Advice/thoughts on E46 Clubsports.

[kieran325]

My girlfriend is getting rid of her Mini next month and she's made interest in a E46 coupe

[Rav335uk]

It has one thing an e30 rarely does, a full tool kit, other than that, it's ok

[kieran325]

It's been serviced apart from once at Fawdingtons in Newcastle, last service was in Feb at 63k - it's now 66k.

The owner issue is troubling me.

[kieran325]

It has one thing an e30 rarely does, a full tool kit, other than that, it's ok

I've got full tool kit in all my E30's

[iceox]

i'd be very weary with low mileage, my mate had a 335d (or 330??) and bought new clocks off ebay with half the mileage, took him an hour and bang a low mileage car. if i was gonna spend that much money on it i would be ring the places where it got serviced to see if they remember it and checking mot's (but even mot's can be blagged if you know the mot bloak) bloody mine field. really puts me off buying cars private

[kieran325]

I'll be doing that tomorrow, checking with the dealer.

I'll also get the MOT cert numbers to cross reference with the VOSA site.

I might just be over cautious with the owner issue.

My own 320d sport has only 40k on the clock and I bought it new from the dealer

[iceox]

My own 320d sport has only 40k on the clock and I bought it new from the dealer

ooo wanna swap for a seat ibiza lol

i personaly wouldnt be bothered by owners, loads of people swap and change cars like no ones business

[Simon13]

1 owner every 2 years, hardly out of the ordinary is it.

[bss325i]

i'd be very weary with low mileage, my mate had a 335d (or 330??) and bought new clocks off ebay with half the mileage, took him an hour and bang a low mileage car. if i was gonna spend that much money on it i would be ring the places where it got serviced to see if they remember it and checking mot's (but even mot's can be blagged if you know the mot bloak) bloody mine field. really puts me off buying cars private

The mileage isn't just stored in the instrument cluster on E46's or E9x's.

As soon as the key is read at any BMW dealer then the true mileage would pop up!

Also, instrument clusters are coded to the car so just plugging it in would cause other problems.

[bss325i]

Oh and 4 owners in 7 years is nothing.

[leeparkes]

Regarding the mileage, dont you get a 'tamper dot' pop up on the screen next to the mileage if the clock and ECU dont relate?
Apparently its on E36's.

[B7]

Coupes and Convertibles tend to change owners more often due to the practicalities issue. Buy a 2 door then realise the kids have difficulty getting in and out / wife gets up the duff / can't get elderly mother in / buys a house and wants a load lugger........ the list goes on.

If I was spending that kinda dough on an e46 though, I'd be loooking for at least the 2.5.

[darkchild]

That is a lovely looking facelifted E46 coupe.

The valvetronic donk isn't bad at all - punches above its weight IMO, a lot brisker and more economical that the previous M43. I can easily get 40mpg from mine and that is with a slush box fitted. Check for oil leaks as they're quite common. Some have been known to have timing chain issues where they jump a tooth - BMW now does an upgraded tensioner. Weird sounding engine though and they all seem to have a strange buzz at idle - just one of its characteristics. I wouldn't worry about the amount of owners - just make sure its had frequent oil changes. These have service intervals every 15-16K but a oil change half way through that is a good idea. Door rubbers can be split/perish and is a good bargaining point as they're £250 per side.

[kieran325]

Thanks men.

Its been serviced at 15,28,40k at the Fawdingtons BMW Newcastle and 63k at Peter Micheals in Bolton.

I don't think she needs a 2.5/3.0, its a town car and she does little mileage as it is, commute to work is a 10 mile round trip.

I'm awaiting the build sheet, will it tell me if its an Individual on there ??

[kieran325]

Its coming back as Individual on the chassis number - PN83239.

Individual paint - Estoril blue, black headlining, black cube trim and individual door strips. The rest is standard spec.

[iceox]

what does that individual mean? seen it a few times

[SDM]

Regarding the mileage, dont you get a 'tamper dot' pop up on the screen next to the mileage if the clock and ECU dont relate?
Apparently its on E36's.

It's 100% not on an E36, that is an urban legend that came from people seeing a circular light sensor on the dash that looks like it could be an unlit LED.

[SDM]

what does that individual mean? seen it a few times

you pay top dollar for individual paint and leather.

