E46 330i opinions?

Wed Apr 15, 2015 7:48 am

Looking for a chariot that can do long cruises, but is also nimble enough for the missus to drive. She's ruled out anything bigger than a 3-series, so the limited options on the budget are a Jag X-type or the E46.

I fancy the 330 for the 6-speed box and the 200+ hp. Is there anything to put me off? Do these cars suffer from the awful fly-by-wire throttle lag that I've read so much about?

Wed Apr 15, 2015 8:20 am

They make a lovely noise and are comfortable.
Your problem will be finding a good one especially if you want a manual.
Issues with rust particularly on front wings and rear arches.
Lots of plastic engine components particularly the electronic thermostat - mine got through 2 of these in the short time I owned it as one of the new ones was cracked.
Mine was an auto so throttle lag was standard lol but also part of the reason I sold it - good as the steptronic box is I couldn't get on with it at all.
Engine breather systems and some sort of valve that fails making a ticking sound are other common issues as well as sensors and dash lights which can play up for fun.
They weigh a bloody ton - when I jacked mine up on the road outside the house in the summer the jack started to sink into the Tarmac !
The main consideration is that if you're using it around town as I was sub 20mpg gets very boring very quickly regardless of how quick it is and the nice sound it makes. I'd had enough after 9 months and sold it for a big loss. I won't be having another "modern" BMW anytime soon.

I have a 2.0d X type estate now which in all honesty I much prefer to the much more expensive and faster 330i sport touring I had.

The 3.0 petrol x types though are a different matter - the engines are pretty good but being 4wd the transfer boxes are well known for problems. The engines also aren't very easy to work on due to very tight access to things like plugs.
Avoid the sport models with 18" wheels - if you go for one a top spec SE is the one to have. Things like nav, Bluetooth and heated seats are the best options.
Like any heavy car including bmw they do get through suspension components. The only rust spot to watch for is the sills on pre 2004 cars. Later cars had better drain holes so don't seem to suffer but rotten sills is a well known issue on earlier ones. Mine is a 2005 and the sills are fine but I will still be waxoyling them when I get round to it this year just to be sure they stay that way

Wed Apr 15, 2015 9:23 am

I've own a 330i clubsport coupe, and found the throttle response awful. Even after resetting the pedal settings. Part of the reason I sold it. It was very fast though, but never felt it. Visibility wasn't as good as the saloon either.

My dad has owned a facelift 330d sport since 2006 and that is an around better car. Feels fast, has good visibility, doesn't suffer from pedal lag and an all round better car.

My dads car is actually for sale on autotrader if you're interested. Blue 73000 miles, well looked after.

Wed Apr 15, 2015 11:45 am

I have a 2000 Touring 330i...picked it up for just over 1k and have spent about 1.5k in the year I have had it...power steering needed to be sorted and was recently with Barry who gave it the once over, changed springs, shocks, brake discs and said it was in fairly good condition...

Great cruising car...big lump to drive around town (London). Have to say I would not want to go any more modern than the e46 and I am considering getting a convertible...

Wed Apr 15, 2015 12:11 pm

Mondeo ST 220. They're near enough worthless now but the Ford V6 is a superb thing and they really go and handle well. No BMW rust issues and I reckon a well kept one may go up in value a bit - the last proper Fast Ford really.

Here's a nice one for 1800 quid:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p

Sorry, but you can keep your E46 nonsense.

Wed Apr 15, 2015 12:31 pm

The ST220 is quite a rapid turd too, I agree with Andy.. the donk is really good they rarely have issues and the spec with them is excellent,

The only thing you need to lookout for is good history, rear wheel bearings and the odd bush,

I watched a black one go through the block just last night it caused an epic stir amongst the council types as it entered.. they all disappeared when it got to 1200 quid

Wed Apr 15, 2015 12:46 pm

Prices are a bit different over here; even the jag is a 3k car, and the bmw more like 4.5 for a clean one.

Wed Apr 15, 2015 1:13 pm

If I was to buy a 46 it would be 330i or M3. They're a nice car. Fair enough they have there problems as does every car.

As for the Mondeo being a good handling car? And they have there fair share of problems aswell.

Wed Apr 15, 2015 3:06 pm

1 series 130i?

Wed Apr 15, 2015 4:04 pm

Automaton wrote:1 series 130i?

I'd love one, but the cheapest is still twice the price of the X-type - it's an 8k car over here, and out of my budget.

Cheers for the advice all. Rob, that breakdown was invaluable, thanks

Wed Apr 15, 2015 6:52 pm

maxfield wrote:
As for the Mondeo being a good handling car? .

