E46 330 coupe wanted

E46 330 coupe wanted

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Discussion

LanceRS

Original Poster:

2,171 posts

136 months

Tuesday 10th March 2015
quotequote all
I'm on the hunt for a decent 330 sport or if possible Clubsport to replace my written off E36. I've missed out on a couple of good cars that came up before I got paid out and saved a bit.
I have a max budget of £3500 and while I appreciate that it's not the biggest pot going, someone must have a car out there that they have looked after. Mileage is not a major issue as long as it has been properly maintained.
I seem to have wasted lots of time and petrol finding tatty, basic cars with not much history.
I'm in South Bucks and don't mind travelling, within reason for a decent car.

Is anyone planning on seeking such a car?

Thanks

illmonkey

18,112 posts

197 months

Tuesday 10th March 2015
quotequote all
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015... ?

Prob knock a few hundred off.

Best got for a 03+, as it's facelift, and comes with things like auto lights etc. Facelift can be spotted by the lights on the wings, high up and not just rectangular, is a face lift, low and rectangular is pre-facelift.

Rust is the biggest bugger on these things, check arches, well, check everywhere. make sure the needle sits bang in the middle, otherwise its a £175 job. Bushes will no doubt need doing.


ETA: Woops, the one I linked is PRE-facelift, I'll leave it up anyway, as it seems ok!

Post facelift: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015... (I saw this one, rust on the back of the car, and a bit tatty, a fair few door dings etc.


StuntmanMike

11,671 posts

150 months

Tuesday 10th March 2015
quotequote all
I'd go for the facelift, the pre facelift hasn't got the correct wheels or lights on, this would both er me as I like them OEM, also it doesn't have nappa leather just standard sports seats.

illmonkey

18,112 posts

197 months

Tuesday 10th March 2015
quotequote all
StuntmanMike said:
I'd go for the facelift, the pre facelift hasn't got the correct wheels or lights on, this would both er me as I like them OEM, also it doesn't have nappa leather just standard sports seats.
Out of those 2, maybe. There are loads at this price.

ZX10R NIN

27,493 posts

124 months

ftypical

457 posts

117 months

Tuesday 10th March 2015
quotequote all
illmonkey said:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015... ?

Prob knock a few hundred off.

Best got for a 03+, as it's facelift, and comes with things like auto lights etc. Facelift can be spotted by the lights on the wings, high up and not just rectangular, is a face lift, low and rectangular is pre-facelift.

Rust is the biggest bugger on these things, check arches, well, check everywhere. make sure the needle sits bang in the middle, otherwise its a £175 job. Bushes will no doubt need doing.


ETA: Woops, the one I linked is PRE-facelift, I'll leave it up anyway, as it seems ok!

Post facelift: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015... (I saw this one, rust on the back of the car, and a bit tatty, a fair few door dings etc.
I have a 2002 pre-facelift car. Auto lights, auto wipers amongst other nice to have items. Basic SE spec. So...

OP: there are many, many threads on multiple forums detailing the common wear/old-age items on these. Look for evidence of these being addressed, and check to see that they don't need doing again. Or buy cheap and have fun fixing it.

illmonkey

18,112 posts

197 months

Tuesday 10th March 2015
quotequote all
ftypical said:
I have a 2002 pre-facelift car. Auto lights, auto wipers amongst other nice to have items. Basic SE spec. So...

OP: there are many, many threads on multiple forums detailing the common wear/old-age items on these. Look for evidence of these being addressed, and check to see that they don't need doing again. Or buy cheap and have fun fixing it.
Probably an extra spec then? Doubt all that was standard on a pre facelift se.

six wheels

347 posts

134 months

Thursday 12th March 2015
quotequote all
OP are you still looking?

LanceRS

Original Poster:

2,171 posts

136 months

Thursday 12th March 2015
quotequote all
I am., would I be optimistic in thinking that you may be able to help?

six wheels

347 posts

134 months

Thursday 12th March 2015
quotequote all
LanceRS said:
I am., would I be optimistic in thinking that you may be able to help?
A sound assumption. Hopefully you'll have PM.

