BMW 330i vs M3 running costs

[AndyT77]

Anyone got any experience of both (E46 guise), for running costs?

I'm considering a 330i (or 325i) for my next car as a stepping stone to M3 ownership.

Thanks for all advice, comments.

[abarber]

Not quite the same, but I was averaging 31mpg, half urban (London), in a 330i E90. Now averaging 26mpg in a Z4M.

[Disco You]

Different leagues.

[HustleRussell]

I know nothing. But if it's anything like an older BMW, absolutely everything for the M-power car will naturally come with the M-power premium on the price. It'll probably need attention more often too...

[AndyT77]

Disco You said:

Different leagues.

Yes i had that inkling. Care to ellaborate?

[fozzymandeus]

E46 M3s, particularly on the 19" rims, have phenomenal tyre prices for the size of car.

It is an expensive car to run. The brakes are weedy though so you can expect reasonable disc and pad prices. It'll need expensive oils etc. and on the dot maintenance. It won't stand neglect like a boggo 330i (tough beasts).

The boot floor might be cracked in either so that's irrelevant. Insurance will be a lot more.

Regular 6 cylinder BMWs are cheap to run, considering what they offer.

[AndyT77]

The Crack Fox said:

I've averaged 29.7 mpg over the last 20k miles in my 330ci sport manual to include a trackday and a few hoons. It has been dead reliable too. Hope this helps.

I'm lucky to see 30mpg (avg) from my 1.8 Focus, so a bit of reckoning for my next car choice is i could live with similar, just so long as the performance justifies it (which the current steed does not).

[Burrito]

Taken from my PH garage service history, annual costs for an E46 M3 over 6k miles:

Insurance: £525
Tyres: £380 (1 pair)
Servicing: £595 (insp. II and MOT)
Tax: £260
Repairs: £350 (alternator)

All work through a specialist.

I average around 22mpg

[AndyT77]

Burrito said:

Taken from my PH garage service history, annual costs for an E46 M3 over 6k miles:

Insurance: £525
Tyres: £380 (1 pair)
Servicing: £595 (insp. II and MOT)
Tax: £260
Repairs: £350 (alternator)

All work through a specialist.

I average around 22mpg

That's the kind of stuff i'm looking for. Thank you.

[NelsonR32]

My 325i facelift saloon averages 33.8mpg. It's by no means slow but I would have picked a 330i. It just happened my one turned up at the right time and at a stupidly cheap price

[woots787]

I've had my 330 for most of a year and 10k. I bought it on 90k from the first owner which seemed a good idea at the time. So far I've had a new clutch and flywheel skim (400), New rear brake lines (200), New rear pads, shoes and discs (150), rear spring (100) replaced thermostat (60) and water pump (30) and had an arch sprayed for a rusty stonechip (300). It probably needs new bushes and dampers all round (lots), New rear tyres (260), rust has recently started to come through on front arches (200) and I think the propshaft doughnut is on the way.

I average about 26mpg with mixed driving, it will do over 30 on a run if you take it steady and avoid traffic. Sounds nice and lovely to drive but running costs for me have been a league above hatchback ownership even for the normal wear and tear stuff go on eurocarpart and compare discs prices for a 330 and a focus or if you want a proper shock get some 255/35/18 prices! I still think they are great cars but buy carefully as parts can be expensive and they have some common problems. Hopefully I'll have mine long enough that the above work averages out.

Insurance was very cheap, diesel hatch level or half a Scooby!.

John

Edit to add prices.

Edited by woots787 on Wednesday 4th July 22:27

Edited by woots787 on Wednesday 4th July 22:31

Edited by woots787 on Wednesday 4th July 22:33

[Nedzilla]

fozzymandeus said:

E46 M3s, particularly on the 19" rims, have phenomenal tyre prices for the size of car.

I had one for five years and didnt think it was that expensive to run to be honest.A good set of tyres can be had for around £700 which isn't that bad considering the size and speed rating.

[MMT]

You can buy a lot of OEM service parts from Eurocarparts where there is usually a discount code running for 25-30% off. Disks all round £410.00, pads Yellowstuffs £150.00, conti m3 19's £210.00each, oil Castrol edge 10 60 £26.00 4L. Mines averaging 23mpg.

[Burrito]

Direct comparison for M3, 452s from camskill, £147.50 fronts, £159.80 rears, so £615 all in. Not too much more!

[Tobias Funke]

My old 330ci cost very little to run and it averaged around 28mpg. I'd love an M3, but the potential running costs really put me off.

[fozzymandeus]

Burrito said:

Direct comparison for M3, 452s from camskill, £147.50 fronts, £159.80 rears, so £615 all in. Not too much more!

I'd consider Falkens for a 330i (but probably wouldn't as I don't like 'em), but I wouldn't put them on an M3.

I suppose that's it. I'd lavish the attention on an M3 but not so much on a 330i.

[PetrolDriver]

My 330Ci (it's a convertible so heavier) manual is averaging 24.3 as of this morning. Mostly town driving with the odd few miles on a motorway.

The instant mpg readout helps a lot as it helps you drive it in a manner than keeps the economy up. Quite handy IMO.

[Big E 118]

I've had both.

Personally I wouldn't run an M3 without a warranty so add about £800.00 per year. An E46 would fall under the over 5 year old discount that main dealers now offer on servicing but for a car of that age a decent indy would be fine.

The inspection II on the M3 is fairly costly but other services aren't too excessive.

I always used V Power in the M's, dependent on mileage that can be a few more pounds out of your budget.

IMO the extra costs of running an M are well worth the money!

[marcosgt]

fozzymandeus said:

Burrito said:

Direct comparison for M3, 452s from camskill, £147.50 fronts, £159.80 rears, so £615 all in. Not too much more!

I'd consider Falkens for a 330i (but probably wouldn't as I don't like 'em), but I wouldn't put them on an M3.

I suppose that's it. I'd lavish the attention on an M3 but not so much on a 330i.

I must admit to being a bit surprised about people putting Falkens on an M3.

I had a set on my RX8 - They were ok, a fairly decent tyre, but the Bridgestone RE050s I have now are noticeably better in terms of grip (wet and dry) and actually seem to be wearing better too!

With a fair bit more power from an M3, I'd have thought the Falken's a rather marginal choice.

M

[Burrito]

marcosgt said:

fozzymandeus said:

Burrito said:

Direct comparison for M3, 452s from camskill, £147.50 fronts, £159.80 rears, so £615 all in. Not too much more!

I'd consider Falkens for a 330i (but probably wouldn't as I don't like 'em), but I wouldn't put them on an M3.

I suppose that's it. I'd lavish the attention on an M3 but not so much on a 330i.

I must admit to being a bit surprised about people putting Falkens on an M3.

I had a set on my RX8 - They were ok, a fairly decent tyre, but the Bridgestone RE050s I have now are noticeably better in terms of grip (wet and dry) and actually seem to be wearing better too!

With a fair bit more power from an M3, I'd have thought the Falken's a rather marginal choice.

M

I spent quite a while researching an alternative to the Contisport M3. The 452 has consistently been positively mentioned across a range of forums. I don't find them particularly noisy and the grip/turn in (I only have them on the front) is fine for enthusiastic road driving, even in the wet. It's a well regarded tyre, from a known brand. I'm not sure why you would consider it marginal.