M3 vs 330ci Running costs
Discussion
Picture the scene......£25k to spend (ish) and I thought about another 330ci. Then I start looking at the M3's 2003/4. Is there much difference in the running costs, or anything else I should know?
I loved my 330ci, and wished I'd never got rid of it now. Hindsight, a great asset!
Cheers.
I loved my 330ci, and wished I'd never got rid of it now. Hindsight, a great asset!
Cheers.
Yeah, I have driven one as I was tied between an older M3 and my 330... I chose the 330! However, you can't really get the best from it during a test drive, I didn't really want to take the piss!
Is there anything I should be aware of? ie work I should make sure has been done? Also is mileage an issue? Looking at ones with around 30k on them.
Thanks again.
Is there anything I should be aware of? ie work I should make sure has been done? Also is mileage an issue? Looking at ones with around 30k on them.
Thanks again.
One of the biggest extra costs over the 330i is for servicing. Oil services will be similar in price, however the inspection 1 and inspection 2 on the M3 are in the order of £750 and £850 respectively at the main dealer.
That said the car does go 13-15,000 miles between services, and if you're prepared to do a bit of phoning around and don't mind travelling, you'll probably save a good bit on these prices.
Probably the most important thing when buying an M3 is to make sure the 1,200 mile running in service was done on time i.e before the car had done 1,700 miles. This service is vitally important, as the car is run on thin oil up to that point to allow the bedding in of components in the engine, gearbox and rear axle. If the service is not done then it can void warranty claims on these components, and will significantly de value the car.
That said the car does go 13-15,000 miles between services, and if you're prepared to do a bit of phoning around and don't mind travelling, you'll probably save a good bit on these prices.
Probably the most important thing when buying an M3 is to make sure the 1,200 mile running in service was done on time i.e before the car had done 1,700 miles. This service is vitally important, as the car is run on thin oil up to that point to allow the bedding in of components in the engine, gearbox and rear axle. If the service is not done then it can void warranty claims on these components, and will significantly de value the car.
M5Dave said:
One of the biggest extra costs over the 330i is for servicing. Oil services will be similar in price, however the inspection 1 and inspection 2 on the M3 are in the order of £750 and £850 respectively at the main dealer.
That said the car does go 13-15,000 miles between services, and if you're prepared to do a bit of phoning around and don't mind travelling, you'll probably save a good bit on these prices.
Probably the most important thing when buying an M3 is to make sure the 1,200 mile running in service was done on time i.e before the car had done 1,700 miles. This service is vitally important, as the car is run on thin oil up to that point to allow the bedding in of components in the engine, gearbox and rear axle. If the service is not done then it can void warranty claims on these components, and will significantly de value the car.
That said the car does go 13-15,000 miles between services, and if you're prepared to do a bit of phoning around and don't mind travelling, you'll probably save a good bit on these prices.
Probably the most important thing when buying an M3 is to make sure the 1,200 mile running in service was done on time i.e before the car had done 1,700 miles. This service is vitally important, as the car is run on thin oil up to that point to allow the bedding in of components in the engine, gearbox and rear axle. If the service is not done then it can void warranty claims on these components, and will significantly de value the car.
Great stuff, thanks Dave.
Just gone from an e46 328 to an m3 - fuel consumption quite a lot worse, servicing more expensive (more expensive oil for starters) and I just had to replace a ball joint, except with the m3 the whole arm has to be renewed, therefore part is £246+VAT as opposed to about £90 for all other models.... realise these are only minor things but it will cost a chunk more to run in my view... ps. worth it tho.
I swapped from a 330ci to an M3 2 years ago, the 330 is a lovely car, very refined but I always really wanted the M3, it's a totally different car, IMO the M is far better in every area. Running cost wise, i still get 26-29mpg depending so no more really on fuel, servicing is a bit more, maybe £400 / yr morem, tyres are maybe £200 / set more and last approx 1/5th less, so in reality the difference isn't tghat much, which is why the M3 really is an incredible package, do it
The E46 M3 doesn't have many reliability issues, particularly if you buy one with the standard manual gearbox.
It was subject of several recalls over the years, one being related to the bearings in the bottom of the engine, and it's essential to thoroughly check the history of any car to make sure these were attended to.
The SMG gearboxes can give bother, as can the differential, but if you buy a car with full history(including the running in service done on time), and all the recall work done, then of all the M cars this is probably the one, IMO, that you could get away with running without a warranty.
If you decide to do without a warranty, I would suggest avoiding the SMG box. As previously said, they are problamatic, and can cost big money put right.
It was subject of several recalls over the years, one being related to the bearings in the bottom of the engine, and it's essential to thoroughly check the history of any car to make sure these were attended to.
The SMG gearboxes can give bother, as can the differential, but if you buy a car with full history(including the running in service done on time), and all the recall work done, then of all the M cars this is probably the one, IMO, that you could get away with running without a warranty.
If you decide to do without a warranty, I would suggest avoiding the SMG box. As previously said, they are problamatic, and can cost big money put right.
As I understand it there is an excess on the warranty of £250... I've just had the throttle potentiometer and an ignition coil go on mine, which I presume would have been covered under the warranty, except that the total cost of repair was £210. I see little point in the warranty unless something major goes pop, but at over a grand a year for the warranty, I would rather self insure. Maybe a different story if I had that stupi smg box tho..
adom said:
As I understand it there is an excess on the warranty of £250... I've just had the throttle potentiometer and an ignition coil go on mine, which I presume would have been covered under the warranty, except that the total cost of repair was £210. I see little point in the warranty unless something major goes pop, but at over a grand a year for the warranty, I would rather self insure. Maybe a different story if I had that stupi smg box tho..
That's just the kind of thinking going on with me!!
TheKeyboardDemon said:
I've heard of some people taking a 330ci and getting these chipped and tuned to give better performance than an M3, however I'm not too familiar with the details.
Chipping a 231 bhp 330ci to beyond the 343 bhp of an M3?
You would need a supercharger kit for that...
markda said:
It doesn't seem like much more, but it all adds up, servicing costs +insurance +fuel (super unleaded) +tyres (if you have the 19in wheels). I get nowhere near 14k miles between services, but that's probably due to the short journeys I have been doing recently.
you say it all adds up but if you spread it over per annum you wont notice the difference, but you will notice the difference between the 2 cars
rassi said:
TheKeyboardDemon said:
I've heard of some people taking a 330ci and getting these chipped and tuned to give better performance than an M3, however I'm not too familiar with the details.
Chipping a 231 bhp 330ci to beyond the 343 bhp of an M3?
You would need a supercharger kit for that...
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