£5-8k. E46 330Ci vs E46 M3?
Discussion
E38Ross said:
i hate to say it but by the sounds of it i think the best option would be the 330. if you're going to be "just about OK" with the extra fuel bills of the M3, it's probably unlikely you would be OK with the added costs of repairs and consumables....
When did I say that? Of course I'm a powerfully built goatee wearer, so it's all affordable. If I've come across as "on the back foot" about the extra costs then I guess it's a question of "value" and also having to justify it to my wife! I know the 330Ci will be cheaper to run than an M3 - I'm trying to learn about the difference between all the cars so I can make a value judgement, apologies if it came across differently. 
nsi said:
E38Ross said:
i hate to say it but by the sounds of it i think the best option would be the 330. if you're going to be "just about OK" with the extra fuel bills of the M3, it's probably unlikely you would be OK with the added costs of repairs and consumables....
When did I say that? Of course I'm a powerfully built goatee wearer, so it's all affordable. If I've come across as "on the back foot" about the extra costs then I guess it's a question of "value" and also having to justify it to my wife! I know the 330Ci will be cheaper to run than an M3 - I'm trying to learn about the difference between all the cars so I can make a value judgement, apologies if it came across differently. 
is there any possibility you could wait, save a bit more and get a better example of an M3? that's what i'd try to do....but then it's a question of how long do you wait etc
E38Ross said:
ah fair enough, it's just how it sounded. apologies
is there any possibility you could wait, save a bit more and get a better example of an M3? that's what i'd try to do....but then it's a question of how long do you wait etc
No worries. is there any possibility you could wait, save a bit more and get a better example of an M3? that's what i'd try to do....but then it's a question of how long do you wait etc
How much do you think I need to be spending to get a "good" E46 M3?
nsi said:
E38Ross said:
ah fair enough, it's just how it sounded. apologies
is there any possibility you could wait, save a bit more and get a better example of an M3? that's what i'd try to do....but then it's a question of how long do you wait etc
No worries. is there any possibility you could wait, save a bit more and get a better example of an M3? that's what i'd try to do....but then it's a question of how long do you wait etc
How much do you think I need to be spending to get a "good" E46 M3?
I had an inspection 1, new clutch, Front continental M3 tyres and Einbach springs costing just short of £2000 recently. 11000 till next service. It sold within 3 days when I put it on, but fell through when the buyers house sale fell through, so I kept the deposit and its back up.
You can buy them for about £6500 but I would say good ones can be had for under £9000. You see plenty up for sale that are over priced, but they stay for sale ages before sellers drop the prices.
nottyash said:
nsi said:
E38Ross said:
ah fair enough, it's just how it sounded. apologies
is there any possibility you could wait, save a bit more and get a better example of an M3? that's what i'd try to do....but then it's a question of how long do you wait etc
No worries. is there any possibility you could wait, save a bit more and get a better example of an M3? that's what i'd try to do....but then it's a question of how long do you wait etc
How much do you think I need to be spending to get a "good" E46 M3?
I had an inspection 1, new clutch, Front continental M3 tyres and Einbach springs costing just short of £2000 recently. 11000 till next service. It sold within 3 days when I put it on, but fell through when the buyers house sale fell through, so I kept the deposit and its back up.
You can buy them for about £6500 but I would say good ones can be had for under £9000. You see plenty up for sale that are over priced, but they stay for sale ages before sellers drop the prices.
E38Ross said:
nottyash said:
nsi said:
E38Ross said:
ah fair enough, it's just how it sounded. apologies
is there any possibility you could wait, save a bit more and get a better example of an M3? that's what i'd try to do....but then it's a question of how long do you wait etc
No worries. is there any possibility you could wait, save a bit more and get a better example of an M3? that's what i'd try to do....but then it's a question of how long do you wait etc
How much do you think I need to be spending to get a "good" E46 M3?
I had an inspection 1, new clutch, Front continental M3 tyres and Einbach springs costing just short of £2000 recently. 11000 till next service. It sold within 3 days when I put it on, but fell through when the buyers house sale fell through, so I kept the deposit and its back up.
You can buy them for about £6500 but I would say good ones can be had for under £9000. You see plenty up for sale that are over priced, but they stay for sale ages before sellers drop the prices.
nottyash said:
Blair357ci said:
You have the M3 itch so you'll regret not scratching it, if sense came into it you'd have a 330d I've had 2 & recently drove 330i & I'd be bored of its lack of performance & torque in a week.
That's what I'm starting to feel like. I did have an E46 330d before the 7er, but I wrote it off a few months ago and bought the 7 as a replacement and regret it now because it doesn't suit me. Having had an E46 before I know they are nice cars to drive and enjoyed the 330d, wouldn't have changed but for the crash. But now the opportunity has come up to change again I know I definitely want a petrol - it's just a case of how extreme(!)I've managed to convince the wife (and myself!) that the running costs of the M3 will be a bit more than the 730d, but certainly manageable. Her current concern is that the M3's in budget seen to be 2002-2003 era, but the 330Ci's are more like 2005 era. Doesn't bother me, but bothers her!
nsi said:
nottyash said:
You see plenty up for sale that are over priced, but they stay for sale ages before sellers drop the prices.
Lol, yeah feels like that! I was looking at M3Cutters this afternoon and there were some 2001 cars with 90k for over £10k!Cheers for all your advice chaps. You've reassured me that whilst there will be a difference in the running costs, it's not what I'd consider a deal breaker, so I'm fairly sure at this point that I'll want to get the M3. It's now a case of finding a buyer for my 7 and finding the right M3 to buy. Cheers again 
PS - any advice on selling the 7 or buying/choosing an M3 will be appreciated!!
