Matt's e46 330ci Clubsport
Discussion
I've had this about a month now, and it's about time I put up a thread about it. I had a 330ci Sport a couple of years ago, but I needed some cash to help fund my kitchen extension, so sadly I sold it. Since then I've had a couple of sheds - a 306 GTi-6 and a Puma 1.7. The Puma had a couple of issues that I simply couldn't be arsed to fix, so I sold it on cheaply and started looking around for another car.
I wanted something with a bit of poke, but it also had to be reasonably comfortable, with 4 proper seats (for the kids) and a decent sized boot. I had originally discounted the thought of another 330, since I didn't have the funds to get one as good as my last one (or so I thought). Following some unsuccessful searching, I used man maths to magically increase my budget, and thus decent 330's became available to me.
I narrowed the search down to a few coupes and a couple of saloons, and they were either in ropey condition when viewed, or they'd just been sold. I'll be honest I was feeling a bit pissed off at that point. Then suddenly a car appeared as a classified ad on eBay, for a Clubsport. I knew a bit about them, as a friend had a nearly identical one. Some say the spoiler/splitters/wheels are a bit chavvy (I can see where they're coming from), but to me, it made all the other coupes look boring.
After missing out on a couple of the other cars by as little as 30 minutes, I decided to ring the seller and go and see it as early as possible. Phone conversation done, I left work in Northampton at 5:30pm in my dad's Galaxy, and headed south to somewhere near Waterlooville. It was chucking it down with rain, I was tired, and dad's turbo was making some worrying noises, so I wasn't really in the mood to look at a car.
When I got there, my mood lifted immediately. Despite having to view by a floodlight thanks to the late bhour, I could see that the car was in [comic book guy]near mint condition[/comic book guy], and the seller clearly loved it, and would be gutted to see it go (well, not that gutted, seeing as though he'd inherited his dad's M3). Deal done I left a deposit and agreed to collect on the Saturday. Got a lift to go and get it, and seeing it in the light it looked even better. I had a great 2 hours drive back home which helped me get used to it.
So, here it is. It's a 2002 BMW e46 330ci Clubsport in Velvet Blue. Spec wise it's pretty good. It's got the usual electric memory black leather, Harman/Kardon audio, and the all important manual gearbox. The mirrors are power-folding too, which I like. On the subject of the mirrors - do any of the beards know what they are? They're definitely not M3, but not standard either.
It actually looks quite a dark blue in the pics. In real life it's quite a vivid purple. It looks quite out of place in the sea of grey and silver Audis that is my work car park.
And a couple of pics outside my house with my friend's car. Very similar, though he's missing the mirrors, wheels and splitters. He's also got purple leather, sat nav and an autobox. Given that they're relatively rare, it's quite odd seeing them both together!
I wanted something with a bit of poke, but it also had to be reasonably comfortable, with 4 proper seats (for the kids) and a decent sized boot. I had originally discounted the thought of another 330, since I didn't have the funds to get one as good as my last one (or so I thought). Following some unsuccessful searching, I used man maths to magically increase my budget, and thus decent 330's became available to me.
I narrowed the search down to a few coupes and a couple of saloons, and they were either in ropey condition when viewed, or they'd just been sold. I'll be honest I was feeling a bit pissed off at that point. Then suddenly a car appeared as a classified ad on eBay, for a Clubsport. I knew a bit about them, as a friend had a nearly identical one. Some say the spoiler/splitters/wheels are a bit chavvy (I can see where they're coming from), but to me, it made all the other coupes look boring.
After missing out on a couple of the other cars by as little as 30 minutes, I decided to ring the seller and go and see it as early as possible. Phone conversation done, I left work in Northampton at 5:30pm in my dad's Galaxy, and headed south to somewhere near Waterlooville. It was chucking it down with rain, I was tired, and dad's turbo was making some worrying noises, so I wasn't really in the mood to look at a car.
When I got there, my mood lifted immediately. Despite having to view by a floodlight thanks to the late bhour, I could see that the car was in [comic book guy]near mint condition[/comic book guy], and the seller clearly loved it, and would be gutted to see it go (well, not that gutted, seeing as though he'd inherited his dad's M3). Deal done I left a deposit and agreed to collect on the Saturday. Got a lift to go and get it, and seeing it in the light it looked even better. I had a great 2 hours drive back home which helped me get used to it.
