HELP! Girl seeking BMW - Which 3 Series M Sport Coupe?!
Discussion
I'm new to BMW - have never owned one (live in the countryside always see them stuck in the snow when I speed past in my trustee Golf! ), but I very nearly bought a 320ci M Sport Coupe today, W reg (2000) and apparently the "mechanical" one before they became much more computerised about a year later. 116k on the clock, some rusting around the wheel arches (common in these models, apparently), but for £1,000 I can't see why it wasn't worth it! Even if I got a year out of it!
Ayway it sold, but I would now like to buy one. I have some questions, please feel free to number your answers, "1, 2, 3, 4" to keep things simple!
Thank you for ALL your help! I want to buy the right one!
1. Was the seller correct in that about a year later than his model, so about 2000/2001 BMW made these computerised? He said they then started to have all sorts of major and minor problems as a result, head gaskets going etc. Is is the case that the earlier models were better and what year/reg did BMW instigate the changes?
2. Other than the insurance being more for a 330, is it worth spending the extra on the 330 compared to the 320 in both earlier and later models?
3. I believe standard 320ci and 330ci modes exist, does the "M" Sport make that much difference and if so in what way?
4. it seems to me you get an amazing value car for £4,000 and under (which is all I want to spend and happy for it to have done around 100k). How many miles can these cars be expected to do before they really start going? Having driven 3 Tdi VW Golfs to over 300,000 miles each with nothing going wrong on any of them except wear and tear I realise these more delicate petrol beasts will not have the same longevity! What can I expect before big bills?
THANK YOU BMW EXPERTS - ANY OTHER ADVICE IS VERY VERY WELCOME!
Fiona
xx
Ayway it sold, but I would now like to buy one. I have some questions, please feel free to number your answers, "1, 2, 3, 4" to keep things simple!
Thank you for ALL your help! I want to buy the right one!
1. Was the seller correct in that about a year later than his model, so about 2000/2001 BMW made these computerised? He said they then started to have all sorts of major and minor problems as a result, head gaskets going etc. Is is the case that the earlier models were better and what year/reg did BMW instigate the changes?
2. Other than the insurance being more for a 330, is it worth spending the extra on the 330 compared to the 320 in both earlier and later models?
3. I believe standard 320ci and 330ci modes exist, does the "M" Sport make that much difference and if so in what way?
4. it seems to me you get an amazing value car for £4,000 and under (which is all I want to spend and happy for it to have done around 100k). How many miles can these cars be expected to do before they really start going? Having driven 3 Tdi VW Golfs to over 300,000 miles each with nothing going wrong on any of them except wear and tear I realise these more delicate petrol beasts will not have the same longevity! What can I expect before big bills?
THANK YOU BMW EXPERTS - ANY OTHER ADVICE IS VERY VERY WELCOME!
Fiona
xx
Welcome.
I can only vouch for my slightly older BMW. A 1998 323i se (E36) so the squarer shape compared to the E46s that you are looking at, and say that as it nears 100,000 miles it has been great. I've owned it since 1998 and it has run like a train.
Normal servicing at the correct times plus tyres, brakes and a new clutch at 92k miles. Still a beauty to drive and has only let me down once when the original battery died.
Well it was 9 years old.
I love it so much that it has just stayed with me although I have owned other cars and bikes along the way.
Good luck with your search and I'm sure others will be along with more knowledge. I know if I ever lose this one an early 2000s 330 will be it's replacement.
I can only vouch for my slightly older BMW. A 1998 323i se (E36) so the squarer shape compared to the E46s that you are looking at, and say that as it nears 100,000 miles it has been great. I've owned it since 1998 and it has run like a train.
Normal servicing at the correct times plus tyres, brakes and a new clutch at 92k miles. Still a beauty to drive and has only let me down once when the original battery died.
Well it was 9 years old.
I love it so much that it has just stayed with me although I have owned other cars and bikes along the way.
Good luck with your search and I'm sure others will be along with more knowledge. I know if I ever lose this one an early 2000s 330 will be it's replacement.
