Best of the Bargain Basement Vol. 2

[stevesuk]

Emeye said:

As I posted a week are so ago on this thread, my FIL bought a 320Ci for £850 - not as fast and unfortunately not much more economical than a 330Ci, but a lot of nice car for the money - still sounds lovely.

I've had a 320 Ci SE auto and then later, a 330 Ci Sport manual (supposedly the holy grail of E46 coupes). Although it was definitely quite a bit slower, overall I didn't really think the 320 was a significantly worse car (not in every day driving anyway). Not sure why - I think in every day driving, they suit the automatic gearbox more than the manual. They both make the same lovely noise...

At this kind of price range - within reason (unless you prioritise out and out performance), I'd look at any of the 6 cylinder petrols on condition rather than necessarily choosing the 3L with the highest specification by default. You want one which has a low number of owners, with a good service history - and look out for things like matching tyres (they're very sensitive to suspension alignment and tyres - especially the 18" wheels on the Sport). If it doesn't have any rust, then all the better.

[Emeye]

stevesuk said:

Emeye said:

As I posted a week are so ago on this thread, my FIL bought a 320Ci for £850 - not as fast and unfortunately not much more economical than a 330Ci, but a lot of nice car for the money - still sounds lovely.

I've had a 320 Ci SE auto and then later, a 330 Ci Sport manual (supposedly the holy grail of E46 coupes). Although it was definitely quite a bit slower, overall I didn't really think the 320 was a significantly worse car (not in every day driving anyway). Not sure why - I think in every day driving, they suit the automatic gearbox more than the manual. They both make the same lovely noise...

At this kind of price range - within reason (unless you prioritise out and out performance), I'd look at any of the 6 cylinder petrols on condition rather than necessarily choosing the 3L with the highest specification by default. You want one which has a low number of owners, with a good service history - and look out for things like matching tyres (they're very sensitive to suspension alignment and tyres - especially the 18" wheels on the Sport). If it doesn't have any rust, then all the better.

I've had lots of manual BMWs over the years, and apart from owning a couple of old E34 525i Autos I had never driven an newer auto BMW - I was really impressed with my FIL's 320 SE auto - maybe I'm just getting old.

[TonyRPH]

Emeye said:

I've had lots of manual BMWs over the years, and apart from owning a couple of old E34 525i Autos I had never driven an newer auto BMW - I was really impressed with my FIL's 320 SE auto - maybe I'm just getting old.

I think the auto box really suits the bigger cars 5 / 7 series, but not so much the 3 series, I think because you tend to expect more "punch" in the smaller car.

[V8RX7]

TonyRPH said:

Emeye said:

I've had lots of manual BMWs over the years, and apart from owning a couple of old E34 525i Autos I had never driven an newer auto BMW - I was really impressed with my FIL's 320 SE auto - maybe I'm just getting old.

I think the auto box really suits the bigger cars 5 / 7 series, but not so much the 3 series, I think because you tend to expect more "punch" in the smaller car.

Any keen driver won't get on with the throttle delay present on all electronic throttle E46 - it can't be mapped out either, just made better by constantly resetting it, hence I'd only consider a 328 (cable throttle) or a diesel.

[anonymous-user]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Renault-Vel-Satis-3-5-V6...

big gamble?

[Emeye]

V8RX7 said:

TonyRPH said:

Emeye said:

I've had lots of manual BMWs over the years, and apart from owning a couple of old E34 525i Autos I had never driven an newer auto BMW - I was really impressed with my FIL's 320 SE auto - maybe I'm just getting old.

I think the auto box really suits the bigger cars 5 / 7 series, but not so much the 3 series, I think because you tend to expect more "punch" in the smaller car.

Any keen driver won't get on with the throttle delay present on all electronic throttle E46 - it can't be mapped out either, just made better by constantly resetting it, hence I'd only consider a 328 (cable throttle) or a diesel.

Never noticed it as a problem as on my manual BMWs, but I only did occasional fast road driving, no tracking - it was that bleedin' Clutch Delay Valve that drove me nuts.

The auto on the 16 year old 320 SE is so much nicer than the depressing DSG (Dosey Sluggish Gears) on my brand new Passat Alltrack.

[TonyRPH]

Emeye said:

Never noticed it as a problem as on my manual BMWs, but I only did occasional fast road driving, no tracking - it was that bleedin' Clutch Delay Valve that drove me nuts.

