E46 330ci prices

[twoblacklines]

Slightly off topic:

1. Where are all the E39 530i's? There seem to be a few for like £12k-9k then a huge gap and a load of non-M Sport's for 3k-1k.

2. Is there anything wrong with this http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b... (see dash light pic) ?

[Fox-]

twoblacklines said:

Slightly off topic:

1. Where are all the E39 530i's? There seem to be a few for like £12k-9k then a huge gap and a load of non-M Sport's for 3k-1k.

The problem with the 530i Sport is that it has reached the point where it is worth rather more in bits than it is whole. A friend of mine broke a 2000 530i Sport with a faulty autobox and got back almost £3000 in parts. It wasn't worth £3000 working. So many of them tend to go for parts rather than sold as complete cars, sadly.

I can't imagine there are many for £12-9k though?!

twoblacklines said:

2. Is there anything wrong with this http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b... (see dash light pic) ?

It's a 15 year old M5, I'm sure there is much wrong with it But thats just the test sequence on that one as the engine isn't running.

[twoblacklines]

So having spent the weekend heavily researching 330ci's I have come to the unfortunate conclusion that...any one I buy either 50k miles or 100k miles... I need one with full or near full BMWFSH, and I still need to overhaul the cooling system and Vanos and DISA and a few other things.

Which leads me back to the plymouth one here http://www.specialistvehicles.co.uk/bmw-330-ci-spo...

Now I had a listen to the engine and honestly I couldn't hear any rattling, and I looked for rust and couldn't find any.

I am wondering if it is worth trying to buy this car...but not for the £6k they want for it, rather offering them something beginning with 4?

How would you value it? I would be happy if I could get it for like £4750 or something given it is going to cost me a few bob to overhaul the parts that fail.

There is a car up country with 70k miles for sale for £4750 but it has a few chips and cracked fog light, then every other car with 70k miles and around the same, Post Facelift price seems to be around £5500-£6250 with the same spec.

Bearing in mind this is a 2003 with 91k what do you think it is worth, really?

It is a lot less hassle for me to buy this rather than have to go up country (one the train/bus) to find the example is terrible and then have to come home (on the train/bus) etc.

P.S Fox I emailed you but no reply so I will ask here, are there any recommended BMW Indys in or around Plymouth? Thanks

[Fox-]

Careful what you read in American forums - they go overboard. There is no need to overhaul the cooling system until something goes wrong first in my opinion - fix it when it breaks rather than replacing the entire thing when its perfectly functional.

There are about 3-4 BMW Indys in Plymouth - The seller of that one you've linked to is one of them.

[twoblacklines]

Which one would you recommend? Is Phil Davies a BMW indy? I used to take my VW's there...

I wasn't actually going on US advice but actually one of your posts about the pipes breaking and big engine damage instantly on the 530i engine (which is the same engine right?)
I would rather be careful and pre-empt it than risk it.

The first thing I would do if i manage to get that particular car for good money is replace all the tyres...

[Fox-]

twoblacklines said:

Which one would you recommend? Is Phil Davies a BMW indy? I used to take my VW's there...

Yup Phil Davies does BMW as well.

twoblacklines said:

I wasn't actually going on US advice but actually one of your posts about the pipes breaking and big engine damage instantly on the 530i engine (which is the same engine right?)

It is the same engine but I think you would need to be both unlucky and foolish to get immediate engine damage. When mine went there were plenty of warning signs that something wasn't right.

[twoblacklines]

OK thanks.

I am thinking of buying this one if it all checks out on the test drive. Going to WBAC my A3 this week. Will be carless for a week or two first time in 10 years!

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

This has full spec nearly, except business radio but does have HK, low mileage, timing chain replaced which is a positive!

[nitrodave]

Fox- said:

Careful what you read in American forums - they go overboard. There is no need to overhaul the cooling system until something goes wrong first in my opinion - fix it when it breaks rather than replacing the entire thing when its perfectly functional.

There are about 3-4 BMW Indys in Plymouth - The seller of that one you've linked to is one of them.

This is right, there's no issues with cooling systems on these, whoever said they need attention hasn't got a clue. Neither does the person who says they got timing belts! These have timing chains and last the life of the car.