There is no such thing as 'M sport' on the e46 models, it was just 'sport'
The 'M sport' came in for the e9x models
And to answer your question, the 'sport' means it has upgraded alloys, sports trim, leather seats and a few other bits like firmer suspension I think
The 'M sport' came in for the e9x models
And to answer your question, the 'sport' means it has upgraded alloys, sports trim, leather seats and a few other bits like firmer suspension I think
Edited by R88CLY on Wednesday 15th October 16:52
R88CLY said:
There is no such thing as 'M sport' on the e46 models, it was just 'sport'
The 'M sport' came in for the e9x models
And to answer your question, the 'sport' means it has upgraded alloys, sports trim, leather seats and a few other bits like firmer suspension I think
That's not quite right. I have an e46 330cd M Sport. The final run of e46s (2005) were designated M Sport.The 'M sport' came in for the e9x models
And to answer your question, the 'sport' means it has upgraded alloys, sports trim, leather seats and a few other bits like firmer suspension I think
Edited by R88CLY on Wednesday 15th October 16:52
Hi Fiona,
Just my two cents worth:
1. Haven't heard of this before, sorry can't really give any useful advice as to the models becoming more Computerised. My gut feeling is that this is a load of nonsense.
2. If you are going for a six cylinder car, go for the three litre. There is marginal difference in running costs, so you might as well have the most powerful option. (I didn't and went for the 2.5 litre and regretted it). Manuals tend to be slightly more economical than the auto's but I guess that's normal.
3. The "sport" is just a trim level, with the MV1 or MV2 wheels, and the sports body kit. If you can get a tidy "SE" or standard model I wouldn't let this put you off, provided you are happy with the slight variations in bumpers/seats and lack of sport suspension. Some say the sport suspension rides harshly on our roads.
4. Check for the normal service history and things like water pumps have been changed. The cooling systems are the weak point on the E46. The water pump should be changed, perhaps budget for this if it hasn't been done already. Front suspension bushes too..
This is just my personal experience having previously owned a six cylinder E46 coupé.
Just my two cents worth:
1. Haven't heard of this before, sorry can't really give any useful advice as to the models becoming more Computerised. My gut feeling is that this is a load of nonsense.
2. If you are going for a six cylinder car, go for the three litre. There is marginal difference in running costs, so you might as well have the most powerful option. (I didn't and went for the 2.5 litre and regretted it). Manuals tend to be slightly more economical than the auto's but I guess that's normal.
3. The "sport" is just a trim level, with the MV1 or MV2 wheels, and the sports body kit. If you can get a tidy "SE" or standard model I wouldn't let this put you off, provided you are happy with the slight variations in bumpers/seats and lack of sport suspension. Some say the sport suspension rides harshly on our roads.
4. Check for the normal service history and things like water pumps have been changed. The cooling systems are the weak point on the E46. The water pump should be changed, perhaps budget for this if it hasn't been done already. Front suspension bushes too..
This is just my personal experience having previously owned a six cylinder E46 coupé.
It is in the M power section because I was told I should be looking for an 'M' sport as the guy before pointed out some models were designed as such with this labelling...so this is where I put the query. If it is incorrect I apologise I don't spend much time discussing this sort of thing and I coming to people like you for guidance not aloof castigating for getting things wrong - I will call BMW next time!
Sorry should have added another smiley at the end of my post, it was a joke (kinda)
These cars run well past 100k miles, but many of them fall into the hands of people who run them on a budget so look carefully at service history, oils and tyres used, etc.
Don't automatically assume a 3L will be that much more to insure than a 2L, get some quotes first.
(kinda)These cars run well past 100k miles, but many of them fall into the hands of people who run them on a budget so look carefully at service history, oils and tyres used, etc.
Don't automatically assume a 3L will be that much more to insure than a 2L, get some quotes first.
Hey Fiona,
Sport / M Sport have excellent seats, firmer suspension and a body and alloys which look a lot better than the SE. It is in my opinion, based on ownership, well worth the difference. If you have any doubt on a model's spec, ask for last seven digits of VIN and put it here to get the full build details. http://www.bmwarchive.org/vin/bmw-vin-decoder.html
330 or 325 with a manual gearbox I would chose; if possible get 330 as it's a performance increase without a hit on fuel consumption; essentially the same engine with more power. From memory, of the owner's manual, the 320 is a fair bit slower, I'm sure over 8 seconds 0-62 so I wouldn't chose it.
I don't think the E46 would be considered computerised, and I had one of the later models, so I don't follow what the seller is saying.
I sold mine at 130k without any breakdowns. only item which might blur the definition of wear and tear was crank case vale and breather pipers at over 100k miles but not that expensive, other items replaced were fairly minor.
