330ci information

[saleen836]

Mrs Saleen has her mind set on a 330ci model, had a quick look at a 52 plate M sport model today and I now have my instructions (colour spec etc) to find one for her, will be looking for late 00-03 depending on how much a hike in the RFL! Is there anything I should keep an eye open for? (apart from the obvious service history etc) the one we looked at today had rust bubbling up on the front off side wheel arch, is this common? is there any common faults/problems with this model?
Can anyone tell me the RFL price for a pre April 01 model and post April 01?

Thanks

[sjj84]

The tax difference is something like £40, not worth worrying about. Look for a sport model from March 2001, you get the nicer bumpers, wheels and seats. The seats are worth any price premium alone. Rust on the arches is beginning to be quite common, if you run your fingers inside the arch you'll find there is a lip, this fills with dirt and is one of the causes for the rust. I cleaned mine out every once in a while and didn't have any rust. Rear springs have a habit of snapping, they're about £80 each from the main dealers and are an easy diy change.
Good cars overall, I had mine for 3.5 years, which is twice the length of any other car I've owned.

[PaulB81]

I recently bought a 53 plate 330ci M-Sport. Tax was £245

Really loving the car. Quick enough and handles well. Makes a very nice noise too!!

[saleen836]

Thanks for the replies, will start looking properly once we have sold her current car.
Mrs Saleen has decided on the Clubsport model in Estoril blue or Black with black leather interior, have done a bit of a search on Autotrader and prices seem to vary irrelevant of mileage, have found a likely candidate but the downside is the 330odd mile distance between the car and us!

[rich85uk]

try and steer her away from a clubsport if you can.

there wasnt as many about, so less to choose from and will fetch a premium over normal 330ci models and i think the wheels and spoiler are abit marmite. if she wants a rarer e46 thats worth paying more for then i would suggest an alpina.i have nothing against clubsports just prefer the normal 330ci

if budget allows i would look at a facelift 330ci m sport manual which is what i got 2 years ago and dont regret it one bit. facelift changes are only different lights and 6 speed box but the car looks better for it IMO. m sport option is nicer bumpers,wheels,seats, m sport suspension(watch those potholes!)

right now its a buyers market so you can afford to be choosey, only settle for either full bmw service history or full service history at a well known indy garage. look out for a car thats been maintained on the cheap(cheap tyres for instance)and missed/late services

if the handling isnt very sharp then the bushes are probably going, its a heavy car and this is common. i replaced mine with powerflex bushes and the difference was shocking


gearbox can be abit clunky when cold but should be a nice precise change when warm.ask owner about oil consumption as some like to use a fair bit(1 litre to 1000 miles isnt uncommon)i check mine about once every 2 weeks but if you get the impression they never check theres then walk away, however abit of gunk under the cap is fine it just means the car has done short journeys

hope you find a good one

[saleen836]

Thanks for the info, the figures I have seen posted for the mpg is mid 30's at a steady pace of say 70 on a motorway or combined (urban/extra urban) of 31mpg how accurate are these figures?
Is there much difference in the mpg between the 5speed and the later 6 speed models?

Thanks

[PaulB81]

With my 6 speed the MPG average thingy on the dash is showing 24 but I havent had it long so have been driving enthusiastically, fast country roads only, no town or motorway.

[dumbfunk]

Both my brother and myself had 330Ci Sports with manual boxes and averaged around 24mpg in mixed commuting. Ace cars though.

[bluetone]

Lots of buying advice/info here: http://www.e46zone.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1...

I get 28-35mpg, the latter cruising on the m'way.

If your chosen model has runflat tyres, expect a firm ride...

[dooosuk]

I've had 2 330ci Sport's in manual form.

The first averaged 32mpg on the motorway at around 80mph, combined of around 27/28mpg on 9mile commute to work (mixture of 30mph and 40mph roads)

The second seem to get around 33mpg on the motorway, and just under 30mpg on the same commute.

All figures calculated from fuel put in the tank...not the dash guage (although that isnt too far out).

[rich85uk]

saleen836 said:

Thanks for the info, the figures I have seen posted for the mpg is mid 30's at a steady pace of say 70 on a motorway or combined (urban/extra urban) of 31mpg how accurate are these figures?
Is there much difference in the mpg between the 5speed and the later 6 speed models?

