E46 330ci - advice?
Discussion
Hi all.
I am currently looking at buying an E46 330ci. I'd like an M3 but something tells me they have the potential to throw up far more expensive bills... (tell me I'm wrong, please
)
I know this topic has been asked many times before, but we're mid way through 2019 now.
If you've owned/own one, what are the running costs like? Are there any major things to check for?
What MPG did you average and what sort of driving?
£4-5k seems to get a fairly low mileage, mint looking one. I assume this is a good enough budget.
I'm happy to spend on it, but don't want to be throwing good money after bad.
Thank you!
I am currently looking at buying an E46 330ci. I'd like an M3 but something tells me they have the potential to throw up far more expensive bills... (tell me I'm wrong, please
)I know this topic has been asked many times before, but we're mid way through 2019 now.
If you've owned/own one, what are the running costs like? Are there any major things to check for?
What MPG did you average and what sort of driving?
£4-5k seems to get a fairly low mileage, mint looking one. I assume this is a good enough budget.
I'm happy to spend on it, but don't want to be throwing good money after bad.
Thank you!
I haven't owned one, but I did have an E46 325ti Sport Compact for 3 years which had the 2.5 litre version of the M54 engine used in the 330ci so I expect the issues would be similar.
Soon after I got it at about 83K miles it suffered the usual "banana'd" radiator so I had a full cooling system refresh with new radiator, thermostat, temperature sensor and expansion tank as they often split.
The only other non-routine issue I had in 23K miles was a split PAS pipe, which wasn't a cheap fix!
I mostly used it outside of rush-hours on 30+ mile trips using dual-carriageways and Motorways and the OBC showed an average of 34.9 mpg, which I thought was good.
But they do seem to suffer from rust on the wheel-arches (although the Compact doesn't seem as bad for that) - I know someone who has had a 54 plate 325i Touring for a few years that was getting a bit crusty!
If you want a manual gearbox try to find a facelift model as they got a 6-speed box instead of a 5-speed one - the facelift was sometime in 2003. The 6-speed is more relaxed on Motorways.
Possibly the ultimate 330Ci went on AutoTrader recently - it's a facelift Imola Red one with less than 35K miles, but it's a fair bit over your budget.
But if you weren't going to do too many miles it might hold it's value.
I've no experience of the M3, but I suspect the routine service items would be a whole new world of pain!
Good luck anyway.
Soon after I got it at about 83K miles it suffered the usual "banana'd" radiator so I had a full cooling system refresh with new radiator, thermostat, temperature sensor and expansion tank as they often split.
The only other non-routine issue I had in 23K miles was a split PAS pipe, which wasn't a cheap fix!
I mostly used it outside of rush-hours on 30+ mile trips using dual-carriageways and Motorways and the OBC showed an average of 34.9 mpg, which I thought was good.
But they do seem to suffer from rust on the wheel-arches (although the Compact doesn't seem as bad for that) - I know someone who has had a 54 plate 325i Touring for a few years that was getting a bit crusty!
If you want a manual gearbox try to find a facelift model as they got a 6-speed box instead of a 5-speed one - the facelift was sometime in 2003. The 6-speed is more relaxed on Motorways.
Possibly the ultimate 330Ci went on AutoTrader recently - it's a facelift Imola Red one with less than 35K miles, but it's a fair bit over your budget.
But if you weren't going to do too many miles it might hold it's value.
I've no experience of the M3, but I suspect the routine service items would be a whole new world of pain!
Good luck anyway.
Owned ours for 8 years now, one of the last 46's to be built with great spec, but rust, they're so rusty rear arch is hanging out of mine.
bought at 92k miles now on 186k miles I have replaced the following
Brakes
Tyres
Lower arms
Stab bars
Oil filter housing seal
CCV
Radiator
Fuel pump.
plugs
filters
oil
Lower arms are a weakness, I upgraded to polybushed ones, honestly wish I hadn't with the sport suspension it is precise but crashy, check them though, as decent ones aren't cheap, good way to check is to stand side on to the front wheel and try push the wheel forward, that said all it has ever had are serviceable items, the fuel pump died at 184k miles and it is the first time it has ever broken down.
the OFH seal will be leaking, check it has been done, along with CCV
on a manual I do very short runs mostly, 12 miles a day if that, it is averaging 32-34mpg, on a long run with the 6 speed box I have got 44mpg 3 up and full of luggage, 47 is my best.
