Lots of Advice Wanted Please!! - 330Ci
Discussion
Hi All
Ive been offered an E46 330Ci Sport in Imola Red with 60k miles on the clock for £11k. It has the usual sport trim, black leather electric memory seats, plus a new gearbox as the old one broke (was faulty). It is owned by a friends father who is taking delivery of a Boxster S. Porsche only offered him 9k and being the nice guy he is, he is giving me first refusal on his 330. Its in absoloutely amazing condition.
Is this a good deal?
Im driving a 172 atm but I am worried about the extra costs involved with owning a 330. What do you all reckon? Will this cost me a bomb to run over the 172. I want to buy it, and I am more in favour for saying yes than no, and after all, your only young once!
I am also worried about depreciation, as I will be stretching myself out quite far to afford 11k and I do not want to buy a car that is going to dive bomb in price after a few months. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Ive been offered an E46 330Ci Sport in Imola Red with 60k miles on the clock for £11k. It has the usual sport trim, black leather electric memory seats, plus a new gearbox as the old one broke (was faulty). It is owned by a friends father who is taking delivery of a Boxster S. Porsche only offered him 9k and being the nice guy he is, he is giving me first refusal on his 330. Its in absoloutely amazing condition.
Is this a good deal?
Im driving a 172 atm but I am worried about the extra costs involved with owning a 330. What do you all reckon? Will this cost me a bomb to run over the 172. I want to buy it, and I am more in favour for saying yes than no, and after all, your only young once!
I am also worried about depreciation, as I will be stretching myself out quite far to afford 11k and I do not want to buy a car that is going to dive bomb in price after a few months. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I used to get 33mpg on decent runs and 24ish in town. I had one of the first 330Ci Sports in the UK in early 2001 and it was a great car. It had a few recalls to do with the main fan which kept shorting out but apart from that it was a great car. Good handling and not so powerful it can get you onto trouble if its your 1sr RWD car.
Running costs were very reasonable. At that point I had just got rid of my E36 M3 which I had for 3 years ... (Inspection 1s' - £400 + Parts, Inspection 2's £800 + Parts ... etc etc) so the 330Ci Spt was a joy only needing servicing every 14k miles or so and with cheaper servicing costs too.
Running costs were very reasonable. At that point I had just got rid of my E36 M3 which I had for 3 years ... (Inspection 1s' - £400 + Parts, Inspection 2's £800 + Parts ... etc etc) so the 330Ci Spt was a joy only needing servicing every 14k miles or so and with cheaper servicing costs too.
I have an 02 330Ci Sport which I have owned since new. It has 85k on the clock, and would appear from these comments to be worth three eighths of naff all!
On that basis, anyone who can buy a good one will get a great car for the money. As said above, the running costs are fine- £100 for an oil service, £200-£300 for ins 1+2 from a main stealer. 33-34 mpg on the m-way, a bit less on urban. Great fun on a B-road, very refined generally.
Faults I've had? An oxygen sensor, a park distance sensor and a broken door handle.
Go for it!
On that basis, anyone who can buy a good one will get a great car for the money. As said above, the running costs are fine- £100 for an oil service, £200-£300 for ins 1+2 from a main stealer. 33-34 mpg on the m-way, a bit less on urban. Great fun on a B-road, very refined generally.
Faults I've had? An oxygen sensor, a park distance sensor and a broken door handle.
Go for it!
Andrew D said:
Nice car, nicer colour! 
Insurance might be an issue though, as in most companies might not quote, depends how old you are.
Insurance might be an issue though, as in most companies might not quote, depends how old you are.
Its shouldnt be a problem, Im 24 with 2 years NCB, car will be garaged, and I live in an extremley low crime area.
Im going to try and offer him 10k. I dont think he will accept it though. Is 11k too much to pay? I havent found any decent ones with 60k on the clock for less than 12 on the trader.
Edited by panthro on Thursday 8th June 13:53
I suppose its quite a sobering thought that your £32k car is going to cost £4.4k pa in depreciation over 5 years, but thats the market. These cars can easily do the mileage as they are built properly and I would be much more inclined to pick up a 3yr old car with 50k on the clock (inc.6-spd box) for about £14-15k and it cost £2-2.5k a year in depreciation.
They are not as tough or as well built as you think; you soon discover this if you thrash them daily.
