Picking up a BMW 330i 03. Any issues/review of the car?
Discussion
Jamaica said:
Has anyone driven this car, if so how did you find it? Also are there any issues i should be looking out for when i view the car?
It is an auto!
Thank you!
There is tons of info out there on Google It is an auto!
Thank you!
Edited by Jamaica on Tuesday 12th November 19:58
Search for BMW E46 buyers guide / E46 pros and cons etcThey're great cars with a very solid engine; but, they're mainly dying of tin worm now. They rust everywhere (mainly sills, front and rear wings and jacking points), so you need to go over the car thoroughly to see what corrosion it has (unless it's a Jap import) and then decide from there.
This type of bodywork can be expensive and outweigh the cost of the car at times!
Engine wise; solid engines, but with a few 'issues'; they like to leak oil, so check rocker cover gaskets/oil filter housing gaskets etc; if they're weeping they'll need changing, but it's an easy enough/DIY job with a basic tool kit and an hours time (for the rocker gaskets/spark plug gaskets etc).
The oil filter housing gasket is more involved; but in this, the cooling system needs to be refreshed too probably, unless there's paperwork to show this has been sorted (ie. water pump (Meyle)/stat (Walher)/top bottom hoses (Febi Bilstein are fine) and rad). All these parts can be sourced via eBay for less than £200 inc the rad (Behr or Nissens ONLY IMO).
Also check for the viscous fan condition (again, Google this)
Re the auto box; make sure it goes through the gears smoothly. Ask for the car to be stone cold so you can hear the cold start and you can also drive it from cold to see if the box holds the gears at all.
Usually a fluids and filter change (c£300) will sort this; unless (again) it's got receipts/paperwork to show that it's been serviced recently
That seems to cover most of their potential short-comings!
On the topic of rust, try to check the condition of the brake pipes if you can (especially the rear ones) as they also corrode.
It's also worth checking whether the car has any outstanding recalls - my 52 plate E46 had two for the driver then passenger airbags. Assuming BMW are still doing them for free it shouldn't put you off, but you'd be better off getting them done if you buy it!
On the topic of rust, try to check the condition of the brake pipes if you can (especially the rear ones) as they also corrode.
It's also worth checking whether the car has any outstanding recalls - my 52 plate E46 had two for the driver then passenger airbags. Assuming BMW are still doing them for free it shouldn't put you off, but you'd be better off getting them done if you buy it!
As they haven't made the E46 since 2005-or-so, rust will indeed be your enemy. Front arches, rear arches, sills... Aside from that, some M54B30 engines like to drink oil, but that's hard to check on a test drive. The gearboxes are generally ok, but a fluid change wouldn't be a bad idea.
Specification-wise, the Sport variant is best appointed - sport bumpers, lower suspension, better seats & steering wheel, black headlining, and they sell better secondhand too. 330i became 6 speed after March 2003, another plus as the older 5 speed longed for another gear.
Specification-wise, the Sport variant is best appointed - sport bumpers, lower suspension, better seats & steering wheel, black headlining, and they sell better secondhand too. 330i became 6 speed after March 2003, another plus as the older 5 speed longed for another gear.
Got a facelift 2003 330ci manual. which I've owned since 2007.
Comments above pretty comprehensive only thing I would add is handbrake and rear calipers, Test handbrake on steep hil and see if it will hold car, Mine has 2 sets of rear discs because the inbuilt drum for the handbrake had serious corrosion. Rear caliper also stuck and disc pads only working on one side,
Was thinking of selling but have started to appreciate how good they are if you can find a good rust free one it.s unlikely to throw a massive bill at you unlike many more recent BMW;s
Comments above pretty comprehensive only thing I would add is handbrake and rear calipers, Test handbrake on steep hil and see if it will hold car, Mine has 2 sets of rear discs because the inbuilt drum for the handbrake had serious corrosion. Rear caliper also stuck and disc pads only working on one side,
Was thinking of selling but have started to appreciate how good they are if you can find a good rust free one it.s unlikely to throw a massive bill at you unlike many more recent BMW;s
twokcc said:
Got a facelift 2003 330ci manual. which I've owned since 2007.
