E46 320Ci price query
Discussion
Dear PH`s
Just been to look at a 2003 53 plate 320Ci manual with full motorsport bodykit and full motorsport leather.The car has 118k the last service was at 113k.BM service history up to about 100k and AN other after that.It has had 3 prev keepers.The engine sounds very sweet although I didnt have time to test drive(I will though).The interior appears in mint condition with everything working.Exterior wise there are minor scratches here and there and the bonnet has some chipping but not terrible.There are no dents I can see anywhere on the bodywork but nearside front alloy is fairly scuffed.The seller is trade operating from home and it was at £6475 now £6175.What do you think of the price ?
Many thanks.
Just been to look at a 2003 53 plate 320Ci manual with full motorsport bodykit and full motorsport leather.The car has 118k the last service was at 113k.BM service history up to about 100k and AN other after that.It has had 3 prev keepers.The engine sounds very sweet although I didnt have time to test drive(I will though).The interior appears in mint condition with everything working.Exterior wise there are minor scratches here and there and the bonnet has some chipping but not terrible.There are no dents I can see anywhere on the bodywork but nearside front alloy is fairly scuffed.The seller is trade operating from home and it was at £6475 now £6175.What do you think of the price ?
Many thanks.
richyb said:
From looking at a glass guide for a coupe and similar ones local to me I reckon around £5,500 is a good price. I'd be tempted to offer £5500 cash with maybe £200 room for movement if you really like it.
Cheers RichyEdited by richyb on Monday 1st June 13:54
Its more than I wanted to pay for a car right now but I was thinking about that sort of figure.I should really be buying a touring though.We have two small muts and an 8yr old who wants to do some camping.I should be buying with my head rather than my heart.We also have a Polo 5dr TDi sport though which could do that job hmmmmmm !
Its always tough getting the head heart thing right. I am currently looking at getting a 4X4 to do some towing/work with and my ideas changed from selling my 740i and adding £1k to it and getting soemthing, to selling it and adding £2k-£3k to it, to keeping the 740i and getting getting a 4X4 as well. I lost logic somewhere along the way I think! The rule I go by is just sit tight and do your homework. These aren't rare cars so its well worth looking for a few months to find a perfect one fo you. Just my approach to it.
richyb said:
Its always tough getting the head heart thing right. I am currently looking at getting a 4X4 to do some towing/work with and my ideas changed from selling my 740i and adding £1k to it and getting soemthing, to selling it and adding £2k-£3k to it, to keeping the 740i and getting getting a 4X4 as well. I lost logic somewhere along the way I think! The rule I go by is just sit tight and do your homework. These aren't rare cars so its well worth looking for a few months to find a perfect one fo you. Just my approach to it.
Cheers Richy the wife is yearning for a BM convertible but they start at about 8k with sport spec.I would be interested in your opinion on used prices are they still strong or are they weakening ?
I couldn't really say. I think its totally dependant on the type of vehicle. Big V8s either in bargain barge form or luxury 4X4 are really cheap for what you get. With fuel prices creeping up again and this new emissions related road tax its only going to have a negative effect on prices. I was looking at a nissan terrano online this morning and the road tax is £405 a year. On a £2k car thats only going to be doing 4000 miles a year its just not worth it.
Is it particularly the 3 series your interested in? Lots of bigger BMWs going to peanuts at the moment. 7 series especially which have massive boots and the option of LWB for kids/dogs.
Is it particularly the 3 series your interested in? Lots of bigger BMWs going to peanuts at the moment. 7 series especially which have massive boots and the option of LWB for kids/dogs.
richyb said:
I couldn't really say. I think its totally dependant on the type of vehicle. Big V8s either in bargain barge form or luxury 4X4 are really cheap for what you get. With fuel prices creeping up again and this new emissions related road tax its only going to have a negative effect on prices. I was looking at a nissan terrano online this morning and the road tax is £405 a year. On a £2k car thats only going to be doing 4000 miles a year its just not worth it.
Is it particularly the 3 series your interested in? Lots of bigger BMWs going to peanuts at the moment. 7 series especially which have massive boots and the option of LWB for kids/dogs.
