E46 330Ci - worth the risk in 2023?
Discussion
As someone who's owned a couple of examples of both, I'd say two things:
1. The "risk" is generally pretty low. There are a few things that go wrong, and they are mostly well-documented and not too expensive to resolve. If you can afford to buy one with signs of maintaining these things, or buy one and address these things, you'll be grand.
2. The "risk" is basically identical to your Z4, given that they are essentially built from the same parts. Aside from the roof motor, you'll have all of the same "risks".
You're buying a cheap, used car that's 20 years old. I'm not sure it's possible to completely avoid risk.
1. The "risk" is generally pretty low. There are a few things that go wrong, and they are mostly well-documented and not too expensive to resolve. If you can afford to buy one with signs of maintaining these things, or buy one and address these things, you'll be grand.
2. The "risk" is basically identical to your Z4, given that they are essentially built from the same parts. Aside from the roof motor, you'll have all of the same "risks".
You're buying a cheap, used car that's 20 years old. I'm not sure it's possible to completely avoid risk.
I have had a 33-ci as my daily for the last 7 years and I would say you are right to have some concerns.
As said, I believe there is a significant overlap in components with the Z4, to the point I have had some work done on mine by a Z4 specialist in the past.
Engine, cooling, gearbox, presumably front and rear sub frames all the same? So you will be aware of their ability to consume radiators and header tanks, coolant hoses, ccv, oil filter housing gasket, and anything else rubber really! Venos rebuild and new rocker cover gasket. Wishbone bushes, anti roll bar drop links, rusty front and rear wings, are all pretty common I have had mine dont 6 years ago and just getting a few rust blisters coming back again. Xenon headlights are nice, but mine gave me the run around a couple of years ago swapping ballast and ignitor units a few times till they appear to have settled, headlight out job each time. Replaced the dampers and springs with Bilstein B4s + Eibach. Swapped from staggered 18" to square 17" for more cost effect tyre options. New propshaft bearing a few years ago. Most parts are fairly available, if typically next-day rather than same day, which appears to repeatedly fox even the more competent and organised garages again and again, which obviously adds to the delays in getting the car back if you need it, especially if you have a round of getting the wrong part send first time.
Manageable, but also a significant a drip drip drip, which is fine if you have the time but fast gets frustrating if you don't.
I also have use of a 'second car' in times of need, although I cant transport our toddler in it which is becoming a limitation.
Yesterday the car went in for rear subframe and diff bushes, discovered due to issues with propshaft clonking under acceleration, and so far that job has grown to include welding up and reinforcing the subframe mounts after we found cracks in the boot floor. Which is a well documented issue, often said to old effect early (pre 2000) and M3 cars, but has certainly effected my x-reg 330ci, currently at 198k miles. Is also going to need welding on cills around the rear jacking points and or base of the a-pillar. They do rust!
It does also need a pint of oil most times you fill up with fuel, which is fairly common. If its much worse, its probably the rocker cover, filter housing leaking, or engine is fubar.
But also great fun to drive..... ...we're thinking of adding a 5yo diesel Octavia dsg to the fleet!
As said, I believe there is a significant overlap in components with the Z4, to the point I have had some work done on mine by a Z4 specialist in the past.
Engine, cooling, gearbox, presumably front and rear sub frames all the same? So you will be aware of their ability to consume radiators and header tanks, coolant hoses, ccv, oil filter housing gasket, and anything else rubber really! Venos rebuild and new rocker cover gasket. Wishbone bushes, anti roll bar drop links, rusty front and rear wings, are all pretty common I have had mine dont 6 years ago and just getting a few rust blisters coming back again. Xenon headlights are nice, but mine gave me the run around a couple of years ago swapping ballast and ignitor units a few times till they appear to have settled, headlight out job each time. Replaced the dampers and springs with Bilstein B4s + Eibach. Swapped from staggered 18" to square 17" for more cost effect tyre options. New propshaft bearing a few years ago. Most parts are fairly available, if typically next-day rather than same day, which appears to repeatedly fox even the more competent and organised garages again and again, which obviously adds to the delays in getting the car back if you need it, especially if you have a round of getting the wrong part send first time.
