E46 330ci Coupe?
Discussion
Due to start a new job soon and will be losing my company car so have been looking around at what's available for £3,000 - £5,000 that's well spec'd, room for 4 adults, good to look at and decent performance.
I've considered plenty of cars but keep going back to these or the X5 4.4 V8 Sport.
I'm after any advice from previous 330ci owners or BMW enthusiasts when it comes to buying one of these.... what to look out for/common problems etc.
I'm after a mint low mileage example with full history, preferably the Sport/ClubSport/M Sport version to run for a year until I can afford an M3 or M6.
Thanks, Tom.
I've considered plenty of cars but keep going back to these or the X5 4.4 V8 Sport.
I'm after any advice from previous 330ci owners or BMW enthusiasts when it comes to buying one of these.... what to look out for/common problems etc.
I'm after a mint low mileage example with full history, preferably the Sport/ClubSport/M Sport version to run for a year until I can afford an M3 or M6.
Thanks, Tom.
It is a great car but what do you consider low mileage?
Front arm bushes are usually a problem but you can replace these yourself within a couple of hours. Fuel economy is not the same as a 320ci or 325ci. (I get about 18/19 mpg in town and 35 mpg on the motorway 6 speed manual). The performance gap is worth the extra cost.
Space in the back is not awful (like an Audi TT), but not great for adults over a long journey, I mainly use the car as a two seat though so I don't really have much data to go on for that.
If you already have £5k to spend on a car get something short term and just buy the M3 when you have enough. I would have went for the M3 straight away but as I am still under 25 insurance was a no as I am not paying a four figure sum for it.
Very good car and you should be able to find a nice one in your budget.
What about a 4 door E36 M3 if you can get one for £5k? They are going up in value and you can have some M fun for a while before you change to a newer one?
I hope that helps
Front arm bushes are usually a problem but you can replace these yourself within a couple of hours. Fuel economy is not the same as a 320ci or 325ci. (I get about 18/19 mpg in town and 35 mpg on the motorway 6 speed manual). The performance gap is worth the extra cost.
Space in the back is not awful (like an Audi TT), but not great for adults over a long journey, I mainly use the car as a two seat though so I don't really have much data to go on for that.
If you already have £5k to spend on a car get something short term and just buy the M3 when you have enough. I would have went for the M3 straight away but as I am still under 25 insurance was a no as I am not paying a four figure sum for it.
Very good car and you should be able to find a nice one in your budget.
What about a 4 door E36 M3 if you can get one for £5k? They are going up in value and you can have some M fun for a while before you change to a newer one?
I hope that helps
I've found a fair few with between 50k & 90k on the clock. As for fitting adults in the back I will be lift sharing with 1 or 2 other people at work so the back seat may need to fit an adult in for the 16 mile trip there. Other than that it will just be my 5yr old daughter who go's in the back.
Because of the lift sharing I'll only be commuting in it every 2 or 3 weeks so fuel economy etc ain't a big worry.
Found a 7 series 4.4 V8 with massive spec, 63k miles, fsh etc for £4950 today....the choices!
Because of the lift sharing I'll only be commuting in it every 2 or 3 weeks so fuel economy etc ain't a big worry.
Found a 7 series 4.4 V8 with massive spec, 63k miles, fsh etc for £4950 today....the choices!
OP I have had two adults in the back of my 330ci loads of times, compared to other two door coupes I have owned they are very practical and easy to live with, mine has just hit 90k funnily enough, I wouldn't get hung up on millage though as these will do them, find a looked after rust free example with decent tyres would be my advice.
StuntmanMike said:
OP I have had two adults in the back of my 330ci loads of times, compared to other two door coupes I have owned they are very practical and easy to live with, mine has just hit 90k funnily enough, I wouldn't get hung up on millage though as these will do them, find a looked after rust free example with decent tyres would be my advice.