Comments above pretty comprehensive only thing I would add is handbrake and rear calipers, Test handbrake on steep hil and see if it will hold car, Mine has 2 sets of rear discs because the inbuilt drum for the handbrake had serious corrosion. Rear caliper also stuck and disc pads only working on one side,
Was thinking of selling but have started to appreciate how good they are if you can find a good rust free one it.s unlikely to throw a massive bill at you unlike many more recent BMW;s
Ditto here. I've had mine for 15 years but what would I replace it with that's as good an all round car? Worth peanuts (advertised for last 12 months for £1850 & no takers) so going to run until it dies....Comments above pretty comprehensive only thing I would add is handbrake and rear calipers, Test handbrake on steep hil and see if it will hold car, Mine has 2 sets of rear discs because the inbuilt drum for the handbrake had serious corrosion. Rear caliper also stuck and disc pads only working on one side,
Was thinking of selling but have started to appreciate how good they are if you can find a good rust free one it.s unlikely to throw a massive bill at you unlike many more recent BMW;s
In 9 years and 125k miles my '03 330ci didn't use one drop of oil. Depends how an individual car has been "brought up" I guess.
Other issues: Manual box lost it's self-centering ability - £1000 at an indy.
Front suspension arms replaced around 100k miles, with front bushes.
One leaking damper replaced.
Petrol flap actuator stopped working.
Headlamp washers each replaced as they stopped popping out.
No rust - was always garaged.
32mpg average, mostly motorway miles.
Great driver's car.
Other issues: Manual box lost it's self-centering ability - £1000 at an indy.
Front suspension arms replaced around 100k miles, with front bushes.
One leaking damper replaced.
Petrol flap actuator stopped working.
Headlamp washers each replaced as they stopped popping out.
No rust - was always garaged.
32mpg average, mostly motorway miles.
Great driver's car.
Mr Tidy said:
........It's also worth checking whether the car has any outstanding recalls - my 52 plate E46 had two for the driver then passenger airbags. Assuming BMW are still doing them for free it shouldn't put you off, but you'd be better off getting them done if you buy it!
Both the driver and passenger side air-bag recalls are official safety recalls - BMW cannot charge for the work to be done - ever, regardless of the age of the car. twokcc said:
Got a facelift 2003 330ci manual. which I've owned since 2007.
Comments above pretty comprehensive only thing I would add is handbrake and rear calipers, Test handbrake on steep hil and see if it will hold car, Mine has 2 sets of rear discs because the inbuilt drum for the handbrake had serious corrosion. Rear caliper also stuck and disc pads only working on one side,
Was thinking of selling but have started to appreciate how good they are if you can find a good rust free one it.s unlikely to throw a massive bill at you unlike many more recent BMW;s
How reliable has it been, has it been a money pit?Comments above pretty comprehensive only thing I would add is handbrake and rear calipers, Test handbrake on steep hil and see if it will hold car, Mine has 2 sets of rear discs because the inbuilt drum for the handbrake had serious corrosion. Rear caliper also stuck and disc pads only working on one side,
Was thinking of selling but have started to appreciate how good they are if you can find a good rust free one it.s unlikely to throw a massive bill at you unlike many more recent BMW;s
I drove a 330i auto before I bought my 330d, you'd prefer a manual for the 330i but it doesn't ruin the car. As long as it's been looked after you should be fine; if not then it'll be a nightmare to own. As long as it's straight, just keep up to maintenance and accept the fact that it'll probably take a long while to sell on afterwards. You'll love it though, my 330d was an absolute dog that poured oil, had countless faults and had a habit of locking the rear wheels under hard braking and wouldn't unlock them until you pulled over. Even then it was a riot to drive, such a controllable car with one of the best chassis' I've ever come across.
Haven’t owned one but did 65k in 9 years I’m my Z4 with an M54B30.
Best all round engine ever in my opinion.
It annoys me BMW made these cars so rust prone.
Everyone bangs on about diesel gate and co2 and all that jazz, but rusting a car away for no good reason is just a complete and utter waste in my view.
Somehow Peugeot managed to make their wafer thin 306s and 405s much more robust to the elements around the same period, so why were BMW so s
t?
Best all round engine ever in my opinion.
It annoys me BMW made these cars so rust prone.
Everyone bangs on about diesel gate and co2 and all that jazz, but rusting a car away for no good reason is just a complete and utter waste in my view.
Somehow Peugeot managed to make their wafer thin 306s and 405s much more robust to the elements around the same period, so why were BMW so s
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