Manageable, but also a significant a drip drip drip, which is fine if you have the time but fast gets frustrating if you don't.
I also have use of a 'second car' in times of need, although I cant transport our toddler in it which is becoming a limitation.
Yesterday the car went in for rear subframe and diff bushes, discovered due to issues with propshaft clonking under acceleration, and so far that job has grown to include welding up and reinforcing the subframe mounts after we found cracks in the boot floor. Which is a well documented issue, often said to old effect early (pre 2000) and M3 cars, but has certainly effected my x-reg 330ci, currently at 198k miles. Is also going to need welding on cills around the rear jacking points and or base of the a-pillar. They do rust!
It does also need a pint of oil most times you fill up with fuel, which is fairly common. If its much worse, its probably the rocker cover, filter housing leaking, or engine is fubar.
But also great fun to drive..... ...we're thinking of adding a 5yo diesel Octavia dsg to the fleet!
dhutch said:
I have had a 33-ci as my daily for the last 7 years and I would say you are right to have some concerns.
As said, I believe there is a significant overlap in components with the Z4, to the point I have had some work done on mine by a Z4 specialist in the past.
Engine, cooling, gearbox, presumably front and rear sub frames all the same? So you will be aware of their ability to consume radiators and header tanks, coolant hoses, ccv, oil filter housing gasket, and anything else rubber really! Venos rebuild and new rocker cover gasket. Wishbone bushes, anti roll bar drop links, rusty front and rear wings, are all pretty common I have had mine dont 6 years ago and just getting a few rust blisters coming back again. Xenon headlights are nice, but mine gave me the run around a couple of years ago swapping ballast and ignitor units a few times till they appear to have settled, headlight out job each time. Replaced the dampers and springs with Bilstein B4s + Eibach. Swapped from staggered 18" to square 17" for more cost effect tyre options. New propshaft bearing a few years ago. Most parts are fairly available, if typically next-day rather than same day, which appears to repeatedly fox even the more competent and organised garages again and again, which obviously adds to the delays in getting the car back if you need it, especially if you have a round of getting the wrong part send first time.
Manageable, but also a significant a drip drip drip, which is fine if you have the time but fast gets frustrating if you don't.
I also have use of a 'second car' in times of need, although I cant transport our toddler in it which is becoming a limitation.
Yesterday the car went in for rear subframe and diff bushes, discovered due to issues with propshaft clonking under acceleration, and so far that job has grown to include welding up and reinforcing the subframe mounts after we found cracks in the boot floor. Which is a well documented issue, often said to old effect early (pre 2000) and M3 cars, but has certainly effected my x-reg 330ci, currently at 198k miles. Is also going to need welding on cills around the rear jacking points and or base of the a-pillar. They do rust!
It does also need a pint of oil most times you fill up with fuel, which is fairly common. If its much worse, its probably the rocker cover, filter housing leaking, or engine is fubar.
But also great fun to drive..... ...we're thinking of adding a 5yo diesel Octavia dsg to the fleet!
Holy hell. That's quite worrying consumption if it's not leaking.As said, I believe there is a significant overlap in components with the Z4, to the point I have had some work done on mine by a Z4 specialist in the past.
Engine, cooling, gearbox, presumably front and rear sub frames all the same? So you will be aware of their ability to consume radiators and header tanks, coolant hoses, ccv, oil filter housing gasket, and anything else rubber really! Venos rebuild and new rocker cover gasket. Wishbone bushes, anti roll bar drop links, rusty front and rear wings, are all pretty common I have had mine dont 6 years ago and just getting a few rust blisters coming back again. Xenon headlights are nice, but mine gave me the run around a couple of years ago swapping ballast and ignitor units a few times till they appear to have settled, headlight out job each time. Replaced the dampers and springs with Bilstein B4s + Eibach. Swapped from staggered 18" to square 17" for more cost effect tyre options. New propshaft bearing a few years ago. Most parts are fairly available, if typically next-day rather than same day, which appears to repeatedly fox even the more competent and organised garages again and again, which obviously adds to the delays in getting the car back if you need it, especially if you have a round of getting the wrong part send first time.
