BMW 330 Clubsport

Author
Discussion

LanceRS

Original Poster:

2,171 posts

136 months

Tuesday 2nd May 2017
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Well, I got the car back all painted from BMW. Then today, got back to it after work and found



It doesn't show too well it the picture. Someone has managed to catch the corner of the bumper and front wheel.

The corner of the bumper is split and out of shape, it's broken the tab for the indicator and popped the fog light surround out. Amazingly it's also knocked the tracking out too!

They unsurprisingly left no note. Some nice person did with the number plate of the car in question but none of their details.

Not one of my better days.

Podie

46,630 posts

274 months

Tuesday 2nd May 2017
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I had something similar with one of my cars once - so bloody frustrating frown

marky911

4,417 posts

218 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
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That's a right bummer. Bloody annoying.

Lovely car though. My mate had a year old one back in the day. I took him to collect it from the main dealers. The wheels had already been replaced even then due to corrosion.
I'd love one though and they're rarer than M3s.
Ok so they're 100hp down but they're still a nice thing.

Enjoy!



LanceRS

Original Poster:

2,171 posts

136 months

Saturday 6th May 2017
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Thanks, as you say not an M3 but nice in its own way. I'm my limited experience it's smoother although slower.
The wheels need doing again, but when they're clean, they do look good.
Anyway, went to my local specialist and had the proper 4 wheel alignment done.

Drives much better nowlaugh

LanceRS

Original Poster:

2,171 posts

136 months

Wednesday 26th July 2017
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And my recent luck continues.



My attempts at Google would suggest that I am the only person in the world that this has happened to. It's very odd, there is no rust, it looks like the spot welds have failed and this has then caused stress tears. I only discovered it when I closed the boot and got in he car. I started it up and saw the unmistakable red image on the dash telling me that the boot was still open.
As is the way of these things, it took me about 10 minutes standing in the pouring rain, getting later and later for work to find the problem.

helix402

7,832 posts

181 months

Wednesday 26th July 2017
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I reckon that heavy spoiler is to blame!

LanceRS

Original Poster:

2,171 posts

136 months

Wednesday 26th July 2017
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As opposed to my wife who blames me for shutting it too hard! I'm very flattered that she thinks that I'm strong enough to rip through sheet steel though 😀

JakeT

5,406 posts

119 months

Thursday 27th July 2017
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Love me a Clubsport. Can't believe that's happened to the boot though, I thought that was an E36 thing only. On the plus side, there's a good amount of E46s in breakers now. Might even get a boot with spoiler in the right colour! Both of my '46s are wingless sadly.

CornedBeef

509 posts

187 months

Thursday 27th July 2017
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Just read through the whole topic, cracking car OP - no pun intended on the bootlid. That's a very odd thing to happen, I wonder if it is a result of the extra spoiler weight over the years?

I used to have a Clubsport that I loved to bits a few years ago, did a few track sessions and the 'ring in it too - it was taken from me by an old biddy in a 207 frown Its apparently back on the road and repaired somewhere, RN02 UUL where are you now! I actually bought a non-spoiler bootlid and had it sprayed and fitted right before the car was written off, typical eh?



And the bad day -




LanceRS

Original Poster:

2,171 posts

136 months

Friday 28th July 2017
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Ouch. It's always other people that you have to watch for.

I wouldn't have thought that the spoiler weighs enough to make much difference to be honest. It's quite a flimsy thing really.

On a positive note, the passenger door central locking decided to start working again. I wonder how long for this time?

LanceRS

Original Poster:

2,171 posts

136 months

Tuesday 23rd October 2018
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Well it’s been a while but I finally have something to report. My luck with this car continues.

Long story short, heavy traffic, merging in turn, momentarily distracted by sound of sirens but unable to see any lights, car in front emergency stops for the police car which appeared towards us on our side of the road. I brake hard, Audi’s brakes are better. Bugger.

To quote a phrase, ‘i’m Bloody annoyed ‘. The insurance company have sent it to a BMW approved body shop, who have quoted over £6k!!!
The Audi involved has a dented bumper.

Even more cross because I had just treated myself to this, which is amazing and made it feel like a new car.


Now begins the arguing with the insurance company about what they think it’s worthfurious

Fortunately I have a very compassionate and supportive wife, who has at no point told me how it’s all my own fault or complained about the prospect of having to fund repairs or a replacement.
This car had really gotten under my skin, far more than I expected it to. Having just looked on Autotrader, there is only one listed for sale.
I am not looking forward to the immediate future.