Great cars, I was going to put an arch in mine and sell it as it is getting long in the tooth now, but I have no idea what to replace it with, it has nav, electric heated seats, aircon is still frosty, everything works, I have never put a bulb in it, I can work on it easily enough, so it is going to have an arch and I will keep it till it is dead, it genuinely owes me nothing, paid £6k for it 8 years ago, its a truly fantastic car, I would go for a later one though to try minimise the rust and get the 6 speed box
bought at 92k miles now on 186k miles I have replaced the following
Brakes
Tyres
Lower arms
Stab bars
Oil filter housing seal
CCV
Radiator
Fuel pump.
plugs
filters
oil
Lower arms are a weakness, I upgraded to polybushed ones, honestly wish I hadn't with the sport suspension it is precise but crashy, check them though, as decent ones aren't cheap, good way to check is to stand side on to the front wheel and try push the wheel forward, that said all it has ever had are serviceable items, the fuel pump died at 184k miles and it is the first time it has ever broken down.
the OFH seal will be leaking, check it has been done, along with CCV
on a manual I do very short runs mostly, 12 miles a day if that, it is averaging 32-34mpg, on a long run with the 6 speed box I have got 44mpg 3 up and full of luggage, 47 is my best.
Great cars, I was going to put an arch in mine and sell it as it is getting long in the tooth now, but I have no idea what to replace it with, it has nav, electric heated seats, aircon is still frosty, everything works, I have never put a bulb in it, I can work on it easily enough, so it is going to have an arch and I will keep it till it is dead, it genuinely owes me nothing, paid £6k for it 8 years ago, its a truly fantastic car, I would go for a later one though to try minimise the rust and get the 6 speed box
2002 330 Vert. Now relegated to a summer car.
Bought in 2009 with 38k miles for £10,500.
Spec is nice: HK, Sat Nav, heated seats, Zenons, Car is polished and waxed once a year and still looks like a 2 year old car. No rust (yet). Now has 80k miles.
Issues have been:
Front suspension bushes & Front caliper was sticky (Now OEM front discs + pads+ wear sensor+1 caliper £250). Relatively simple job, done yesterday.
Tyres: Goodyear Eagle AS2's suit it.
MPG on ours is 33 on a run, so about 10% less than the coupe.
Still on original water pump + rad is arrow straight. Headlight and windscreen washer pumps fail, but they are a 5 minute fix.
Takes about 30 minutes to lube up the roof every couple of years, works a treat still.
The build quality is very good. Everything is easy to get to, comes off easily. Went through it's MOT with no advisories again this year. It has been a very reliable car. It still drives lovely and sounds great. Recommended.
Bought in 2009 with 38k miles for £10,500.
Spec is nice: HK, Sat Nav, heated seats, Zenons, Car is polished and waxed once a year and still looks like a 2 year old car. No rust (yet). Now has 80k miles.
Issues have been:
Front suspension bushes & Front caliper was sticky (Now OEM front discs + pads+ wear sensor+1 caliper £250). Relatively simple job, done yesterday.
Tyres: Goodyear Eagle AS2's suit it.
MPG on ours is 33 on a run, so about 10% less than the coupe.
Still on original water pump + rad is arrow straight. Headlight and windscreen washer pumps fail, but they are a 5 minute fix.
Takes about 30 minutes to lube up the roof every couple of years, works a treat still.
The build quality is very good. Everything is easy to get to, comes off easily. Went through it's MOT with no advisories again this year. It has been a very reliable car. It still drives lovely and sounds great. Recommended.
Edited by gf15 on Sunday 21st July 08:22
A friend is selling a 2002 330Ci Sport Convertible with 40k on the clock, 6 grand or so. It's very nice but the problem is trying to get through to buyers/dreamers the difference between this and a the normal 120'000 mile 6 owner E46 money pit.
And E46's really can consume cash via repairs and fuel. 24 mpg gets boring after a while.
And E46's really can consume cash via repairs and fuel. 24 mpg gets boring after a while.
Had mine since Jan '17 and covered 46k miles, bought at 106 and just clocked past 151. It's an 03 manual Clubsport.
In that time it's only failed to proceed once, which was the fuel pump at about 140k miles.
I've done most of the things mentioned and it's not been cheap, but I like it driving as intended.
In no particular order it's had:
Front lower control arm bushes
Front and rear ARB bushes
RTAB bushes
Guibo
Prop centre bearing
Discs and pads all round (fronts twice, but I've tracked it once and pasted it through North Wales)
Water pump, both belts, aux belt tensioner pulley
Rocker cover gaskets
Radiator (expansion tank looked new when I bought it, so assume it's already been done)
Rear shocks and top mounts (looking at Koni FSD and Eibach all round soon)
Complete PCV system including dipstick tube
Upper and lower intake boots (cold start misfire)
DISA valve
OSF caliper
Hedgehog resistor (it's a right pain to change, but next time would be easier)
Aircon regas (not leaking, just a service as figured was probably on original gas)
6 P Zeros, 2 fronts 4 rears
4 Goodyear Eagle AS3's
2x second hand HK parcel shelf speakers (mine were split)
2x xenon bulbs
Then usual service parts, I do an interim oil and filter change at the 6 month point or half the due mileage, whichever is sooner and use Fuchs pro race 5w 40
In addition to the above, but not needed it's had:
New front wings and front end respray
Rear arch rust sorted
New bonnet badge and wheel centres
Wheel refurb (one rear twice as I curbed it after a year) at SWWR Exeter, excellent by the way.
