Discussion
Hello all.
A while back I started a 'What Car?' ( http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... ) thread asking for opinions on what I could get for ~£4k. Initially, after finding out I could insure one cheap, I almost purchased a 330i but it sold rather quickly. I went to see what else is out there for me. I found out about C32 AMGs, Renaultsport Megane 225s and briefly touched on C36/43 AMGs.
I realised that I really did want a manual so looking at AMGs was just a waste of time and my search came full circle back to E46 330i as that is really what I wanted.
I began to search for the saloons first with quite a specific spec (blue, MV2s, 6 spd with low mileage and service history) but after a month or so of looking I noticed there was very few cars out there with a manual box. So very few in fact I resorted to PH to ask if anyone was selling theirs ( http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... )!!
I decided to widen my search to Coupes but I wasn't really sure if that's what I wanted. A car local to me came up for sale on AutoTrader. It claimed 1 previous owner, FSH and generally in good nick. Not my favorite colour but it was close so what harm could looking do?
I got there and automatically fell in love I loved it. It wasn't in perfect condition (shown in photos below) but for a 9 year old car it was great. It has FSH as described the and V5 showed one previous owner, a local lady.
A deal was struck and I picked up the car a fews day later!
Enough waffling; here are some photos...
Exterior is lovely...
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Except for...
This will be going to the body shop to get sorted. Whenever I look in my nearside wing mirror it draws attention to itself!!
Interior is lovely....
Except for...
Can this be fixed? Who could I take it to?
It even has...
What am I missing from the tool box? No torch mind
Wheels are corroded and are in need of a refurb
And enroute to going to grab these photos I chipped the windscreen too, which is f
king annoying! 
In short, I fking love this car. It's not the quickest but I love the noise.
I've never owned a car with 6 gears so I find myself sitting in 5th a little too often. Also, I've never owned a RWD car so the DSC has remained on whilst I am getting a little more confident.
Comments?
Thank you
A while back I started a 'What Car?' ( http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... ) thread asking for opinions on what I could get for ~£4k. Initially, after finding out I could insure one cheap, I almost purchased a 330i but it sold rather quickly. I went to see what else is out there for me. I found out about C32 AMGs, Renaultsport Megane 225s and briefly touched on C36/43 AMGs.
I realised that I really did want a manual so looking at AMGs was just a waste of time and my search came full circle back to E46 330i as that is really what I wanted.
I began to search for the saloons first with quite a specific spec (blue, MV2s, 6 spd with low mileage and service history) but after a month or so of looking I noticed there was very few cars out there with a manual box. So very few in fact I resorted to PH to ask if anyone was selling theirs ( http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... )!!
I decided to widen my search to Coupes but I wasn't really sure if that's what I wanted. A car local to me came up for sale on AutoTrader. It claimed 1 previous owner, FSH and generally in good nick. Not my favorite colour but it was close so what harm could looking do?
I got there and automatically fell in love I loved it. It wasn't in perfect condition (shown in photos below) but for a 9 year old car it was great. It has FSH as described the and V5 showed one previous owner, a local lady.
A deal was struck and I picked up the car a fews day later!
Enough waffling; here are some photos...
Exterior is lovely...
Except for...
This will be going to the body shop to get sorted. Whenever I look in my nearside wing mirror it draws attention to itself!!
Interior is lovely....
Except for...
Can this be fixed? Who could I take it to?
It even has...
What am I missing from the tool box? No torch mind
Wheels are corroded and are in need of a refurb
And enroute to going to grab these photos I chipped the windscreen too, which is f
king annoying! In short, I f
king love this car. It's not the quickest but I love the noise. I've never owned a car with 6 gears so I find myself sitting in 5th a little too often. Also, I've never owned a RWD car so the DSC has remained on whilst I am getting a little more confident.
Comments?
Thank you
^ What Nate said, paintless dent repair.
As I said on W/// it's a lovely motor.
Those rear interior trim panels - rather than trying to fix them you would be better off trying to source some replacements from ebay or a breakers. I think they wouldn't be too expensive?
Get the windscreen chip repaired ASAP - the longer you leave them the more of a mark is left once repaired.
As I said on W/// it's a lovely motor.
Those rear interior trim panels - rather than trying to fix them you would be better off trying to source some replacements from ebay or a breakers. I think they wouldn't be too expensive?
