My BMW E46 330i Sport
Discussion
Waugh-terfall said:
Stedman said:
Is it just me, or does the rear tyre look a little flat? 
GIF was a great idea though
I'm guessing this was just before the puncture was discovered... GIF was a great idea though
petrolveins said:
It was much flatter looking than that when I realised, I'd say it looks pretty much like that anyway.
So we've both got blue 3-Series Sports, both had the same faults, both been hit on the nearside by another driver recently and both also recently had punctures on the rear tyres?If your luck changes and you happen to get a winning lottery ticket, please buy one for me too!
petrolveins said:
So the BMW went in today for repairs, and I came out with a Volkswagen Scirocco GT 2.0TDI Bluemotion. Think that is the hire car lottery equivalent of winning the euromillions. Really enjoying it in the sunshine today. Not least because my Uni exams finished yesterday.
Nice one!petrolveins said:
Max M4X WW said:
Let us know how you find the Falken's when they are half worn or so, long running debate!
Oh? What's the debate over? I had read about them on the E46 forum, and they struck me as good value for money, I got a pair of 255/35 R18s for £250.As for getting it dirty, if you're going to get it dirty at least do a proper job of it, this is dirty
As for the 330i, just bought one of the last E46s (as far as I can tell) which is a 330i M sport, and to be honest I have yet to fall in love with it, it looks fantastic, it sounds fantastic, it goes like stink and is specced to the hilt, lovely car love the way it drives and handles, but I don't know something about that is missing, really weird as it is an utterly brilliant car, to be honest I think it is the seats, they are just way too firm for my back, I am used to 5 series comfort not sports seats and just how thick the steering wheel is, but they look fantastic.
Also agree, trying to find a decent BMW these days is really hard, I looked at a fair few cars and came across this one just listed on the net, bought it the next day, it has just about every option box ticked I think,
Nice car though, saloons aren't my thing as they are impractical like a coupe and no benefits of Tourer, but again totally understand why you bought it, they really are so hard to find a nice facelift, it has to be one of the best looking BMWs of modern times imho
robk84 said:
Just out of curiosity - what is that by the Water Resevoir, looks like an air pump.. but i have a 2004 330ci and dont have one!
It's part of the secondary air system, and in the US is is known as the 'smog pump'. It pumps air into the exhaust manifold to allow the combustion gas to continue to burn in the manifold, which lowers harmful emissions. It came in with the EuroIV engines, which are mostly if not all in the Facelift cars.
Wow!
My first post after looking every day for the last 8 years...
Anyway...I had an e46 330 sport touring earlier this year for a short period, as well as an e46 m3. Both were manual and of course petrol, not diesel.
At the time I liked the 330 sport for everyday driving, no fuss etc. But that also is the problem for me. Just a bit too detached. Almost too good. But not the car's fault.
The m3 is a bit mental. Again, this is either a good or a bad thing. But the 330 is a great car.
In real world running, the 330 and m3 were the same in petrol costs I found.
The main difference is the LSD on the m3, which allows you to use the car's power. On the 330 I had wheelspin far too often for my liking in the wet. Even with the same traction control system-it would light up too often on the 330.
The engine in a 330 is turbine-smooth in comparison, and devoid of drama. Only when you look at the speedometer do you know how fast you are going. An m3 feels fast just looking at it.
All in the mind.
Punctures-where do I start?
The 330 I had suffered from 3 different wheels that needed sorted out.
But again not the fault of the car.
I paid a quarter of the price for a similar age 330 sport touring than I did an M3, so all in all an unfair comparison.
Both great cars, but an unfair posting by me really.
I now have an 850 Volvo t5 estate and an e46 m3. The Volvo is only 10% of the purchase price of the M3, but a great car all the same.
I just love cars.
Does that help?
My first post after looking every day for the last 8 years...
Anyway...I had an e46 330 sport touring earlier this year for a short period, as well as an e46 m3. Both were manual and of course petrol, not diesel.
At the time I liked the 330 sport for everyday driving, no fuss etc. But that also is the problem for me. Just a bit too detached. Almost too good. But not the car's fault.
The m3 is a bit mental. Again, this is either a good or a bad thing. But the 330 is a great car.
In real world running, the 330 and m3 were the same in petrol costs I found.