I agree... they don't really have any less legroom that a 3 series saloon. I'm 6ft 3" and haven't had any issues being a back seat passenger in mine in the past. Just don't think about getting 3 adults in the back, because the transmission tunnel swallows the middle seat passenger's legroom (same with the saloon). With the front seat folded forward, the wide doors also mean rear access is pretty good - we've had mine since my son was a baby, and never have I thought "I wish I had the saloon".These can easily feel as taut and fresh at 125,000 miles as they do at 25,000 IF really well maintained. As others have mentioned, suspension is something which needs to be kept on top of. Don't hold back on having work done there as it will make a significant difference to the car's behaviour. Rear springs occasionally break unaccountably.
It's not the greatest ride/handling trade-off. All that stiffness around town and it's still far behind a proper M car on the twisty roads in the country. One thing that's very noticeable is how the damper rates do gradually start to make sense as the speed rises. Why such a sacrifice had to be made to the 20mph experience to give this car great manners at 60mph plus is a bit odd though.
You can really warm to them though and easily gain confidence in driving them fast. You'll just tend to grit your teeth a lot around town - or every time you see a hump.
If buying old, drive a few of them and you will probably appreciate the difference between the best maintained and others.
It's not the greatest ride/handling trade-off. All that stiffness around town and it's still far behind a proper M car on the twisty roads in the country. One thing that's very noticeable is how the damper rates do gradually start to make sense as the speed rises. Why such a sacrifice had to be made to the 20mph experience to give this car great manners at 60mph plus is a bit odd though.
You can really warm to them though and easily gain confidence in driving them fast. You'll just tend to grit your teeth a lot around town - or every time you see a hump.
If buying old, drive a few of them and you will probably appreciate the difference between the best maintained and others.
Exige77 said:
My E46 with 170,000 on the clock still drives like new.
They will do huge mileages and still do 30 mpg.
Great car and cheap as chips.
Don't be put off by high milers.
I'll 2nd that. Had my 330ci sport for nearly 10 years now & up to 168K. I keep thinking about changing it but love it so much I can't bring myself to sell it. Anyway, what would I get instead?! Plan to run it until it dies. Hopefully a long way off. 200k here I come. They will do huge mileages and still do 30 mpg.
Great car and cheap as chips.
Don't be put off by high milers.
Common issues on the e46 are things like:
1. VANOS rattle from low hydraulic pressure iirc
2. Heavy oil consumption. Anything up to 1lt per 350 miles isn't uncommon.
3. Suspension. See this as consumable and needs replacement trailing arms, drop links and shocks depending on the pothole abuse it's seem.
I've had a 330Ci M SPort for the last 3 years, get my brand new M135 next week. Previously had e36 325i's which were better built and both ran to the right side of 160k miles.
The e46 is generally good but can suffer these issues. The compensation is 230+ hp rear wheel drive with excellent grip. It's a good all rounder and I used mine daily which includes a mis of dual carriageway and fast, twisty cross country roads. Overall I get 28mpg (indicated at 30+ by the OBC). On longer motorway runs it will get into the low 30's.
Good luck
1. VANOS rattle from low hydraulic pressure iirc
2. Heavy oil consumption. Anything up to 1lt per 350 miles isn't uncommon.
3. Suspension. See this as consumable and needs replacement trailing arms, drop links and shocks depending on the pothole abuse it's seem.
I've had a 330Ci M SPort for the last 3 years, get my brand new M135 next week. Previously had e36 325i's which were better built and both ran to the right side of 160k miles.
The e46 is generally good but can suffer these issues. The compensation is 230+ hp rear wheel drive with excellent grip. It's a good all rounder and I used mine daily which includes a mis of dual carriageway and fast, twisty cross country roads. Overall I get 28mpg (indicated at 30+ by the OBC). On longer motorway runs it will get into the low 30's.
Good luck
I just wrote off my 2001 E46 330Ci Coip sport with over 720000 mikes and 2 second hand engines! First fir 385 k and BMW did not sort radiator issue and blew head! Gearbox reconditioned 315 miles and 365 so by changing gearbox oil every 60k carried on. Moving parts rims etc changed as needed. Looking for 2004-6 similar model well serviced under 120k and have £5000 to spend. anyone have one or know of availability I’m in Bristol
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