Get the windscreen chip repaired ASAP - the longer you leave them the more of a mark is left once repaired.
Thanks for the replies, chaps.
With regards to the windscreen, do I just phone up Autoglass and go from there, or do I need to contact insurance? I know I have a £75 excess for a windscreen but unsure if that's for a replacement, rather than a repair. If I do have to go via insurance, will it go down as making 'a claim'? Thus getting raped come renewal time.
I like to think once those 3 or 4 problems are sorted out, the car will be a keeper. The wheels will be staying silver too!
With regards to the windscreen, do I just phone up Autoglass and go from there, or do I need to contact insurance? I know I have a £75 excess for a windscreen but unsure if that's for a replacement, rather than a repair. If I do have to go via insurance, will it go down as making 'a claim'? Thus getting raped come renewal time.
I like to think once those 3 or 4 problems are sorted out, the car will be a keeper. The wheels will be staying silver too!
dondan said:
With the little niggles sorted that will be a great car to keep clean and enjoy for a long time I'd bet. You can get quite a nice note from those exhaust systems/engines with a bit cash thrown at them if that's your thing.
Keep the wheels silver/anthracite!
What's the info regarding upgrading the exhaust system then, dondan? Sound is a massive part of driving pleasure, so chucking some notes in that direction would be money well spent!Keep the wheels silver/anthracite!
There's a little mod you can do for free on the exhaust to gain a better sound.
If you look into the pipes you should see a flap inside the right exhaust. This opens and closes via a vacuum pipe. If you have a look under the car you should see the pipe going into the back box, if you disconnect the pipe with the flap open it will give you a better exhaust note.
Google it and it will probably explain it better than I have!
Nice car by the way! I love mine. It's not worth much now so there's no reason for me to get rid. I have just purchased a set of 19" bbs lm reps, which are currently being refurbished. These are the best looking wheels on the e46 shape (in my opinion)
Enjoy your car
If you look into the pipes you should see a flap inside the right exhaust. This opens and closes via a vacuum pipe. If you have a look under the car you should see the pipe going into the back box, if you disconnect the pipe with the flap open it will give you a better exhaust note.
Google it and it will probably explain it better than I have!
Nice car by the way! I love mine. It's not worth much now so there's no reason for me to get rid. I have just purchased a set of 19" bbs lm reps, which are currently being refurbished. These are the best looking wheels on the e46 shape (in my opinion)
Enjoy your car
I belive the exhaust mod above is called the golf-tee mod as you use a golf-tee to block the pipe. Your tool kit appears to be complete. Something some owners dont know is when you open the car with the fob, hold the button down to open all 4 windows, abd hold closed to do them up, also when locking the car hold close and if you have electric folding mirrors it will pull them in too. Enjoy what is a good all round car!
Nice motor, I have a 2001 330i.
These cars always seem to have niggles so just sort them as they come up really.
I did the Golf tee mod although I used a large flat screw instead of a golf tee, it sounds better when you give it some beans and powering through lower gears but drones from about 2500-4000 rpm especially in 3rd, which you can hear from inside the car and is a bit irritating at times.
These cars always seem to have niggles so just sort them as they come up really.
I did the Golf tee mod although I used a large flat screw instead of a golf tee, it sounds better when you give it some beans and powering through lower gears but drones from about 2500-4000 rpm especially in 3rd, which you can hear from inside the car and is a bit irritating at times.
Well the car is booked in tomorrow to sort the chip. I read that if the chip is a few days old then it is still visible on the screen once repaired, here's hoping it'll look OK.
I read about the Golf Tee mod when I was looking for cars but forgot about it! Will take a look at it later on.
rsv696, let me know how the mods get on for you and whether you think they're worth it. Will read the thread this afternoon.
I read about the Golf Tee mod when I was looking for cars but forgot about it! Will take a look at it later on.
rsv696, let me know how the mods get on for you and whether you think they're worth it. Will read the thread this afternoon.
harvey669 said:
Lovely motor.
I have been looking at these myself but can't decide between the 325ci or 330ci, what's the mpg liken these, I've been reading in town you'll see low 20's
I have read that the MPG is not that different at all so it's not worth sacrificing the power. I have been looking at these myself but can't decide between the 325ci or 330ci, what's the mpg liken these, I've been reading in town you'll see low 20's
You'd always be thinking 'what if' and what if you saw a 330 next to you?
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