile if you like your cars to handle well and provide great driver feedback. I found the steering on the 330 overly light (much lighter than my 530i). You need to drive the M3, rather the 330 is easy to live with and does not necessarily need to be thrashed to get the most out of it. My M3 is the best car I've ever owned by a long shot.
It's not the servicing costs that are really an issue with the car, it's the consumables and unexpected large bills. Bushes, clutch, brake discs, pads, tyres. All of it adds up. For example, this year I need a clutch and oil service, this is an £1100 bill at a good independent, I will also need a new set of rear tyres (£500). Oil service can be done at home for about £100. See my blog for running costs, although I am totally OCD with my cars. At 8k for an E46 M3 you're scraping the bottom of the barrel, which means your running costs will be comparatively higher as you will probably buy a higher mileage one.
I had a 330ci before my M3, comparatively like night and day. The 330ci is very smooth and very cheap to run (other than fuel which isn't that much different to the M3).
The M3 is only worthwhile if you like your cars to handle well and provide great driver feedback. I found the steering on the 330 overly light (much lighter than my 530i). You need to drive the M3, rather the 330 is easy to live with and does not necessarily need to be thrashed to get the most out of it. My M3 is the best car I've ever owned by a long shot.
E38Ross said:
not sure on the E46 M3 on the motorway but rumour was the new V8 M3 is very nearly almost as economical as the old straight 6, and my dad averages 19mpg in that, admittedly with more town than you're going to be doing and he does drive it as intended every now and again so i'd say 25mpg overall from the straight 6 M3 is doing more motorway miles would be a reasonable expectation.
you should get a tad more than 37mpg on a run in a 730d too if sticking to the legal limit. i'd have thought low 40's
25 as an average on the M3 would be do-able, but I couldn't afford to do that on the motorway, where I think I'd need more like 30 really. I'll see if anyone else has some input on that too.you should get a tad more than 37mpg on a run in a 730d too if sticking to the legal limit. i'd have thought low 40's
If I drive at 70mph I do get low 40's from the 730d, but in normal driving I tend to keep pace with lane 3.
[Quick bit of maths, thinking aloud here, assuming 20k miles PA using petrol at 135p/l. At 35mpg it'll cost £3,500. At 30mpg it'll cost £4,100. At 25mpg it'll cost £4,900. Or using diesel at 35mpg and 145p it'll cost £3,800. Which is why 30mpg in a petrol is not much difference to 35mpg in a diesel, in total cost. Plus no turbo or DPF on the petrols. Between my 7er at £3,800 and a petrol at 25mpg (worst case?) at £4,900 that's about £90 per month extra in fuel, which is do-able.]
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