Page 1 of 2
E46 330ci
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 2:27 pm
by fowler
hello gents i am on the verge of selling all my E30's to buy one of these i was just wondering what people think of the 330ci Auto
any information will be greatfully recieved
Re: E46 330ci
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 3:01 pm
by B7
Oh Mate. Had a 330ci convertible in last week for front discs and a full pad change. F*cking awesome car. it was filly loaded with sat nav, memory leather.... the lot! Get one.......but save an e30 to play with. You will miss it.
Re: E46 330ci
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 3:07 pm
by maxfield
I drove one of these the other day (Auto) awesome car.
If I could afford one I'd get one.

Re: E46 330ci
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 3:14 pm
by pacerpete
fowler wrote:hello gents i am on the verge of selling all my E30's to buy one of these i was just wondering what people think of the 330ci Auto
any information will be greatfully recieved
Fowler, you won't get much of a 330 for £288.78*
* what two E30s will make on the scales as of 2/8/08 ! !

Re: E46 330ci
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 3:28 pm
by fowler
nice one gents i need one Had enough of E30's i think i am on number 10 i think plus i can't fettle too much with a E46 so no temptation to make it faster lol
Re: E46 330ci
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 3:42 pm
by fowler
so gents is ther any problems i should be aware of when purchasing and owning

Re: E46 330ci
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 3:58 pm
by e36boy
Hi mate, Im no technician and so wont be offering any technical info............What I will say is they are a brilliant drive and quite quick...Oh and they sound awesome aswell. I mulled over getting one for a while but the running costs put me off ! The high road tax also put me off.
Re: E46 330ci
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 4:00 pm
by fowler
well if you take one before 2002 it does not apply i think. i drove one the other day and fell in love with it
Re: E46 330ci
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 4:16 pm
by stonesie
fowler wrote: plus i can't fettle too much with a E46 so no temptation to make it faster lol
Oh im sure one of Ant's Rotrex kits would fit

Re: E46 330ci
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 4:36 pm
by fowler
don't tempt me lol
Re: E46 330ci
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 5:29 pm
by david106
The tax rules will apply to march 1st 2001 onwards (if it comes in big if) plenty around on a 2000/1 plate
Re: E46 330ci
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 5:35 pm
by m3ben05
Iv got a 330ci clubsport as my daily driver and its one of the best cars iv ever driven. One of the main reasons for wanting to sell my M3
Re: E46 330ci
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 5:38 pm
by fowler
Like the clubsport features apart from the rear spoiler.
would like a nice sterling silver one with black/ tan leather with all the toys
does anyone heard of common problems with the 330ci
Re: E46 330ci
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 5:51 pm
by cliffybabe
dude have a chat with gallafant he would be able to tip u off
Re: E46 330ci
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 6:21 pm
by fowler
cheers neil will do though stu had dissappeared dude give me a bell lost number as sim died
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 7:48 pm
by darkchild
Check the cooling system is in good order - these don't like being cooked. Worth changing the thermostat and viscous fan coupling if its still on the original. The auto boxes are BMW's "sealed for life" nonsense but will benefit from a fluid and filter change from a gearbox specialist.
M54's like to drink quite a bit of oil so check this regularly.
Re:
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 8:29 pm
by M5pilot
Fowler,
the 330Ci auto's are lovely cars to drive and you can cover ground in them surprisingly fast. They have huge amounts of grip.
The balance as usual is geared towards understeer when pushed but a thicker rear anti roll bar will sort that out.
Interiors can wear fast around the door handles on cars with the fake carbon silver/black effect. Best is wood or aluminium depending on what your tastes are.
They put down their power (dynoed loads).
Finding a decent one will be no issue for you with Ant there to make sure you buy a good one. He knows these cars well.
If you feel really adventurous you can buy some excellent supercharger kits which bolt straight on and you have 320bhp (REAL FIGURE).
Surprised your leaving e30's!
Good luck.
Re:
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 9:27 pm
by Andyboy
E30's are great until you drive a nice modern car and realise you've been kidding yourself all those years. One reason I would never spend serious money on one (i.e more than £500).
Re:
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 10:04 pm
by toby
Fowler, forget it you're kidding yourself. You are a born tinkerer and that won't die with a newer car. E46 330s are far superior to E30s but are you sure that's what you want?
The E46 is certainly a stronger fanny magnet though.
Re:
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 11:08 pm
by Martinaston
Wasn't there something about the pre 02 cars ripping the rear axle off ?
Re:
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 11:13 pm
by Simon13
yup
Re:
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:59 am
by bss325i
I had a 330ci convertible manual last year and had to make the decision of selling either the sport or the 330 and decided to keep the sport and put some money into it for various reasons. A mint sport and i mean mint is becoming a rarerity with values only set to go one way, as for the 330 they are constantly depriciating and are 10 a penny.
It was a nice car with a very good spec and as others have said it was a better fanny magnet (vain deluded biatches) but my decision was made. In 5 years time the will be the next E36, ie cheap and in the wrong hands, cue plenty of chaved up scrap.
This is not to say i wouldn't have another but it would have to be something different from the norm, ie an Alpina B3 3.3/4.
My friends 99 "V" 328ci suffered from the know diff mount problem and my 330ci's electric fan packed up and caused it to get hot and split its coolant bottle but luckily this was the only damage, i replaced the electric, plastic housed thermostat along with the fan and coolant bottle as well to be safe.
Re:
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 1:43 pm
by Chief_Misfire
Make sure you get a facelift and it's a Sport.
A friend of mine has a 330Ci Schnitzer with their supercharger and full sports exhaust.
The 330D's are quite naughty and de-badged would be a great alternative - especially for Tax.
It's auto but is still rapid.
Silly to compare these with E30's as they are from different planets.
Re:
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 5:58 pm
by Simon13
royal ratch alert
Re:
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:32 pm
by oguz327
I can believe you are selling up your E30s, especially after all the work thats gone into the touring.
Re:
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 8:06 pm
by fowler
Thanks for all the information gents!!
OZ its time for a change
might not sell the white one as i don't want any other person driving apart from me but is all down to the coin
Re:
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 11:16 pm
by blingsta
Although i regret selling my E30 turbo.. im more than happy with my E46 325 cabby which is auto mate... ride comfort is second to none compared to the E30... sometimes toooo comfortable mate.. i cant even be bothered to look behind me now when im reversing! i just let the beeps do the work for me !!

