E46 BMW 330ci Convertible Buying Advice Please!!!

[Darren156]

Hey guys, after much umm-in and ah-ing over buying a £5,000 E46 M3 and having come to the conclusion (With the forums help!) that it is the WORST idea on the planet I have instead opted to go for an E46 330ci Convertible Manual instead.

Having browsed eBay and the site here I can get a pretty decent one with my £5000 budget, this will have to include servicing and any repairs for the first year. Tax and insurance are separate though. Most seem to be priced at around the 5K marker, the ones I'm keen on at least anyway, so I'm hoping I can knock a good £400 or so off those figures to shove to one side for any bits that go wrong or need doing. (Which there always is on second hand cars)

So yeah, just after a bit of advice really, what to look for, look out for, avoid etc. I've had two E46 Coupe's in the past but both were OLD E46's, 1999 and a 2000. Im guessing they are pretty much the same only with a roof to go wrong, lol

Also, I have a question if anyone knows in regards to what year car I'd be looking at, because I want the headlights that my one above had but with the Sport bumpers. I think it was a semi-facelift they did around 2002 maybe...? Basically the bumpers are beefier and the rear bumper usually has parking sensors in.

This is the exact car I want, only it has the wrong interior colour leather, lol
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-330-CI-M-SPORT-CONVE...

I DON'T want the full facelift version though as I don't like the headlamp shape revision they did around 2003, you know where the headlamps flick up at the sides. (They never changed the M3 headlamps on the E46 though)

Reason I'm wondering is because I don't want to be hit with the more expensive tax band, but if I'm after the Sport bumper version then this may be the case? Did this version come out in 2002?

My E46's in the past have both been early models, 1999 and 2000 so I've been okay with the tax bands but am unsure what the effects are of later 330's.

Also, (Another Also I know, lol) what are the hoods like? Would a decade have hit them hard and is it best to look for one with a new roof or are they pretty hard wearing? Viewed an E36 convertible a few years back and that was a decade old and the roof was shot away and needed man-handling at every junction, lol. It was also ripped to shreds. I did own an E36 Vert which had a new hood fitted and that worked perfectly. (Obviously as the hood was only a year old)

I'm after an Imola red car with black leather interior, Sports bumpers and titanium or carbon interior trim, with Sports seats. I have an inkling though that I'm dreaming at finding this specific car as the Imola red seems to demand a high premium over blues or silvers.

Advice and guidance appreciated guys!!! Thanks!

[liller]

in a nutshell you need to be searching for a sport model. There was only one facelift in the e46's life and that was the one where the front lights changed which I believe was late 2003.

There were some revisions to the e46 around 2001 but they were mechanical and it was around this time that they introduced the sport version which you are referring to.

The sport comes with loads of kit as standard but it's worth looking out for one with some of the options ticked like heated seats and Harmon Kardon. Carbon cube trim was also standard in the Sport models - not sure about titanium trim, it may have been an option on the facelift cars.

I have a 2002 sport and the tax comes in at £250 a year.

As for finding an imola red one...you may be looking a while! They don't show up that often

Edited by liller on Thursday 21st February 18:59

Edited by liller on Thursday 21st February 19:01

[eastsider]

Examine the hood very very carefully as these are very expensive to replace (£1500-2000 I think). Condition will depend on whether car has spent much of its life outside or not. If it has, hood could well be towards the end of its life.

You can get optional hardtops - they sell secondhand on eBay. Expensive, get stolen frequently (eBay!) and a nightmare to store when not on the car. Don't bother IMO, find a car with a hood in decent condition and keep it that way. The Renovo care, cleaning and waterproofing products that Vertar sell are good.

[Darren156]

Thanks for the comments guys, so basically I'm after a Sport model which came in around 2002.

I've had Harmon Kardon in ONE of my E46's and NOT in the other and the difference was mind blowing, lol

Reference Imola red, I think I'll have to opt for whatever colour comes along tbh, I quite like the artic silverof all my previous BMW's and would quite like a gun metal grey or black. But once again they seem to pop up rarely.

Although I've got my heart on a Vert I would still consider a Coupe if an amazing one came along for decent cash.

[billzeebub]

Would 100% go for condition and service history on this age of car, particularly because it is a sports/performance car. Things like HK HiFi are obviously nice, but I would exclusively be led by condition, provenance and low number of well-heeled sympathetic owners. Colour and spec are important factors but, really, for me it's about the history of the car first and foremost..

..having said that go for the Convertible, time to grab a relative bargain this time of year

Edited by billzeebub on Saturday 23 February 18:44

[contractor]

test the roof 5-10 times from open to close to open. As they get old they get stiff and miss the catches intermittently.

[Romanymagic]

Looking to sell my soon, still has Full BMW Main Dealer Warranty, 74000 miles, full Main Dealer BMW Service History, only ever used Shell VMax petrol, Castrol GTX oil changes, completely factory standard, just passed recent Inspection 1.

[NelsonR32]

Had a 2003 330ci Sport manual since last month. Very impressed with it.

Looks for the usual E46 issues. Very rarely have problems with the hood but check the 'batwings' (Google them) for cracks. Not an expensive repair but if they are on the way out they can rip the headlining.

I think the term sports car is a little too generous though. It's certainly quick and makes a nice noise but you do notice the extra 150kgs or so over the saloon. It seems softer sprung compared to the coupe as well (which given the state of our roads at the moment is a godsend)

[Darren156]

Love the dark silver colour, and as said above that Arctic silver of the lower car has been the colour of ALL 5 of my past BMW's so I love that too, lol

Guys are your cars flicky headlamped or not?

[NelsonR32]

Mine is the facelift front. I would say you are severly narrowing the search with that one. Facelifts do look much more modern imho.

