E46 330i Sport Touring (First real BMW ownership)

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Morning all,

I have posted this on a couple of other threads but I thought I should start my own Reader's Car thread as I have never done one before.

So I sold my 05 plate Mini Cooper S JCW (Full Factory build) at the end of last week, I loved it, but I had it a year and a half (the longest I have ever owned a car) and wanted something new. I spent most of the weekend looking at a number of different things ranging from Alfa 147 GTA's/ GT V6's to big 4x4's. A friend then sent me a link to the car I ended up purchasing yesterday.
A 57k 52 plate E46 330i Sport Touring. Full Service History, and a lot of options ticked.

I have only managed to take one photo of it so far but I will include the advert photos too.








I really like the red leather, very different and makes it stand out a bit!

I drove down to Poole yesterday afternoon with a friend to go and take a look and see if it was as good as it looked in the advert. As you can tell, it was.
It drives well, no knocking, or strange noises anywhere. The paint work is pristine for a car of its age, only a couple of stone chips on the front. The interior is immaculate bar a little wear on the driver side bolster which I will take care of.


Yours, one very happy chappy

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Disco You said:

Great colour combo!

I thought at first that the keys on the bonnet in the first picture was a massive bird poo!

haha, nope I put them there as a replacement for custard as I had nothing else to hand.

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mini1380cc said:

What is the button below the drivers window switch? Is it something to do with the tailgate?

Window lock for the rear windows.

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liller said:

love that colour, rarely see them.

You said lots of options ticked, other than the phone, I can't see anything above what is standard on this model. Perhaps I missed something?

To be honest I just presumed there were lots options ticked. The only other 3 series touring I have driven was a 318i so perhaps the 330 comes with more as standard...

Stuff I thought would be option:
///M Steering wheel (plus the other ///M stuff)
Carbon Dash
6 Disk Changer
Auto Headlights
Rear Park Sensors
Detachable Tow Bar (Never Used)


Again, being new to BMW my knowledge of what would have been standard is limited.

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BullyB said:

thats a good point, I have a row of buttons above the ash tray for the Bose system and heated seats.
Is there a button to turn the TC off?

Yeah theres the DST button, but it doesn't have the upgraded sound system

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Evangelion said:

Has it had the carbon fibre mod done on the dash? That's quite common in my expereince as those grey panels seem to go very scruffy very quickly.

It has carbon on the dash, around the gear stick and on the doors. Is that a mod and not a factory option?

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E30M3SE said:

the pictures of yours doesn't quite look as above.

Nice looking car, unusual colour combo green with red but works quite well.

I'll need to look closer and see, I certainly think it has parts of it at least, maybe I need to buy some bits to complete it.


It is an odd colour combination, I love it.

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ajb85 said:

What's the name of the colour OP?

I believe it is called Oxford Green... http://bmwccbc.org/resources/teile/BMW-current-col...

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ajb85 said:

Are you sure? on a 52 plate? It's more likely the replacement of Oxford green as it's a pretty old colour.

Pop the bonnet, have a look at the top of the suspension tower, o/s as I recall, it should be stated on a sticker.

Looks like Oxford Green to me, I can't find any info saying it was replaced with anything...
http://www.autodetailingnetworkforums.com/post/BMW...

I'll have a look under the bonnet when I go out for lunch.

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NiceCupOfTea said:

Looks very nice. Do like a nice BMW Touring. Do you mind saying what you paid?

I was wondering when that would come up...

Care to make a guess?

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NiceCupOfTea said:

No idea what they go for - £3k?

Interesting you say that, I paid 4 on the nose.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

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No worries gents,

Everyone has their own opinion, it's what the spice of life is all about. If we all liked the same things then life would be dull.

Green and Red is never going to be to everyones taste, I personally think it works really well.



The car phone may well be my favourite part, I just need to get a sim card for it so that I can actually use it.