PS - any advice on selling the 7 or buying/choosing an M3 will be appreciated!!
Post up your question in the M cars section. You'll get some proper beardy advice there. 
ETA: I was speaking to someone yesterday about his e46 M3. He advised me to go for the manual as his was SMGII and it broke (don't know the exact details). He was quoted about £4500 to get it fixed (I presume by BMW). He couldn't afford it and had to sell it as it was.
He was gutted about it though, that was obvious. He misses that car!
ETA: I was speaking to someone yesterday about his e46 M3. He advised me to go for the manual as his was SMGII and it broke (don't know the exact details). He was quoted about £4500 to get it fixed (I presume by BMW). He couldn't afford it and had to sell it as it was.
He was gutted about it though, that was obvious. He misses that car!
Edited by Baz Tench on Sunday 19th February 22:09
Edited by Baz Tench on Sunday 19th February 22:09
Baz Tench said:
Post up your question in the M cars section. You'll get some proper beardy advice there.
ETA: I was speaking to someone yesterday about his e46 M3. He advised me to go for the manual as his was SMGII and it broke (don't know the exact details). He was quoted about £4500 to get it fixed (I presume by BMW). He couldn't afford it and had to sell it as it was.
He was gutted about it though, that was obvious. He misses that car!
I know I want a Coupé not a Convertible, but the "Manual vs SMG" gearbox will be my next decision. I've done a bit of reading today about these cars in general and I could have sworn that I'd seen comments along the lines of "that SMG is very reliable". Maybe your friend was just unlucky? I certainly can't be doing with a £4.5k bill for a new gearbox I'd like to hear more about their reputation.ETA: I was speaking to someone yesterday about his e46 M3. He advised me to go for the manual as his was SMGII and it broke (don't know the exact details). He was quoted about £4500 to get it fixed (I presume by BMW). He couldn't afford it and had to sell it as it was.
He was gutted about it though, that was obvious. He misses that car!
Edited by Baz Tench on Sunday 19th February 22:09
Edited by Baz Tench on Sunday 19th February 22:09
Anyone have insights, not only on reliability, but also in terms of driving: which is best?
I used to run a mint evo convertible (v plate with 50k on it until some kind soul drove into the back of me 
) and on the motorway I'd get around 30mpg.
I couldn't find another so I went through the same debate as you over the E46 M3 or 330 and I went for the 330 in the end as the running costs (insurance/parts/service) were at least double. Funnily enough petrol wasn't a big consideration as the 330 auto I have does about 21mpg round town and 32 on a run which is similar to an M3.
Ultimately though the 330 is not an M are and I know it sounds like badg snobbery but I do miss the M badge even though the 330 is the easier car to live with.
The other consideration for me was the E46 was face lifted in 2003 and the M3 never got the full facelift so it never quit looked right for me, the facelift E46 just looks better to my eyes.
Good luck with whatever you do.
) and on the motorway I'd get around 30mpg.I couldn't find another so I went through the same debate as you over the E46 M3 or 330 and I went for the 330 in the end as the running costs (insurance/parts/service) were at least double. Funnily enough petrol wasn't a big consideration as the 330 auto I have does about 21mpg round town and 32 on a run which is similar to an M3.
Ultimately though the 330 is not an M are and I know it sounds like badg snobbery but I do miss the M badge even though the 330 is the easier car to live with.
The other consideration for me was the E46 was face lifted in 2003 and the M3 never got the full facelift so it never quit looked right for me, the facelift E46 just looks better to my eyes.
Good luck with whatever you do.
Has anyone mentioned the rear subframe issues on the E46 M3? I have been looking at them on a similar budget so read up on a few other forums. By all accounts a large number of early M3s are getting cracked rear subframes which can be very costly. Apparently BMW will usually fix as long as the car is sub 100k miles and under ten years old. Problem is that £8k puts you right on the edge of this....
Onedesi said:
I used to run a mint evo convertible (v plate with 50k on it until some kind soul drove into the back of me ) and on the motorway I'd get around 30mpg.
I couldn't find another so I went through the same debate as you over the E46 M3 or 330 and I went for the 330 in the end as the running costs (insurance/parts/service) were at least double. Funnily enough petrol wasn't a big consideration as the 330 auto I have does about 21mpg round town and 32 on a run which is similar to an M3.
Ultimately though the 330 is not an M are and I know it sounds like badg snobbery but I do miss the M badge even though the 330 is the easier car to live with.
The other consideration for me was the E46 was face lifted in 2003 and the M3 never got the full facelift so it never quit looked right for me, the facelift E46 just looks better to my eyes.
Good luck with whatever you do.
Some very sensible advice, cheers fella.) and on the motorway I'd get around 30mpg.I couldn't find another so I went through the same debate as you over the E46 M3 or 330 and I went for the 330 in the end as the running costs (insurance/parts/service) were at least double. Funnily enough petrol wasn't a big consideration as the 330 auto I have does about 21mpg round town and 32 on a run which is similar to an M3.
Ultimately though the 330 is not an M are and I know it sounds like badg snobbery but I do miss the M badge even though the 330 is the easier car to live with.
The other consideration for me was the E46 was face lifted in 2003 and the M3 never got the full facelift so it never quit looked right for me, the facelift E46 just looks better to my eyes.
Good luck with whatever you do.
PS - I feel honoured that your first post on PH was to help me. Cheers matey!
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