Could always add 3k to your price and get an M3 instead?

[billzeebub]

as I stated earlier really dont get hung up on colour and spec/model year, with an older performance car I would advocate buying solely on condition, unless the colour is hugely offensive of course!..The main things are obviously mileage, service history, number of owners, where previous owner lives/financial situation, any rust, recent suspension bush refresh would be ideal!..there are so many cars out there with missing services and maintenance because they are at an age and price now where aspirational people can afford to buy a nice car but then cannot afford the necessary work as it crops up...colour and spec for me would come into the equation but only to distinguish between two virtually identical condition cars..I have never had a breakdown on any of the older performance cars I have owned taking this approach..

Currently I run two best of breed late E36 Convertibles (a daily on 56k miles and an M3 on 75k miles), my thinking being to get the best of this shape rather than an average E46..they have both been metronomic with regular servicing and preventative maintenance. I probably spend more on each in terms of maintenance and fettling than most people put into a brand new BMW Convertible (I just prefer older cars without all the bongs, beeps and complexity/needless gadgets), that is the sort of owner you should look for rather than Bazza from the estate selling to fund a business venture (new van)

Edited by billzeebub on Monday 25th February 05:34

Edited by billzeebub on Monday 25th February 05:46

[eastsider]

contractor said:

test the roof 5-10 times from open to close to open. As they get old they get stiff and miss the catches intermittently.

That will be a good test of the battery too - when I bought mine I flattened the battery on the second operation (ignition off). That cost the dealer a new battery and alternator!

[eastsider]

Romanymagic said:

Looking to sell my soon, still has Full BMW Main Dealer Warranty, 74000 miles, full Main Dealer BMW Service History, only ever used Shell VMax petrol, Castrol GTX oil changes, completely factory standard, just passed recent Inspection 1.

That looks lovely from the one pic, great colour IMO.

[mattman]

Looking at e46 m3 cabs at the moment but thinking a 330 would be a better every day car and less to keep on the road. But would I always be wondering 'what if'? In the real world, is the 330 the better all rounder?

[Maxus]

mattman said:

Looking at e46 m3 cabs at the moment but thinking a 330 would be a better every day car and less to keep on the road. But would I always be wondering 'what if'? In the real world, is the 330 the better all rounder?

Yes a 330 is a cheaper car to run but you would be wondering "what if". The 330 is a great car and I love mine but I do look at M3's very regularly. I would not say the 330 is a better all rounder as the joy of the M3 is that it is also very useable.
Either play safe and enjoy a 330 or stick your neck out and get the M3 you really want.

[eastsider]

For me, if you really want a convertible then 330 is the way to go. If you want an M3 get a coupe – why have the extra performance then blunt it with 150kg of roof mechanism.

[Darren156]

mattman said:

Looking at e46 m3 cabs at the moment but thinking a 330 would be a better every day car and less to keep on the road. But would I always be wondering 'what if'? In the real world, is the 330 the better all rounder?

This 'was' my dilemma. E46 M3's have come down alot in price and with my £5000 budget I could only afford a ropey one with dodgy service history. And that wasn't even a convertible!

What's your budget as that factor will effect massively what you should buy. My £5,000 budget includes servicing and any repairs so ideally I'll be looking at a £4500 initial cost.

Someone mentioned above having an E36 M3 Vert; With £4500 I could buy a mint E36 M3 Convertible and finally have the best of all worlds. Having owned an E36 323i Vert I can say I loved it to bits and surely the M3 version of the exact same car would only be an amazing thing?

Thing is, exactly how fast are the E36 M3's when compared to the E46 330ci? I'd assume ALOT faster, but is this the case???? Insurance isn't an issue as I now have about 8 years NCD and can get whatever car I want within reason.

Great, now I'm doubting myself again, lol

[mattman]

Ha ha - sorry Darren - looking anywhere between 5-11k really and considered lots of options but keep coming back to beemers as the best every day solution. Need 4x seats and want a cab - also looked at late E36's thinking they might be a better investment long term, even looked at E30 325 cabs as well as 645's - I'm all over the place - can't decide what's best as I want to keep it for at least 5yrs ideally

[Darren156]

mattman said:

Ha ha - sorry Darren - looking anywhere between 5-11k really and considered lots of options but keep coming back to beemers as the best every day solution. Need 4x seats and want a cab - also looked at late E36's thinking they might be a better investment long term, even looked at E30 325 cabs as well as 645's - I'm all over the place - can't decide what's best as I want to keep it for at least 5yrs ideally

You sound as though you're in the same boat as me mate, as I'll be hanging onto 'this' for a good 5 years myself. Thing you got to remember is that it's easy to buy a car but problamatic if anything goes wrong and if you have to service it. Which over a 5 year period A) It will and B) You'll have to, lol

Invesment wise your only real option would be a MINT E36 Convertible M3 as the E46 330ci and the 645ci you mentioned still both have substantial amounts of money to depreciate in. The 645 was a £60,000 or so motor brand new, not that long ago, and you can now pick one up for £6000 or so. It is ALOT of car for the money, but the running costs on that V8 engine, and if anything goes wrong, are not cheap.

I keep coming back to the E36 M3 myself, as they hit their depreciation lowest a few years back and have slowly started to climb in cost again. Along with the E30, they can but only keep on appreciating so as an investment it is really your only option. You would have to buy a MINT condition one with FSH though, or buy a dog and restore it.

I think I've changed my mind and convinced myself now to buy an E36 M3 Vert over a 330ci Vert, lol

[Darren156]

This was my old 323i E36 vert, and if I can find one as an M3 I'd be over the moon, lol;