2001 BMW 330Ci Convertible

Highlights

• Lovely 330Ci with M54 231 bhp straight-six

• Rare and desirable manual transmission

• Originally UK supplied and used in the Channel Islands so genuine low mileage

• Sought-after Orient Blue

• Fabulous original condition

Overview

Some cars age like fine vintage wines – getting better and better with each passing year. 

And while it’s still very much a modern classic, the BMW E46 is very much a car that we think fits this category. When new, it was the best compact executive car in its class. Great to drive, with a fantastic chassis and brilliant range of engines, it was an engineering masterpiece in making a car fit perfectly within its design brief. 

At the time, it was a handsome machine and today, it really stands out. Among a sea of large SUVs and over-exaggerated modern car designs, its simple elegance and brilliantly balanced proportions look better and better every year. 

That’s regardless of how many doors an E46 has – the saloon and the touring are good-looking cars, but if you really want to make an impression, then the two-door versions are sensational. Badged Ci, both the coupé and convertible are really coming into their own, especially the latter, which is both a boulevard cruiser and a driver’s car. 

Great to look at, terrific to drive and impressively built, they’re one of the last truly wonderful compact BMWs and are actively sought after in good condition, especially when equipped with the brand’s fabulous M54-Series straight-six engines.

This one ticks all of the boxes. Not only is it a 330Ci, which is as fruity as an E46 got without an M badge, but it also has a manual gearbox. It’s finished in Orient blue, which is one of the most sought-after colours, with smart grey leather and a very low mileage, which comes as a result of it being supplied new to a buyer in the UK then exported to Guernsey where, for obvious reasons, wasn’t racking up the motorway miles like most E46 drivers of the early 2000s.

It's probably one of the best-preserved E46s there is, which makes it very much worth preserving or adding to a collection.

History and documentation

• First registered in the UK on 2 April 2001 by Almondbury Garage Ltd in Huddersfield, W Yorks

• Was kept in Guernsey shortly after first registration until recently

• UK V5C in the current owner’s name

• MOT until 3 Feb, 2026 April – passed with no advisory notices

• Outstanding recall shown on the MOT certificate was for the Takata airbag and has since been carried out

• Two sets of keys

• Original handbook and service book

• Service book stamped as follows: PDI (2001, main dealer); 7,085 miles (2002, main dealer); 20,535 miles (2007, main dealer); 22,003 miles (2009, independent); 23,170 miles (2010, independent); 24,331 miles (2011, main dealer); 25,754 miles (2013, main dealer); 26,427 (2018, main dealer)

• Recent invoices for over £1,500 in servicing and maintenance this year

Interior

• Smart grey leather seats in good overall condition – very slight age related bolster wear and discolouration to driver’s seat 

• M-Sport steering wheel

• Dark oak trim inserts with matching gear knob

• Some cracks to gear knob veneer

• Fully functioning digital climate control

• M-Sport kick plates

• Original BMW Business radio-cassette player with CD changer

• Leather-trimmed door cards in excellent condition

• Carpets in good condition, with some wear to the driver’s side heel pad

• Roof headlining in good order

• Tidy luggage area 

• Original (complete) fold-down tool kit

• Genuine BMW floor mats

Exterior

• Original Orient blue metallic

• No evidence of any damage or corrosion

• The vendor reports that there are some very slight areas that aren’t perfect – namely a localised area of lacquer peel on the deck where the hood is stowed, a slight pin dent on the boot lid and a light scratch on the rear offside three-quarter panel, bonnet has minor imperfections. 

• There are no major stone chips on the front.

• Both headlamp lenses are described as being ‘like new’

• Original and sought-after 18-inch ‘Style 72’ MV1 alloy wheels

• Quality Bridgestone tyres all-round

• Underside reported to be in very good order 

Mechanical

• 3.0-litre M54 straight-six

• Five-speed manual transmission

• 231bhp

• 0-60 in 6.5 sec/155mph top speed

• Fully serviced this year

• Rebuilt Vanos unit 

Summary

We genuinely believe that the E46 is one of the breakthrough classics of the moment – especially a Ci with the M54 engine, which is the star attraction of the standard model range.

If you want one, then you’ll genuinely struggle to find a better one than this. It’s an absolute gem, in lovely, unspoilt and completely original condition with a genuinely low mileage and decent provenance. It’s also a fabulous colour and specification. E46 convertibles are lovely cars at the best of times, but this one’s an absolute stunner. 

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Somerset.