E46 330i Clubsport real world MPG for daily driver

[a1burns]

First post (ill put my car up in readers cars shortly ) however heres a quick overview of my situation:

Currenty have an S(1998) registered 318 SE. Fairly good condition and only 88k miles on the clock. I absolutely love the car but I have had it around 3 years now and I am getting a little tired of the lack of ooomph.

A short while ago I visitied local stealer and discussed buying a new car on finance, long story short I was very interested but they only offered me £600 for my car and being childish I was offended and left.

I am always trawling classifieds for nice, fairly local BMWs (I have fallen in love with E46s) and recently came across a 330i Clubsport with low miles, 1 previous owner and in good condition with ok spec.

The point really is what sort of costs do I need to worry about. My 318 has never cost me more than a set of brake pads/service in 3 years but fuel economy isn't great and im sure it is going to be worse in a 330 but how much worse (I have the M43 (I think) 8 valve engine in my car...). Being 21 the insurance is about 1200 which isn't too bad. I don't do a huge amount of miles and most are city driving however a few times a week I do about a 50 mile round trip to the o/h's.

Im really looking for any advice on what I need to look out for/keep in mind for costs before I go and fall in love with it and buy it...

Thankyou please

[stevesuk]

From memory, they're not much different (mechanically) to a standard 330 Ci Sport, so you could probably compare running costs to that.

Town driving, I get somewhere between 25 and 30 mpg from my 330 Ci Sport. On a motorway run, more like 35 mpg when driven gently.

In terms of running costs. Does the Clubsport run the same sized wheels as a sport? If so, tyres can be quite pricey (and different size front and rear). Other than that, I think the 330s have slightly bigger brake discs to other E46. Plus the usual - depending on mileage - factoring in the cost of replacing worn suspension bushes and bits of the cooling system (radiator, thermostat, water pump).

Plenty of threads on here about what to look for when buying an E46 in terms of common failures/faults.

[SBN]

Its a great car and i have one at present for around 250 - 800 miles commuting a week. It's a manual gear box and averages about 27 mpg which is pretty good considering its a 3.0 engine.

As for running costs... well brakes will cost more than your 318, but everything else like bushes, suspension parts (which an e46 eats on both accounts) are the same across the sport fleet (325, 320, 330, etc).

When i got my e46 coupe 330ci it needed, new tyres, arb and control arm bushes, brake fluid change, alignment, head light washer broke (common) and MOT. Cost nearly £1000 to get it where it is today... and it had only covered 39,000 miles so i would always go through recent servicing and what has been done. Next on the list in 13,000 miles will be brakes and who knows what else

All in all its a step up so it will cost a little more but i wouldnt imagine it would be a huge amount...

Cheers

[woots787]

To get 35mpg from my 5 speed 330 touring needs 70mph or less on a warm engine and zero hoonage. Late 20s is more normal for ten miles plus at sensible speeds with the occasional trip to the red line but it quickly gets into the low twenties or less on short trips and in traffic. I reckon on the motorway it won't be much worse than the 318 but in town you'll see a big difference.

John

[a1burns]

Thanks for all the useful info guys. FYI its an 05 plate with 65,000 miles, 1 Previous owner and full BMWSH. Hope its not too good to be true, or gone...

Will be trying to arrange a viewing for the weekend

Tyres were one thing I didn't think about so thanks for that Bit worried about the petrol but you only live once and its not going to get any cheaper, this might be my last chance and I just cant afford an M3 and tbh ive always had a soft spot for that CS spoiler

[rumple]

stevesuk said:

From memory, they're not much different (mechanically) to a standard 330 Ci Sport, so you could probably compare running costs to that.

Town driving, I get somewhere between 25 and 30 mpg from my 330 Ci Sport. On a motorway run, more like 35 mpg when driven gently.

In terms of running costs. Does the Clubsport run the same sized wheels as a sport? If so, tyres can be quite pricey (and different size front and rear). Other than that, I think the 330s have slightly bigger brake discs to other E46. Plus the usual - depending on mileage - factoring in the cost of replacing worn suspension bushes and bits of the cooling system (radiator, thermostat, water pump).

Plenty of threads on here about what to look for when buying an E46 in terms of common failures/faults.

Its no different than a 330ci sport, just a badge exercise, if the price is right though a nice car that in years to come wont depreciate like the standerd 330ci, by the way mine will do 30ish on a run and this week 23 round town

[joropug]

If you get a 6 speed manual (2003 facelift onwards), You're looking at 35 mpg motorway, 29mpg mixed, and 25mpg if mostly town driving. That's what mine gets anyway!

Great car for the money, as previously stated, not much difference from the regular sport:

15mm lower suspension
20kg less sound bulkhead deadening (no noticeable noise difference)
Front Spats
Rear spoiler
Split piece alloys

Cool colours

[laingy]

i get around 22mpg from a 330 convertible with auto box. But i do a lot of short journeys to a station.

[itiejim]

laingy said:

i get around 22mpg from a 330 convertible with auto box. But i do a lot of short journeys to a station.

Clearly God's punishing you for using public transport

[laingy]

He is.

But he does fit wi-fi on his trains.

[petrolveins]

I've a 330i 6-speed Saloon, being gentle I've had 36mpg on a 70ish long motorway drive. Hooning or town driving will have it into the very low 20s, the lowest I've seen is 18mpg. Last week however, admitedly limping home I averaged 39mpg over 60 miles. My calculated average mpg over my 3500 miles in the car has been 26mpg, and that's with a fair amount of right foot flexing.

[dhutch]

I have just done my first run in my 330ci (badged as a clubsport, but might be a m-sport masquerading) and over a 258mile there-and-back on motorways and dual carriageways it managed 30mpg.

That was worked by brimming the tank, resetting the trip computer, and refilling and working it out afterwards.
During the same trip the computer worked out the whole trip as 31mpg, and excluding the roads to and from the m-way/dual gave around 32mpg.

The car is on 18" staggered wheels a tyres. Trip computer accuracy not yet verified. 5 speed manaial.

Driving style was fairly relaxed, driving at the national speed limit, but occasionally getting there briskly.

On the whole surprisingly close to what I get in the 316 E35, and basically bang on the parkers 'book mpg' values.



Daniel

Edited by dhutch on Wednesday 25th November 00:05

[alistair267]

I must have a heavy right foot. In London in my 6 speed manual 330i Touring my mpg tends to be in the late teens. On the motorway, sitting at 70 in 6th I can get 39ish mpg.

Engines can have quite high oil consumption too.

[Spuffington]

18months and 20k odd in my 330Ci auto yielded 25.4mpg.

[Dannbodge]

A little irrelevant but 18months ish in a 328i averaged about 26mpg. Probably 70/30 town to Mway split.

[helix402]

E46 328iA, indicated 20-40. Real over 100 miles A road/motorway at a good pace, 32.5.

[Mr Tidy]

I have a 325ti Compact as a daily and the OBC is currently showing 33.3 mpg! And I don't drive it like Miss Daisy, but not too often in rush-hour traffic either.

330Ci ought to be similar I would have thought.

[dhutch]

Mr Tidy said:

330Ci ought to be similar I would have thought.

On paper there is but a nats wisker between the two book figures, and in practice it appear you are seen the same as me.

- As said, oddly otherwise, its about what I saw in a 316i E36 compact!



Daniel