Manageable, but also a significant a drip drip drip, which is fine if you have the time but fast gets frustrating if you don't.
I also have use of a 'second car' in times of need, although I cant transport our toddler in it which is becoming a limitation.
Yesterday the car went in for rear subframe and diff bushes, discovered due to issues with propshaft clonking under acceleration, and so far that job has grown to include welding up and reinforcing the subframe mounts after we found cracks in the boot floor. Which is a well documented issue, often said to old effect early (pre 2000) and M3 cars, but has certainly effected my x-reg 330ci, currently at 198k miles. Is also going to need welding on cills around the rear jacking points and or base of the a-pillar. They do rust!
It does also need a pint of oil most times you fill up with fuel, which is fairly common. If its much worse, its probably the rocker cover, filter housing leaking, or engine is fubar.
But also great fun to drive..... ...we're thinking of adding a 5yo diesel Octavia dsg to the fleet!
I managed 2,000 miles in a week in my M54-engined Z4 over the summer, and it only needed a litre of oil.
C70R said:
Holy hell. That's quite worrying consumption if it's not leaking.
I managed 2,000 miles in a week in my M54-engined Z4 over the summer, and it only needed a litre of oil.
My oil consumption is around 1ltr oil per 1000miles average, on a 200k mile engine. So it would also do 2000 miles on a single 1 litre top up....I managed 2,000 miles in a week in my M54-engined Z4 over the summer, and it only needed a litre of oil.
...no major leaks, and expect it is burning most of that, but there are a few lightly misted areas too. Its a 23 year old car that has nearly got to the moon.
dhutch said:
C70R said:
Holy hell. That's quite worrying consumption if it's not leaking.
I managed 2,000 miles in a week in my M54-engined Z4 over the summer, and it only needed a litre of oil.
My oil consumption is around 1ltr oil per 1000miles average, on a 200k mile engine. So it would also do 2000 miles on a single 1 litre top up....I managed 2,000 miles in a week in my M54-engined Z4 over the summer, and it only needed a litre of oil.
...no major leaks, and expect it is burning most of that, but there are a few lightly misted areas too. Its a 23 year old car that has nearly got to the moon.
dhutch said:
C70R said:
Ok, that makes sense. It's a little different from "a pint with most fill ups". I'd be concerned if I was putting that much oil in.
I mean, a pint is 0.47L and it'll do 400 miles to a tank. So six and two threes?Mine has had all of the common oil leaks addressed, thankfully. So it will just be a bit slipping past the rings into the combustion chambers.
Riek said:
if the engine is largely oil-tight, then apparently the O2Pilot mod pretty much cures oil consumption.
Apparently, from many sources, after Feb 2000 only the M3 suffers cracking to the boot floor. I tend to take owners forums with a pinch of salt! That said, I haven't try said mod, which appears to effectively be about increasing the crankcase vacuum above that of the ccv regulator. I'd fully recommend one as a weekend car or project.
I no longer use mine for daily duties. It started developing minor and major issues faster than I could resolve them.
If you do get one, I'd look at rear arch rust, suspension part corrosion and boot floor water retention. Mechanical issues are a lot more straightforward than chasing rust on these. Mine has suffered particularly due to driving it in the alpes.
I now budget £1000 a year to keep it on the road, sometimes I spend it, sometimes I don't. That's an 330ci on 200,000 miles.
I no longer use mine for daily duties. It started developing minor and major issues faster than I could resolve them.
If you do get one, I'd look at rear arch rust, suspension part corrosion and boot floor water retention. Mechanical issues are a lot more straightforward than chasing rust on these. Mine has suffered particularly due to driving it in the alpes.
I now budget £1000 a year to keep it on the road, sometimes I spend it, sometimes I don't. That's an 330ci on 200,000 miles.
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