[m8782538]

Seems ok but not at that price, need to haggle a lot. Couple of months ago a friend of mine picked up a 54 Plate silver 320 convertible with 49k on the clock for £5.5k with full service history and the car was and still is immaculate, also a M-Sport and spec is near identical.

[kieran325]

Spoke to the dealer who's serviced it, all comes back genuine. It did have an inspection 2 Sept 09 @ 59k, I'm guessing it was under the 5 year maintainence package like my E46.

So I might have a tip toe over later and have a look, the price is on the heavy side now for a E46 but I'm sure there's room for adjustment ;)

[e30topless]

go for it kieran but squeeze him on the price ! I love my 46 coupe, the 2.0 16v in these turds is quite a nice engine great daily not too thirsty

nice bonus that it's an individual

[kieran325]

The original E46 coupe had minor issues and he wouldn't budge on the price so we walked........

But the same evening my mate at BMW rang me because I made interest in a Estoril blue E46.

I've been offered this because the owner is relocating to Aus and it was going to be shipped over there but costs and the logistics proved a mission.

He wants it to be looked after, hence I come into it

Every box was ticked on the option list, full BMW history, 1 owner and originally bought from Benham Stockport.

[Simon13]

i can't see the electric rear blind or harmon cardon buttons for the full ticked every option type spec! Glass sunroof?

[e30topless]

think it has Harmon kardon Si, never seen the elec blind in one of these turds ? that would be a cool option !

Looks very nice Kieran but i don't like the clubsport Boot spoiler it's very council !!

[Simon13]

my old mans X reg 325Ci auto was nearly total spec. heated sport black leather,A/C, cruise, glass sunroof, kit with 18inc MV1's, sport suspension, electric, rear blind, harmon kardon, electric rear quarter lights, CD player, Xenons -epic these are. Theres more i just can't remember it all. Its such a shame its not manual and a 3.0 because e46s with this spec are almost non existant.

Harmon cardon has some bass boost type button with the heated seat switches. And the button for the electric blind goes here also, which my old mans has.

[bss325i]

Two options a can clearly see missing from that clubsport are heated seats, tyre pressure monitor and the rear blind si mentioned.

That one has the Nav. Has it got the TV tuner as well because thats another option on top of the Nav?

Has it got a glass sunroof?

Clubsports are nice though but i wouldnt't pay a premium over a normal 330Ci M sport.

[pony]

standard 330Ci SE/ M Sport / Clubsport are all the same in terms of acceleration in a straight line

M Sport / Clubsport run i think a slightly stiffer/harder/lower suspension so should be a little better on track

I dont think Clubsport any faster than M Sport just it is more "showy"

Nothing says you want a M3 more than owning a Clubsport.

Evo magazine never did a great review on the 330Ci Clubsport either

[Andyboy]

One thing I would advise is that you drive a Clubsport. These had stiffer suspension than the regular Sport and the ride (imo) is bloody awful. There are pre and post facelift versions, and they are no better as a car than a 330i Sport plus they have that offensive boot spoiler.

[harry_p]

stupid spoiler, wheels prone to corrosion (and not very nice) and an inflated pricetag.

for that reason i'm out, and would have a normal 330 instead.

[staley_turbo]

I'm looking at buying one of these, clubsport or just normal sport as long as it has the right spec. Has anyone had any experience with the ssg gearbox that was an option in these?

[DanThe]

Posers logbook then Kieran
Shame about the spoiler

[kieran325]

I'm not a fan of the spoiler either nor is the gf

I'm struggling with the fact it's a 3.0 car and it will be used for short journeys with the very occasional blip down the mway.

I was offered the car and I had no intention on looking at clubsports, it just turned up with great spec.

As yet I've not made a decision

[Andyboy]

Has anyone had any experience with the ssg gearbox that was an option in these?

Well, it's basically a standard manual gearbox but with an electro-hydraulic gearshift system made by Magnetti Marelli. It's pretty much identical to the Alfa 156 Selespeed system, and equally reliable.....
They're expensive to fix and not that great to drive - the automatic with Steptronic is much, much nicer.

The best 330i is either the four door or even better, the Touring. They're less money, less prone to the front arch rot but drive just as well. A 330i Sport Touring manual is a proper car. The Coupes are nice but are heading rapidly into Council territory.

[pacerpete]

SSG= Seriously Sad Gearbox !

[bss325i]

The Coupes are nice but are heading rapidly into Council territory.

Heading?! Have you been on e46zone.net recently?