Triumph Man

8,670 posts

167 months

Tuesday 23rd October 2018
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Sorry to see that, and how gutting it must be for you frown hope you get it sorted as you would like it to be sorted

alec.e

2,149 posts

123 months

Tuesday 23rd October 2018
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Bad luck OP frown

Podie

46,630 posts

274 months

Tuesday 23rd October 2018
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frown

cerb4.5lee

30,170 posts

179 months

Tuesday 23rd October 2018
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frown

Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Wednesday 24th October 2018
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Gutted for you OP. frown

But if a repair doesn't make sense economically why not just look for a 330Ci?

The Clubsport had no more power, just a different paint colour!


Thanoj

82 posts

92 months

Wednesday 24th October 2018
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Assuming you don't have frame damage, that looks fairly superficial. Heck, the bumper even looks intact! A bonnet, xenon headlamp and some plastic bits underneath couldn't total more than £400 max. If you're on the Facebook E46 groups, see if you can contact Nick Jupp and see if had the parts you need.

JakeT

5,406 posts

119 months

Wednesday 24th October 2018
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Eugh, what a pisser. I was also going to suggest Nick Jupp for parts too. Even if they're the wrong colour, then it can have a front end respray. Is the cooling system okay? A small knock can always seem bad for these cars.

Hope you find a good solution though. smile

LanceRS

Original Poster:

2,171 posts

136 months

Wednesday 24th October 2018
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Thanks everyone. The current plan is to get it back and repair. The radiator had started to bow in the way that they do so would have needed doing eventually anyway. The aircon rad is a bit more annoying but not the end of the world.
As noted, the bumper appears to need little more than repainting and a very small hole filling. If I’m honest, I wanted to get it sprayed because the stone chips anyway.
Thanks for recommending Nick, I shall look into it. The body shop quote was using all brand new BMW parts and I’m sure replacing things that would be reusable, if slightly scuffed.
Regarding replacing the car with a normal 330, a couple of things. I know that when all is said and done the car is basically an old 3 series with some bits and paint, but it’s a bit unusual and I like that. Before I bought it I spent months searching, looking at 330s generally and many miles were covered. I must have looked at 25+ cars, all were in worse condition than this one. I don’t think that I can bring myself to do it all over again.
A couple of friends have suggested going for something completely different, but honestly cannot think of anything more suited to my needs and wants for a sensible budget (if my numbers come up in the meantime, the maybe).
I have been lucky enough to have never had to buy a car just because I needed transport and as such, I have always had cars I wanted and I keep them a long time (the previous one last 9 years and the ‘hibernating’ Cosworth, I’ve had for 20), without wanting to sound ridiculously sentimental, I don’t feel that my time with it is done yet, I’m still enjoying it.

CornedBeef

509 posts

187 months

Wednesday 24th October 2018
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LanceRS said:
Thanks everyone. The current plan is to get it back and repair. The radiator had started to bow in the way that they do so would have needed doing eventually anyway. The aircon rad is a bit more annoying but not the end of the world.
As noted, the bumper appears to need little more than repainting and a very small hole filling. If I’m honest, I wanted to get it sprayed because the stone chips anyway.
Thanks for recommending Nick, I shall look into it. The body shop quote was using all brand new BMW parts and I’m sure replacing things that would be reusable, if slightly scuffed.
Regarding replacing the car with a normal 330, a couple of things. I know that when all is said and done the car is basically an old 3 series with some bits and paint, but it’s a bit unusual and I like that. Before I bought it I spent months searching, looking at 330s generally and many miles were covered. I must have looked at 25+ cars, all were in worse condition than this one. I don’t think that I can bring myself to do it all over again.
A couple of friends have suggested going for something completely different, but honestly cannot think of anything more suited to my needs and wants for a sensible budget (if my numbers come up in the meantime, the maybe).
I have been lucky enough to have never had to buy a car just because I needed transport and as such, I have always had cars I wanted and I keep them a long time (the previous one last 9 years and the ‘hibernating’ Cosworth, I’ve had for 20), without wanting to sound ridiculously sentimental, I don’t feel that my time with it is done yet, I’m still enjoying it.
Good on you for fixing it, as I said earlier in the thread - I'm still annoyed with myself for not fixing mine after the crash. Clubsports are worth saving as they're a bit different and yours was certainly in good order before this.