e46 330 mileage vs age

[Bennnn]

Hi, First thread here...

I've been looking for a 330ci for a couple of months now around the <£5k range (my budget keeps going up... :/ ).

Just looking for peoples opinions on the two 'options' below...

- 2001/02 70k mileage
- 2003/04 100k mileage

The price you pay for both of these ends up being quite similar, so which one to go for really? I know there's not much difference in it, but its that whole mental thing about going over 100k I am concerned about.

I'm also thinking about resale value here 2 years down the line as I will be doing about 12k miles annually.

[MattOz]

The 2003/04 car will be the facelift (from week 9 onwards) and will have different front wings and lights, wider boot handle and LED rears (coupe). It'll also have a 6-spd manual 'box. They also changed the position of the heater controls inside and changed one or two other things. 100k is nothing for this engine and these cars. Many are running double that and more. My 330i had 127k miles on it when I sold it and it was still going strong.

[Fox-]

Age every time.

I went for a 4 year old 530i with 140k on the clock and do not regret it for a second.

[LC23]

The later car for me as well if I was buying due to the fact it would be a facelift.

[Pablo16v]

I had the same quandry last year and in the end I opted for the newer 53 plate car even though the mileage was well over 6 figures, compared to 86K on the 2001 car I looked at. Both were E46 325i Tourings. I sold it with 137k on the clock and the engine was still a peach. Suspension components, on the other hand, cost me a small fortune!

[Vroomer]

If you bought the older car, that would be on 100k when you sold it, so you might as well buy the newer car. These engines can top 150k, no problem.

Most important thing to check is when the next Inspection 2 is, as that can be expensive at high miles.

[eastsider]

Vroomer said:

Most important thing to check is when the next Inspection 2 is, as that can be expensive at high miles.

+1 that. Second most important thing to check is suspension (presume you are looking for an M Sport), one front lower wishbone arm on my 330ci convertible was £100, plus £65 for the other bush, plus fitting, £250 all in. If you need lots of suspension work (likely at high miles if its not been done) you could be staring at 4 figure bill easily. Prices above at good indy, not main dealer.

I'd buy the higher miles newer as well. Mine cost me £6k at 90k miles when most were over £8k, sold it 2 years later on 109k miles for over £5k. Depreciation cost under a grand in 2 years.

[Fox-]

Vroomer said:

Most important thing to check is when the next Inspection 2 is, as that can be expensive at high miles.

The Inspection 2 is the same price irrespective of mileage? Although its the pricest service it's still only £340 from a BMW Main Dealer on an E46 6 pot these days - hardly bank breaking stuff compared to the sort of costs the typical 330i owner will get used to.

It comes around roughly every 60k miles.

[solidlad84]

If you're looking at 01-02 plates wth 70k on the clock for £5000 id say you are looking in the wrong places. IMO the average price of an 02 plate with 70-90k on the clock is no more than £4000, i'd feel fairly ripped off if I paid £5000 for a 2002 plate, as in the current market they really struggle to sell for what they are meant to be worth. Are you looking purely from trade sellers or private aswell?

[Pablo16v]

solidlad84 said:

If you're looking at 01-02 plates wth 70k on the clock for £5000 id say you are looking in the wrong places. IMO the average price of an 02 plate with 70-90k on the clock is no more than £4000, i'd feel fairly ripped off if I paid £5000 for a 2002 plate, as in the current market they really struggle to sell for what they are meant to be worth. Are you looking purely from trade sellers or private aswell?

I read it as less than £5k as he used the < symbol.