330ci m sport vs e46 m3 vs 330ci clubsport

330ci m sport vs e46 m3 vs 330ci clubsport

Author
Discussion

Chan6192

Original Poster:

134 posts

158 months

Friday 4th February 2011
quotequote all
bit of a dilemma here guys, im after a 330ci m sport convertible, and a decent one with good mileage and a decent year is about 8k, my only issue is a e46 m3 coupe which will be a few years older, and higher mileage and most prob a coupe is going for around the same kinda money, what would you guys go for? my only issue is i want to buy something that will sell for the same kinda money in a years time, i dont do much mileage as ive got another car, and i dont keep my cars for long- so what u guys think? im considering a 330ci clubsport because A- there cheaper B- there rarer and C- i think itll hold its value because of it being a bit rarer esp if i was to get a black or purple one as apose to silver or estroil blue.

any views appreciated

p.s i dont want a e36 m3 smile

rb5230

11,657 posts

171 months

Friday 4th February 2011
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Chan6192 said:
im considering a 330ci clubsport because there cheaper B
Like for like they are not cheaper, perhaps you are looking at older ones and comparing them to a newer 330ci. Prices of either cars can vary but clubsports tend to cost a bit more.

Chan6192

Original Poster:

134 posts

158 months

Friday 4th February 2011
quotequote all
looking at 03 plate clubsports and 03 plate 330ci's, the 330's are expensiver beacsue im looking at m sport convertibles

rb5230

11,657 posts

171 months

Friday 4th February 2011
quotequote all
Chan6192 said:
looking at 03 plate clubsports and 03 plate 330ci's, the 330's are expensiver beacsue im looking at m sport convertibles
oh yes a cabriolet will be more money.

Personally i think the 330ci seems sluggish, especially as a convertible.

E46 M3 really is a completely different animal, great car but not without its niggles.

Ruskie

3,982 posts

199 months

Friday 4th February 2011
quotequote all
Clubsports didn't come in black as far as I know.

Silver, Estoril and Velvet were the three unless it's a special commission colour and someone paid £££ extra new.

I have a clubsport and it's a nice car but not in the same league as an M3, but then neither are the running costs.

sjj84

2,390 posts

218 months

Friday 4th February 2011
quotequote all
Ruskie said:
Clubsports didn't come in black as far as I know.

Silver, Estoril and Velvet were the three unless it's a special commission colour and someone paid £££ extra new.

I have a clubsport and it's a nice car but not in the same league as an M3, but then neither are the running costs.
Do you speak from experience? Everybody has this perception that M3's cost a fortune to run, they really don't.

rich85uk

3,312 posts

178 months

Friday 4th February 2011
quotequote all
i got the 330ci and im happy enough with it, quick enough but may seem abit heavy and wallowy in convertible form and they always seem to fetch a premium. as for the m3 it depends if you have deep enough pockets for one thats at the bottom end of the market. as a general rule the m3 is double the running cost of a 330 but double the fun wink

the m3 will hold its value better but will cost more to maintain

Fox-

13,228 posts

245 months

Friday 4th February 2011
quotequote all
sjj84 said:
Do you speak from experience? Everybody has this perception that M3's cost a fortune to run, they really don't.
Err an Inspection service on an M3 is double the same service on a 330i.

Besieds an £8k E46 M3 will be a wreck anyway, if he's looking at £8k 330i's then an M3 is off the table.

Ruskie

3,982 posts

199 months

Friday 4th February 2011
quotequote all
sjj84 said:
Do you speak from experience? Everybody has this perception that M3's cost a fortune to run, they really don't.

Personal experience?