So, here it is. It's a 2002 BMW e46 330ci Clubsport in Velvet Blue. Spec wise it's pretty good. It's got the usual electric memory black leather, Harman/Kardon audio, and the all important manual gearbox. The mirrors are power-folding too, which I like. On the subject of the mirrors - do any of the beards know what they are? They're definitely not M3, but not standard either.
It actually looks quite a dark blue in the pics. In real life it's quite a vivid purple. It looks quite out of place in the sea of grey and silver Audis that is my work car park.
And a couple of pics outside my house with my friend's car. Very similar, though he's missing the mirrors, wheels and splitters. He's also got purple leather, sat nav and an autobox. Given that they're relatively rare, it's quite odd seeing them both together!
From one clubsport owner to another, very nice!
Looks mint and I'm very jealous of the original wheels, mine has MV2s on
The mirrors are aftermarket, your friends are standard but I think overall your car looks better
Any plans? would recommend the golf tee mod for that extra exhaust note
Looks mint and I'm very jealous of the original wheels, mine has MV2s on
The mirrors are aftermarket, your friends are standard but I think overall your car looks better
Any plans? would recommend the golf tee mod for that extra exhaust note
Lovely car OP, and great colour & spec. Congrats!
As per the previous poster, I too was wondering if they were (E39) M5 mirrors
As usual when these cars are discussed, many will criticise the rear wing, but I really like them and, more importantly, they're what makes the car a ClubSport
As per the previous poster, I too was wondering if they were (E39) M5 mirrors
As usual when these cars are discussed, many will criticise the rear wing, but I really like them and, more importantly, they're what makes the car a ClubSport
Thanks for the replies guys.
The mirrors could be e39 M5. The guy I bought it from bought a new base plate for one of them because the paint was bubbling, so I doubt they're aftermarket. There is a part number on them so I'll do some research on RealOEM. I've got the build sheet for the car and there was no mention of mirrors on the options list so they must have been added afterwards.
I'll see if I can find the previous owner's details - I'm sure he knows!
Re: the spoiler - it tends to polarise opinion on forums. Personally I love it.
The mirrors could be e39 M5. The guy I bought it from bought a new base plate for one of them because the paint was bubbling, so I doubt they're aftermarket. There is a part number on them so I'll do some research on RealOEM. I've got the build sheet for the car and there was no mention of mirrors on the options list so they must have been added afterwards.
I'll see if I can find the previous owner's details - I'm sure he knows!
Re: the spoiler - it tends to polarise opinion on forums. Personally I love it.
RicksAlfas said:
a1burns said:
Looks mint and I'm very jealous of the original wheels, mine has MV2s on
MV2s were a no cost option at the time of purchase, so yours probably has original wheels on it too, just not the ones you like!Don't listen to anyone that says get rid of the spoiler, that and the front splitter make it, stuff the 20kg of soundproofing thats been removed, I'm pretty sure thats just a novelty...
Another Clubsport owner here 
Car looks very minty, congratulations. Had mine over two years and still love flooring it through 2nd and 3rd!!
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Car looks very minty, congratulations. Had mine over two years and still love flooring it through 2nd and 3rd!!
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Nice car matt, I'm converted to Clubsports, never used to like them but I think they have a rarity standerd sports don't, also they are both prefacelift, I think they f
ked the E46 up when they changed the lights. I love the mirrors although they defiantly aren't standerd, I like your mates one as well, as suggested I'd do the golf tee thing, I also removed under bonnet insulation, this defiantly makes the engines presence felt.
ked the E46 up when they changed the lights. I love the mirrors although they defiantly aren't standerd, I like your mates one as well, as suggested I'd do the golf tee thing, I also removed under bonnet insulation, this defiantly makes the engines presence felt.
rumple said:
Nice car matt, I'm converted to Clubsports, never used to like them but I think they have a rarity standerd sports don't, also they are both prefacelift, I think they f*cked the E46 up when they changed the lights. I love the mirrors although they defiantly aren't standerd, I like your mates one as well, as suggested I'd do the golf tee thing, I also removed under bonnet insulation, this defiantly makes the engines presence felt.
My underbonet insulation is all shrivelled up but I was worried about blistering the bonnet...? is it worth the risk?My clubsport is a rare facelift model and I love them far more than pre-facelift. Guess its just opinion although I do accept later pre-facelift models have more aggression. LED Tail lights are a winner for me though!
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