Best place to buy a cared for E46?

Best place to buy a cared for E46?

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Discussion

Leicesterdave

Original Poster:

2,282 posts

179 months

Sunday 2nd August 2015
quotequote all
Always had a soft spot for that shape- there are loads out there but loads of ropey ones. Ideally after a convertible and I'm based in Leeds.

Thanks!

LC23

1,285 posts

224 months

Sunday 2nd August 2015
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I'm going to give the boring but obvious answer. You are going to have to trawl the main sites and use your instincts when you are sifting through ads. Mine was actually advertised on eBay and nowhere else when I bought it - not a place I would normally associate with "car" and "cared for" in the same advert but it was.

Maxus

951 posts

180 months

Sunday 2nd August 2015
quotequote all
Also try on the enthusiast sites (e46 zone maybe). Let it be known you are after one. Take your time and be prepared to pay for the best. You could get a 330 convertible for £4k or one for £7k. They are likely to be very different cars.
Great choice by the way. I love mine.

LanceRS

2,171 posts

136 months

Sunday 2nd August 2015
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Lots of legwork I'm afraid. It took me 3 months to find mine and I must have looked at 20 of them. There is no constancy in prices, most I liked at were within £500 of each other but the condition, history and mileage were poles apart. I finally found mine on Autotrader.
Good luck.

sleithykeithy

170 posts

194 months

Sunday 2nd August 2015
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They are out there, but becoming harder to find for sure! I got my 05' 330cd a few months back, and it has clearly been pampered all its life. Interior is like new, with minimal bolster wear on the drivers side. Goes like a dream, and my plan is to run it as a daily and double the mileage. Its averaging 43mpg and is quiet and comfortable on the motorway, what more could you ask for for £5k? Good luck with your search!

blippo1984

358 posts

145 months

Sunday 2nd August 2015
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Hi Dave,
I have private messaged you

Ben

blippo1984

358 posts

145 months

Sunday 2nd August 2015
quotequote all
blippo1984 said:
Hi Dave,
I have private messaged you

Ben
Lol no I havnt it doesn't seem to work!
If you want to chat about mine that is going up for sale drop me a PM!

sparks_E39

12,738 posts

212 months

Sunday 2nd August 2015
quotequote all
Forums, mine wasn't even for sale (530i) but after chatting to the owner it was obvious it was cared for and he decided to move it on. Forums are the only place I'd try and sell it tbh.

P Ride

49 posts

140 months

Monday 3rd August 2015
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I thought I had bad luck when the first E46 330Ci Sport I looked at was pissing oil and owned by an angry chav, but the fact that the next day I found one which (an '04 model, purchased 18 months ago) had 57k on the clock and was owned by a family man who was nearly in tears when he sold it, seems to be good fortune, reading other comments.

The second one had really bad photos.. Low resolution and bad angles, which may explain the lack of of interest. I just knew exactly what model I wanted, so went anyway and ended up paying £6k.

18 months in, I've had new brakes and tyres, a single cracked rim and a few minor engine bits (which were several hundred pounds, including full service).

Very happy! It's exactly the car I wanted as a teenager.. Lovely, especially on Goodyear F1 tyres all-round!


RC1

4,096 posts

218 months

Monday 3rd August 2015
quotequote all
no hard and fast rules... i ended up getting my brilliant in all respects alpina b3s from a private seller on autotrader who was old skool and not a car enthusiast per se...

just keep an open mind and do the daily scan of all the usual sources!

adbett

187 posts

222 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
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Agree with OP, I've always liked the look of the e46 and starting to look for myself as well - touring, not convertible though! When did the e46 shape get replaced? I thought 54 plates were the last but an 05 is mentioned in the thread?

Smuler

2,286 posts

138 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
quotequote all
adbett said:
Agree with OP, I've always liked the look of the e46 and starting to look for myself as well - touring, not convertible though! When did the e46 shape get replaced? I thought 54 plates were the last but an 05 is mentioned in the thread?
The 05 mentioned, I believe, was a coupe. I had a 55 coupe, as the new coupe didn't come in until Autumn 2006. So definitely 06 coupes.