Clubsport insurance £550

M3 insurance £1250

That's £700 a year more before I have even driven it! As mentioned inspections are a lot more expensive.

rich85uk

3,312 posts

178 months

Friday 4th February 2011
quotequote all
And tyres,brakes,suspension etc which could all well be hit and miss on an 8k m3

a mate works at a very well know bmw indy garage and said EVERYTHING is double for the m3

just depends how deep your pockets are...

sjj84

2,390 posts

218 months

Friday 4th February 2011
quotequote all
Ok I hadn't taken insurance into consideration, was simply thinking of the maintenance of the car. This general rule people come out with of things costing twice as much on a M3 is rubbish. Tyres don't cost twice as much, brakes don't cost twice as much and servicing unless you go to BMW isn't twice as much.
I'd agree that an 8k M3, if you can even get one that cheap, will be a bit ropey.

lordanthony

9 posts

159 months

Friday 4th February 2011
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Servicing for an M3 at my local indy is 100/320/365 (oil/insp1/insp2) vs 65/132/205 for my 330Ci. Add that to insurance, higher fuel comsumption, higher cost of parts and the likelihood of me shredding tyres/brakes and other consumables far quicker in a more powerful car and I came to the conclusion I couldn't afford to run an M3 (just yet!) Agree that an 8k one will most likely be a wreck and will probably cost you that again to keep it running for a year!

Can't see the appeal of a Clubsport - just a 330 with fussy wheels and a nasty "aftermarket" spoiler in lurid colours, no? I take the point that they probably hold their value better, although a well specced 330 in good colours should do the same.

For the record, I bought a 2003 330 Ci Sport in December and I'm more than happy. It's plenty quick enough for me, destroys motorways and is pretty good on the twisty stuff too.

Fox-

13,228 posts

245 months

Friday 4th February 2011
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lordanthony said:
Servicing for an M3 at my local indy is 100/320/365 (oil/insp1/insp2) vs 65/132/205 for my 330Ci.
Thats ridiculously cheap servicing for both - not sure I'd trust a car like that to a place that runs so cheaply it can afford to do a full Inspection 2 on an M3 (Remember it includes a valve clearance adjustment) for just 365 quid.

6 litres of the right Castrol oil alone is 60 quid, are you suggesting they do a complete Oil Service for a fiver?

More likely they are just a normal backstreet garage putting non genuine BMW stuff in...

lordanthony

9 posts

159 months

Friday 4th February 2011
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I'm not suggesting anything, just telling you the prices stated on their website. I also doubt that they buy oil at cost price from Halfords.

Fox-

13,228 posts

245 months

Friday 4th February 2011
quotequote all
lordanthony said:
I'm not suggesting anything, just telling you the prices stated on their website. I also doubt that they buy oil at cost price from Halfords.
An yes I forgot, Castrol SLX Longtec II is only 10p a litre if you have an 'indy'.

H_Kan

4,942 posts

198 months

Friday 4th February 2011
quotequote all
At that price point, I'd go 330ci, M3's will be ropey and running costs will be significantly higher. Maybe not double but more than enough to notice the difference.

I like the general look and ethos of the Clubsport, but I just cannot deal with the spoiler on the back- ruins what is a great shaped car. Looking at the classifieds, they don't seem to be attracting the premium you'd expect though.

Chan6192

Original Poster:

134 posts

158 months

Saturday 5th February 2011
quotequote all
hmmmmmmm i agree not worth buying a low end m3, prob will cause noothing but misery lol. i do like the clubsports tho, and if i where to go down the coupe route it would have to be a clubsport. i do like the 3.0 z4 though, thing is its a bit poncey n small, would be heaps of fun tho

*Al*

3,830 posts

221 months

Sunday 17th April 2011
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Ruskie said:
Clubsports didn't come in black as far as I know.

Silver, Estoril and Velvet were the three unless it's a special commission colour and someone paid £££ extra new.

I have a clubsport and it's a nice car but not in the same league as an M3, but then neither are the running costs.
Yes they do come in black! Carbon black but very rare. I'm told only 6 in the UK.

Here's mine:




Ruskie

3,982 posts

199 months

Sunday 17th April 2011
quotequote all
*Al* said:
Yes they do come in black! Carbon black but very rare. I'm told only 6 in the UK.

Here's mine:



I stand corrected! Looks very nice as well. What wheels are on yours?

*Al*

3,830 posts

221 months

Monday 18th April 2011
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Ruskie said:
I stand corrected! Looks very nice as well. What wheels are on yours?
Not sure of the name of the wheels (18") as they were already on the car (only had the car a few days). I'm looking to fit some 19"s soon.