Get a manual, so much better to drive. I've seen auto boxes fail on these, often reverse slips.

A manual 325ci is just a 'quick' as a 330ci auto, so worth considering those too. Saying that the 330ci does have a much better exhaust tone.

Standard stereos are awful, if anything get one without the screen as they are a nightmare to upgrade as they have the modules in the boot. The single din cassette/cd head units can have an iso block connected easily then you can put whatever stereo you like into it.

Convertibles are good too, great chassis considering there's no roof. They drop in price big time over winter, so if you can wait, you'll get a bargain.

These can be had cheap if you look and wait. Under £3k can easily get you a good one with sports interior.

They munch up the miles too, don't be put off by 100k+ miles.

[Smuler]

Looks good, my favourite colour. But I'm pretty sure the specification is the basic (standard) spec. It's no more than I have anyway. Though still a good spec inmho.


http://www.bmwarchive.org/vin/pm09066.pdf

[Vee]

twoblacklines said:

OK thanks.

I am thinking of buying this one if it all checks out on the test drive. Going to WBAC my A3 this week. Will be carless for a week or two first time in 10 years!

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

This has full spec nearly, except business radio but does have HK, low mileage, timing chain replaced which is a positive!

The spec is minimal beyond the leather seats, auto and HK.
No heated seats, no bluetooth, no satnav, doesn't look like it has xenons and electric memory seats were standard.
Poor tyres by the looks of it and a timing chain at 59k ? It is not a maintenance item like a cambelt on some cars.
£6k+ seems like a lot of money for a 10 year old car, although if that is what these are going for then fair enough.

Surely there are private sales that are better than that one.

[Fox-]

twoblacklines said:

OK thanks.

I am thinking of buying this one if it all checks out on the test drive. Going to WBAC my A3 this week. Will be carless for a week or two first time in 10 years!

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

This has full spec nearly, except business radio but does have HK, low mileage, timing chain replaced which is a positive!

Hmmmm, I'm not sure about that one. Ebay carbon BMW centres on the wheels, random no-name tyres and it's not really anything like full spec, infact other than the HK stereo and leather it's the standard specification.

[wibblebrain]

Looks good to me. You have to go and see it and judge it on condition. Spec sounds fine, except for no heated seats.

I may be wrong, but I thought all the Coupes had Xenons, but that could just be the later E92 model.

Here's the full info on the car:

[Fox-]

wibblebrain said:

Looks good to me. You have to go and see it and judge it on condition. Spec sounds fine, except for no heated seats.

There is nothing wrong with the spec - the standard specification on the 330Ci is very generous - but almost everything on it is standard, it is not a high spec car.

wibblebrain said:

I may be wrong, but I thought all the Coupes had Xenons, but that could just be the later E92 model.

Nope, thats an E92 thing.

[hornetrider]

Does 6.3k for an E46 not strike anyone else as slightly bonkers?

[twoblacklines]

If it doesn't have Xenons, is it just halogen inside a projector? Still got self levelling + washers? (Ie, suitable for HID's?)

Honestly it seems to be the best car for sale at the moment that is not a convertible.

Tyres I will just use to knock them down and then go and buy some PS2s.

[Fox-]

All facelift coupes have projectors as standard - they are not self levelling unless you have Xenons but they do all have headlight washers.

[twoblacklines]

wibblebrain said:

Looks good to me. You have to go and see it and judge it on condition. Spec sounds fine, except for no heated seats.

I may be wrong, but I thought all the Coupes had Xenons, but that could just be the later E92 model.

Here's the full info on the car:

Thank you for that info

How did you get that??

Heated seats are easy to retrofit Good excuse to buy full red leather interior!

Also according to the spec it does have bluetooth, though so does my 8P2 A3 and I never use it!

[twoblacklines]

This is correct for tyre sizes right?
Seems wierd that the profiles are different!

[Vee]

twoblacklines said:

This is correct for tyre sizes right?
Seems wierd that the profiles are different!

Normal
The rear wheels should be wider on the sport models

[lewis328]

hornetrider said:

Does 6.3k for an E46 not strike anyone else as slightly bonkers?

I agree, are we not talking e90 money now?