BMW e46 330Ci

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Discussion

stugolf

Original Poster:

473 posts

205 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2019
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Certainly not, the paperwork is the best I've got with any car, pre-inspection, all tax discs etc, and of course all matching MOT's, service and repair bills which tally perfectly with the mileage

Mr Tidy

22,776 posts

129 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2019
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C70R said:
Nothing to worry about, I'm sure.

On reflection, that's a beautifully simple dashboard. If only the water temp gauge was actually of any use, it would be fairly close to perfect for me.
Don't knock it - on E9* 3 Series you don't even get one!

Assuming the sensor works you just get amber and red warning lights when the poxy electric water pump dies. (2 out of 3 have died so far - will see what number 4 does)!

C70R

17,596 posts

106 months

Thursday 4th April 2019
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Mr Tidy said:
C70R said:
Nothing to worry about, I'm sure.

On reflection, that's a beautifully simple dashboard. If only the water temp gauge was actually of any use, it would be fairly close to perfect for me.
Don't knock it - on E9* 3 Series you don't even get one!

Assuming the sensor works you just get amber and red warning lights when the poxy electric water pump dies. (2 out of 3 have died so far - will see what number 4 does)!
"Progress"

In all seriousness, and I acknowledge my own confirmation bias, the E46 feels like the sweet spot for 3-series design to me. Although I suspect we were probably saying that about the E36 5 years ago...

stugolf

Original Poster:

473 posts

205 months

Thursday 4th April 2019
quotequote all
C70R said:
"Progress"

In all seriousness, and I acknowledge my own confirmation bias, the E46 feels like the sweet spot for 3-series design to me. Although I suspect we were probably saying that about the E36 5 years ago...
I agree, I love the look of the E46, particularly the coupe and saloon in MSport trim, forgetting its 20+year old design its unfussy with nice lines, subtle and still aggressive, other than the E30 the e46 M3 has to be about the nicest looking of all M3's in my opinion

stevesuk

1,349 posts

184 months

Thursday 4th April 2019
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I had one that looked almost the same (although manual with black leather). Was my second E46 coupe, thinking I'd bought the best one available locally (had a super spec including xenons, sunroof and the sound system upgrade), I was hoping to keep it for some time. But in reality, I didn't really get along with it, and ended up selling it a year or so later.

Big part of the problem I think was that the 5 speed manual gearbox in these isn't particularly nice - and I actually think they're much better suited to the automatic gearbox - so hopefully you'll do better with yours smile

Visually, I think they are the sweet-spot - to my eyes they look better than their replacement.

Edited by stevesuk on Thursday 4th April 10:18

shalmaneser

5,947 posts

197 months

Thursday 4th April 2019
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TonyRPH said:
stugolf said:
<snip>
What is the red dot in the cluster? (top left, above the mileage)

I know it's not the mileage tamper as that's a larger amber dot which appears next to the trip mileage.
Probably just a slightly dodgy pixel.

Looks like a nice car, OP!

ATM

18,446 posts

221 months

Friday 5th April 2019
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JakeT said:
17 inch wheels help both the ride and handling.
I had O Z wheels on my v8 beast with 225 tyres all round. You could try 4 fronts to even out the understeer a bit. I couldn't fit anything smaller because of the massive brakes.


stugolf

Original Poster:

473 posts

205 months

Sunday 2nd June 2019
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So due to having to start using a car for much more mileage I’m going to have to sell the 330, gutted but needs must

Few more pics:











ATM

18,446 posts

221 months

Sunday 2nd June 2019
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What are you going to replace it with?

stugolf

Original Poster:

473 posts

205 months

Sunday 2nd June 2019
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ATM said:
What are you going to replace it with?
Well I do have a lovely Mk5 GTi Edition 30 sat at home as well but I want a diesel for the daily duties, my Mrs has a Polo R Line BlueMotion and its a lovely thing that does 80+MPG! So something like that is on the cards

ATM

18,446 posts

221 months

Sunday 2nd June 2019
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stugolf said:
Well I do have a lovely Mk5 GTi Edition 30 sat at home as well but I want a diesel for the daily duties, my Mrs has a Polo R Line BlueMotion and its a lovely thing that does 80+MPG! So something like that is on the cards
Come on you can't say a modern polo blue motion is lovely. Sorry no.

Kettmark

904 posts

155 months

Sunday 2nd June 2019
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Id keep the 330 personally. They're worth buttons and are not too bad on fuel on a good run.
It will surely cost you more in depreciation on a blue motion of similar than the difference in fuel bills...

ATM

18,446 posts

221 months

Sunday 2nd June 2019
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Round town with the auto it will be bad though let's be serious. You have to be an enthusiast to run one of these.

stugolf

Original Poster:

473 posts

205 months

Sunday 2nd June 2019
quotequote all
Kettmark said:
Id keep the 330 personally. They're worth buttons and are not too bad on fuel on a good run.
It will surely cost you more in depreciation on a blue motion of similar than the difference in fuel bills...
It is a lovely car, it has Golf R style seats, and basically looks like a MK7 Golf inside, just lacks any form of performance

I’d love to keep the 330 but can’t justify it

Court_S

13,237 posts

179 months

Sunday 2nd June 2019
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Shame it’s going OP because it looks like a lovey example.

stugolf

Original Poster:

473 posts

205 months

Monday 3rd June 2019
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Court_S said:
Shame it’s going OP because it looks like a lovey example.
Thanks Court_S

Its almost one of a kind now, so many bad examples of e46's out there, when I bought this the amount of dogs in incredible!

stugolf

Original Poster:

473 posts

205 months

Friday 7th June 2019
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So yesterday was tinged with sadness as I said goodbye to my 330Ci, it was lovely and I really enjoyed it, I doubt Id be able to get another like this, final pic:




ATM

18,446 posts

221 months

Friday 7th June 2019
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stugolf said:
So yesterday was tinged with sadness as I said goodbye to my 330Ci, it was lovely and I really enjoyed it, I doubt Id be able to get another like this, final pic:

Sold fast - did you part ex it?

stugolf

Original Poster:

473 posts

205 months

Friday 7th June 2019
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Yes sold in just over a week, private sale, got reasonably good money for it too

LanceRS

2,175 posts

139 months

Saturday 8th June 2019
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And presumably a very happy new owner.