BMW E46 330ci - what to look for / running costs
Discussion
After the MR2 thread yesterday, decided to consider a slightly plusher alternative.
E46 330ci's seem to be very good value at the moment and £7-8k will get me a very good early example.
So hit me with it - what are the running costs like? Say, compared to my MX5?
Anything to watch out for? Weak points that I would expect to break and cause my bank manager to have a coronary?
E46 330ci's seem to be very good value at the moment and £7-8k will get me a very good early example.
So hit me with it - what are the running costs like? Say, compared to my MX5?
Anything to watch out for? Weak points that I would expect to break and cause my bank manager to have a coronary?
I have owned a 330ci for two years and have put 60k on the clock in that time using it as my company car. I can honestly say its the best car I have owned, on a sensible motorway journey it returns 32mpg. Other then the normal consumables (tyres etc) I have had 1 small water leak (£80 to repair) and I have had to replace the suspension bushes.
I am in the process of replacing mine at the moment with a Navara due to starting a new business but I will be sorry to see it go.
I am in the process of replacing mine at the moment with a Navara due to starting a new business but I will be sorry to see it go.
Have a 330i Sport, average mpg around 32, longer runs 38, spirited driving low 20s.
In terms of things to look out for, broken coil springs, especially on the rear. Front control arm bushes. The cooling system is flaky and I recently replaced water pump, expansion tank, temperature sender, thermostat, two main hoses and belts along with a coolant flush recently as a preventative measure (around £220 in genuine parts and not too difficult for the amateur mechanic).
All in all I am more than happy with mine, I do all my own servicing and maintenance and it doesn't cost the earth and is well designed on the whole.
In terms of things to look out for, broken coil springs, especially on the rear. Front control arm bushes. The cooling system is flaky and I recently replaced water pump, expansion tank, temperature sender, thermostat, two main hoses and belts along with a coolant flush recently as a preventative measure (around £220 in genuine parts and not too difficult for the amateur mechanic).
All in all I am more than happy with mine, I do all my own servicing and maintenance and it doesn't cost the earth and is well designed on the whole.
Neil_Sc said:
Have a 330i Sport, average mpg around 32, longer runs 38, spirited driving low 20s.
In terms of things to look out for, broken coil springs, especially on the rear. Front control arm bushes. The cooling system is flaky and I recently replaced water pump, expansion tank, temperature sender, thermostat, two main hoses and belts along with a coolant flush recently as a preventative measure (around £220 in genuine parts and not too difficult for the amateur mechanic).
All in all I am more than happy with mine, I do all my own servicing and maintenance and it doesn't cost the earth and is well designed on the whole.
Is it easy to work on as I am up for doing basic maintenance myself?In terms of things to look out for, broken coil springs, especially on the rear. Front control arm bushes. The cooling system is flaky and I recently replaced water pump, expansion tank, temperature sender, thermostat, two main hoses and belts along with a coolant flush recently as a preventative measure (around £220 in genuine parts and not too difficult for the amateur mechanic).
All in all I am more than happy with mine, I do all my own servicing and maintenance and it doesn't cost the earth and is well designed on the whole.
Legend83 said:
Is it easy to work on as I am up for doing basic maintenance myself?
Basic maintenance like filters, plugs, oil is very easy.I've tackled a gearbox oil change and diff oil change with ramps which wasn't too tricky given the ramps.
Most difficult tasks I have tackled so far have been replacing the air intake hose as the jubilee clips were on upside down and the oil separator, had a cursing session trying to thread one of the hoses from the top of the block through the intake manifold to the separator.
It is a delight compared to my old A4, electric fan at the front means very easy access to the front of the engine for changing belts and so forth. This was a bumper off job on the A4!
Not sure about E46s, but E36s badly needed suspension refreshes at around 60k-80k miles to feel fresh, and quite by 100k miles if you wanted to stay alive 
Engines should be bulletproof though.
If buying an early one (2000/2001) watching out for variable build quality, electric seats that are far too high even on their lowest setting, and the most shocking throttle delay you've ever seen, which seemed to vary between cars. Oh, and wobbly steering. All of those things were solved by about 2002.
