advise needed please- Looking at a BMW e46 330d touring

[jayj83]

Good Morning All 

I have a 2005 Toyota Avensis 2.0 d4d at present although it does every thing at more that it is asked of it, Its just a little boring

I had in my head i would love a civic aerodeck 1.8 vti, but trying to find one seems to be a headache 

My head as been turned by the BMW E46 touring, I have always liked the shape and think a 330d would be a fun car and give decent MPG levels?

in the summer months- Well from march to November I travel to skegness most weekends and still want something decent on fuel, and something that will still be a little fun

My wife is saying no more old cars, But my argument is that I pay for the car, and also pay for its up keep etc

I would prefer a manual but keep finding automatics, I have found one on the market place that is 2003 330d se auto, I have been told its a individual spec in a rare chiarreto red? covered 133k, 2 owner's from new for £2800


it is slighty out of budget and I really wanted a sport manual- Would it be worth the money? or should I hold out for a manual?

Just trying to see what people think



 

[pseudonymous]

From my experience, and this was quite a few years ago, I spent a long time looking for my 325 Sport as I wanted a) alcantara, not leather b) a specific colour and c) a manual box. Pretty much every example had ropey leather and an auto box. I nearly gave in but I'm glad I didn't as the manual box is just so much better and more engaging, though that's an entirely subjective opinion.

Bearing in mind the E46 3er herd is thinning by the day, be prepared for a bit of a wait to get the exact spec you want.

At that age, condition is key really and I'd certainly go for a look at the car if you think it might tick your boxes. An auto isn't my first choice but mated to a 3.0d it isn't awful either. The drive between a factory Sport and 'standard' is different but as a daily you aren't going to be hammering it everywhere anyway.

Chiaretto Red is fairly rare, what's the interior spec, is it plain black? Though it's not a Sport, I've seen SE models that were very well specced, including nav and HK audio etc. 133k is low mileage for an '03 too.

[generallee]

I spent ages waiting for a manual 330d to come up (albeit in much more modernerer e91 flavour) in the spec I wanted.
I'm really pleased I did, I love the manual. It would be great as an auto, particularly around town, but dropping it into 3rd and booting it is really addictive.

[biturbo228]

Well, I liked the engine so much I put one in my Jag! I did hold out for a 6sp though. Can't stand autos.

Bit easier to get power out of the later 3.0l cars (post mid-03) than the earlier 2.9l, but if you're just looking for 200-220ish and halfway decent MPG both will do that absolutely fine. Won't do 60mpg like modern small diesels will, but 40ish is easily doable.

Typical rust spots are around the rear arches and the battery tray in the boot. Front suspension wobble, especially under braking will most likely be the rear wishbone bushes. Oh, and they chew up tyres when they're out of alignment on the rear.

Can't think of much else really. My mate loves his.

[jayj83]

I am just waiting on some pictures, I messaged him last Friday but he is on hoilday, I know that its got nav, But the advert is saying blue leather?, I am not sure how that will look if I'm honest?

[biturbo228]

I've never seen an E46 with an interior that wasn't black or tan, so I doubt it's going to be a shocking blue.

Oh, one thing to be wary of is light colours on the front bit of the dashboard where it meets the windscreen. Another mate's E46 had a tan strip that ran across the dash that reflected terribly on the screen the whole time.

If it helps I'd probably not bother holding out for nav. Any system on a car this age is going to be a bit clunky, and there's lots of kits about to retrofit tablets and such that allow modern navigation.

[jayj83]

Yeah the nav part of things I'm not bothered about, I tend to use my phone, Google maps is a life saver, The nav in my toyota avensis is god awfull

[jayj83]

i just want to see the pictures of the interior, I think the blue is going to be abit in your face if you know what I mean

[v8ian]

www.facebook.com/share/1WfkvEgAt1/

[tdk]

I had an E46 330ci sport manual as a daily for many years (low miles), and have had a 525d manual (took that to 250k), too.

I'm a big fan of manuals, but in the diesel I would really suggest an auto - it's no sportscar and the slug of torque you get from the diesels is managed nicely with an auto. I found the manual to have a long throw and to be slightly agricultural in feeling (being hypercritial here). Rusty arches and coolant systems might need a look and lacquer peel can affect ones with big miles on the front bumper. Great engine if serviced on the dot.

