What do you reckon - E90 330, E46 330 or Alpina B3S?
Discussion
After many months of mulling over different cars, I think I’ve finally decided on one of the more powerful 3 series. My mileage will be circa 7k pa and will probably include 2 or 3 track visits. I want to be quite nimble on track, but not looking for lap records and this really is just a secondary use. I don’t want to spend more than £8.5k and ideally a little less. It seems for the cash I can get:
• 2005 (E90) 330i – 80k miles £8.5k with good spec level
• 2002 B3S Alpina – 80k miles £7k with very good spec
• 2005 (E46) 330i Sport – 40k miles £7.5k with reasonable spec
• 2003 (E46) 330Ci Clubsport – 60k miles £6.5k with reasonable spec
Obviously there are loads of others out there, but these were a few examples which caught my eye. In my view the coupe looks slightly better, but not fussed enough to use that as a deciding factor. I don’t really want more than about 80k mileage. I’m fairly chilled on petrol/insurance costs. As track use is quite rare, I don’t think I’d spend cash on track preparing the car, ie brake/suspension upgrades.
I do plan to buy a warranty if it doesn’t come with a decent one and just read the thread on these.
Any questions & observations welcome, eg is it worth spending more to get an early E90 instead of an E46? The Alpina looks great but will it be loads more to service & maintain? How much of a premium is an Alpina worth over say a 330Ci? M3 would be nice, but can’t find any that look suitable in my budget. Does the Clubsport bring anything to the party other than the spoiler which I’d sooner not have?
Cheers. Andy
• 2005 (E90) 330i – 80k miles £8.5k with good spec level
• 2002 B3S Alpina – 80k miles £7k with very good spec
• 2005 (E46) 330i Sport – 40k miles £7.5k with reasonable spec
• 2003 (E46) 330Ci Clubsport – 60k miles £6.5k with reasonable spec
Obviously there are loads of others out there, but these were a few examples which caught my eye. In my view the coupe looks slightly better, but not fussed enough to use that as a deciding factor. I don’t really want more than about 80k mileage. I’m fairly chilled on petrol/insurance costs. As track use is quite rare, I don’t think I’d spend cash on track preparing the car, ie brake/suspension upgrades.
I do plan to buy a warranty if it doesn’t come with a decent one and just read the thread on these.
Any questions & observations welcome, eg is it worth spending more to get an early E90 instead of an E46? The Alpina looks great but will it be loads more to service & maintain? How much of a premium is an Alpina worth over say a 330Ci? M3 would be nice, but can’t find any that look suitable in my budget. Does the Clubsport bring anything to the party other than the spoiler which I’d sooner not have?
Cheers. Andy
Why not get an earlier 330i Sport for half your budget? I don't see the comparison between an older Alpina and newer 330i at the same price.
My experience with the B3S was that it was far more fragile than the 330i. Yes, it's quicker and sounds glorious but that's not enough when you're looking at head gasket and torque convertor failures around 70-80k miles. I'm getting more enjoyment out of the 330i which I replaced it with because it was 1/3 the price, so while it's slower, expectations are lower. And it doesn't need so much of a prod to make it go, either.
My experience with the B3S was that it was far more fragile than the 330i. Yes, it's quicker and sounds glorious but that's not enough when you're looking at head gasket and torque convertor failures around 70-80k miles. I'm getting more enjoyment out of the 330i which I replaced it with because it was 1/3 the price, so while it's slower, expectations are lower. And it doesn't need so much of a prod to make it go, either.
Jobbo said:
Why not get an earlier 330i Sport for half your budget? I don't see the comparison between an older Alpina and newer 330i at the same price.
My experience with the B3S was that it was far more fragile than the 330i. Yes, it's quicker and sounds glorious but that's not enough when you're looking at head gasket and torque convertor failures around 70-80k miles. I'm getting more enjoyment out of the 330i which I replaced it with because it was 1/3 the price, so while it's slower, expectations are lower. And it doesn't need so much of a prod to make it go, either.
