Discussion
So here's my attempt at bargain barge motoring.
Unfortunately my last car, a Clio 172, caught fire and was written off by my insurance company around 5 weeks ago. Typically it was after chucking about £500 in its direction for some coilovers and other things that were needed for MOT. The fire appears to have come from the fuel return line and thankfully was put out pretty quickly meaning that I've been able to purchase the car back to turn into a track car. I do a few track days anyhow and was planning to do this next year. It just meant I had to buy a new car with the limited payout, straight after a holiday, in the run up to Christmas after having spent what remained in my savings on the Clio.
The list of requirements was quite large, it needed to be Shed money, capable of towing the Clio, practical enough for family duties, entertaining to drive if possible and hardest of all my wife had to like it. I'd looked at Mondeos, Scenics, Lagunas, Focus', Golfs, 307s and all of the usual bargain basement regulars, but nothing really caught my eye. Then I stumbled upon an '02 Facelift E46 330i Auto on eBay for a little under £1,500. It ticked all boxes but was a little out of budget, thankfully the seller was happy to do a deal after being messed around by someone else. Car was bought for £1,000 and picked it up just over a week ago.
Only have the advert pictures as I can't recall it being daylight at home since I got it.
It's done 160k miles but doesn't look or drive like it's done that many, has a full service history and came with 11 months MOT. Also has a few options, full leather and xenons being the main ones.
It's not perfect but any issues seem to be relatively small. It needs a ball joint, a front arb bush and the rear trailing arm bushes before the next MOT. Also it needed a few cosmetic tweaks, the rear inner lights have let water in and gone mouldy (£35 off eBay for new ones), needs a good polish as the lacquer is dull in a couple of spots and the interior needs a good clean. Still undecided on the tinted windows, I like them during the day but they're very dark so it's nearly impossible to see anything when reversing at night.
The car was due a service when I picked it up, so on Monday it went to a pal's work as he's a technician at a BMW specialist. £50 for a service and aircon re-gas isn't too bad if you ask me.
All in all I couldn't be happier for the money I've paid for it, drives very well, loads of spec and surprisingly nippy with around 230bhp. Fuel economy isn't great, circa 20mpg for my stop start commute through 30 zones, but I don't do many miles and I don't think I've ever had an economical car.
Now off to trawl eBay for a towbar...
Unfortunately my last car, a Clio 172, caught fire and was written off by my insurance company around 5 weeks ago. Typically it was after chucking about £500 in its direction for some coilovers and other things that were needed for MOT. The fire appears to have come from the fuel return line and thankfully was put out pretty quickly meaning that I've been able to purchase the car back to turn into a track car. I do a few track days anyhow and was planning to do this next year. It just meant I had to buy a new car with the limited payout, straight after a holiday, in the run up to Christmas after having spent what remained in my savings on the Clio.
The list of requirements was quite large, it needed to be Shed money, capable of towing the Clio, practical enough for family duties, entertaining to drive if possible and hardest of all my wife had to like it. I'd looked at Mondeos, Scenics, Lagunas, Focus', Golfs, 307s and all of the usual bargain basement regulars, but nothing really caught my eye. Then I stumbled upon an '02 Facelift E46 330i Auto on eBay for a little under £1,500. It ticked all boxes but was a little out of budget, thankfully the seller was happy to do a deal after being messed around by someone else. Car was bought for £1,000 and picked it up just over a week ago.
Only have the advert pictures as I can't recall it being daylight at home since I got it.
It's done 160k miles but doesn't look or drive like it's done that many, has a full service history and came with 11 months MOT. Also has a few options, full leather and xenons being the main ones.
It's not perfect but any issues seem to be relatively small. It needs a ball joint, a front arb bush and the rear trailing arm bushes before the next MOT. Also it needed a few cosmetic tweaks, the rear inner lights have let water in and gone mouldy (£35 off eBay for new ones), needs a good polish as the lacquer is dull in a couple of spots and the interior needs a good clean. Still undecided on the tinted windows, I like them during the day but they're very dark so it's nearly impossible to see anything when reversing at night.
The car was due a service when I picked it up, so on Monday it went to a pal's work as he's a technician at a BMW specialist. £50 for a service and aircon re-gas isn't too bad if you ask me.
