Wanted: BMW E46 330i Sport Touring Manual

Wanted: BMW E46 330i Sport Touring Manual

Author
Discussion

Canwriad

Original Poster:

10 posts

106 months

Wednesday 3rd June 2015
quotequote all
Hi all,
I'm looking to get my first BMW and am finding it difficult to get hold of an E46 330i Sport Touring Manual - I've heard they're quite rare. I'm after one with less than 100k miles on the clock and am based in South Wales but willing to travel far to get it.

Any help would be much appreciated if anyone has one for sale or knows of one!

Many thanks.

philmots

4,630 posts

259 months

Wednesday 3rd June 2015
quotequote all
One just sold on the trader in the last few days, it was up at 6k though.. I'm sure there's another too at the minute.

You'll not get one for peanuts, specially a 6 speed.

Canwriad

Original Poster:

10 posts

106 months

Wednesday 3rd June 2015
quotequote all
Thanks, yeah the only ones I have seen so far (not been looking long admittedly) have been trade sales - advertised for £7k - seems a bit steep... Any idea what kind of price they might go for privately?

Thanks.

lewis328

496 posts

197 months

Wednesday 3rd June 2015
quotequote all
Aren't we all? One of these is currently sat outside my house in South London. Wow, does it look nice. I have inspected the bodywork and can find no visible signs of rust anywhere. I know these are a hard car to find so if anyone wants me to put a cheeky note on the windscreen for them inviting a sale I will oblige!!!\

To be honest, I am tempted myself...
[/quote]\cell \lastrow\row


Have you seen this thread a couple of pages in.

Strugs

512 posts

228 months

Thursday 4th June 2015
quotequote all
Canwriad said:
Hi all,
I'm looking to get my first BMW and am finding it difficult to get hold of an E46 330i Sport Touring Manual - I've heard they're quite rare. I'm after one with less than 100k miles on the clock and am based in South Wales but willing to travel far to get it.

Any help would be much appreciated if anyone has one for sale or knows of one!

Many thanks.
Are you absolutely set on a Touring?

woots787

141 posts

148 months

Thursday 4th June 2015
quotequote all
If you look at the buying guides for these then I'm not sure low miles is a guarantee against failures. Lots of the issues can be age related as well, like rust and degradation of bushes and cooling system. This is in no way influenced by my 2002 120k mile 330i sport touring going up for sale in a few weeks! If I was buying I'd rather get a rust free one (unfortunately mine isn't rust free) with a few miles on it and some cash to sort the common faults.

Canwriad

Original Poster:

10 posts

106 months

Thursday 4th June 2015
quotequote all
I've not been looking long so at the moment I'm concentrating on the Touring only (handy for mountain bikes / drums etc.) If I have no luck within a few months then maybe I'll have to rethink...

Cheers for the tips woots, I'll keep it in mind and may be flexible about the mileage. Let me know when yours is for sale. Cheers.

stevesuk

1,345 posts

181 months

Thursday 4th June 2015
quotequote all
woots787 said:
If you look at the buying guides for these then I'm not sure low miles is a guarantee against failures. Lots of the issues can be age related as well, like rust and degradation of bushes and cooling system. This is in no way influenced by my 2002 120k mile 330i sport touring going up for sale in a few weeks! If I was buying I'd rather get a rust free one (unfortunately mine isn't rust free) with a few miles on it and some cash to sort the common faults.
Having had a (rusty) E46 coupe - unless you're not bothered about cosmetics, I'd definitely agree with finding one with good bodywork.

Getting bodywork properly sorted is expensive compared to making other minor mileage related repairs smile

In common with a fair few manufacturers, the 3 series from that era does seem to rust. Happily, in my limited experience, the E90 doesn't seem to suffer as badly. We have a 10 year old one of those, and there's not a spot of rust I can see.

jboy72

375 posts

180 months

Thursday 4th June 2015
quotequote all
lewis328 said:
Aren't we all? One of these is currently sat outside my house in South London. Wow, does it look nice. I have inspected the bodywork and can find no visible signs of rust anywhere. I know these are a hard car to find so if anyone wants me to put a cheeky note on the windscreen for them inviting a sale I will oblige!!!\

To be honest, I am tempted myself...
\cell \lastrow\row


I started that thread as I know these are hard to find! I saw the car again today (6 speed by the way). There is no guarantee that it is for sale but it really does look tidy so the offer still stands......

Canwriad

Original Poster:

10 posts

106 months

Thursday 4th June 2015
quotequote all
Thanks jboy, just PMd you.

lewis328

496 posts

197 months

Thursday 4th June 2015
quotequote all
Hopefully something comes from this.

lewis328

496 posts

197 months

Thursday 4th June 2015
quotequote all
Hopefully something comes from this.

Ray100

91 posts

195 months

Thursday 4th June 2015
quotequote all
Have you seen this http://www.e46zone.com/forum/topic/59877-2004-bmw-...
120k Touring on the e46zone?

gizlaroc

17,251 posts

223 months

Thursday 4th June 2015
quotequote all
Wrong engine, it's a dirty diesel. wink

Canwriad

Original Poster:

10 posts

106 months

Friday 5th June 2015
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Cheers, looks like a nice one but I am pretty set on having a petrol one!

Boarder1

196 posts

246 months

Thursday 11th June 2015
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Hi,

I am just about to buy my new car, so my 325i sport touring manual will be up for sale if interested?

I think its just under 94,000 miles, five speed manual, cloth interior, dark metallic blue.

Drop me an email at happyharrod@hotmail.com if you are interested.

Thanks

DJFish

5,917 posts

262 months

Monday 22nd June 2015
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Canwriad

Original Poster:

10 posts

106 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for that DJFish, I spotted it Sunday (been checking daily!) and went to see it today once it had passed the MOT. And... it's now mine, worth the 7 hour round trip! Great condition especially considering the age, mileage seems genuine, happy with the price. So thanks to all for the help with this, much appreciated. Bit of a different drive to my Evo but I'll get used to it! So if anyone's interested in a 2004 Mitsubishi Evo VIII MR FQ-340 in gunmetal grey with 80k miles in great condition, let me know, cheers.

Smuler

2,286 posts

138 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
quotequote all
Excellent, and besides the great people here, on pistonheads, when I had a E46 I found this place a mine of information.

http://www.bmwforums.info/


Canwriad

Original Poster:

10 posts

106 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
quotequote all
Cheers Smuler, just signed up to that forum, looks handy.