Engines should be bulletproof though.
If buying an early one (2000/2001) watching out for variable build quality, electric seats that are far too high even on their lowest setting, and the most shocking throttle delay you've ever seen, which seemed to vary between cars. Oh, and wobbly steering. All of those things were solved by about 2002.
I have a 330i sport, the only problems I have had are an alternator and the MAF sensor. Ours get used for the school run and around town so always very low 20's or if spirited driving it does drop below 20mpg. On a decent run it does go up to around 30. We have had quiet a few years now and has been a really good car. Alcantara seats and kids aren't the best combination though.
Backing up everything said here. I do mostly town driving with small bits of motorway action and I'm getting 25/26mpg with a heavy right foot. When not so heavy it gets 30 quite easily and on long trips 38.
Only things you need to watch are front suspension bushes, I've had to replace mine. Rear springs/bushes someone has mentioned, think my spring is on the way out. Also the cooling system around 70/80k.
Other than the front bushes only thing I've replaced is a rear wheel bearing, it has been fairly cheap to run to.
If you want a preface lift definetly try and get a later 01 to avoid issues or just buy an 02 car.
Only things you need to watch are front suspension bushes, I've had to replace mine. Rear springs/bushes someone has mentioned, think my spring is on the way out. Also the cooling system around 70/80k.
Other than the front bushes only thing I've replaced is a rear wheel bearing, it has been fairly cheap to run to.
If you want a preface lift definetly try and get a later 01 to avoid issues or just buy an 02 car.
Legend83 said:
obscene said:
Other than the front bushes only thing I've replaced is a rear wheel bearing, it has been fairly cheap to run to.
How much for that little lot then?No complaints here.
Edited by obscene on Wednesday 20th January 21:48
My wife has had a 2001 330ci auto for just about a year now. About 26mpg around town and 32 on a run and has been fairly reliable.
Exception has been the power steering pump - we're on our third replacement pump now, although the last two were replaced under warrenty by the garage that changed the first one. On the original pump, the impeller shaft snapped in half. Same on the second pump and then one of the valves went on the next pump - all within weeks of each other. BMW 'aren't aware' of any design issues with the pumps, but did provide an upgraded replacement, which has been fine for six months now.
Other issue is that the a/c seems to have developed a mind of it's own and switches on and off only when it feels like it. Apparently there's a hedgehog shaped resistor under the dash somewhere which needs replacing with the new one which I have sitting on my desk...
Wife loves the car though and it does make a lovely noise (the car that is...)
Exception has been the power steering pump - we're on our third replacement pump now, although the last two were replaced under warrenty by the garage that changed the first one. On the original pump, the impeller shaft snapped in half. Same on the second pump and then one of the valves went on the next pump - all within weeks of each other. BMW 'aren't aware' of any design issues with the pumps, but did provide an upgraded replacement, which has been fine for six months now.
Other issue is that the a/c seems to have developed a mind of it's own and switches on and off only when it feels like it. Apparently there's a hedgehog shaped resistor under the dash somewhere which needs replacing with the new one which I have sitting on my desk...
Wife loves the car though and it does make a lovely noise (the car that is...)
obscene said:
Backing up everything said here. I do mostly town driving with small bits of motorway action and I'm getting 25/26mpg with a heavy right foot. When not so heavy it gets 30 quite easily and on long trips 38.
Only things you need to watch are front suspension bushes, I've had to replace mine. Rear springs/bushes someone has mentioned, think my spring is on the way out. Also the cooling system around 70/80k.
Other than the front bushes only thing I've replaced is a rear wheel bearing, it has been fairly cheap to run to.
If you want a preface lift definetly try and get a later 01 to avoid issues or just buy an 02 car.
What issues do the cars earlier than 2002 suffer from?Only things you need to watch are front suspension bushes, I've had to replace mine. Rear springs/bushes someone has mentioned, think my spring is on the way out. Also the cooling system around 70/80k.
Other than the front bushes only thing I've replaced is a rear wheel bearing, it has been fairly cheap to run to.
If you want a preface lift definetly try and get a later 01 to avoid issues or just buy an 02 car.
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