I love the mad colour, lovely to see something that isn't ///M badged to death. Go for it!

[jayj83]

Nov 7, 2024 12:04:40 GMT v8ian said:

www.facebook.com/share/1WfkvEgAt1/

[jayj83]

Nov 7, 2024 12:04:40 GMT v8ian said:

www.facebook.com/share/1WfkvEgAt1/

I do like this, Is this yours? sorry on the work computer cant get into facebook lol

[jayj83]

Nov 7, 2024 13:45:17 GMT tdk said:

I had an E46 330ci sport manual as a daily for many years (low miles), and have had a 525d manual (took that to 250k), too.

I'm a big fan of manuals, but in the diesel I would really suggest an auto - it's no sportscar and the slug of torque you get from the diesels is managed nicely with an auto. I found the manual to have a long throw and to be slightly agricultural in feeling (being hypercritial here). Rusty arches and coolant systems might need a look and lacquer peel can affect ones with big miles on the front bumper. Great engine if serviced on the dot.

I love the mad colour, lovely to see something that isn't ///M badged to death. Go for it!

I do really like this colour, Just unsure if blue leather will match, Just waiting on the seller to come back from hoilday, I messaged him the day it was on, with in a hour, wanted to see it the next day but is away, he has said it comes with service history, Under the bonnet looks well clean on the pictures

[v8ian]

Nov 7, 2024 13:58:38 GMT jayj83 said:

Nov 7, 2024 12:04:40 GMT v8ian said:

www.facebook.com/share/1WfkvEgAt1/

I do like this, Is this yours? sorry on the work computer cant get into facebook lol

Not mine saw it this morning

[djtom]

I ran a 52 plate 330d touring m-sport manual for 5 years and 60k miles, and finally sold it at 180k miles. Brilliant car - did 42mpg no matter how you drove it, and pretty much nothing went wrong with it. I can only recall a propshaft centre bearing and a new clutch being needed. I'd say go with the manual, much more engaging to drive, and also it helps when being childish on roundabouts if you can give it a swift clutch kick...

[tdk]

Nov 7, 2024 14:01:41 GMT jayj83 said:

Nov 7, 2024 13:45:17 GMT tdk said:

I had an E46 330ci sport manual as a daily for many years (low miles), and have had a 525d manual (took that to 250k), too.

I'm a big fan of manuals, but in the diesel I would really suggest an auto - it's no sportscar and the slug of torque you get from the diesels is managed nicely with an auto. I found the manual to have a long throw and to be slightly agricultural in feeling (being hypercritial here). Rusty arches and coolant systems might need a look and lacquer peel can affect ones with big miles on the front bumper. Great engine if serviced on the dot.

I love the mad colour, lovely to see something that isn't ///M badged to death. Go for it!

I do really like this colour, Just unsure if blue leather will match, Just waiting on the seller to come back from hoilday, I messaged him the day it was on, with in a hour, wanted to see it the next day but is away, he has said it comes with service history, Under the bonnet looks well clean on the pictures

I see you're in Leicestershire. Auto Mechanical Service on Nedham Street in Leicester love these cars, very cheap, and Barry there really knows his stuff (assuming he hasn't retired yet). 

[jayj83]

Nov 7, 2024 16:58:18 GMT tdk said:

Nov 7, 2024 14:01:41 GMT jayj83 said:

I do really like this colour, Just unsure if blue leather will match, Just waiting on the seller to come back from hoilday, I messaged him the day it was on, with in a hour, wanted to see it the next day but is away, he has said it comes with service history, Under the bonnet looks well clean on the pictures

I see you're in Leicestershire. Auto Mechanical Service on Nedham Street in Leicester love these cars, very cheap, and Barry there really knows his stuff (assuming he hasn't retired yet). 

Yeah in good old Leicestershire,- I had used him years and years ago, about 2007 when I had a cheap e30 and couldn't get it to run correctly, I totally forgot about them, I never go that side of town 

[ChasR]

The big thing with E46s is rust. They do it for fun. If you get one, slaz it up in a good non-cheap underbody sealer like raptor, Bilt Hamber UC or Lanoguard, albeit the latter is good. I also wouldn't get hung up on spec. Condition matters much more ; these are now 20 year old cars, and condition is king over other factors.

