Clubsport 330Ci

[cramman]

Sorry, I'm sure this would have been asked, I've done a search and nothing, just loads of porka stuff.

Anyway. Clubsport - this one http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/BMW/... what is the difference to the normal, are they worth any extra etc.

Cheers.

ETA - New link. That one wasn't working.

Edited by cramman on Thursday 12th March 08:58

[coltonbob]

As far as I know the differences are mainly cosmetic. The clubsport has different wheels to the usual sport models, a boot spoiler & some carbon trims on the front bumper. They also have some sound proofing removed from the engine bay to improve the noise...

I considered one when buying my 330 but couldn't live with the spoiler, IMO it looks tacky and aftermarket. However that's personal preference. Each to their own I guess!

There's no performance / handling benefits over a normal 330ci sport...

[LordGrover]

I don't know about the reliability of Parker's but they report a whopping 4 BHP difference! clicky

[The GMan]

I don't think the link is showing a Clubsport?

I thought they were all Blue with a rear spoiler like these?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/904034.htm


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/887119.htm

Edited by The GMan on Thursday 12th March 09:12

[coltonbob]

The link is not showing a clubsport. Looks like a normal sport to me...They're not all blue but the majority are as I believe when ordering you could specify estoril blue for no additional cost on the clubsport.

I prefer them in black, bit more discreet...

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/853207.htm

Edited by coltonbob on Thursday 12th March 09:19

[daveco]

Clubsports have no engine insulation and are therefore 20kg lighter. Erm...that's about it apart from different alloys, spoiler and splitter.

[cramman]

That one I have posted doesn't have a spoiler, maybe an option to remove it.

Thanks for the replies.

So, they are no different really. What about the price, does it seem fair. I have no idea, and the prices seem all over the place.

[bazking69]

Rumours have been bounded about regarding uprated suspension over the normal Sport, but I believe these to be unfounded and largely the banter of owners who are trying to justify why they paid a premium over a 'normal' Sport.
Apart from that, alloys and a nasty cheap looking spoiler and trim externally to make a great car look cheap, and a lack of insulation in areas to recreate a 'hardcore feel' on what is nothing more than a road car on bad roads. And what should be a civilised road car at that.
Nominally faster, but nothing you would notice in the real world.

[LordGrover]

Would someone please advise the differences between E46 330Ci 1999-2006. From what I understand in addition to the M3 Coupe there were:

• Sport
• Clubsport
• M Sport
• M Clubsport

[coltonbob]

The only official models of the E46 coupe I believe were the M3, SE, Sport and Clubsport.

BMW didn't start calling the sport models M-Sport until the E90 (post '06) I think. You do see people advertising E46's as M-Sport's but they're not it will be a sport. On the V5 it will say 330ci sport. Same for the clubsport. Just an error with how cars are being advertised I think...

Differences between Clubsport and Sport as above. I.e, None really apart from the clubsports were made to look a bit cheap and Tacky

Edited by coltonbob on Thursday 12th March 11:33

[simoncarlo]

The rear wings are proper pony in my opinion.

[cramman]

The one I have posted about hasn't got a wing. How else would I tell if it is a clubsport, numbered badges etc? I suppose, check for no sound proofing under the bonnet would be a fair check.

[coltonbob]

I'm fairly certain that the one you've posted is not a clubsport, wrong wheels for a start. Also no spolier and I don't think the front bumper has the carbon trim...

Apparently the kickplates on the clubsports say clubsport too, opposed to them having the M-power "M" on the normal sports models.

See here for more info on the clubsport;

http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/2805...

When they say lower suspension I believe this is the same lower suspension you also get on the sport. They're comparing it to the SE suspension me thinks...

Edited by coltonbob on Thursday 12th March 14:50

[simoncarlo]

Cramman, I can asure you that is NOT a Clubsport.

The differences from the Sport to a Clubsport are:

Front bumper splitters
GT rear wing
Door sills (Clubsport writen on them)
Clubsport Style 18" wheels with 225/40R18 front, 255/35R18 rear.
Exterior paint choices of Titanium Silver, and two "BMW Individual" colors Estoril Blue and Velvet Blue
20kg of sound deadening removed to lighten the vehicle and increase the engine sound inside the car.

As the car is Carbon Black (Not a Clubsport colour), has no front splitters, no rear GT wing and the normal MV2 style Sport alloys. It's NOT a Clubsport.

Edited by simoncarlo on Thursday 12th March 16:02

[Slurms]

+1

Thats not a clubsport... I think it's too early a car for one.. only available as a 52, 03 or a very small number of 53 plate facelift cars..

Silver, Blue and Violet for the pre-facelift cars.. I believe black was added as an option for the facelift.

I had an estoril blue car.. and loved it as it was just a bit different from the common 330Ci but the differences are in the majority cosmetic.. spoiler, kick-plates, short gear stick, front splitters, interior trim and the alloys.

It's got less sound proofing round the engine so sounds a little bit better but dynamically isn't different from the standard sports version.

AFAIK the clubsport was the result of BMW group creating a dedicated "sports version" as on the continent you don't buy a sport or an SE you specify you car with the sports pack as an option. So a new dedicated sports model worked quite well in the european market but didn't fit that well in the uk where we already had a sports model.

[Vee]

As said by someone else that doesn;t look like a clubsport.
If you consider it remember that the wheels are the newer type.
If genuine BMW they'll be staggered - 225 fronts, 255 rears. Lots of these type are cheap replicas.

[sjj84]

coltonbob said:

The only official models of the E46 coupe I believe were the M3, SE, Sport and Clubsport.

BMW didn't start calling the sport models M-Sport until the E90 (post '06) I think. You do see people advertising E46's as M-Sport's but they're not it will be a sport. On the V5 it will say 330ci sport. Same for the clubsport. Just an error with how cars are being advertised I think...

Differences between Clubsport and Sport as above. I.e, None really apart from the clubsports were made to look a bit cheap and Tacky

Edited by coltonbob on Thursday 12th March 11:33

BMW started calling them M-Sports from the 2003 facelift of the E46 and it will say M-sport on the V5 from this year onwards.

[blackburnbmw]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[coltonbob]

sjj84 said:

coltonbob said:

The only official models of the E46 coupe I believe were the M3, SE, Sport and Clubsport.

BMW didn't start calling the sport models M-Sport until the E90 (post '06) I think. You do see people advertising E46's as M-Sport's but they're not it will be a sport. On the V5 it will say 330ci sport. Same for the clubsport. Just an error with how cars are being advertised I think...

Differences between Clubsport and Sport as above. I.e, None really apart from the clubsports were made to look a bit cheap and Tacky

Edited by coltonbob on Thursday 12th March 11:33

BMW started calling them M-Sports from the 2003 facelift of the E46 and it will say M-sport on the V5 from this year onwards.

Don't think so...Mine's a facelift and it just says Sport not M-Sport on the V5. Unless I've something to worry about

[cramman]

Thanks for the all the replies. Looks like the clubsport is a bit of a waste of money then.

If anyone spots a decent 330ci, 8 grand ish, ideally up north let me know.
A face lift car would be nice, and not silly miles.

Cheers.