Really want an E46 330ci

[mhocking]

Hi all,

Handing back my company 118d shortly so I have decided I want to get an E46 330ci. Not really thought about budget but prob max £8k.

The following 2 are reasonably close on AT (I am lazy & cant be arsed to drive all over the country..unless anyway has one for sale that I'd be stupid to miss!)

http://tinyurl.com/6k2c4kv

or

http://tinyurl.com/62yrz9w

Is the newer one worth the extra £1,100?

Cheers for any help.

Mark

[Cemesis]

Do try and get a 2004 (or newer) as you get a 12 year paint warranty and the cars do rust as they get older. Is an M3 or E92 outside your budget?

[Zebrs]

There are a vast array of 330s available; your two links compares a semi auto with everything to an auto with just about nothing. The key is working out what you want from it, are all the toys worthwhile, or unnecessary? Personally id steer clear of semi auto (it is not M3 SMG despite what anyone will tell you) so lacks the performance but still has big bill potential. Get a manual if you want to have a bit of fun.

I just sold my manual facelifted 330, which i absolutely loved. They are great cars.

ETA: I would be prepared to travel for the right car. I live down south, drove to Coventry for mine then sold it to a guy who flew down from Newcastle!

Edited by Zebrs on Sunday 30th October 09:44

[Patrick Bateman]

I couldn't imagine having the auto with this, manual is far too fun.

[anonymous-user]

I'm biased, but have you considered an Alpina B3 3.3? 280bhp so noticeably quicker than a 330ci but doesn't attract the wrong sort of attention like an M3. I think they only sold about 60 coupes in the UK too so points for rarity factor. Yes, it's switchtronic (auto) but a different drive to the normal steptronic in the 330 (I had one in the past). Buttons on the steering wheel and the torque convertor locks up in manual mode.

[Max M4X WW]

I was going to ask in a new topic, but do the 330i's come with 5 and 6 speed boxes?

I've found a nice Sport (Touring) and it says 'Rare 5 speed manual' is this good or bad?

Cheers

[Zebrs]

Manual coupes were 5 speed pre facelift and 6 post. Would imagine similar for touring/saloon. Interesting selling point however - since the 6 has the same first 5 ratios as the 5 speed (iirc) I can't imagine why anyone would want 5 over 6?

[Max M4X WW]

That was my thought, this is the car in question.. (its a facelift)

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

[Zebrs]

Max M4X WW said:

That was my thought, this is the car in question.. (its a facelift)

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Doesn't look like a facelift - it has MV1s and no LED rear lights. Coupled with the 5 speed box and the fact it's a 52, looks pre f/l to me.

Would have been a brave man speccing that one; techno violet (which i love btw) beige interior and looks like walnut trim, all in a manual 3 litre estate!

[blondini]

Zebrs said:

Max M4X WW said:

That was my thought, this is the car in question.. (its a facelift)

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Doesn't look like a facelift - it has MV1s and no LED rear lights. Coupled with the 5 speed box and the fact it's a 52, looks pre f/l to me.

Would have been a brave man speccing that one; techno violet (which i love btw) beige interior and looks like walnut trim, all in a manual 3 litre estate!

It is a facelift. Saloon and touring got facelift 9/2001 but retained MV1's and 5 speed box until 3/2003 when coupe got facelift. Also only coupe ever got led rears.

Edited by blondini on Monday 31st October 21:56

[Fox-]

Zebrs said:

Manual coupes were 5 speed pre facelift and 6 post. Would imagine similar for touring/saloon. Interesting selling point however - since the 6 has the same first 5 ratios as the 5 speed (iirc) I can't imagine why anyone would want 5 over 6?

You sure the ratios were the same - when I had a BMW with a 6 speed box I found it was no better than a 5 speed box as they seemed to have just made the ratios shorter so you were still doing 2500rpm at 70..

[Zebrs]

Fox- said:

You sure the ratios were the same - when I had a BMW with a 6 speed box I found it was no better than a 5 speed box as they seemed to have just made the ratios shorter so you were still doing 2500rpm at 70..

I wouldn't swear to it, but I spent a lot of time researching when buying mine i.e if a 6 was worth the extra. I came to the conclusion it was, my 330ci pulled 3k rpm @0.9 leptons in top, my mates Clubsport was well above that at the same speed iirc.

I stand corrected re the touring facelift - i don't know much about them. Nor about the coupes some could argue too

ETA: useful link re ratios http://www.bokchoys.com/differential/e46_gear_rati... shows 330ci 6th gear 0.85, 5th in both 1.00

Edited by Zebrs on Monday 31st October 22:49

[Fox-]

Zebrs said:

I wouldn't swear to it, but I spent a lot of time researching when buying mine i.e if a 6 was worth the extra. I came to the conclusion it was, my 330ci pulled 3k rpm @0.9 leptons in top, my mates Clubsport was well above that at the same speed iirc.

I stand corrected re the touring facelift - i don't know much about them. Nor about the coupes some could argue too

ETA: useful link re ratios http://www.bokchoys.com/differential/e46_gear_rati... shows 330ci 6th gear 0.85, 5th in both 1.00

Edited by Zebrs on Monday 31st October 22:49

Not only does it sound like you are right, seems my 5 speed 530i has the same gear ratios as the 5 speed 330i which I didn't realise.

[Max M4X WW]

Zebrs said:

Max M4X WW said:

That was my thought, this is the car in question.. (its a facelift)

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Doesn't look like a facelift - it has MV1s and no LED rear lights. Coupled with the 5 speed box and the fact it's a 52, looks pre f/l to me.

Would have been a brave man speccing that one; techno violet (which i love btw) beige interior and looks like walnut trim, all in a manual 3 litre estate!

I love the colour, leather and wood!