E46 330i Sport Touring (First real BMW ownership)

[VEA]

Morning all,

I have posted this on a couple of other threads but I thought I should start my own Reader's Car thread as I have never done one before.

So I sold my 05 plate Mini Cooper S JCW (Full Factory build) at the end of last week, I loved it, but I had it a year and a half (the longest I have ever owned a car) and wanted something new. I spent most of the weekend looking at a number of different things ranging from Alfa 147 GTA's/ GT V6's to big 4x4's. A friend then sent me a link to the car I ended up purchasing yesterday.
A 57k 52 plate E46 330i Sport Touring. Full Service History, and a lot of options ticked.

I have only managed to take one photo of it so far but I will include the advert photos too.








I really like the red leather, very different and makes it stand out a bit!

I drove down to Poole yesterday afternoon with a friend to go and take a look and see if it was as good as it looked in the advert. As you can tell, it was.
It drives well, no knocking, or strange noises anywhere. The paint work is pristine for a car of its age, only a couple of stone chips on the front. The interior is immaculate bar a little wear on the driver side bolster which I will take care of.


Yours, one very happy chappy

[BriC175]

Lovely. Love the red leather too, although looks a bit odd with it being in a green car!

[Disco You]

Great colour combo!

I thought at first that the keys on the bonnet in the first picture was a massive bird poo!

[VEA]

Disco You said:

Great colour combo!

I thought at first that the keys on the bonnet in the first picture was a massive bird poo!

haha, nope I put them there as a replacement for custard as I had nothing else to hand.

[mini1380cc]

What is the button below the drivers window switch? Is it something to do with the tailgate?

[VEA]

mini1380cc said:

What is the button below the drivers window switch? Is it something to do with the tailgate?

Window lock for the rear windows.

[BullyB]

Nice looking car!
I have a 2004 one - fun to drive, fast, great cruiser and dog fits in the boot.
Enjoy.

A good investment for me was a set of winter wheels and tyres as it can be a bit crazy in ice and snow.

[liller]

love that colour, rarely see them.

You said lots of options ticked, other than the phone, I can't see anything above what is standard on this model. Perhaps I missed something?

[VEA]

liller said:

love that colour, rarely see them.

You said lots of options ticked, other than the phone, I can't see anything above what is standard on this model. Perhaps I missed something?

To be honest I just presumed there were lots options ticked. The only other 3 series touring I have driven was a 318i so perhaps the 330 comes with more as standard...

Stuff I thought would be option:
///M Steering wheel (plus the other ///M stuff)
Carbon Dash
6 Disk Changer
Auto Headlights
Rear Park Sensors
Detachable Tow Bar (Never Used)


Again, being new to BMW my knowledge of what would have been standard is limited.

[BullyB]

liller said:

love that colour, rarely see them.

You said lots of options ticked, other than the phone, I can't see anything above what is standard on this model. Perhaps I missed something?

thats a good point, I have a row of buttons above the ash tray for the Bose system and heated seats.
Is there a button to turn the TC off?

[VEA]

BullyB said:

thats a good point, I have a row of buttons above the ash tray for the Bose system and heated seats.
Is there a button to turn the TC off?

Yeah theres the DST button, but it doesn't have the upgraded sound system

[Jimmy No Hands]

Lovely! Would be my first choice if I was in the market for an estate. Still miss my 3.0 Z4, engine was a work of art.

[GuyWMD]

Very nice, looks clean.

Love the red leather, but not so sold on the green. (I'm just not a green fan myself!)

The phone + towbar would have been options but the rest is standard kit for on the Sports.

[Luca Brasi]

BullyB said:

thats a good point, I have a row of buttons above the ash tray for the Bose system and heated seats.
Is there a button to turn the TC off?

HK, not Bose.

[Evangelion]

Has it had the carbon fibre mod done on the dash? That's quite common in my expereince as those grey panels seem to go very scruffy very quickly.

[VEA]

Evangelion said:

Has it had the carbon fibre mod done on the dash? That's quite common in my expereince as those grey panels seem to go very scruffy very quickly.

It has carbon on the dash, around the gear stick and on the doors. Is that a mod and not a factory option?

[E30M3SE]

The genuine BMW carbon type trim is called 'Black cube',



the pictures of yours doesn't quite look as above.

Nice looking car, unusual colour combo green with red but works quite well.

[VEA]

E30M3SE said:

the pictures of yours doesn't quite look as above.

Nice looking car, unusual colour combo green with red but works quite well.

I'll need to look closer and see, I certainly think it has parts of it at least, maybe I need to buy some bits to complete it.


It is an odd colour combination, I love it.

[BullyB]

Luca Brasi said:

BullyB said:

thats a good point, I have a row of buttons above the ash tray for the Bose system and heated seats.
Is there a button to turn the TC off?

HK, not Bose.

you are correct!

[Tayne]

I have the original purchase invoice for my 52 plate 330 (coupe though) and from that I'd say the option boxes ticked on yours were leather (cost £800 for the coupe), armrest (£125) and the cube trim on the dash (mine has myrtle wood at an original cost of £250).
The six-disc changer is listed as a dealer-fit accessory for £250, I'd suspect your towbar was also dealer fit.