You've probably driven several.

Wed Apr 15, 2015 6:59 pm

Andyboy wrote:
maxfield wrote:
As for the Mondeo being a good handling car? .
You've probably driven several.

Funnily enough yes

I did a clutch and flywheel on one last week, the parts are mega money.

Certainly wouldn't class them as a good handling car.

Wed Apr 15, 2015 8:20 pm

maxfield wrote:
Andyboy wrote:
maxfield wrote:
As for the Mondeo being a good handling car? .
You've probably driven several.
Funnily enough yes

I did a clutch and flywheel on one last week, the parts are mega money.

Certainly wouldn't class them as a good handling car.

I went on the press launch in St Tropez in 2000 and again in 2002. 200 miles a pop on proper driving roads and yes, Mondeos handle very well.

But I suspect that's a different ballgame to driving some wankered old 2.0LX around Mansfield after a clutch change.

Wed Apr 15, 2015 8:43 pm

E46 330i/Ci.

Owned several, still own one, worked on and driven more than I care to remember.

Great cars but buy a decent one, they are as old as 15 years now and a lot are worn out scrap now!

Wed Apr 15, 2015 9:01 pm

bss325i wrote:E46 330i/Ci.

Owned several, still own one, worked on and driven more than I care to remember.

Great cars but buy a decent one, they are as old as 15 years now and most are worn out scrap now!

EFA

Thu Apr 16, 2015 10:27 am

I have had a 330i for four years it took a lot of time and money to get it to handle well uprated shocks springs and arb's plus a proper alignment but now I can't bring myself to part with it as I keep driving more expensive cars that are no better. If you can find a good one i.e one that has had plenty of cash thrown at it they must be the best value sports saloon out there at the moment.

Thu Apr 16, 2015 10:51 am

Mondeo, really?

Id rather drive about in a forklift truck TBH

Thu Apr 16, 2015 10:53 am

DanThe wrote:Mondeo, really?

Id rather drive about in a forklift truck TBH

Gas or Diesel ?

Thu Apr 16, 2015 1:47 pm

e30topless wrote:
DanThe wrote:Mondeo, really?

Id rather drive about in a forklift truck TBH
Gas or Diesel ?

Derv is not an option, even a lurching electric would be more pleasant than the above heap

Sat Apr 18, 2015 11:03 am

Mondeos are rubbish tip clutter, no way are they good handling cars

Sat Apr 18, 2015 1:35 pm

This one might be

Sat Apr 18, 2015 3:28 pm

Demlotcrew wrote:Mondeos are rubbish tip clutter, no way are they good handling cars

Whose have you driven out of interest?

John Barker (Evo Mag) rated the ST220 as one of the best cars you could buy in 2004. He ran one as a press car and like myself, was astounded at how good it was.

The standard version is a decent handling car for what it is. When it was new that is, not a 189'000 miles taxi.

Sat Apr 18, 2015 3:39 pm

Mainly rentals, none of out of choice, they are terrible understeering at every opertinity. I dont believe any reporters, there's always an initiative of some sort swaying their reviews.

Sat Apr 18, 2015 3:40 pm

ST220?

Or 2.0 TDCi?

Sat Apr 18, 2015 4:54 pm

The said car I did clutch and flywheel on recently was the ST220, it was a low mileage turd with a set of fresh Pilot Sport 3s on. And it was OK, not a good handling car. It felt big and heavy, and it understeered terribly. But they are a great big lump up front with a heavy gearbox.

Sat Apr 18, 2015 6:31 pm

All Mondeo's have handed well from the mk 1. In fact the first Mondeo helped change the fortunes of ford in Europe after the dire mk 5 escort.

Maxfield. Do you regularly try to induce punters cars into understeer/oversteer after you get your mits on them?

Andy, don't believe what John Barker says. He's only been road testing/racing for about a quarter of a century. He clearly knows f**k all.

Sat Apr 18, 2015 7:41 pm

Indeed, the Mondeo has been lauded from day one.

Andrew, pretty much all FWD cars understeer when pushed but you know that.

Jamie, you're full of sh it. How convenient that you happened to work on an ST220 "recently" and it just happened to be a "low mileage car on Michelins" to give it the best chance against your opposing opinion.

If we were to believe you, you have driven every car that anyone happens to mention on the zone.

Stop chatting shit, everyone can see right through it!

Back OT, I have driven pretty much every incarnation of Mondeo up to 2005 models in varying states from brand new to w ankered out high mileage scrap and overall they are a good handling car.

Multi link rear axle innit!

