BMW E46? Advice needed please!
BMW E46? Advice needed please!
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Discussion

lambo_xx

Original Poster:

2,199 posts

227 months

Thursday 18th February 2010
quotequote all
I'm looking at getting a 330CI Sport probably the cabriolet in the next couple months.
Now, I known the car was updated in 2003 and got some new lights and a 6 speed rather than a 5 sped gearbox. Is it really worth just looking for post 2003 cars because I've found one that's a 2001?
Also, what exactly were the updates on the car? Did post 2003 cars get any more power?

I've got a couple more questions on the cab specifically:
Is there a lot less room in the back of the cab than the coupe?
What's the boot space like? I take it the roof takes up most the boot when it's down but what about when it’s up?
Is performance affected much in the cab? Obviously it's heavier but does it make much of a difference?

LC23

1,315 posts

255 months

Thursday 18th February 2010
quotequote all
No power upgrade for the facelift. I have had both pre and post facelift 330Ci sport coupes and would say get the facelift if you can. The 6 speed box is better and my current facelift just feels as though BMW used better quality parts to put the interior together. None of the annoying squeaks and rattles my pre facelift had.

Facelift got new front end (pretty obvious!) and LED rear lights. MV2 alloys also introduced. You might also find standard equipment levels are better on the post facelift but you would need to check this.

Cannot comment on the cab questions but I can only assume there is much less room in the back and also the boot. Performance will also be slightly down due to extra weight.

Slurms

1,254 posts

234 months

Thursday 18th February 2010
quotequote all
lambo_xx said:
I'm looking at getting a 330CI Sport probably the cabriolet in the next couple months.
Now, I known the car was updated in 2003 and got some new lights and a 6 speed rather than a 5 sped gearbox. Is it really worth just looking for post 2003 cars because I've found one that's a 2001?
Also, what exactly were the updates on the car? Did post 2003 cars get any more power?

I've got a couple more questions on the cab specifically:
Is there a lot less room in the back of the cab than the coupe?
What's the boot space like? I take it the roof takes up most the boot when it's down but what about when it’s up?
Is performance affected much in the cab? Obviously it's heavier but does it make much of a difference?
Engine performance didn't change.

Cabs are heavier and slower than the Coupes also prone to scuttle-shake on UK A and B roads.

Rear space isn't bad and not a huge amount of difference between the coupe and the cab.

Boot space is reduced in the cab but is ok - not as bad as you'd think with the roof down either.

sjj84

2,396 posts

249 months

Thursday 18th February 2010
quotequote all
The cab only has two seats in the rear, the coupe has a middle seat, although I wouldn't really want to be the third person squashed in the back.
As for boot space, it's surprisingly good even with the roof down. It goes back quite far, but hasn't got much height to it. With the roof up you can fold away the part that the roof drops into, which leaves you with a boot not far short of the coupes.