Thanks

aslong as your strict enough to stick to 70ish then yeah those figures sound about right.

when i first got my 330ci i worked out on a full tank i had managed 343 miles @ 29MPG. that was a mixture of a gentle 6 mile commute on a roads, town driving and weekend blasts/night time blasts

now the novelty of the whole 'new car' thing has worn off and im not hooning it as much the car is noticably better on fuel

[rich85uk]

oh and regards to the 5 speed vs 6 speed i have heard comments on here that there is no difference except that the 6 speed has an extra gear bolted on, and the ration between 5 and 6 is quite close so doesnt make that much difference.

having said that i do use 6th gear when i can. and on a motorway @ a steady speed it could be the difference of sitting in that 'eco'zone at a steady speed

[saleen836]

Thanks again all, the current DD is a Golf GTTDi which as you will most likely know returns approx 50mpg on her 48mile round trip to work and back,she is prepared for the extra expense on fuel and RFL but this has been forgotten about after discovering the insurance quote for her on the Clubsport dropped by just over £300 by altering her birth date by a month making her 25 before she would want the insurance to start!

[ghibbett]

Just a quick note of my recent fuel consumption experiences.

Last week I had to drive back to the UK (from Austria) for my MOT. The drive is autobahn/autoroute/motorway 99% of the way, but of course a lot of that is derestricted German autobahn. Once I arrived in the UK I used the car for pottering around town and what not. Then back to Austria (in one day - 900 miles) making the most of the speeds allowed on the autobahn. In total I did 2300 miles and the trip computer showed 30.0mpg, however I've calculated the fuel mileage and it was 31.28mpg. Oh, and mine is a 330i Auto.

[Seeker UK]

Personally I'd avoid the M-Sport model. I had a 330CD M-Sport and the 18" wheels made an uncomfortable ride and I ended up kerbing all 4 in the space of 2 months.

The main thing to look for in an E46 IIRC is the water pump - they're plastic and can fail. See if they've had a replacement. If not, budget to change for a metal one.

[edit]

Thought about an Alpina B3? They're coming in at a good price now and come well specced. Cost of ownership (bar insurance) is pretty much on a par with a 330ci.

[saleen836]

Have been doing more homework with regards to insurance for Mrs Saleen and was pleasently surprised at the quotes received from one of the comparison websites, best quote is coming in at just over £400 on the M Sport with me as a named driver on the policy.

[rharris21]

saleen836 said:

Have been doing more homework with regards to insurance for Mrs Saleen and was pleasently surprised at the quotes received from one of the comparison websites, best quote is coming in at just over £400 on the M Sport with me as a named driver on the policy.

They are very reasonable on insurance prices. I'm 22 with 5 years NCB and my renewal was £540. Try admiral - have been with them for 4 years now and they've been the cheapest for me by miles every year.

Have you looked at the standard versions? I have an SE with msport memory seats, mv1 alloys and a spoiler - all extras I believe. My friend has the msport version and yes it looks 'sportier' at the front but then parts are more expensive etc and it is a firmer ride. Mine handles brilliantly - very grippy indeed.
I have not had one problem with mine apart from wear and tear brake discs etc. Do check for rust appearing round the arches and door seals etc.

Other than that they are a great car and MPG wise I have averaged 28.5 MPG according to the OBC. Duel carriageway and b road commutes. They are around £84 to fill up now.

Good luck in finding one.

[*Al*]

Great cars imo but i would say that because i own one! . I recenty took a trip to the south coast, a return journey of 170 miles mostly motorway and averaged 35mpg which i think is good for a 3.0L car. Mine is the 'marmite' Clubsport. Good luck finding a black one as most people will tell you Clubsports didn't come in black! But they did, Carbon black with believed around 6 registered in the UK and i have one.

[PJ S]

Show off!
Nice motor, and does look well with the Schnorbitz in place.
Like you, I'm all Estoril'd out.

[Challo]

Sorry to hijack the topic...im also on the look out for a 330 or 325, and just wondered if the auto boxes are any good? And what the MPG is like on these if any different?