I know this car, but I'll come back to that later. tLDR, if it's as good as was a short while ago, I'd buy it.

For me, unless you are altering a manual, they are not as engaging as folks would say depending on what you are used to ; I'll compare it to B5.5 Passats and VAGs with the same deal, MX-5s and any 00s on Ford (so Mk1 Focus and Mk3/4 Mondeos) .

The 5 speeds have 3rd and 5th spaced way too close which takes care to shift with (at least on the Getrag 5 speeds, most have shot linkages and in most, you can't shift as smooth as other manual cars due to them having a Clutch Delay valve (CDV), which essentially standardises the speed of the clutch release. Not so good in the lower gears if you want to do a smooth shift, or shift smoothly, in a hurry, but not so bad up top, given that you'd release the clutch slower at lower speeds. Maybe I'm fussy, but the manual experience is a bit of a mood killer and not as engaging as they should be.

The autos do suit the 6 pot dervs very well, but they are fun as a manual as well. The auto makes the most of the torque and the sport mode does help with making the car get a move on. There is a tiptronic function on the 'box which is handy, and you can fit an SMG steering wheel to give you manual changes on the steering wheel too, which a number of people have done.

Modified and with the right engine, the manuals are alright, with a CDV delete, an E60 545i shifter upgrade, and if the M2/M235i Powerflex rear shifter bush fits, one of those. It takes a lifeless gearchange and makes it far more slicker. Oh, and fixing broken detent springs, which is ideally done as a clutch out.

Anyway, this car.

It was from memory, an Exclusive Edition, and was a dealer demo for some time. It has a very unusual colour scheme. Chimento Red, with a half leather Mystic Blue interior. The colour is very rare, and possibly the only right hooker in that colour. My Ex6 mates have not seen another E46 in this colour. It's also a fairly late LCI with the later 3.0 M57, and not the 2.9, so it has almost 20BHP more. It's very well specified, with heated seats, the TV Tuner, and so on. I don't remember it being that rusty; I'm pretty sure it has two new wings fitted.

It's had good work over the time, and recently, it had PowerFlex front lollypops fitted. The 'box shifts nicely and it's a pleasant drive, with it being on Goodyear tyres all round, which really helps it drive nice ; my 325d is sketchy on the part-worn winters I've fitted if I am honest, but I am too tight to splash out on proper tyres as well at the moment. TBH, I don't think you'd find a nicer one without searching alot. I'm pretty sure it's had a new turbo at some point too. Most have been abused cars frankly, run on a shoestring these days. If you need to get hold of the seller, let me know.

I am only bigging the car up, as my friends and I have bought loads of E46s, and most won't touch them now, as many are tired, abused, rusty or a bit of both ; most have moved on to LCI E90s, or F30s/F11s for this very reason. They became cheap, and folks bodged them about. If it helps steer you ; they'd chase cheap maps and tuning goodies over keeping a car clean/tidy.

-I searched for 5 M3s to find one I felt wouldn't bleed me dry
-My friend doubled his budget for a 330i Manual 5 years ago, as everything we saw was thrown together rubbish ; we must have spent £80 on fuel looking until we found a nice example. Folks' definition of 'mint' varies massively.

Worst case, you can convert it to manual, but I think you'd grow to like it as is. I would however put a black interior in, or at the very least the seats. Ideally, I'd put a cream interior in, which would work with the Chimento red.

Another thing? I wouldn't bother tuning one. Sure, you'll look great down the shows, but almost all de-EGR'd mapped cars wreak of diesel, even in an open car park, and most maps smoke quite a bit. Things in stock form aren't as bad as folks make out, if the cars are maintained right, which goes back to what I said earlier.

[jayj83]

Nov 9, 2024 9:26:10 GMT ChasR said:

The big thing with E46s is rust. They do it for fun. If you get one, slaz it up in a good non-cheap underbody sealer like raptor, Bilt Hamber UC or Lanoguard, albeit the latter is good. I also wouldn't get hung up on spec. Condition matters much more ; these are now 20 year old cars, and condition is king over other factors.

