E46 330CI

[daveco]

[redacted]

[StuTheGrouch]

R2T2 said:

The hunt is on!
Facelift 330ci Manual with good history! Preferably Imola Red but not vital!

I had to travel bloody miles to find mine, after travelling miles to see a st example which I walked away from (very angry) within minutes.

Mine isn't even imola red, which is very rare!

[R2T2]

StuTheGrouch said:

I had to travel bloody miles to find mine, after travelling miles to see a st example which I walked away from (very angry) within minutes.

Mine isn't even imola red, which is very rare!

so the Imola Red, with FSH (apparantly) and being manual is like the holy grail?

[StuTheGrouch]

If you want that colour (I didn't- I wanted grey, which was the st and rusting example described as immaculate). I found it hard enough to find a good manual facelift m sport which wasn't light blue (estoril?).

[rob_1990]

I would tend to disagree with most of the above comments.

I have owned a 53 facelift 330ci convertible for nearly 5 years now, and its been no trouble at all. I bought at 97K and it now has 178K. I average about 32MPG but 35MPG is easily achievable at 70-75MPH on a long trip. I have never had any issues with rust, Vanos, subframe etc. It uses around 1 litre of oil every 5-7k.

I have had to do the following over my 5 years of ownership:

- Fit a DISA repair kit at around 150K, a fairly common problem with 330s £50.
- Recently changed both rear shocks and top mounts at around 172K. £100
- Fitted uprated Meyle bottom arms at around 105K. £150
- Replaced MAF sensor at around 160K, again a fairly common fault and easy to rectify. £180

I have 18" wheels which are 255 on the rear and 225 up front, so expect to pay a few quid on a decent set.

Mine has HK and Bluetooth as standard. BT works well with new iPhone.

As you can see, nothing major and I can safely say it's the best car I have ever owned. Look after it and it will be fine. Don't be put off by high milers, with nearly 180K on the clock, mine runs as good today as it did in 2010.

Of course if you buy a shed, expect big bills.

Cheers

[Devil2575]

R2T2 said:

StuTheGrouch said:

I had to travel bloody miles to find mine, after travelling miles to see a st example which I walked away from (very angry) within minutes.

Mine isn't even imola red, which is very rare!

so the Imola Red, with FSH (apparantly) and being manual is like the holy grail?

I'd say a manual with a FSH that has been properly looked after is pretty rare. Don't get too hung up on colour and exact spec, buy on condition.

[R2T2]

Devil2575 said:

R2T2 said:

StuTheGrouch said:

I had to travel bloody miles to find mine, after travelling miles to see a st example which I walked away from (very angry) within minutes.

Mine isn't even imola red, which is very rare!

so the Imola Red, with FSH (apparantly) and being manual is like the holy grail?

I'd say a manual with a FSH that has been properly looked after is pretty rare. Don't get too hung up on colour and exact spec, buy on condition.

I must admit, that black one I linked too on the first page is starting to look tastier, looks to be in good nick, in manual and not a billion miles away in Southampton, and has a pretty good history with sub 100k, all be it just.

[daveco]

R2T2 said:

Devil2575 said:

R2T2 said:

StuTheGrouch said:

I had to travel bloody miles to find mine, after travelling miles to see a st example which I walked away from (very angry) within minutes.

Mine isn't even imola red, which is very rare!

so the Imola Red, with FSH (apparantly) and being manual is like the holy grail?

I'd say a manual with a FSH that has been properly looked after is pretty rare. Don't get too hung up on colour and exact spec, buy on condition.

I must admit, that black one I linked too on the first page is starting to look tastier, looks to be in good nick, in manual and not a billion miles away in Southampton, and has a pretty good history with sub 100k, all be it just.

It says a lot that even after a year of 335 ownership I still check for a nice 330ci manual sport. I think this was the zenith of BMW design and that performance/economy balance they often do so well. The interior is also far nicer than in the E92, which clearly had a good few money saving measures put in place.