Re:
Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 12:43 pm
by DieselMeister
I loved my 330Ci. I recommend a sport model with as many sensible options as you can get (17in wheels are better for ride / handling but the 18s look better and don't affect the ride too much). Great cars - torquey, long-legged with nice SFX from the cheekily bassy stock exhaust. It's not an M3 but if it's been run in properly it'll be more than fast enough for most situations.
I had one of the last of the line (54) non S/R Sport model - better headroom without the moon roof. Also bluetooth (useful), heated seats (pansy-ish but entertaining), HK hifi upgrade (v. good imo) and probably the best option (other than sport spec) for me was the adaptive bi-xenons
E46s aren't remotely rare but that doesn't stop them from being a good car.
P.S. how much for your a-tech'd e30?

Re:
Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 3:07 pm
by toby
DieselMeister wrote:
P.S. how much for your a-tech'd e30?

Which one? He's got two the lucky man! A touring 2.7 turbo and a two door 1.8 M40 turbo.
Re:
Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 8:02 pm
by fowler
thanks to all yes its been decided that the black daily is going up for sale as i need the pennies for the E46 project rotrex lol! it needs to be converted to gas too
so all stray pennies welcome
not sure about selling the touring yet but for the right price it could be prised from my hands

Re:
Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 8:48 pm
by DieselMeister
toby wrote:DieselMeister wrote:
P.S. how much for your a-tech'd e30?

Which one? He's got two the lucky man! A touring 2.7 turbo and a two door 1.8 M40 turbo.
Only 6 cylinders or more will do unless it's an S14 mate (and even then)

Re:
Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 11:00 pm
by fowler
toby wrote:
DieselMeister wrote:
P.S. how much for your a-tech'd e30?
Which one? He's got two the lucky man! A touring 2.7 turbo and a two door 1.8 M40 turbo.
Only 6 cylinders or more will do unless it's an S14 mate (and even then)
So its the touring you are after lol !!! well it need to be finally fettled and the in september it will be unleashed

Re:
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:18 am
by SamiS
The early E46's had subframe issues. Most people get this fixed by BMW 100% free as its an known issue. But you have to be careful about it.
Not much else goes wrong!
I'd post my E46 site up but i dont think the ZONE would like it.com
If you want the address PM me!
Re:
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:40 pm
by gooner1
illmonkey wrote:The early E46's had subframe issues. Most people get this fixed by BMW 100% free as its an known issue. But you have to be careful about it.
Not much else goes wrong!
I'd post my E46 site up but i dont think the ZONE would like it.com
If you want the address PM me!
Post it up, not everyone here suffers from E30 tunnel vision, besides the mods will remove it quick enough if it violates rules etc.
Re:
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 8:01 am
by SamiS
Fair enough. Just dont want to get in trouble/banned for it!
Its
www.e46zone.com , surprisingly!