LanceRS

Original Poster:

2,171 posts

136 months

Thursday 12th March 2015
quotequote all
Sounds good, hopefully I have managed to reply.

LanceRS

Original Poster:

2,171 posts

136 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
quotequote all
A bit of a bump for this one. I'm still looking for one of these if anyone is planning on selling something suitable?

P13TR0

49 posts

113 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
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would you consider a 330cd?

LanceRS

Original Poster:

2,171 posts

136 months

Wednesday 25th March 2015
quotequote all
I have not ruled out a diesel, there just seemed to be a much better choice of petrol in my budget..

SPORTSTER

160 posts

168 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
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Are you still looking for one?

ftypical

457 posts

117 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
quotequote all
Having knowingly bought one as a fixer-upper, I would note that the interior is pretty fragile, the front wings rust, the suspension bushes don't last, the thermostats stick with monotonous regularity, the radiators rot, and the engine breather system fails in a fascinating variety of ways that all result in high oil usage (using, or losing).

That said, mine was still running fine with plugs and an air filter that were a decade old*, as for some reason the Service Indicator wasn't being properly reset, so it only ever got Oil Services.

Service history would therefore appear to be less of an issue than documentation that proves the common failure points have been addressed. After that, do you want it to look pretty or drive nice?

  • The fuel consumption did improve after this was addressed...

LanceRS

Original Poster:

2,171 posts

136 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
quotequote all
SPORTSTER said:
Are you still looking for one?
I am. If you are able to help, I would be very interested.

So far my quest has proved that there are some very good cars out there (which for one reason or another so far haven't worked out). A good one is a very good car and there are some interesting variations on the definitions of, immaculate, best you will find and full service history!

Just a few;

Full service history = some stamps in a book from unknown random places and the last MOT. This one seems quite common. My favourite being the above, with the car showing that it should have been serviced 6500 miles earlier, the seller stating, ' it's alright I had it done, they just forgot to reset it. Err, no I haven't ant receipts'.

Very good condition = rust bad enough to require replacement panels, a variety of interior and exterior trim damaged or missing (much more than just usual wear and tear).

Small blistering on one wheel arch = All four are shot in a big way.

Fitted with all the options = the standard cars with windows etc that may or may not function properly.

These all on cars that were up for more money than the good ones I missed out on.

I know that e46s are not renowned for their tank like build quality, but these are testing my patience now.

Anyway, rant over and breathe....

s m

23,164 posts

202 months

Friday 10th April 2015
quotequote all
LanceRS said:
Very good condition = rust bad enough to require replacement panels, a variety of interior and exterior trim damaged or missing (much more than just usual wear and tear).

Small blistering on one wheel arch = All four are shot in a big way.


I know that e46s are not renowned for their tank like build quality, but these are testing my patience now.

Anyway, rant over and breathe....
Just as an aside, having owned saloon e46 330 and saloon e36 328, the e46 Compacts seem to be generally a lot less rusty. Performance wise a 325 Compact is not far off a coupe 330 down to gearing and weight differences

LC23

1,285 posts

224 months

Friday 10th April 2015
quotequote all
Firstly, as you are already finding out, a decent E46 is now quite hard to come by. It took me 3 months to find mine. I have had it two and a half years now and it is a good one although you will find that they will need attention on a fairly regular basis to keep it working at is should.

Also, try not to get into your head that the ones you missed out on are "good ones". Those that look good on paper have often been made to do so. When you actually view those cars they may be worse than the ones you have been to see.

There are good cars still available. Although I am not selling mine and it would be beyond your budget, mine only has one small rust spot on the near side sill. All arches are good, wings looks fine at the moment. With the best will in the world you cannot keep all the rust at bay on these cars. You just have to do your best.

LanceRS

Original Poster:

2,171 posts

136 months

Friday 17th April 2015
quotequote all
Some of them have been so bad that I haven't gone as far as looking underneath.

Part of my dilemma, is that even the rough ones drive well. I have been thinking of giving up and just buying a car so that I can get to work. Problem being, I want a 330 and they will be going the way of good e36s. If I don't buy one now, I probably never will.

Hopefully, I have a silver Clubsport to see on Sunday so fingers crossed.