Sport / M Sport have excellent seats, firmer suspension and a body and alloys which look a lot better than the SE. It is in my opinion, based on ownership, well worth the difference. If you have any doubt on a model's spec, ask for last seven digits of VIN and put it here to get the full build details. http://www.bmwarchive.org/vin/bmw-vin-decoder.html
330 or 325 with a manual gearbox I would chose; if possible get 330 as it's a performance increase without a hit on fuel consumption; essentially the same engine with more power. From memory, of the owner's manual, the 320 is a fair bit slower, I'm sure over 8 seconds 0-62 so I wouldn't chose it.
I don't think the E46 would be considered computerised, and I had one of the later models, so I don't follow what the seller is saying.
I sold mine at 130k without any breakdowns. only item which might blur the definition of wear and tear was crank case vale and breather pipers at over 100k miles but not that expensive, other items replaced were fairly minor.
Thanks ALL great help so far! I have always driven diesel, my Golf is the 150PD engine chipped to 185 (not fussed about 0-60 more torque on country roads overtaking vicars and horse boxes), so just fancied a petrol for a bit. If anyone knows whether the 330d is hugely noisier and very Munich Taxi sounding compared to the petrol then let me know...I am also looking for a smoother drive than a usual diesel engine gives and a petrol engine usually gives me that...
The seller of the car wasn't talking absolute s
t, as there was a change in engine around that time, early E46's used the M52TU engine, iirc from 2001 onwards they were fitted with the M54, one of the major differences between these 2 lumps was the electronic throttle valve for intake air control.
Later 320Ci's, with the M54 engine, will also have 2,171 cc with 125 kW (168 hp) at 6100 rpm and 210 N·m (150 lb·ft) of torque at 3500 rpm, ealier cars with the M52tu engine will have 1,991 cc (121.5 cu in) 110 kW (150 hp) @ 5900 190 N·m (140 lb·ft) @ 3500.
As for petrol diesel , the 330d will be far smoother than your golfs PD lump, but the M54 petrol, or m52tu for that matter are both smoother than the M57 diesel.
t, as there was a change in engine around that time, early E46's used the M52TU engine, iirc from 2001 onwards they were fitted with the M54, one of the major differences between these 2 lumps was the electronic throttle valve for intake air control.Later 320Ci's, with the M54 engine, will also have 2,171 cc with 125 kW (168 hp) at 6100 rpm and 210 N·m (150 lb·ft) of torque at 3500 rpm, ealier cars with the M52tu engine will have 1,991 cc (121.5 cu in) 110 kW (150 hp) @ 5900 190 N·m (140 lb·ft) @ 3500.
As for petrol diesel , the 330d will be far smoother than your golfs PD lump, but the M54 petrol, or m52tu for that matter are both smoother than the M57 diesel.
stopextremism said:
It is in the M power section because I was told I should be looking for an 'M' sport as the guy before pointed out some models were designed as such with this labelling...so this is where I put the query. If it is incorrect I apologise
No need to apologise, it's BMWs fault for deliberately promoting brand dilution. M is a separate company to BMW, that produces high performance versions of standard BMW models.
See http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_M
M sport is a trim level that capitalises on exactly the confusion you have to sell the more expensive gear.
Quite cynical really.
This section of the forum is technically only for pukka M cars, but it's an easy mistake to make.
ALL very helpful thank you! Especially E30M3SE - The engine change the chap did say was literally the next model which, he says, had far more problems...although noone has been able to confirm if that is correct or not.
Price wise I bet I cannot get an M3 anywhere near a 330ci coupe - I have to say the price of a ten year old car is staggering and seems amazing value. I just don't think I can afford the M3, and having sold my Aston V8 last year I am trying to afford what I can whilst getting good performance and a reliable beast!
You are all very helpful thank you!
Price wise I bet I cannot get an M3 anywhere near a 330ci coupe - I have to say the price of a ten year old car is staggering and seems amazing value. I just don't think I can afford the M3, and having sold my Aston V8 last year I am trying to afford what I can whilst getting good performance and a reliable beast!
You are all very helpful thank you!
xxChrisxx said:
Pyrolysis said:
M Sport is to M Power as D&G is to Dolce Gabbana...not quite the same!
The analogy works quite neatly in reverse. I just thought one was short for the other.I'm afraid you'll have to be docked 10 man points for having the knowledge to apply such an analogy though.
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