Thursday 9th December 2021

BMW 330Ci Clubsport (E46) | Spotted

E46 M3s definitely aren't getting any cheaper - so how about a Clubsport?

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That almost every classic BMW M car has enjoyed some appreciation of late probably isn't a shock. Almost all of them look brilliant, drive really well and are powered by a fantastic engine. With the future of traditional fast cars now time limited, many are understandably seeking solace in the model they've known and loved for a while. Problem being, of course, that as the price of great driver's cars goes up, with it goes the reluctance to actually use them regularly. Sideways in an M3 carries rather more risk if a £10k car has become a £30k one...

That really is the case with the E46 M3, too. In 2012 a really good manual CS could be yours for less than £15k; now it's more like £35k, and that's with an SMG. So how about a 330Ci Clubsport? It's another handsome E46 (is there an ugly one?), with a big straight six and rarity also on its side.

Now, to be clear from the off, the Clubsport was not the stripped out special the name led many to believe it would be. It was mechanically identical to the regular 330Ci, with 231hp, and significant modifications were limited to the removal of some sound deadening, a shorter gearlever, and sports suspension.

In 2002 BMW said the Clubsport sat "neatly between the 330Ci Sport model and the legendary M3 Coupe", but the end product was certainly a lot nearer the former 3 Series than the latter. Still, it looked distinctive, the Clubsport offered in Titanium Silver or two individual colours - the popular Estoril Blue, or Velvet Blue as seen here. It could also be identified by the unique wheels and rear spoiler, one of those upgrades certainly more popular than the other.

The 330Ci Clubsport was not a drastic overhaul, then, which probably worked both for and against its success. You won't make a bad E46 3 Series with such minor updates, but the Clubsport changes may not have looked significant enough to compel buyers to pay the premium (£31,380 in 2002) over the standard car.

As a modern classic BMW, however, the Clubsport's case arguably looks stronger - especially in one of the individual colours. It looks great (even with the spoiler), is probably rarer than an M3, and comes with a couple of little touches - see the natty seats and Clubsport sill plates - that make it a bit nicer than a regular 330.

As well as the colour, this car's cause is helped by the manual gearbox (an auto was offered), a recent service and a fairly low mileage of 82,000. It's been driven by four owners over the past 17 years and is being sold with a six-month warranty. The MOT does expire next month, however, so it might be worth negotiating that into an offer on the £9k asking price. Last thing anyone wants in January is a big repair bill.

Though six-cylinder E46s are available for less money, good ones are becoming harder to find; the last ones were sold 15 years ago now, don't forget. A 330Ci with a few trinkets might have been a tough sell when new, but nowadays the Clubsport looks an interesting way into old-school BMW motoring without the M premium. Even with that spoiler.

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SPECIFICATION | BMW 330CI CLUBSPORT

Engine: 2,979cc, straight six
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 231@5,900rpm
Torque (lb ft): 221@3,500rpm
MPG: 31
CO2: 218g/km
Year registered: 2004
Recorded mileage: 82,000
Price new: £31,380 (2002)
Yours for: £9,380

See the original advert here

[9k rpm]

It’s cars like these (perhaps minus this one’s spoiler) that really show how much BMW have lost their way from a styling perspective. The E46 being a really well designed car and the E92 was the last decent looking model from them in my opinion.

[anonymous-user]

I love the look of these spoiler and all.

The only other BMW i can bare is the F10.

[Court_S]

That’s lovely.

In really like the Clubsport including the spoiler. For £9k those arches better be perfect!

[cerb4.5lee]

9k rpm said:

The E46 being a really well designed car and the E92 was the last decent looking model from them in my opinion.

I saw a E90 M3 the other day and I was surprised at how ancient it looked to my eyes. The E46 is still a great looking thing for me though. I also like the way the F80/F82 M3/M4 look though, and I look back at my F82 M4 everytime I walk away from it.

This is a cool car I reckon(I've always lusted after a 330i), and I'm a big fan of the colour as well.

[Chunkychucky]

Would rather pay half the price for a similar condition 330Ci and spend what was saved on an LSD/fixing the 'meh' standard suspension.

[seba63]

As much as these are great cars if they have been well looked after. They now fall into the leggy cruiser market, rather than fast road car. Solid well built, but pitfalls a plenty. Vanes, control arms , rear subframe bolts pulling out of the body, DISA system. Nothing that can’t be fixed.

[David87]

E46 is just the best. 330Ci Clubsport was an odd car. The rarity (even when new) appealed, but I think the regular Ci M Sport looked better, with nicer wheels and without that spoiler. Still would have one though. Lovely.