All in all I couldn't be happier for the money I've paid for it, drives very well, loads of spec and surprisingly nippy with around 230bhp. Fuel economy isn't great, circa 20mpg for my stop start commute through 30 zones, but I don't do many miles and I don't think I've ever had an economical car.
Now off to trawl eBay for a towbar...
So today I've done the first of the little touches that needed doing. The inner rear lights were seriously bugging me, every time I looked at the back end they stood out. They're mouldy inside and much darker than they should be. Other than removing the carpet from the boot lid being fiddly, there was only one nut on each light and they popped out easily. Much better than the French build quality I'm used to (you'd have needed three elbows to reach it and required a magical tool on a Renault). Just needed a quick clean behind the lights and then pop the new ones in. Pictures say it all really.
And finally I saw the high standard to which a previous repair was carried out, the number plate light is expertly taped in. Sorting that's a job for another day though as it started to rain.
And finally I saw the high standard to which a previous repair was carried out, the number plate light is expertly taped in. Sorting that's a job for another day though as it started to rain.
Been a quiet time for the 330 until this weekend, it's bee going about its business with consummate ease and despite having a drinking habit like George Best it's been great. Have got a track day booked in the Clio 172 at the end of March so I've been saving some money to finish the Clio and shod the BMW with a towbar, but as always with me an unexpected bill rears its head.
Been up to my Dad's in Glasgow this weekend with the family so the 330 got the nod over the Clio 182 (has cruise and better on fuel so still an option). Within 10 minutes I knew I'd made the right decision, much more comfortable and refined than the bright blue French box and it was worth the extra fuel money. Thankfully it did the whole trip of 430 miles on one tank of fuel returning roughly 33mpg (much better than the 18mpg it gets round town).
After getting back from Glasgow I dropped the wife off at Argos on the retail park near us to replace her recently expired hair dryer and decided I'd wait in the car. After a few minutes I heard and felt a bang. At first I thought someone had reversed into me but the same car was in the space behind all along and then the cloud of steam erupted from under the bonnet.
I figured the expansion tank had given in due to the dampness on the airbox and headlight and promptly called Green Flag. The recovery guy thought it was the radiator and towed me to my mate's garage. My suspicions were right, it was the expansion tank.
Just a small crack!
The cooling system appears to have had some work done to it more recently. It's got a nearly new radiator (they're prone to going banana shaped), new thermostat and the expansion tank isn't the original. It's a non-genuine but it seems older than the radiator. We've ordered one from BMW and, although the first one was the wrong part yesterday, it should be sorted this evening for the sum of £110.
Could probably do with the n/s headlight cluster wiring and o/s rear cluster wiring looking at. Get the odd "bulb out" message despite them being on. Heard there is a repair kit but not found one yet, if anyone can point me in the right direction I'd really appreciate it.
Been up to my Dad's in Glasgow this weekend with the family so the 330 got the nod over the Clio 182 (has cruise and better on fuel so still an option). Within 10 minutes I knew I'd made the right decision, much more comfortable and refined than the bright blue French box and it was worth the extra fuel money. Thankfully it did the whole trip of 430 miles on one tank of fuel returning roughly 33mpg (much better than the 18mpg it gets round town).
After getting back from Glasgow I dropped the wife off at Argos on the retail park near us to replace her recently expired hair dryer and decided I'd wait in the car. After a few minutes I heard and felt a bang. At first I thought someone had reversed into me but the same car was in the space behind all along and then the cloud of steam erupted from under the bonnet.
I figured the expansion tank had given in due to the dampness on the airbox and headlight and promptly called Green Flag. The recovery guy thought it was the radiator and towed me to my mate's garage. My suspicions were right, it was the expansion tank.
Just a small crack!
The cooling system appears to have had some work done to it more recently. It's got a nearly new radiator (they're prone to going banana shaped), new thermostat and the expansion tank isn't the original. It's a non-genuine but it seems older than the radiator. We've ordered one from BMW and, although the first one was the wrong part yesterday, it should be sorted this evening for the sum of £110.
Could probably do with the n/s headlight cluster wiring and o/s rear cluster wiring looking at. Get the odd "bulb out" message despite them being on. Heard there is a repair kit but not found one yet, if anyone can point me in the right direction I'd really appreciate it.
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