Assuming tourings were replaced at the same time as saloon, then you're probably right although late registrations could see some 05's I suppose.


When I sold my old coupe, I was nosy about where it would end up so did some searching. I remember this company (they didn't get mine) always had a fair few E46s. whether they are any good, I don't know, but it might give you an idea of prices. They have a touring

http://www.odaviscars.com/stockdetails.asp?StockID...

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
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Searched for a month on all of the usual sites and ended up buying from an independent garage.

I paid £5k for a 2004 (54) 330Ci, with beige leather. 95k on the clock, full BMW service history, sunroof, Harmon Kardon and Bluetooth.

I've had that since March 2014, so 17 months, and in that time I've put her through an Oil Service, an MoT (which it flew through, no advisories), and replaced a failed powered steering pump (£300), and that's all.

Mine drinks oil, normally 1 litre per every 1,500 miles which is possibly more excessive than most others.

Can't wait to stick some Conti's on mine, I bought it with nearly new Dunlops and they've performed well so far, but I really miss the Conti rubber.

Love the E46 shape, seriously want an M3 next but I think the 330Ci is the sweet spot in terms of price, running costs and performance.

toasty

7,441 posts

219 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
quotequote all
wingman0401 said:
Searched for a month on all of the usual sites and ended up buying from an independent garage.

I paid £5k for a 2004 (54) 330Ci, with beige leather. 95k on the clock, full BMW service history, sunroof, Harmon Kardon and Bluetooth.

I've had that since March 2014, so 17 months, and in that time I've put her through an Oil Service, an MoT (which it flew through, no advisories), and replaced a failed powered steering pump (£300), and that's all.

Mine drinks oil, normally 1 litre per every 1,500 miles which is possibly more excessive than most others.

Can't wait to stick some Conti's on mine, I bought it with nearly new Dunlops and they've performed well so far, but I really miss the Conti rubber.

Love the E46 shape, seriously want an M3 next but I think the 330Ci is the sweet spot in terms of price, running costs and performance.
Beware of the Contis on the E46, very grippy but wear so quickly. Driving normally I was going through rears every 8 months (6000 miles). Michelin Pilot's seem to offer the same grip but last twice as long.

Leicesterdave

Original Poster:

2,282 posts

179 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for the advice guys- I'll just keep an eye out! I've got up to £8k- but I gather it doesn't mean i'll get a good one!

eastsider

1,101 posts

222 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
quotequote all
Move fast when you do think you've spotted a good one, it probably won't hang around.

My E39 touring was similar to stories above, I found it at an independent dealer and was there within 24h to view. Paid close to asking but with quite a few little things to be sorted at dealers cost. E39 530i sport touring in good order with full history file was hard to find four years ago - took me three months. If you look at the cost of travelling to view in fuel, never mind time, then price becomes less relevant when you find the right one.

Best car I've ever owned, can't see myself needing anything more in the family wagon dept. Obv I need a 911, Elise, etc to compliment it - one day smile

adbett

187 posts

222 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
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Smuler - thanks for the info, that dealer is not a crazy distance from me, a lot of tempting cars there! *must stick to the plan*

Smuler

2,286 posts

138 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
adbett said:
Smuler - thanks for the info, that dealer is not a crazy distance from me, a lot of tempting cars there! *must stick to the plan*
Just get yourself down there and try them out, no harm in that wink


jboy72

375 posts

180 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
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The answer to the original question may in some cases be a Saab forum - Deposit taken the day before I sent my PM so please don't all rush at once......

http://www.uksaabs.co.uk/UKS/viewtopic.php?f=50&am...

lewis328

496 posts

197 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
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Garage called James Glen cars sales have a nice looking e46, I got my e90 from them last year, always have nice stuff.