Rear bumper sprayed at my cost after some cretin hit it and drove off
Rear bumper sprayed again after another lesser cretin hit it and fessed up, at their cost
Silentcoat sound proofing (thanks MWS)
3x exhausts - first 'custom' one was hideous, followed by a Scorpion one (now back on) followed by a full Eisenmann system that may now be on a certain auction site.
New genuine gear knob
It's about to go in for subframe and diff mounts.
Now to be clear, I could've ignored a lot of the above and no doubt it would still have got me from A to B, but it wouldn't have been right. It's been fantastic to drive and I'd much rather blow my theoretical £300 per month running this than leasing something. It's averaged 34 mpg at a rough guess due to my usage (mostly open A roads and motorway) and will return 37 on a run at 75 mph. Following my brother towing his Westfield from Devon to Bedford it returned 40 mpg, and from previous brim-brim figures it's within .5 mpg.
Whilst I could've stretched to an M3, I may not have been able to treat it with the same care and attention whilst saving for a house, so for me it's been the perfect car. It's also been the longest I've ever kept a car, both in terms of time and mileage covered.
Edited to elaborate on my usage to put my mpg figure in context. On track it averaged 9...
In that time it's only failed to proceed once, which was the fuel pump at about 140k miles.
I've done most of the things mentioned and it's not been cheap, but I like it driving as intended.
In no particular order it's had:
Front lower control arm bushes
Front and rear ARB bushes
RTAB bushes
Guibo
Prop centre bearing
Discs and pads all round (fronts twice, but I've tracked it once and pasted it through North Wales)
Water pump, both belts, aux belt tensioner pulley
Rocker cover gaskets
Radiator (expansion tank looked new when I bought it, so assume it's already been done)
Rear shocks and top mounts (looking at Koni FSD and Eibach all round soon)
Complete PCV system including dipstick tube
Upper and lower intake boots (cold start misfire)
DISA valve
OSF caliper
Hedgehog resistor (it's a right pain to change, but next time would be easier)
Aircon regas (not leaking, just a service as figured was probably on original gas)
6 P Zeros, 2 fronts 4 rears
4 Goodyear Eagle AS3's
2x second hand HK parcel shelf speakers (mine were split)
2x xenon bulbs
Then usual service parts, I do an interim oil and filter change at the 6 month point or half the due mileage, whichever is sooner and use Fuchs pro race 5w 40
In addition to the above, but not needed it's had:
New front wings and front end respray
Rear arch rust sorted
New bonnet badge and wheel centres
Wheel refurb (one rear twice as I curbed it after a year) at SWWR Exeter, excellent by the way.
Rear bumper sprayed at my cost after some cretin hit it and drove off
Rear bumper sprayed again after another lesser cretin hit it and fessed up, at their cost
Silentcoat sound proofing (thanks MWS)
3x exhausts - first 'custom' one was hideous, followed by a Scorpion one (now back on) followed by a full Eisenmann system that may now be on a certain auction site.
New genuine gear knob
It's about to go in for subframe and diff mounts.
Now to be clear, I could've ignored a lot of the above and no doubt it would still have got me from A to B, but it wouldn't have been right. It's been fantastic to drive and I'd much rather blow my theoretical £300 per month running this than leasing something. It's averaged 34 mpg at a rough guess due to my usage (mostly open A roads and motorway) and will return 37 on a run at 75 mph. Following my brother towing his Westfield from Devon to Bedford it returned 40 mpg, and from previous brim-brim figures it's within .5 mpg.
Whilst I could've stretched to an M3, I may not have been able to treat it with the same care and attention whilst saving for a house, so for me it's been the perfect car. It's also been the longest I've ever kept a car, both in terms of time and mileage covered.
Edited to elaborate on my usage to put my mpg figure in context. On track it averaged 9...
Edited by Spitfires on Sunday 21st July 15:19
Spitfires said:
Good point re tyres, they are sensitive to them and like a matching set.
E39s are exactly the same; god knows how folk run their cars on Livelong ditchfinders and think it's fine 
My 530i touring is a nightmare currently, even on PS4s, when I bought the alloys they were on, they weren't balanced properly so have worn unevenly, so that's the next job, new tyres all round! Edited by d_a_n1979 on Sunday 21st July 12:53
d_a_n1979 said:
E39s are exactly the same; god knows how folk run their cars on Livelong ditchfinders and think it's fine My 530i touring is a nightmare currently, even on PS4s, when I bought the alloys they were on, they weren't balanced properly so have worn uneven;y, so that's the next job, new tyres all round!
