Looking for an e46 330i manual touring

[Haynesman123]

How long am I going to wait before a good one of these pops up?!

Been looking through the current crop on auto trader/eBay but nothing that ticks all my boxes: FSH, M Sport, 6speed manual. (would go for a 5 speed if it meant I was getting a better car).

Anyone know of one for sale/suggest any other places to look?

[mark.c]

I was looking for the best part of 12 months, very few nice cars came along and when they did I couldn't get there quick enough (none local).
Frankly, I gave up in the end !

[Haynesman123]

Not what I wanted to hear!

I've only been at it just over a month so won't be giving up just yet.

[kurt535]

anyone see the 330i, 16k miles on auto trader, admittedly 8 weeks ago? white, one lady, £3k...i missed it as well, sold same morning but, proves they do come up

[CB 987]

I was in the same position looking for one back in 2011/2012, prices back then were similar to now. I searched for least 4-5 months, with no luck.

The problem is finding a decent one, I seriously looked at two during my search, both of which turned out to be clocked, on the face of it very good cars, but they can wear the miles well. The usual E46 issues should be checked, but rust was an issue 4 years ago, so I can only imagine it is potentially even more of an issue now. Low mile, 6 speed, manual sports tourings do seem to sell for strong money. I am aware of a couple of sub 60k mile cars which dealers have sold for £6-7k!

I gave up and bought a very clean manual E39, which I stupidly sold when a manual 330i touring cropped up 18 months later. Two weeks into ownership the head gasket went pop, not a great start, I was just unlucky, and promptly sold it.

After another E46 330i saloon and 2 years in an M135i, I've just bought a manual E91 330i, well worth looking out for one of these, as I have seen sub 100k mile cars for less than £6.5k, the SE's will be less. I appreciate your budget might not stretch, but in my opinion they are a much better buy than an older E46, oddly I still prefer the looks of the E46, just a thought.

I will let you know if I see any crop up, as I never seem to stop looking!

[Haynesman123]

CB 987 said:

I will let you know if I see any crop up, as I never seem to stop looking!

Thank you!

I've had a look at e91s and they are ver budget for a good one. I'd also heard they can be far more problematic than an e46 with electrics etc?

[scz4]

I noticed this rather good looking 330i, it surprisingly took a few months to sell.

(scroll down one car)

http://www.kar-automotive.co.uk/current-stock/

[Smuler]

Haynesman123 said:

How long am I going to wait before a good one of these pops up?!

Been looking through the current crop on auto trader/eBay but nothing that ticks all my boxes: FSH, M Sport, 6speed manual. (would go for a 5 speed if it meant I was getting a better car).

Anyone know of one for sale/suggest any other places to look?

Re: other places to look, when I was (briefly) looking at E46's, coupes tho, I contacted some of the main BMW dealers as one or two had come up. In the end they were never retailed. They were all mechanically sound, they said, but because of say some refurb wheels, minor cosmetic bodywork issues there wasn't felt enough (any) profit margin for them after prep to retail as an Approved Used Car with warranty etc.

The cars went off to auction, and these were auctions listed by the main dealers via BCA. You'll see this specification on the website listing.

I spotted two of the cars I'd discussed and even later on spotted one on ATrader listed by an 'ordinary' dealer, so I guess whilst auctions sound daunting you could well be buying the same car you'd later consider, presumably for a lot more, on a forecourt.

[Haynesman123]

Smuler said:

Re: other places to look, when I was (briefly) looking at E46's, coupes tho, I contacted some of the main BMW dealers as one or two had come up. In the end they were never retailed. They were all mechanically sound, they said, but because of say some refurb wheels, minor cosmetic bodywork issues there wasn't felt enough (any) profit margin for them after prep to retail as an Approved Used Car with warranty etc.

The cars went off to auction, and these were auctions listed by the main dealers via BCA. You'll see this specification on the website listing.

I spotted two of the cars I'd discussed and even later on spotted one on ATrader listed by an 'ordinary' dealer, so I guess whilst auctions sound daunting you could well be buying the same car you'd later consider, presumably for a lot more, on a forecourt.

Interesting you mention BCA, they have a lot of cars going through - a lot of which they get through webuyanycar.com I believe. I'll keep an eye out on their website but not being able to drive the car first does make me cautious. Were the BMW dealers not interested in selling to you directly even if they didn't want to put it on their forecourt?

[Smuler]

Haynesman123 said:

Interesting you mention BCA, they have a lot of cars going through - a lot of which they get through webuyanycar.com I believe. I'll keep an eye out on their website but not being able to drive the car first does make me cautious. Were the BMW dealers not interested in selling to you directly even if they didn't want to put it on their forecourt?

They are the parent company of WBAC. And as far as I know there are two auction destinations, one is Bridgewater I'm sure, where the WBAC cars go. I mean, they may hive off some real prestigious ones but that's what I was told. It's the listings on BCA specifically from main BMW dealers that I was alluding to as a source of potential good stock.


At the time, this was end of 2014, I wanted one with AU warranty so didn't really push for an alternative sale. Logically, it's plausible; and as an extra I know that some main dealers (some or all of Sytner dealerships have said this) rather than go to auction do have a trade sales department which handles the many Part ex's they can't retail. Upside, as you say, is that you can drive the car, downside I assume you would pay more?

Certainly, if you're really keen, you could contact main dealers and see if they have any E46 330i tourings in as part ex, could be a good hunting season with March 1st changeover of plate?

However, I think it's going to be hard as the newest must surely be a 54 plate, so 11.5 years old now.