I know this car, but I'll come back to that later. tLDR, if it's as good as was a short while ago, I'd buy it.

For me, unless you are altering a manual, they are not as engaging as folks would say depending on what you are used to ; I'll compare it to B5.5 Passats and VAGs with the same deal, MX-5s and any 00s on Ford (so Mk1 Focus and Mk3/4 Mondeos) .

The 5 speeds have 3rd and 5th spaced way too close which takes care to shift with (at least on the Getrag 5 speeds, most have shot linkages and in most, you can't shift as smooth as other manual cars due to them having a Clutch Delay valve (CDV), which essentially standardises the speed of the clutch release. Not so good in the lower gears if you want to do a smooth shift, or shift smoothly, in a hurry, but not so bad up top, given that you'd release the clutch slower at lower speeds. Maybe I'm fussy, but the manual experience is a bit of a mood killer and not as engaging as they should be.

The autos do suit the 6 pot dervs very well, but they are fun as a manual as well. The auto makes the most of the torque and the sport mode does help with making the car get a move on. There is a tiptronic function on the 'box which is handy, and you can fit an SMG steering wheel to give you manual changes on the steering wheel too, which a number of people have done.

Modified and with the right engine, the manuals are alright, with a CDV delete, an E60 545i shifter upgrade, and if the M2/M235i Powerflex rear shifter bush fits, one of those. It takes a lifeless gearchange and makes it far more slicker. Oh, and fixing broken detent springs, which is ideally done as a clutch out.

Anyway, this car.

It was from memory, an Exclusive Edition, and was a dealer demo for some time. It has a very unusual colour scheme. Chimento Red, with a half leather Mystic Blue interior. The colour is very rare, and possibly the only right hooker in that colour. My Ex6 mates have not seen another E46 in this colour. It's also a fairly late LCI with the later 3.0 M57, and not the 2.9, so it has almost 20BHP more. It's very well specified, with heated seats, the TV Tuner, and so on. I don't remember it being that rusty; I'm pretty sure it has two new wings fitted.

It's had good work over the time, and recently, it had PowerFlex front lollypops fitted. The 'box shifts nicely and it's a pleasant drive, with it being on Goodyear tyres all round, which really helps it drive nice ; my 325d is sketchy on the part-worn winters I've fitted if I am honest, but I am too tight to splash out on proper tyres as well at the moment. TBH, I don't think you'd find a nicer one without searching alot. I'm pretty sure it's had a new turbo at some point too. Most have been abused cars frankly, run on a shoestring these days. If you need to get hold of the seller, let me know.

I am only bigging the car up, as my friends and I have bought loads of E46s, and most won't touch them now, as many are tired, abused, rusty or a bit of both ; most have moved on to LCI E90s, or F30s/F11s for this very reason. They became cheap, and folks bodged them about. If it helps steer you ; they'd chase cheap maps and tuning goodies over keeping a car clean/tidy.

-I searched for 5 M3s to find one I felt wouldn't bleed me dry
-My friend doubled his budget for a 330i Manual 5 years ago, as everything we saw was thrown together rubbish ; we must have spent £80 on fuel looking until we found a nice example. Folks' definition of 'mint' varies massively.

Worst case, you can convert it to manual, but I think you'd grow to like it as is. I would however put a black interior in, or at the very least the seats. Ideally, I'd put a cream interior in, which would work with the Chimento red.

Another thing? I wouldn't bother tuning one. Sure, you'll look great down the shows, but almost all de-EGR'd mapped cars wreak of diesel, even in an open car park, and most maps smoke quite a bit. Things in stock form aren't as bad as folks make out, if the cars are maintained right, which goes back to what I said earlier.

Cheers for this, I have been messaging the guy again at the weekend, I was hoping to go over drive it and drop some money on it, But he is still on hoilday, I did think that a cream interior would suit the car better, I'm not to bothered on it being mapped or anything like that, Thought may lower it slighty, poss change the door speakers and amp them and a under seat sub

[ChasR]

I'm meeting him Friday as it's been a while. If he can chat sooner I'll let you know.