The auto on the 16 year old 320 SE is so much nicer than the depressing DSG (Dosey Sluggish Gears) on my brand new Passat Alltrack.

I've had both 323 and 330 autos (E46) and the 323 was just so slow unless you used manual / sport mode or kick down everywhere.

The 330 was much livelier, but I still felt a manual box would have suited both cars better.

The 5's that I've had (E39) just seem so suited to the auto box though.

I've had an E34 manual (525 sport) and an E34 520 auto, and the manual just didn't seem right somehow!

[Emeye]

TonyRPH said:

I've had both 323 and 330 autos (E46) and the 323 was just so slow unless you used manual / sport mode or kick down everywhere.

The 330 was much livelier, but I still felt a manual box would have suited both cars better.

The 5's that I've had (E39) just seem so suited to the auto box though.

I've had an E34 manual (525 sport) and an E34 520 auto, and the manual just didn't seem right somehow!

The manuals of note I had were E39 530i Sport, E46 325ti Sport and an E92 325i SE - not the nicest shifting boxes, but greatly improved by installing a shorter gear knob. I never got around to replacing the CDV as I got used to it each time.

[jammy-git]

Alfa 159 or GT for under (or just over) bargain basement budget? I prefer the front end look of the 159 but the rear end look of the GT!

[funkyrobot]

jammy-git said:

Alfa 159 or GT for under (or just over) bargain basement budget? I prefer the front end look of the 159 but the rear end look of the GT!

Get one of each. Cut n shut. Dream car.

[AlexHat]

funkyrobot said:

jammy-git said:

Alfa 159 or GT for under (or just over) bargain basement budget? I prefer the front end look of the 159 but the rear end look of the GT!

Get one of each. Cut n shut. Dream car.

Isn't that the look of the Brera?

[jammy-git]

It is really. But Breras are well out of budget at the moment. I plan to get either a 159 or GT as a stop-gap and then a Brera in a year or two.

[MiniMan64]

Italian style, leather, V6.

What's not to like?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12221599313

Except for the fact that if it goes for that then mine is worth considerably less....

[anonymous-user]

MiniMan64 said:

Italian style, leather, V6.

What's not to like?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12221599313

Except for the fact that if it goes for that then mine is worth considerably less....

Sold!

[MiniMan64]

sleepera6 said:

MiniMan64 said:

Italian style, leather, V6.

What's not to like?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12221599313

Except for the fact that if it goes for that then mine is worth considerably less....

Sold!

Still available on my watch list.

If I actually had the space I'd consider it even though there is no earthly reason for me to need it!

[MrT8064]

I bought this 328i for £350 a couple of weeks ago. Its got plenty of dings and dents but runs excellently. Really liking the auto box - it's much more modern feeling than a Merc of the same vintage!

[anonymous-user]

MrT8064 said:

I bought this 328i for £350 a couple of weeks ago. Its got plenty of dings and dents but runs excellently. Really liking the auto box - it's much more modern feeling than a Merc of the same vintage!

Keep that,
If a 328i Sport is going for a good £5k+ then why is this £350?!

Excellent find, hope it serves you well

[anonymous-user]

MiniMan64 said:

sleepera6 said:

MiniMan64 said:

Italian style, leather, V6.

What's not to like?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12221599313

Except for the fact that if it goes for that then mine is worth considerably less....

Sold!

Still available on my watch list.

If I actually had the space I'd consider it even though there is no earthly reason for me to need it!

The link doesn't work then.

[V8RX7]

sleepera6 said:

MrT8064 said:

I bought this 328i for £350 a couple of weeks ago. Its got plenty of dings and dents but runs excellently. Really liking the auto box - it's much more modern feeling than a Merc of the same vintage!

Keep that,
If a 328i Sport is going for a good £5k+ then why is this £350?!

Because :

It's:
green
an estate
not a sport
not mint
not manual
not low mileage

Plus I've seen a few very nice 328 Sport sell for less than £3k.

That said - still a great buy at £350 !

[MiniMan64]

sleepera6 said:

MiniMan64 said:

sleepera6 said:

MiniMan64 said:

Italian style, leather, V6.

What's not to like?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12221599313

Except for the fact that if it goes for that then mine is worth considerably less....

Sold!

Still available on my watch list.

If I actually had the space I'd consider it even though there is no earthly reason for me to need it!

The link doesn't work then.

Bums. Must be something to do with posting from my phone.

Went for £350! A V6 Alfa with an MOT, £350 quid!