• on your other point, I've made the move to E90 generation (E92 coupe) and despite it's reputation the 335i for me has been great, 80k miles now. So I wouldn't be totally put off E91 tourings.

What's your budget?
Maximum miles ?

I often browse, so if I see anything I can shout up.

[loose cannon]

It took 18 months for me to find my car 3 years ago, mine is a 5 speed,
According to how many left there are 245 tax'd and 10 sorned manual sport touring's
I think you will have your work cut out if you want one in a hurry especially a low mileage full history example

[Haynesman123]

Smuler said:

What's your budget?
Maximum miles ?

I often browse, so if I see anything I can shout up.

When I started off looking at 330i autos I thought £3.5k would get me a good example, though not ultra low miles. But I've seen very few decent manuals for sale, let alone 6 speeders so not sure what the going rate is. Mileage wise I'm not too fussed about low milers, but hope to be sub 130k.

Loosecannon: having had a manual, would you ever consider an auto?

[loose cannon]

Personally I'd only ever have an auto in a big barge, which is rapidly becoming a problem for the likes of me, the choice is getting less and less, my friend has an auto 330i touring and loves it though, the only way to find out is try it and see if you can live with one,

[Haynesman123]

Tried out an auto 330i coupe and thought the acceleration was a bit heavy at low speeds (pulling out of junctions etc), so decided a manual might be better. There certainly are more autos to choose from though so it may have to be.

[Smuler]

Haynesman123 said:

When I started off looking at 330i autos I thought £3.5k would get me a good example, though not ultra low miles. But I've seen very few decent manuals for sale, let alone 6 speeders so not sure what the going rate is. Mileage wise I'm not too fussed about low milers, but hope to be sub 130k.

Loosecannon: having had a manual, would you ever consider an auto?

hmm, only 330i manual I can find at that price, is a little over 130k. it's a SE although it says it has sports seat/ suspension.
I think you'd need to up the budget.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...


I'm really not a fan of autos in the E46s. My old coupe was actually a 325ci manual. It was an impulse buy, cheap, so I never went through any of the 330/325 angst which seems to befall many on here
to be honest, I'd pick a 325ci manual over 330 auto though.

[Haynesman123]

you may be right about a 325 manual over a 330 auto. I'll widen my search. But annoyingly the dilemma of only wanting a 330 over a 325 is all too real, I'll have to get over it!

[Smuler]

Haynesman123 said:

you may be right about a 325 manual over a 330 auto. I'll widen my search. But annoyingly the dilemma of only wanting a 330 over a 325 is all too real, I'll have to get over it!

Now, I am really thinking outside the box, (or talking out of my arse as some might think) but have you considered getting a 330i manual touring that's over the miles you want and putting in a newer/lower miles 330i engine from a reputable broker. AFAIK, the 330i engine in the touring is the same as in other variants, so whilst tourings are rare there are coupes for example around in brokers.

When my 325ci was pushing 140k and needing costly work I did consider a new 330i engine (from well respected Quarry Motors) and I seem to recall the whole process was sub 1500k. Thus, as another alternative, get a 325i touring and replace engine for the 330i you want?

example of a high mile 330i manual touring.


http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

[Haynesman123]

Smuler said:

Now, I am really thinking outside the box, (or talking out of my arse as some might think) but have you considered getting a 330i manual touring that's over the miles you want and putting in a newer/lower miles 330i engine from a reputable broker. AFAIK, the 330i engine in the touring is the same as in other variants, so whilst tourings are rare there are coupes for example around in brokers.

When my 325ci was pushing 140k and needing costly work I did consider a new 330i engine (from well respected Quarry Motors) and I seem to recall the whole process was sub 1500k. Thus, as another alternative, get a 325i touring and replace engine for the 330i you want?

example of a high mile 330i manual touring.


http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

There's an idea! BUT.. I was supposed to be getting a car that I wouldn't need to constantly work on every evening/change engines like my old car. I'll look into it though, even just for interest.

[Mr Tidy]

Haynesman123 said:

I've had a look at e91s and they are ver budget for a good one. I'd also heard they can be far more problematic than an e46 with electrics etc?

FWIW I run a 325ti E46 as a daily, and it had the inevitable cooling system refresh with rad, thermostat, temperature sensor, expansion tank, etc. last year and it cost just over £400 at an independent.

3 weeks ago the N52 engine in my Z4Coupe went from normal to boiling in less than 1 mile - diagnosis was the water pump - new OE one was £500 with the VAT plus a thermostat at £100+!

And early E91 330s have the same N52 engine, so something to bear in mind especially as the Saloon and Touring don't even have a temperature gauge! (And none of the N52s has a dipstick)!

Still the later N53 engine has frequent faults with injectors at £200 each, High Pressure Fuel Pump problems and can need walnut blasting to clear carbon build-up - 335 just has the added bonus of turbos to fail in later life!

I had drawn the line at N52, but right now I would move it back to M54 so personally I would stick with E46s which to my mind look so much more elegant anyway - E9* look a bit "lumpy" by comparison.

This may be why a good facelift E46 can fetch similar money to an early E9*?

[cerb4.5lee]

Mr Tidy said:

I had drawn the line at N52, but right now I would move it back to M54 so personally I would stick with E46s which to my mind look so much more elegant anyway - E9* look a bit "lumpy" by comparison.

I think you are being kind saying that the E9x is a bit lumpy when compared to the E46, and they are just down right ugly and I have had three of them so i am used to their ability in finishing last at a beauty contest...the problem is that now they are getting old they are also proving unreliable too so it's a lose lose.

So I would certainly endorse the E46 over the E9x for sure because it looks better and has a less bland interior and is also more proven on the reliability front too.