E46 328 - am I getting a good deal?

[nickbee]

Hi

I've been considering for a while changing my Golf for something more grown-up and an E46 ticks all the boxes.

Someone at work is trying to sell me a 1999 328 coupe, with 46k on the clock and FBMWSH for £7000. Half-leather interior and he says it's a sport, but I thought they had different bumpers? This is a picture of the car:



Should I go for it? I've looked through the classifieds but prices do seem to vary wildly...

Any advice gratefully received!

Nick

[Bill Carr]

I think he's being somewhat optimistic on price...
From Glasses:

BMW 3 Series 328i Sport
2.8 Petrol 2-door Coupe
5 Speed Manual Rear Wheel Drive
Year: 1999 V
Mileage: 46,000

Part-exchange Price:
Excellent condition:
£3690
Average condition:
£3270
Below average condition:
£2830

Maybe he thinks there's a premium for it being low mileage, but personally I wouldn't pay more than £4.5k for it. It's not like there's a shortage of 3-series beemers out there.

[Nurburgsingh]

Is there a typo there - perhaps not the best comparison but a barometer on current prices - my brother's just bought an immaculate 1-owner e46 320d auto touring for £7,100.

Given that diesels (spit!) are the only cars that seem to be worth more than tuppence at present your 8-year old one looks more than over priced.

[okgo]

Bill Carr said:

I think he's being somewhat optimistic on price...
From Glasses:

BMW 3 Series 328i Sport
2.8 Petrol 2-door Coupe
5 Speed Manual Rear Wheel Drive
Year: 1999 V
Mileage: 46,000

Part-exchange Price:
Excellent condition:
£3690
Average condition:
£3270
Below average condition:
£2830

Maybe he thinks there's a premium for it being low mileage, but personally I wouldn't pay more than £4.5k for it. It's not like there's a shortage of 3-series beemers out there.

You sure that isnt picking it up as an e36?

As the e46 was quite scarce as I remember..And that price seems a bit silly really..

Edited by okgo on Tuesday 27th May 09:07

[Otter's pocket]

That is NOT a sport

[okgo]

We had an SE, and that even had full leather.

So maybe its just the basic spec?

[Vee]

okgo said:

Bill Carr said:

I think he's being somewhat optimistic on price...
From Glasses:

BMW 3 Series 328i Sport
2.8 Petrol 2-door Coupe
5 Speed Manual Rear Wheel Drive
Year: 1999 V
Mileage: 46,000

Part-exchange Price:
Excellent condition:
£3690
Average condition:
£3270
Below average condition:
£2830

Maybe he thinks there's a premium for it being low mileage, but personally I wouldn't pay more than £4.5k for it. It's not like there's a shortage of 3-series beemers out there.

You sure that isnt picking it up as an e36?

As the e46 was quite scarce as I remember..And that price seems a bit silly really..

I think its right as no coupes in V reg ? Only ever seen cabs.
The E46 coupe was launched during T reg.
Those prices do seem low - although good for the OP.

[okgo]

Your not wrong actually, ours was T. So with this being a V there should be no error.

Very good price, for what we found a decent car with a bit of poke too

[paoloh]

That is NOT a sport. That is an SE.
That price guide is for an E36 not E46.

Car is worth £5000 tops

[okgo]

I woudl have thought that all SE models hadd the same level of interior? Just the option top change colours?

Ours was an SE and had full leather..

[paoloh]

okgo said:

I woudl have thought that all SE models hadd the same level of interior? Just the option top change colours?

Ours was an SE and had full leather..

All of them were SE's and customers just spec'd them up

[okgo]

Makes sense.

You only ever really see them with those wheels in a few different sizes.

Still thats quite a good amount of car for 5k with that mileage..

But I suppose an 01 530 is better value still on that front..

[paoloh]

BMW 3 Series (1998-06)
328i 4Dr Saloon 2.8 SE (1999/V) More On This Car
Specifications
Review
Summary


Average Mileage: 80,000
Price New: £28,165
Insurance Group: 16 Other Cars in Insurance Group


These valuations are based on thousands of used car prices. WiseBuyer's pricing experts research valuations at dealers, auctions and private sales.


Car valuation adjusted for 46,000 miles
Retail: £5,700 The valuations quoted are prices you should aim to pay for a used car, not the advertised price. You should adjust your valuation to allow for extras that were not standard specification.

Sell your car now


Buy a warranty now


Private Good: £4,860
Private Average: £4,180
Private Poor: £3,620
Part Exchange: £4,460
Trade: £4,258

[Dunk76]

£7000 is well over the money for one of those - you could get yourself into a nice 330ci for that, or even an early, leggy, B3 3.3 Saloon for a smidge more!

From memory, there was no 'Sport' trim available on the E46 328i/328ci - SE being the highest. If you wanted anything sportier you have to cough up on options for Sport Seats, M-Tec Suspension, and the extremely clumsy M-Aero package I.

As already stated - it's worth no more than £5K.

[soprano]

I would say its worth between 5.5 and 6k depending on condition and spec. Be careful it doesnt have the rear subframe issue - alot of the early coupes did.

I saw the bill for mine recently - £2800.00 - thankfully BMW picked up the tab on that one.

[[TW]Fox]

To be even more pedantic it is neither an SE nor a Sport. Prior to 2000 and the introduction of the 330's the 328Ci was simply a 328Ci.

And don't pay a ridiculous premium for low mileage. I didnt pay much more than that for an utterly immaculate 02 530i Sport... 18 months ago!

[soprano]

[TW]Fox said:

To be even more pedantic it is neither an SE nor a Sport. Prior to 2000 and the introduction of the 330's the 328Ci was simply a 328Ci.

And don't pay a ridiculous premium for low mileage. I didnt pay much more than that for an utterly immaculate 02 530i Sport... 18 months ago!

Mines a 1999 328Ci SE - at least thats what is says on the V5

[okgo]

Our one was an SE, said it on all the docs.

[nickbee]

Wow, what a response. Thanks for the advice guys - on the back of that I think I'll look for an average-mileage but well-maintained 330.

[DavidLScott]

You'll more than appreciate the extra cc's etc on a 330.

I tried a 328 before getting my 330 and the difference was substantial.