Thinking of buying e46

[alex789]

Hi

I currently drive a Citroen C4 which I have put 50k on since new. No reliability problems but I really fancy something a bit faster and more fun to drive.

I currently do approx 15-20k per annum so whatever I buy needs to be reliable. Have been reading these forums for a while and decided upon an E46 coupe, preferably a 330 petrol (have not completely discounted a diesel but worries over reliability and enjoyment put me off slightly)

Recently purchased a copy of BMW magazine and read an article about buying a 330i and they seemed to imply you would not want to pay much over 10k for one. However I have been looking around and there does not seem much for under that around assuming I don't want a fairly old or high mileage one. Am I likely to have major problems by going for say a 2001 car with 80k on it? Looking around can pick something like this up for about 7k. Going for say a 2005 lower mileage car and you seem to be looking at 13k or more which seems a bit pricey.

Also am a bit concerned that many of the models have autos. Firstly I have never driven an auto and secondly have heard they can fail around the 120k to 150k mark?

Just to give an idea of a couple I have looked at

http://www.jamespaul.co.uk/vehicle-details.asp?new...

http://www.lillyandconstable.com/stock.php?notMake...

Guess what I am really asking is giving my mileage is it worth buying something newer, lower mileage and paying a premium or buy something older and save a bit in case something goes wrong.

Edited by alex789 on Friday 13th March 19:59