e46 - Saloon v coupe (& 325i v 330i)
Discussion
Hi guys
Yes....me again, with more questions! I'm hopefully just a few weeks away from actively shopping (as opposed to window shopping!) for my next BMW.
I'm pretty settled on it be an e46 (rather than another e39) and my ideal car will be a 2001-2003 330i Sport auto saloon, around 100k miles and looking to pay under £4k.
However, scanning the classifieds, the availability of coupes seems to be far greater than the saloons.
Now, the back seats won't be used much, just occasionally by my 2 children (7 and 3) at weekends......so my main question is, is the legroom in the rear of the coupe significantly less than in the saloon? What about boot space? Again, unlikely to be a deal breaker, but ideally we'll be using the car for our annual holiday.....usually a trip down to Cornwall......as I can't stand my wife's Galaxy for long journeys!!
Finally (I think), are there any pitfalls with the 325 engine over the 330? OK, power is 297bhp v 231bhp, but is one more reliable than the other? Is there much of a saving in fuel consumption between the two?
All feedback greatfully received.
Cheers
Paul
Yes....me again, with more questions! I'm hopefully just a few weeks away from actively shopping (as opposed to window shopping!) for my next BMW.
I'm pretty settled on it be an e46 (rather than another e39) and my ideal car will be a 2001-2003 330i Sport auto saloon, around 100k miles and looking to pay under £4k.
However, scanning the classifieds, the availability of coupes seems to be far greater than the saloons.
Now, the back seats won't be used much, just occasionally by my 2 children (7 and 3) at weekends......so my main question is, is the legroom in the rear of the coupe significantly less than in the saloon? What about boot space? Again, unlikely to be a deal breaker, but ideally we'll be using the car for our annual holiday.....usually a trip down to Cornwall......as I can't stand my wife's Galaxy for long journeys!!
Finally (I think), are there any pitfalls with the 325 engine over the 330? OK, power is 297bhp v 231bhp, but is one more reliable than the other? Is there much of a saving in fuel consumption between the two?
All feedback greatfully received.
Cheers
Paul
Hi Paul. I'll start this off for you by saying just get the 330i. Every thread that comes up on this suggests that there is no point getting the 2.5i as the running costs etc. are basically the same. Only the insurance may be a bit cheaper. Can't answer your other questions as I have had two coupes. Never had any problems with rear leg room but then the rear was hardly used to be honest.
I've had a couple of e46 saloons and I'm on my second coupe. There's no problem with room in the back of the coupe compared to the saloon and the boot opening on the coupe is actually larger. Best thing is the versatility of the folding (load through) rear seats which are standard on the coupe and a rarely found option on saloons.
I might add I'm 6 foot and partial to salad. I don't have the drivers seat all the way back by any means and I don't bang my head on the roof in the back either. Coupes are cool
I might add I'm 6 foot and partial to salad. I don't have the drivers seat all the way back by any means and I don't bang my head on the roof in the back either. Coupes are cool
Edited by blondini on Sunday 4th March 12:27
The legroom in the rear of the coupe isn't too bad. The roofline is lower, though, so tall occupants will naturally slide down a little which requires more legroom.
If you have tall people up front, this can be a bit problematic.
I'm 6'4" (genuinely powerfully built with a goatee, too) so my seat is pretty much all the way back. As a result, there's no room in the back unless you have a leg amputee or a person under 5' in the seat.
I can shift the seat forward enough to compensate for a taller person, but I certainly wouldn't want to drive too far in that sort of position.
They're both good looking cars to be fair and the amount on the market should mean you get closer to the spec that you need - although coupes do tend to reign and be better specced.
I actually looked for a saloon but ended up in a coupe because it was better specced, newer and cheaper than the saloon examples I could find. Go figure.
If you have tall people up front, this can be a bit problematic.
I'm 6'4" (genuinely powerfully built with a goatee, too) so my seat is pretty much all the way back. As a result, there's no room in the back unless you have a leg amputee or a person under 5' in the seat.
I can shift the seat forward enough to compensate for a taller person, but I certainly wouldn't want to drive too far in that sort of position.
They're both good looking cars to be fair and the amount on the market should mean you get closer to the spec that you need - although coupes do tend to reign and be better specced.
I actually looked for a saloon but ended up in a coupe because it was better specced, newer and cheaper than the saloon examples I could find. Go figure.
I've got a 330i saloon, my brother the ci. In sport guise I think both are good looking but the coupe is a bit of pain if you do regularly need the rear seats, access isnt great and the roof is low. One major difference as mentioned above is that the seats go down in the coupe but this is rarely available with the saloon for some reason. That means you can actually carry a lot more in the coupe. Also te hk stereo eats up boot space so watch out for that. I manage with a baby taking the pram an all that caper but if I did it again I'd probably hold out for a well specc'd estate. I think the touring looks great in sport trim, manuals are rare so if you fancy one be patient. The economy is definitely better in my manual than my bro's auto.
are the rear seats in the saloon the same as the rear seats in the coupe? as in my coupe the 2 on the end sink down to almost a bucket style design and the people who have been in the back on mine have commented how comfy they are and a few have been fairly tall salad dodgers, however the middle seat has been compromised and sits alot higher which could be a problem with the sloping coupe roof. there is also less legroom
as for 325 or 330 as others have said you get extra performance with the 330 that wont cost you anymore to run(servicing and fuel) these are heavy cars and while im happy with the performance of my 330ci if it was over 30bhp less i might be thinking to myself if only i chose the 330...
when i was in the same situation i mainly looked at 330's, but there was a few 325's that came in perfect spec etc and a good price so i wouldnt rule them out altogether
as for 325 or 330 as others have said you get extra performance with the 330 that wont cost you anymore to run(servicing and fuel) these are heavy cars and while im happy with the performance of my 330ci if it was over 30bhp less i might be thinking to myself if only i chose the 330...
when i was in the same situation i mainly looked at 330's, but there was a few 325's that came in perfect spec etc and a good price so i wouldnt rule them out altogether
Thanks all......and apologies for the BHP typo! (at least I got one right!!)