Sat Apr 18, 2015 7:46 pm

I wish I knew as much now as when I was 21!

Sat Apr 18, 2015 8:35 pm

Andy. You should know by now that if it ain't got a blue and white roundel, it's shite........

The Mondeo and indeed the focus, are very good cars that have got better over time. They've improved with every model. More than can be said for most of the BMW range I reckon. Whereas Ford have come back with a vengeance, BMW and Merc have just sat on their laurels with their mainstream stuff and ended up churning out cars that actually, give more issues with every model they produce.

Last week I had a 63 plate Fiesta ST on the drive and the guy who owns it has raved about it non stop. Not short of a few bob, when his nephew in law wrote his prized 530D e61 off (which he truly loved despite him having the normal turbo dramas), he needed a car quick once the insurance paid out. A runabout if you like. He walked into the local Ford dealer and paid (IIRC) about £15k for the ST brand new on the road (with a bit of discount). He's not looked back. It's very loaded (the seats are proper mad recaros) and I have to admit. He's right. It's a seriously fun bit of kit out the box. It's a nice little hooligan that handles really nice and just drive so right. Reminds me of the wifes old '93 16V XR2i. And it goes in next month for Mountune conversion which will push it to 220hp. He's been on about ordering a new Golf R but this little fester just does everything so well, there seems little point.

Sun Apr 19, 2015 9:53 am

The thing is, everyone's idea of a good handling car is based on what they perceive is fast, none of you take track driving seriously so you're basing your conclusions from what you read online or the odd blast in a friends motor (which is anecdotal at best).

Fords are horribly sloppy, totally unresponsive and communication from the controls is virtually non excistent (pretty much like any FWD car).

From the rentals I've had, I would say that the Vectra leaves the Mondeo in the handling department. None of the rentals have been ST220's.

Sun Apr 19, 2015 10:03 am

Exactly that Andrew, I'm basing my opinion on the fact not a track car. For what's it's designed for ie a road car they handle and ride good enough. Safe predictable handling matched with a decent ride comfort.

Even a bone stock E46 330i/Ci wouldn't be all that much cop on track when pushed.

You need to stop comparing them to your weight obsessed track car!

Sun Apr 19, 2015 10:09 am

hark at the experts! You all need to track drive

Some of the peoples driving in this thread i've experienced first hand

Some times on track also and it leaves alot to be desired let alone giving opinions on what consitutes a good handling car!

Most of the stuff being mentioned is more than good enough out of the box its the driver that makes the most difference, we aren't F1 drivers afterall!

Sun Apr 19, 2015 10:09 am

Not at all, I'm comparing them to an E46 I drive every day. The E46 coupe is a lovely handling car, put it up against all FWD cars in its class and you'll see why I say Mondeos are rubbish.

The issue is the same with all FWD cars, they simply can't defy physics and the all the ST models are let down by the fact the base chassis is designed for 90% of the other engine variants which are driven by people who really couldn't care less as they will never push the car.

Many modern cars are dialed in for understeer as its much easier to correct than oversteer, probably explains why most of you like them a˜˜

Sun Apr 19, 2015 10:18 am

Well i'm in the e46 camp firmly. Our family B3s estate is exceptional in its handling and driver feedback. Like a big E30 almost you always know where you are with it.

Our car has decent shocks, PS3 rubber all round, Z4M TCA bushes, alpina spec 4 wheel alignment and for road use you won't beat it.

For the money bar an M3 nothing out there will beat it as a package. I don't get the e46 hating that happens on here

Sun Apr 19, 2015 10:18 am

Simon13 wrote:hark at the experts! You all need to track drive

Some of the peoples driving in this thread i've experienced first hand Some times on track also and it leaves alot to be desired let alone giving opinions on what consitutes a good handling car!

Most of the stuff being mentioned is more than good enough out of the box its the driver that makes the most difference, we aren't F1 drivers afterall!

while i've never had experience of anyone in here's driving i do agree with simon,

not everone has the chance to drive on a track, i've done it a few times & even driven my father in laws road legal track/rally car & i have to say it was horrible to drive on the road, peaky engine, stiff as a brick suspension & about as comfortable as having an enema.

also, how many folk drive on the road the same way they do on track?? none, not worth the risk of a bad etc.

yes FWD cars do understeer, it's the nature of the beast,

tell you what how about 4WD?? ever pushed one of them to your's/it's limits??

as for the new fezza that trev mentions, never driven one but i would like to given the chance, best FWD car i've driven was a well set up mk2 focus rs, but don't tell me they handle like shit aswell??

so many "expert" drivers on here, really makes me laugh