E46 330 Convertible - any good ones about?
Discussion
Hi all,
Not posted here before, but love perusing and reading the site.
I’m after an E46 330 Conv. Now I know that many of you may think I ought to get something ‘better’, but I want one for personal reasons (fun ones, not sad ones!). I actually bought one last week, only to have to return it as some major faults became apparent after a long drive...I was lucky that the seller refunded me immediately, though I see it has been relisted on another site at £1k MORE than I paid. Astonishing, as the gearbox is totally shot, among other things.
I also viewed a really poor one today - at top-ish money - and left rather frustrated.
In short, I hoped someone here might have some advice as to what to look for or, even better, that someone might know a man/woman who’s selling one!
My two little daughters prefer navy blue with beige leather, and I only really want an automatic (this car will be for lazy cruises only) , but I’m open to other combinations (red being the one colour I can’t bring myself to love - sorry!).
Anyway, thanks for reading, and I hope my arriving and asking for help straight away isn’t poor form on here - I’m a rookie!
Cheers, David.
Not posted here before, but love perusing and reading the site.
I’m after an E46 330 Conv. Now I know that many of you may think I ought to get something ‘better’, but I want one for personal reasons (fun ones, not sad ones!). I actually bought one last week, only to have to return it as some major faults became apparent after a long drive...I was lucky that the seller refunded me immediately, though I see it has been relisted on another site at £1k MORE than I paid. Astonishing, as the gearbox is totally shot, among other things.
I also viewed a really poor one today - at top-ish money - and left rather frustrated.
In short, I hoped someone here might have some advice as to what to look for or, even better, that someone might know a man/woman who’s selling one!
My two little daughters prefer navy blue with beige leather, and I only really want an automatic (this car will be for lazy cruises only) , but I’m open to other combinations (red being the one colour I can’t bring myself to love - sorry!).
Anyway, thanks for reading, and I hope my arriving and asking for help straight away isn’t poor form on here - I’m a rookie!
Cheers, David.
Plenty of tatty E46s about tbh. I'd have thought that convertibles would generally be in better nick as often they are used as just weekend cars.
I think you just have to be patient, and probably be willing to travel to find a great example (i.e. no rust, colour combo you want, perhaps heated seats and xenons).
I think you just have to be patient, and probably be willing to travel to find a great example (i.e. no rust, colour combo you want, perhaps heated seats and xenons).
Nice ones are strong money. A friend is considering selling his 52 plate 330Ci Sport Auto, silver, grey leather (yuk), 42k, garaged with history. It's beautiful, only does 500-800 miles a year and it gets whatever it needs. I got the wheels refurbed 2 years ago so it really does look an eyeful. It was a fully specced car so may have been ex demo - Harmon Kardon, nav, heated electric seats etc.
He won't consider a bean less than £5500 though and fair play to him. There are so few genuinely good examples left.
He won't consider a bean less than £5500 though and fair play to him. There are so few genuinely good examples left.
Yes the nicer ones are fairly strong money but, the odd £9-10k ‘gem’ aside, I think they’re worth it if they bring enough fun to your life! The car I buy will do 1-2k miles a year max, but I still don’t want a nail of a thing...
My local BMW dealership say they’ll look out for one but that seems an unlikely place to find one.
And no, not mad keen on the grey interior either. Though for the right price...
My local BMW dealership say they’ll look out for one but that seems an unlikely place to find one.
And no, not mad keen on the grey interior either. Though for the right price...
I bought a low mileage one 4 years ago for £5k. Looks beautiful, goes well and sounds great. It’s an auto and doesn’t half like a drop of unleaded.
There always seem to be plenty about whenever I have looked and plenty of low milers too. Can’t ever see it going up in value much because of the number made, but I don’t plan on ever selling it
There always seem to be plenty about whenever I have looked and plenty of low milers too. Can’t ever see it going up in value much because of the number made, but I don’t plan on ever selling it
I'll be selling mine soon, just currently having the cooling system replaced but unfortunately it's a manual, otherwise it would have matched what you want and it's a pretty immaculate example, It's not for me though, I've owned a few BM's and wanted to try a convertible but I don't like the scuttle shake.
I'm a big fan and run mine as a 3rd car. Just realised I will have had it for 10 years in March (i'm the 2nd owner). You should be able to get a nice one for £5k. They are pretty strong cars (great engine) but need to be kept on top of (suspension/cooling) and some do seem to rust. I get why you want an auto but the manual is so much more lively and I get 30mpg as well.
Gratuitous pic of mine, roll on the sunny days. Good luck.
Gratuitous pic of mine, roll on the sunny days. Good luck.
David Flatman said:
Oh, I have posted, but rather a long time ago. Anyway, I still qualify as a rookie as it took me 20 minutes to work out how to even do it!
Thanks.
My Indie had a customers car ad on his reception wall last time I went in, believe an elderly owner and ad been there for some time.Thanks.
Definitely an auto it may have gone, tried to .msg you but says you cant accept msgs. If you can msg me will send you garage phone no.
twokcc said:
My Indie had a customers car ad on his reception wall last time I went in, believe an elderly owner and ad been there for some time.
Definitely an auto it may have gone, tried to .msg you but says you cant accept msgs. If you can msg me will send you garage phone no.
Not sure why you can’t message me... any tips on how to sort that? Looked in my settings and hmm... Definitely an auto it may have gone, tried to .msg you but says you cant accept msgs. If you can msg me will send you garage phone no.
Very keen to hear about this car.
Maxus said:
I'm a big fan and run mine as a 3rd car. Just realised I will have had it for 10 years in March (i'm the 2nd owner). You should be able to get a nice one for £5k. They are pretty strong cars (great engine) but need to be kept on top of (suspension/cooling) and some do seem to rust. I get why you want an auto but the manual is so much more lively and I get 30mpg as well.
Gratuitous pic of mine, roll on the sunny days. Good luck.
Wow, your car is just stunning in that colour. Gratuitous pic of mine, roll on the sunny days. Good luck.
I think the E46 is the best looking 3 Series ever, but it's getting very hard to find clean ones - crusty arches seeming to be the biggest problem. Which is probably why I ended up with an E90!
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