O/T but like me an E39, been following your thread, thanks for posting! My 530i touring is a nightmare currently, even on PS4s, when I bought the alloys they were on, they weren't balanced properly so have worn uneven;y, so that's the next job, new tyres all round! d_a_n1979 said:
E39s are exactly the same; god knows how folk run their cars on Livelong ditchfinders and think it's fine My 530i touring is a nightmare currently, even on PS4s, when I bought the alloys they were on, they weren't balanced properly so have worn uneven;y, so that's the next job, new tyres all round!
My Z4 was pretty bad on RFTs but the 330i was in a different league. A previous poster mentioned Goodyear F1s, which is what I've got on the Z4 and are fine. Iirc they add some rim protection too. My 530i touring is a nightmare currently, even on PS4s, when I bought the alloys they were on, they weren't balanced properly so have worn uneven;y, so that's the next job, new tyres all round! I had 2 330i Autos and my brother had 1 330i and 330ci.
All were bullet proof, automatic gearbox is fine, my ones were sheds so they didn’t have full service history and weren’t treated with the perfect care but they didn’t let me one. They both had the rocker gasket leaks but never affected the car and I couldn’t afford to fix them at the time. I had to replace the DISA valve on one of them, did it myself, very easy.
MPG wise I never saw more than 20 mpg.
If you’re going to spend 5-6k on one, make sure it’s a manual as they’ll eventually rise in value like the E36 328i’s. I don’t think 5k is necessary, you could pick up a higher mileage one for a lot less and they’re all bulletproof.
All were bullet proof, automatic gearbox is fine, my ones were sheds so they didn’t have full service history and weren’t treated with the perfect care but they didn’t let me one. They both had the rocker gasket leaks but never affected the car and I couldn’t afford to fix them at the time. I had to replace the DISA valve on one of them, did it myself, very easy.
MPG wise I never saw more than 20 mpg.
If you’re going to spend 5-6k on one, make sure it’s a manual as they’ll eventually rise in value like the E36 328i’s. I don’t think 5k is necessary, you could pick up a higher mileage one for a lot less and they’re all bulletproof.
Sticks. said:
My Z4 was pretty bad on RFTs but the 330i was in a different league. A previous poster mentioned Goodyear F1s, which is what I've got on the Z4 and are fine. Iirc they add some rim protection too.
Yeah; I'm going back to Vredestein Ultrac Vorti's; will get them sorted in the next few weeks when I finally decide what colour to refurb my Style 37s in... ay as well get them fitted at the same time by the wheel refurb folk; they're careful at doing it 
Chestrockwell said:
Something about high mileage.
Would agree a high mileage one is not a bad bet at all. I'd actually prefer a higher mileage one at a better price, provided it's got evidence of most of what I've mentioned being done. A lower mileage one will likely cost more in the first place and still eventually need these bits sorting, be it on age or mileage.As someone else said though, there're a lot of cars out there at a similar price point and a lot of them are sheds. At your budget I'd not rush into anything and look at a few, as for that money you'll be able to bag a mint one.
Thank you for all the replies. They've been very helpful.
I am not in panic to get one so can spend some time looking.
I think I'd prefer a manual based on the fact that logically, Auto could be more expensive to maintain.
Has anyone compared the 330cd to the 330ci? I am under the impression the diesel isn't remotely as nice and not really much cheaper to run?
Lastly, if anyone spots any good ones for sale, please post the links!
I am not in panic to get one so can spend some time looking.
I think I'd prefer a manual based on the fact that logically, Auto could be more expensive to maintain.
Has anyone compared the 330cd to the 330ci? I am under the impression the diesel isn't remotely as nice and not really much cheaper to run?
Lastly, if anyone spots any good ones for sale, please post the links!
ArchEnemy said:
Thank you for all the replies. They've been very helpful.
I am not in panic to get one so can spend some time looking.
I think I'd prefer a manual based on the fact that logically, Auto could be more expensive to maintain.
Has anyone compared the 330cd to the 330ci? I am under the impression the diesel isn't remotely as nice and not really much cheaper to run?
Lastly, if anyone spots any good ones for sale, please post the links!
Not sure where you are in the world; but for me, this ticks a lot of boxes and looks to be in excellent condition:I am not in panic to get one so can spend some time looking.
I think I'd prefer a manual based on the fact that logically, Auto could be more expensive to maintain.
Has anyone compared the 330cd to the 330ci? I am under the impression the diesel isn't remotely as nice and not really much cheaper to run?
Lastly, if anyone spots any good ones for sale, please post the links!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-BMW-330i-3-0-SPORT...
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