I like the 7 series but she wont have one of those.She can pretty much drive anything but its too big especially if she has to use it herself for work if hers breaks down.That goes for the 5 too unfortunately.Is it particularly the 3 series your interested in? Lots of bigger BMWs going to peanuts at the moment. 7 series especially which have massive boots and the option of LWB for kids/dogs.
On a different note I have also seen advertised by traders two Audi Avant 1.8T sports both with leather both 2003 models with about 80k.One at £5975 the other at £6500.
macp said:
richyb said:
Its always tough getting the head heart thing right. I am currently looking at getting a 4X4 to do some towing/work with and my ideas changed from selling my 740i and adding £1k to it and getting soemthing, to selling it and adding £2k-£3k to it, to keeping the 740i and getting getting a 4X4 as well. I lost logic somewhere along the way I think! The rule I go by is just sit tight and do your homework. These aren't rare cars so its well worth looking for a few months to find a perfect one fo you. Just my approach to it.
Cheers Richy the wife is yearning for a BM convertible but they start at about 8k with sport spec.I would be interested in your opinion on used prices are they still strong or are they weakening ?
Is the Coupe you are looking at an SE with sport goodies?
I know where there is an awesome low mileage 330 sport cab for sale if you are interested.
paoloh said:
macp said:
richyb said:
Its always tough getting the head heart thing right. I am currently looking at getting a 4X4 to do some towing/work with and my ideas changed from selling my 740i and adding £1k to it and getting soemthing, to selling it and adding £2k-£3k to it, to keeping the 740i and getting getting a 4X4 as well. I lost logic somewhere along the way I think! The rule I go by is just sit tight and do your homework. These aren't rare cars so its well worth looking for a few months to find a perfect one fo you. Just my approach to it.
Cheers Richy the wife is yearning for a BM convertible but they start at about 8k with sport spec.I would be interested in your opinion on used prices are they still strong or are they weakening ?
Is the Coupe you are looking at an SE with sport goodies?
I know where there is an awesome low mileage 330 sport cab for sale if you are interested.
Not sure its described as a 320Ci Sport and certainly seems like a sport with the Black headlining.Im intrigued by your mention of the 330 cab ?
paoloh said:
macp said:
richyb said:
Its always tough getting the head heart thing right. I am currently looking at getting a 4X4 to do some towing/work with and my ideas changed from selling my 740i and adding £1k to it and getting soemthing, to selling it and adding £2k-£3k to it, to keeping the 740i and getting getting a 4X4 as well. I lost logic somewhere along the way I think! The rule I go by is just sit tight and do your homework. These aren't rare cars so its well worth looking for a few months to find a perfect one fo you. Just my approach to it.
Cheers Richy the wife is yearning for a BM convertible but they start at about 8k with sport spec.I would be interested in your opinion on used prices are they still strong or are they weakening ?
Is the Coupe you are looking at an SE with sport goodies?
I know where there is an awesome low mileage 330 sport cab for sale if you are interested.
Not sure its described as a 320Ci Sport and certainly seems like a sport with the Black/charcoal headlining.Im intrigued by your mention of the 330 cab ?
macp said:
Just been to look at a 2003 53 plate 320Ci manual with full motorsport bodykit and full motorsport leather.The car has 118k the last service was at 113k.BM service history up to about 100k and AN other after that.It has had 3 prev keepers.The engine sounds very sweet although I didnt have
In February, I paid £5500 for an auto 320Ci (see my profile) with 107k on the clock. Also a 2003, but a 52 plate not 53 (left the factory late in 2002). One previous owner and full BMWSH right up to the month before it was part exchanged.Was there a mild facelift some time during 2003?
Don't know what the motorsport body kit and leather is, but the coupe has sporty kind of exterior trim anyway (bumpers etc.). Mine has manually adjustable black leather seats, including the adjustable thigh support. The DVLA have it down as an Ci SE, but everything else describes it as a Ci.
I bought mine as a motorway hack, and normally its only me that is going to be in it. So comfort in the front of the car was of paramount importance.
