I know I'm going to regret this as its by far and away the best 'do everything' versatile car I've ever owned, but here we go:
For sale is my Titan Silver 2001 Y-plate E46 BMW in the rare combination of 330d Touring and manual gearbox, MOT'd till mid September
I've had this car for about two years now and it has been absolutely fantastic. I usually change my cars every few months but this is some kind of personal record, it has just been too good to replace - over 180bhp, averages 44mpg on my 80 mile round trip daily commute, plenty of space being the estate. It has been the ultimate daily driver and road trip wagon having been on a number of 1000 mile plus weekend adventures with me. I would have absolutely no problem jumping in it tomorrow and driving across Europe. On a steady motorway run doing the speed limit its more than capable of averaging low to mid 50's mpg.
The only reason it is for sale is I have acquired a 530d, so more of the same just a little bigger. I still don't know if I am keeping the right one but never mind.
I'll start with the negatives - it is high mileage at 235k but that really is nothing for one of these engines. Google it if you don't believe me, 500k is certainly not uncommon. It has had an easy life with long commutes being the mainstay of its mileage, it averaged around 40k a year for the first few years.
The front wings are rusty. All E46s seem to have rusty front wings for some reason, although good replacements in the correct silver are usually around £50-£70 on ebay or brand new pattern wings are as cheap as £45. There are a couple of scratches and small scabs in keeping with the age but aside from the front wings it does not look like a 235k 15 year old car.
There is an intermittent knock or clonk from the front suspension somewhere, I imagine it is a lower wishbone as I changed one around 20k ago but the other is more like 50k miles old, I think everything else suspension wise has been changed but more of that later.
Rear wiper has got temperamental and recently stopped.
Slightly notchy gear linkage when cold
The prop shaft centre bearing has some play but I have that booked in to be changed on Monday.
So onto the good stuff:
Because this is my daily and I have quite a long commute I have needed it to be completely reliable and trustworthy. With that in mind, everything I have replaced I have tried to do for OEM quality or better.
Mintex front pads fitted last year
Rear trailing arm bushes replaced with heavy duty Bilstein items in December
All engine and gearbox mounts replaced with Polyurethane items last month
Front ARB bushes replaced last month
Shocks and springs replaced with height adjustable coilovers in May last year, at the same time the front drop links and all four top mounts were replaced (Currently wound quite low but are fully adjustable back to standard height, or lower if you are sadist...)
New water pump, thermostat and recon power steering pump fitted in March last year
EGR bypass fitted and inlet manifold removed and cleaned September
This is on top of the normal servicing of oil, filter and fuel filter
The interior is in fantastic condition, black cloth with leather steering wheel and centre arm rest.
Cruise control, auto wipers, auto dipping mirror, heated electric door mirrors, all electric windows, factory load cover and integral dog guard, digital climate (was cold when I got the car but now needs a re gass) auto adjusting Xenon headlights, Also fitted with a Thule tow bar
I really cant think of what else to say, its been an amazing car and a fine companion. I've priced it cheap taking into consideration the mileage and we are all friends in this here parish - It is just about the cheapest 330d available with MOT, let alone a manual estate that has had plenty of work done recently.
Viewing and test drives are more than welcome.
Have some pictures
Some pleasant chap decided to give it a prang while I was in Manchester st the weekend. Never left any details which was kind. Obviously this hasn't gone through my insurance either so the vehicle is still hpi clear.
Damage is minor - the drivers side wing which was already rusted is now dinged and rusted and completely toast, the door has a scrape but it isn't dented and will polish out just leaving some deep scratches, and the wing mirror glass has gone but the motor and movement still seem to work fine. Still perfectly driveable and in fact still in use.
I'll get some pictures up of the injury later.
£600 is very very cheap for an mot'd useable 330d...
For sale is my Titan Silver 2001 Y-plate E46 BMW in the rare combination of 330d Touring and manual gearbox, MOT'd till mid September
I've had this car for about two years now and it has been absolutely fantastic. I usually change my cars every few months but this is some kind of personal record, it has just been too good to replace - over 180bhp, averages 44mpg on my 80 mile round trip daily commute, plenty of space being the estate. It has been the ultimate daily driver and road trip wagon having been on a number of 1000 mile plus weekend adventures with me. I would have absolutely no problem jumping in it tomorrow and driving across Europe. On a steady motorway run doing the speed limit its more than capable of averaging low to mid 50's mpg.
The only reason it is for sale is I have acquired a 530d, so more of the same just a little bigger. I still don't know if I am keeping the right one but never mind.
I'll start with the negatives - it is high mileage at 235k but that really is nothing for one of these engines. Google it if you don't believe me, 500k is certainly not uncommon. It has had an easy life with long commutes being the mainstay of its mileage, it averaged around 40k a year for the first few years.
The front wings are rusty. All E46s seem to have rusty front wings for some reason, although good replacements in the correct silver are usually around £50-£70 on ebay or brand new pattern wings are as cheap as £45. There are a couple of scratches and small scabs in keeping with the age but aside from the front wings it does not look like a 235k 15 year old car.
There is an intermittent knock or clonk from the front suspension somewhere, I imagine it is a lower wishbone as I changed one around 20k ago but the other is more like 50k miles old, I think everything else suspension wise has been changed but more of that later.
Rear wiper has got temperamental and recently stopped.
Slightly notchy gear linkage when cold
The prop shaft centre bearing has some play but I have that booked in to be changed on Monday.
So onto the good stuff:
Because this is my daily and I have quite a long commute I have needed it to be completely reliable and trustworthy. With that in mind, everything I have replaced I have tried to do for OEM quality or better.
Mintex front pads fitted last year
Rear trailing arm bushes replaced with heavy duty Bilstein items in December
All engine and gearbox mounts replaced with Polyurethane items last month
Front ARB bushes replaced last month
Shocks and springs replaced with height adjustable coilovers in May last year, at the same time the front drop links and all four top mounts were replaced (Currently wound quite low but are fully adjustable back to standard height, or lower if you are sadist...)
New water pump, thermostat and recon power steering pump fitted in March last year
EGR bypass fitted and inlet manifold removed and cleaned September
This is on top of the normal servicing of oil, filter and fuel filter
The interior is in fantastic condition, black cloth with leather steering wheel and centre arm rest.
Cruise control, auto wipers, auto dipping mirror, heated electric door mirrors, all electric windows, factory load cover and integral dog guard, digital climate (was cold when I got the car but now needs a re gass) auto adjusting Xenon headlights, Also fitted with a Thule tow bar
I really cant think of what else to say, its been an amazing car and a fine companion. I've priced it cheap taking into consideration the mileage and we are all friends in this here parish - It is just about the cheapest 330d available with MOT, let alone a manual estate that has had plenty of work done recently.
Viewing and test drives are more than welcome.
Have some pictures
Some pleasant chap decided to give it a prang while I was in Manchester st the weekend. Never left any details which was kind. Obviously this hasn't gone through my insurance either so the vehicle is still hpi clear.
Damage is minor - the drivers side wing which was already rusted is now dinged and rusted and completely toast, the door has a scrape but it isn't dented and will polish out just leaving some deep scratches, and the wing mirror glass has gone but the motor and movement still seem to work fine. Still perfectly driveable and in fact still in use.
I'll get some pictures up of the injury later.
£600 is very very cheap for an mot'd useable 330d...