The main difference is the LSD on the m3, which allows you to use the car's power. On the 330 I had wheelspin far too often for my liking in the wet. Even with the same traction control system-it would light up too often on the 330.
The engine in a 330 is turbine-smooth in comparison, and devoid of drama. Only when you look at the speedometer do you know how fast you are going. An m3 feels fast just looking at it.
All in the mind.
Punctures-where do I start?
The 330 I had suffered from 3 different wheels that needed sorted out.
But again not the fault of the car.
I paid a quarter of the price for a similar age 330 sport touring than I did an M3, so all in all an unfair comparison.
Both great cars, but an unfair posting by me really.
I now have an 850 Volvo t5 estate and an e46 m3. The Volvo is only 10% of the purchase price of the M3, but a great car all the same.
I just love cars.
Does that help?
Of course, I should point out that an e46 m3 is a very fast car indeed, and feels it.
It is not 'all in the mind' as i confusingly said previously.
The 330 sport and m3 were built for two different buyers and are two different products.
I have to say that an m3 is a fantastic car, able to thrill even after owning for a long time.
But a 330 sport is a very quick and smooth car, but not 'raw' as is an m3.
Sorry if I've waffled on.
It is not 'all in the mind' as i confusingly said previously.
The 330 sport and m3 were built for two different buyers and are two different products.
I have to say that an m3 is a fantastic car, able to thrill even after owning for a long time.
But a 330 sport is a very quick and smooth car, but not 'raw' as is an m3.
Sorry if I've waffled on.
Thanks for the replies, have been working a lot lately and not had time to reply. Interesting to hear the opinions on the tyres. I chose the Falkens because they weren't the best I could buy but I wanted a little less grip on the rear compared to the front. When I have the money I'm looking at some Hankooks which have been very well reviewed to put on the front to try and reduce that initial understeer when pressing on.
The BMW has been repaired and I am going to pick it up today. I'm really worried, this Scirocco has far exceeded my expectations, and despite being almost 100bhp down on the BMW and a FWD I have loved my time with it. 40mpg when hooning it was brilliant and 50mpg on my short morning commute was far better. I'm finding it hard to justify the BMW doing well under half that and costing what it does to insure. The Scirocco had a fun factor the BMW just can't match. I'm back to thinking about selling it again, I just know that I will regret it later. I think it is by far one of the nicest example around. Low mileage, good condition, and a good spec. That and I have no idea what I can replace it with. I am a slave to that car, and used not to mind, I'm lucky I really enjoy my job, but I have no money to spend on anything else other than the car, and occasionally my social life. Just can't bare the thought of selling it though.
Will report back later after I've spent some time with the BMW again.
The BMW has been repaired and I am going to pick it up today. I'm really worried, this Scirocco has far exceeded my expectations, and despite being almost 100bhp down on the BMW and a FWD I have loved my time with it. 40mpg when hooning it was brilliant and 50mpg on my short morning commute was far better. I'm finding it hard to justify the BMW doing well under half that and costing what it does to insure. The Scirocco had a fun factor the BMW just can't match. I'm back to thinking about selling it again, I just know that I will regret it later. I think it is by far one of the nicest example around. Low mileage, good condition, and a good spec. That and I have no idea what I can replace it with. I am a slave to that car, and used not to mind, I'm lucky I really enjoy my job, but I have no money to spend on anything else other than the car, and occasionally my social life. Just can't bare the thought of selling it though.
Will report back later after I've spent some time with the BMW again.
BlimeyCharlie said:
Wow!
My first post after looking every day for the last 8 years...
Anyway...I had an e46 330 sport touring earlier this year for a short period, as well as an e46 m3. Both were manual and of course petrol, not diesel.
At the time I liked the 330 sport for everyday driving, no fuss etc. But that also is the problem for me. Just a bit too detached. Almost too good. But not the car's fault.
The m3 is a bit mental. Again, this is either a good or a bad thing. But the 330 is a great car.
In real world running, the 330 and m3 were the same in petrol costs I found.
The main difference is the LSD on the m3, which allows you to use the car's power. On the 330 I had wheelspin far too often for my liking in the wet. Even with the same traction control system-it would light up too often on the 330.