I've thought about an earlier one too, it just worries me a bit more that older = more problems etc. I think you answered your own question on the Alpina - better performance & glorious sounds - seems you had a bad experience and I certainly don't wish to have the same. A bit more mulling over to do and thanks for your experiences. AndyMy experience with the B3S was that it was far more fragile than the 330i. Yes, it's quicker and sounds glorious but that's not enough when you're looking at head gasket and torque convertor failures around 70-80k miles. I'm getting more enjoyment out of the 330i which I replaced it with because it was 1/3 the price, so while it's slower, expectations are lower. And it doesn't need so much of a prod to make it go, either.
Luca Brasi said:
If you want to take it out on track, why not go for a late E36 M3?
Really like the B3S but I don't think it's that suited for track-use, quite rare too.
Just don't really fancy and E36 and since I'm only looking at a few track visits a year, I need to keep in mind that it's mainly my transport for general use. Really like the B3S but I don't think it's that suited for track-use, quite rare too.
I did a quick search and found this, coincidently not far from me, which looks on the face of it to be pretty good
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2082149.htm
Bearing in mind Jobbo's comments, I'm having second thoughts, but will try and see it anyway, to see how I feel about it in the flesh.
Thanks. Andy
If you're thinking about an Alpina, try www.thealpinaregister.com
They'll be able to advise on anything about the B3S.
And the specific car/owner might be on there too.
They'll be able to advise on anything about the B3S.
And the specific car/owner might be on there too.
cito quod fortis said:
Jobbo said:
Why not get an earlier 330i Sport for half your budget? I don't see the comparison between an older Alpina and newer 330i at the same price.
My experience with the B3S was that it was far more fragile than the 330i. Yes, it's quicker and sounds glorious but that's not enough when you're looking at head gasket and torque convertor failures around 70-80k miles. I'm getting more enjoyment out of the 330i which I replaced it with because it was 1/3 the price, so while it's slower, expectations are lower. And it doesn't need so much of a prod to make it go, either.
I've thought about an earlier one too, it just worries me a bit more that older = more problems etc. I think you answered your own question on the Alpina - better performance & glorious sounds - seems you had a bad experience and I certainly don't wish to have the same. A bit more mulling over to do and thanks for your experiences. AndyMy experience with the B3S was that it was far more fragile than the 330i. Yes, it's quicker and sounds glorious but that's not enough when you're looking at head gasket and torque convertor failures around 70-80k miles. I'm getting more enjoyment out of the 330i which I replaced it with because it was 1/3 the price, so while it's slower, expectations are lower. And it doesn't need so much of a prod to make it go, either.
Try a B3S first too; it does take some effort to wind it up and make it go, even if it's ultimately quicker than a 330i.
cito quod fortis said:
• 2005 (E46) 330i Sport – 40k miles £7.5k with reasonable spec
• 2003 (E46) 330Ci Clubsport – 60k miles £6.5k with reasonable spec
• 2003 (E46) 330Ci Clubsport – 60k miles £6.5k with reasonable spec
I wish I had waited till the recession kicked in before buying mine now, ouch! Could of bought a nice M3 with what I spent.
As far as running costs, I average 25mpg (90% B roads and a fairly heavy right foot), tyres are about £130 a corner for reasonably decent ones (considerably more for michelin pilot sports!) and I've only really put oil in it. I have had to change the front bushes (common problem for wearing out fast) on it and had a rear wheel bearing go but they were cheap to replace. It has been nothing but a joy to own. I'm sure more 330 owners can chip in their 2p.
From the ones on your list, I would probably go for the 2005 E46 with 40k. A great car to start off with and likely lots of life left in it
An eight year old Alpina with 80k is going to feel tired unless it's been very well looked after - and there aren'y many to choose from
That generation of BMWs starts to require major maintenance expenditure around the 75-80k mark (second set of brakes assuming average life of c 35k, suspension parts, water pumps...) so something lower mileage is a safer bet at that budget
Don't think you'll find E90 330i's with great specifications in that range unless they're way up on miles
An eight year old Alpina with 80k is going to feel tired unless it's been very well looked after - and there aren'y many to choose from
That generation of BMWs starts to require major maintenance expenditure around the 75-80k mark (second set of brakes assuming average life of c 35k, suspension parts, water pumps...) so something lower mileage is a safer bet at that budget
Don't think you'll find E90 330i's with great specifications in that range unless they're way up on miles
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