I've had 3 E46s. At the moment E46 330ci. I would not run one without a BMW Warranty. I've had gearboxes, many many suspension components, sat nav units, OBCs-speedo, mirror and window motors, numerous DME issues etc etc. Things have changed with the warranty now with excess so one has to be a little more conservative. Never bothered me as usually it was an excuse to go on a courtesy car thrash!
Main Things to check are:
Front ball joints
Rear top mounts
Springs all round
Gearbox bushes
Vanos grumble/groan
Go for a Sept 2001 build onwards
Baz
I've had 3 E46s. At the moment E46 330ci. I would not run one without a BMW Warranty. I've had gearboxes, many many suspension components, sat nav units, OBCs-speedo, mirror and window motors, numerous DME issues etc etc. Things have changed with the warranty now with excess so one has to be a little more conservative. Never bothered me as usually it was an excuse to go on a courtesy car thrash!
Main Things to check are:
Front ball joints
Rear top mounts
Springs all round
Gearbox bushes
Vanos grumble/groan
Go for a Sept 2001 build onwards
Baz
Edited by baz1985 on Thursday 8th June 10:20
I'm confused as to why he wants £10.5k if the trade in was £9k, as to the trade, this car is only worth £9k.
I'd have thought it may be worth £9.5k to you if you are happy with the cars provenance. I'd also look at warranty costs (you can get a reasonable aftermarket warranty if the BMW one has lapsed) and insist on a full MOT.
I'd also suggest you drive the car and see if it floats your boat, as it's not like a 172. Buy it like you would any other car, with your head and your heart. Don't think that you can't be satisfied buying, even if it is a friend's father.
I'd have thought it may be worth £9.5k to you if you are happy with the cars provenance. I'd also look at warranty costs (you can get a reasonable aftermarket warranty if the BMW one has lapsed) and insist on a full MOT.
I'd also suggest you drive the car and see if it floats your boat, as it's not like a 172. Buy it like you would any other car, with your head and your heart. Don't think that you can't be satisfied buying, even if it is a friend's father.
Do it - I ran a 330i couple of years ago before family demands pushed me into an Audi Avant.
It was a superb car. One of The Great Engines in modern cars and the balance was lively enough to be entertaining but only when provoked. In normal driving it has perfect manners and is very forgiving.
Petrol costs were reasonable, insurance was a bit of a stinger (I was 26 when I got it), my main dealer was useless (but then again so are Audi and Merc - maybe it's just me?). But the car itself was a gem.
I'm no price expert so like you I've had a look on autotrader and this price looks good. If this sold into the trade for £9k I would expect to see the local BMW stealer putting a sticker on it saying £16k - just check the BM website.
As we all know with cars, you win some you lose some. With 4 new tyres I'd pay him and get on with what will be a great chapter of car ownership! Good luck!
It was a superb car. One of The Great Engines in modern cars and the balance was lively enough to be entertaining but only when provoked. In normal driving it has perfect manners and is very forgiving.
Petrol costs were reasonable, insurance was a bit of a stinger (I was 26 when I got it), my main dealer was useless (but then again so are Audi and Merc - maybe it's just me?). But the car itself was a gem.
I'm no price expert so like you I've had a look on autotrader and this price looks good. If this sold into the trade for £9k I would expect to see the local BMW stealer putting a sticker on it saying £16k - just check the BM website.
As we all know with cars, you win some you lose some. With 4 new tyres I'd pay him and get on with what will be a great chapter of car ownership! Good luck!
I just read the post about the guy who was having trouble selling his wifes 330Ci. A lot of the posts were saying that the 330Ci prices were dropping like stones.
I am in a dilemma now. The car I previously mentioned in this thread has now been offered to me for 10k. I want to buy it, but I dont want to lose much (if any) money on it.
Just to recap - its a 330Ci Sport, 73k, Imola Red, Black leather electric memory seats, Harmon Kardon, parking sensors, climate, etc. Advice would really be appreciated. Thanks.
I am in a dilemma now. The car I previously mentioned in this thread has now been offered to me for 10k. I want to buy it, but I dont want to lose much (if any) money on it.
Just to recap - its a 330Ci Sport, 73k, Imola Red, Black leather electric memory seats, Harmon Kardon, parking sensors, climate, etc. Advice would really be appreciated. Thanks.
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