[Craig W]

Chunkychucky said:

Would rather pay half the price for a similar condition 330Ci and spend what was saved on an LSD/fixing the 'meh' standard suspension.

This is exactly what I have recently done. Spent half this on a lovely 330ci and have pocketed the change for future work.

They're lovely looking things.

[NathanChadwick]

The compelling thing about these is the purple tag steering rack. I love sharp, quick steering and I preferred this to a standard M3, which felt a bit soggy and artificial.
The M3 CS and CSL (and the Z4M) use a similar steering rack and feel so much better than the standard M3 (which goes to explain the premium you’ll pay).
Despite the removal of some of the sound deadening it’s not a totally visceral experience - I can’t imagine it was allowed to be, given the product hierarchy - but I found it more engaging more of the time on tighter B-roads than the M3. The M3’s engine is fantastic, mind.

[pb8g09]

I live by the coast and sadly every E46 I see around here has crusty wheel arches unless it’s an M3 garage queen.

You’d hope for £9k that the arches on these are spotless!

[cookington]

Surely one of these as a weekend toy (kept in a dry garage!) is better than money in the bank? I can see them being £20k+ in ten years time.

I considered one as a daily but assumed the lack of 6th gear would become tedious (although I have no idea where the revs actually sit at 70mph in 5th)

[pSyCoSiS]

Always thanked these look great in Velvet Blue and with those split rim wheels. Personally, I think that spoiler suits it.

Had a few 325Ci and 330Ci Sport coupes. The M54 3.0 has a great exhaust note, even when just moving at slow speed.

I always thought these are the modern-day equivalent of the E30 325i Sport, and values certainly seem to be going that way. Not too long ago, you could pick the regular ones up for £1500.

[Maxus]

cookington said:

I considered one as a daily but assumed the lack of 6th gear would become tedious (although I have no idea where the revs actually sit at 70mph in 5th)

As a facelift car it is a 6 speed. They sit quite nicely at motorway speeds.

I'm a big fan of E46s and it is nice to see well kept examples being recognised, but i've always struggled with the wheels and spoiler on these. Great car in its own right but distracts from the clean design of a normal Sport.

[downhillmalins]

Owned a manual 330CI for 7 years, absolutely brilliant car. A standard one, if in good condition, punches well above its weight in value for money. Proper engine, decent handling, great looks and really practical with rear seats folded down. Often had 2 mountain bikes in the back of mine.

I agree on the steering rack comment, drove mine back to back with a mates e46 m3 and did come away preferring the steering in the 330CI, it just felt a bit more direct which was noticeable on the B roads we were on. The M3 won the day however as the s54 is in another league to the m54.

[corcoran]

A pointless premium on an already amazing car.

Gain a spoiler, but lose heated lather, BM54 amp and nav. Nope.

I miss my e46 330i, every day.

[moonigan]

In normal times this would be a SOTW contender. Seller is delusional. The only E46 worth having is the M3 the rest are just a bit meh.

[cerb4.5lee]

pSyCoSiS said:

Had a few 325Ci and 330Ci Sport coupes. The M54 3.0 has a great exhaust note, even when just moving at slow speed.

I've always thought that too, and I found myself a bit disappointed with the E90 330i I had in comparison exhaust note wise. The M54 makes a lovely noise, whereas the N52 3.0 in the one I had was very muted(inside and outside) I thought. The E90 went in a more grown up direction for me, and I also noticed that with the E92 M3 I had as well.

[Amanitin]

9k rpm said:

It’s cars like these (perhaps minus this one’s spoiler) that really show how much BMW have lost their way from a styling perspective. The E46 being a really well designed car and the E92 was the last decent looking model from them in my opinion.

I disagree, the F01 and F10 both are restrained and elegant while also clearly being successors of the Bangle generation cars, which were anything but.
And then the music stopped.

[cerb4.5lee]

downhillmalins said:

The M3 won the day however as the s54 is in another league to the m54.

Whereas for me I prefer the exhaust noise more with the M54 though, and the S54 was far too tinny/raspy from its exhaust for my taste. Don't get me wrong I think that the S54 is a belting engine, but I just personally don't like the noise it makes though.

[downhillmalins]

I agree m54 makes lovely noise especially with the golf tee mod, really nice all the way through the rev range. But when you are behind the wheel of the e46 m3 the exhaust noise plays second fiddle to the induction noise, that's where the s54 engine wins for me. All mechanical and very raw.