The engine in a 330 is turbine-smooth in comparison, and devoid of drama. Only when you look at the speedometer do you know how fast you are going. An m3 feels fast just looking at it.
All in the mind.
Punctures-where do I start?
The 330 I had suffered from 3 different wheels that needed sorted out.
But again not the fault of the car.
I paid a quarter of the price for a similar age 330 sport touring than I did an M3, so all in all an unfair comparison.
Both great cars, but an unfair posting by me really.
I now have an 850 Volvo t5 estate and an e46 m3. The Volvo is only 10% of the purchase price of the M3, but a great car all the same.
I just love cars.
Does that help?
Couldnt agree more, its unfair to compare them as they are different cars, it took me a long time to like mine, its just to good at what it does, it makes it abit dull when compared to other less talented cars, im coming to the end of my 330 ownership and ill really be sad to see it go.My first post after looking every day for the last 8 years...
Anyway...I had an e46 330 sport touring earlier this year for a short period, as well as an e46 m3. Both were manual and of course petrol, not diesel.
At the time I liked the 330 sport for everyday driving, no fuss etc. But that also is the problem for me. Just a bit too detached. Almost too good. But not the car's fault.
The m3 is a bit mental. Again, this is either a good or a bad thing. But the 330 is a great car.
In real world running, the 330 and m3 were the same in petrol costs I found.
The main difference is the LSD on the m3, which allows you to use the car's power. On the 330 I had wheelspin far too often for my liking in the wet. Even with the same traction control system-it would light up too often on the 330.
The engine in a 330 is turbine-smooth in comparison, and devoid of drama. Only when you look at the speedometer do you know how fast you are going. An m3 feels fast just looking at it.
All in the mind.
Punctures-where do I start?
The 330 I had suffered from 3 different wheels that needed sorted out.
But again not the fault of the car.
I paid a quarter of the price for a similar age 330 sport touring than I did an M3, so all in all an unfair comparison.
Both great cars, but an unfair posting by me really.
I now have an 850 Volvo t5 estate and an e46 m3. The Volvo is only 10% of the purchase price of the M3, but a great car all the same.
I just love cars.
Does that help?
petrolveins said:
Well I was right to be worried, compared to the Scirocco the BMW just felt a little twitchy and nervous. Not sure it should, might get it looked at, and I hadn't appreciated before how much it understeers. I've already begun exploring the option of selling it :/
The steering on the 3 series is very communicative compared to a lot of other more regular production cars, so maybe you're not used to that. They are certainly tail happy with cheap tyres, but definitely shouldn't be twitchy. Understeer does not sound right at all. I owned 5 E46's and 1 M3 years ago and I honestly never found that to be the case, and I often corner at three figures 
mwstewart said:
petrolveins said:
Well I was right to be worried, compared to the Scirocco the BMW just felt a little twitchy and nervous. Not sure it should, might get it looked at, and I hadn't appreciated before how much it understeers. I've already begun exploring the option of selling it :/
The steering on the 3 series is very communicative compared to a lot of other more regular production cars, so maybe you're not used to that. They are certainly tail happy with cheap tyres, but definitely shouldn't be twitchy. Understeer does not sound right at all. I owned 5 E46's and 1 M3 years ago and I honestly never found that to be the case, and I often corner at three figures petrolveins said:
Well I've the good tyres on the back and the crap ones on the front, might upset things.
Mine has Avon ZZ5s all round and understeer isn't an issue. - It's very neutral.
As for the Scirocco; TBH I can't seen how it'd even get close to your BMW (unless you never take yours below 3k rpm!). My Citroen C4 diesel's 60 BHP down on my 3'er (so less than the 90 difference you've just experienced) and I'd take the BMW all day long. OK, maybe not when stuck in traffic doing 15mpg, but you get the point...
Right, little update, car has had it's oil service, mechanic also flushed the engine too, removing any carbon deposits, must say it feels all the better for it. Finally replaced that broken mirror with a new part I got for half price, and the handling issue may have been found. He reckons when the trailing arms were replaced in the rear before I got it they never bothered to sort the geometry out. He says there appears to be a reasonable amount of toe in which will give it that unstable feel I've been on about, so when that's done should be perfect. I've decided to stick with the car too. Had an epiphany on the way home from Goodwood last week.
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