However, once you have clambered in to the back, its actually quite roomy and comfy for rear seat passengers.
The boot is also surprisingly big.
Any questions, let me know.
Cheers,
Steve.
If you are looking at a 320, you then consider a 325 as the prices and running costs are so close. Then you'll realise you can get the proper one, the 330 because the prices and running costs are again not that more.
I have a 320 a while back - nice sound, but fairly average performance on par with it's 4-cyl rivals.
If you are paying 6-pot running costs, you may as well enjoy some decent performance IMO.
I have a 320 a while back - nice sound, but fairly average performance on par with it's 4-cyl rivals.
If you are paying 6-pot running costs, you may as well enjoy some decent performance IMO.
stevesuk said:
macp said:
Just been to look at a 2003 53 plate 320Ci manual with full motorsport bodykit and full motorsport leather.The car has 118k the last service was at 113k.BM service history up to about 100k and AN other after that.It has had 3 prev keepers.The engine sounds very sweet although I didnt have
In February, I paid £5500 for an auto 320Ci (see my profile) with 107k on the clock. Also a 2003, but a 52 plate not 53 (left the factory late in 2002). One previous owner and full BMWSH right up to the month before it was part exchanged.Was there a mild facelift some time during 2003?
Don't know what the motorsport body kit and leather is, but the coupe has sporty kind of exterior trim anyway (bumpers etc.). Mine has manually adjustable black leather seats, including the adjustable thigh support. The DVLA have it down as an Ci SE, but everything else describes it as a Ci.
I bought mine as a motorway hack, and normally its only me that is going to be in it. So comfort in the front of the car was of paramount importance.
However, once you have clambered in to the back, its actually quite roomy and comfy for rear seat passengers.
The boot is also surprisingly big.
Any questions, let me know.
Cheers,
Steve.
Matt UK said:
If you are looking at a 320, you then consider a 325 as the prices and running costs are so close. Then you'll realise you can get the proper one, the 330 because the prices and running costs are again not that more.
I have a 320 a while back - nice sound, but fairly average performance on par with it's 4-cyl rivals.
If you are paying 6-pot running costs, you may as well enjoy some decent performance IMO.
Its the price though Matt I would be looking at the thick end of 7 or 8k to get into a 325 or 330 and then I would have to have a manual.I have a 320 a while back - nice sound, but fairly average performance on par with it's 4-cyl rivals.
If you are paying 6-pot running costs, you may as well enjoy some decent performance IMO.
macp said:
Hi Steve thanks for the post.So what is the 320 like on the motorway.I personally prefer a nice relaxed refined feel when on the motorway as opposed to feeling and sounding frantic.Nothing wrong with that but not when you have a 3-400 mile trip in front of you.
If I drive it sedately at legal motorway speeds it will manage 40mpg, which is much better than I thought I'd get. Not very "Piston Heads" I know, but when you are just driving to work, its handy to know that if back off a bit, you can achieve decent MPG.I don't have much experience of driving really powerful cars, so I might not be the best person to comment. It seems plenty quick enough for what I need though, and will comfortably cruise and hold its own in the fast lane. Mine's an auto so the manual is probably a bit different (probably feels quicker?). But I did find out the other day that if you boot it at 70, the autobox changes down a gear, and it feels like its got plenty of poke left!
Quite pleased with mine really. I knew there were a few things that needed looking at. The rear coil springs needed replacing (a common E46 problem, might be worth checking). And I found the very early stages of rust on the passenger side rear wheel arch, which I got sorted last week.
Other than that, it seems a solid car, and feels spot on to drive. The coupes seemed to come with more toys as standard too (parking sensors, CD autochanger, climate, cruise control etc.). Being a 6 cylander, it sounds lovely too
Although I did often think maybe I should have held out and spent more money and got a 325/330i with sat-nav/xenons etc... like you say, you know how much you realistically want to spend on a car. I avoided the early E46 because I read all these issues about sub-frame cracking on < 2001 cars. I knew how much I wanted to spend, and it just happened this one was a "right enough" car at the right price. Still had to travel 40 miles to find it though.
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