It'll be an auto, for sure (I have a toy with a manual 'box for the weekends) but it's good to know I'm probably no worse off with the 330 over the 325.
I think I need to try and find a coupe at a dealer and try it out for size (I don't want to mess around a private seller if I can help it). I do prefer the coupe's looks, but it's not as if the saloon is a munter! Just need to load the kids in the back and ensure I don't need to compromise the driving position too much (I'm 6ft and don't like salads).
Thanks again
It'll be an auto, for sure (I have a toy with a manual 'box for the weekends) but it's good to know I'm probably no worse off with the 330 over the 325.
I think I need to try and find a coupe at a dealer and try it out for size (I don't want to mess around a private seller if I can help it). I do prefer the coupe's looks, but it's not as if the saloon is a munter! Just need to load the kids in the back and ensure I don't need to compromise the driving position too much (I'm 6ft and don't like salads).
Thanks again
I have a mate with a 330 and another with a 325, the 330 doing same distance/ driving style both auto the 330 averages 19mpg and the 325 gets 25 mpg round town.
May not seem much but depending on the mileage you do can add up.
You always find the 330 boys saying there the same mpg as the 325 but it's not true, maybe on paper in the spec but when ever is that right in the real world.
May not seem much but depending on the mileage you do can add up.
You always find the 330 boys saying there the same mpg as the 325 but it's not true, maybe on paper in the spec but when ever is that right in the real world.
The majority of my driving is on the motorway, so I'm hoping for high 20s from the 330i......which is what my overweight/underpowered 520i auto manages (28mpg)
I would go diesel, but higher mileage diesels scare me a little (already replaced turbo and intercooler on my wife's Galaxy). Plus, the petrols are cheaper to buy and with diesel around 9p/litre more expensive, there's probably not a massive difference in overall running costs.
Besides, the 330i sounds sublime
I would go diesel, but higher mileage diesels scare me a little (already replaced turbo and intercooler on my wife's Galaxy). Plus, the petrols are cheaper to buy and with diesel around 9p/litre more expensive, there's probably not a massive difference in overall running costs.
Besides, the 330i sounds sublime
TT, Mrs Saleen has a 330 coupe (man) and travels approx 50miles a day for work, this is mostly A road with a few villages in between, she doesn't drive like Miss Daisy and gets between 350-400miles per tank of Morrisons unleaded, as mentioned if your doing mostly motorway at normal speeds you should see the same or a little more from the auto.
2002 330 Ci manual with nearly 100k miles on the clock here. Not had it long, but 100 mile motorway trip and the OBC was reading over 35mpg by the time I left the motorway - and I wasn't specifically driving with economy in mind, so I reckon I could eek a few more MPG out of it if I tried.
Used to have a 2003 320 Ci auto (basically same engine, but a 2.2), and I used to manage 40mpg out of that on the same journey.
Every day urban A road driving in light traffic down here in Dorset, and its more like high 20s. Still really pleased with that, and its just as economical as our other car (an E91 325i touring).
Used to have a 2003 320 Ci auto (basically same engine, but a 2.2), and I used to manage 40mpg out of that on the same journey.
Every day urban A road driving in light traffic down here in Dorset, and its more like high 20s. Still really pleased with that, and its just as economical as our other car (an E91 325i touring).
Can confirm, just drove from Bristol to Surrey via M32, M4, wiggly bit, M3, M25. 36 mpg out of my 330 ci until I turned off te motorway. Dropped to 35 after a mile or two of B road squiggly into the final location (just thought I'd test the engine).
Super car - I have had my coupe for 2 weeks and am becoming more and more happy with it. You should easily find a decent one as above for 4k.
Super car - I have had my coupe for 2 weeks and am becoming more and more happy with it. You should easily find a decent one as above for 4k.
saleen836 said:
TT, Mrs Saleen has a 330 coupe (man) and travels approx 50miles a day for work, this is mostly A road with a few villages in between, she doesn't drive like Miss Daisy and gets between 350-400miles per tank of Morrisons unleaded, as mentioned if your doing mostly motorway at normal speeds you should see the same or a little more from the auto.
Hello matey, fancy seeing you in here 
Thanks for the info (and thanks to everyone else, too). Still seems bonkers to me that a 330i will be as, if not more, economical than my glacially slow 520i, but I think that's more a reflection of what a poor performer my current car is.
Getting quite excited now.....just need to get my sticky fingers on my bonus at the end of the month
OK, this one has got me a little excited
Would prefer a 330, but the 325 is still almost 50bhp more than my 520.....and it'll be lighter. Also, not usually a fan of cream interiors, but it seems to work with the black paint. 100k and 3200 seems a good price.
Soooooo, anything I should be wary of?
Would prefer a 330, but the 325 is still almost 50bhp more than my 520.....and it'll be lighter. Also, not usually a fan of cream interiors, but it seems to work with the black paint. 100k and 3200 seems a good price.
Soooooo, anything I should be wary of?
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