E46 330i Coupe - Any Experiences?

[83C]

I'm looking at something fun for the summer, potentially replacing the E38. The E46 330Ci's seem to be good value at the moment, and tick all the boxes for me - coupe with a 6 banger up front, handle well, easyish to fix and rear wheel drive at the back.

 

Anything I need to look out for/avoid on them? I know the wings rot out and the cooling system can have issues (much the same as the lump in my E38) but other than that I don't really know much about them. I'm tempted by an auto as they seem to be in generally better condition compared to similar money (i.e. within a shiters budget), and as much as I like a manual, if the auto is as good as the one in my E38 then it'll do just fine.

 

Over to you folks!

[Cavcraft]

Tayne is your man here.

 

 

*I seem to remember there was a recall for these on the rear subframes, something about the amount of power going through them.

[riek]

i've had one years, i'm no ninja mechanic or expert....

 

watch out for the cooling system - yanks treat it as a service item, rads are good for about 60k before they start to swell in areas you can't see and eventually let go. Mine went at 65k.

usual stuff with suspension bushes

the M54 engine likes oil. a litre every 1k miles is "normal", worse than that is not uncommon

 

on the plus side, it's  fantastic sounding engine and it pulls like a train. it's also fairly economical for a motor with that much poke from the late 90s/early2000s

[Supernaut]

Tayne is your man here.

 

 

*I seem to remember there was a recall for these on the rear subframes, something about the amount of power going through them.

Tayne is indeed the person to ask.

 

I remember something about a problem with the rear subframes on E46s too. I think it was the metal where it bolted onto the body was quite thin, and would rust away and flex under acceleration. Although they were (hopefully) all fixed years ago now.

[Six-cylinder]

Some of these car suffer from high oil consumption.

[HMC]

Didn't PeterC get one of these recently, in manual flavour?

[Six-cylinder]

We have an E46 330CI SE Coupe Auto which has only done 60k, we have had it over 10 years and bought it from the first owner.

[Mike D]

I've had my 330ci Clubsport for nearly 5 years now, and done 46K in it, I flipping love it. I'd definitely recommend a manual as that's what I have experience of, it's a nice box.

 Mine has had an alternator, battery, thermostat, front wishbone rear bushes and front discs and pads in the time I've had it, apart from oil and filters etc.

 

They do use a bit of oil as previously mentioned, and the front wishbone rear bushes, and rear arm bushes, but that's about it. I get about 28mpg combined out of mine, not bad for a 6.2s to 60 155mph machine. Unplug the vacuum hose off the rear silencer for maximum burbleage

 

Here's mine earning its keep..

 

 

[Cavcraft]

I'm going to have buy one of these

[Peter C]

Didn't PeterC get one of these recently, in manual flavour?

I did, but an automatic.

[Six-cylinder]

I don't like the auto learning gearbox, it never sees the road ahead and does the appropriate thing and the manual setting ultimately changes gear itself if it does not think you are doing the right thing.

 

Mrs 6C loves the 5 speed auto box.

[Six-cylinder]

I've had my 330ci Clubsport for nearly 5 years now, and done 46K in it, I flipping love it. I'd definitely recommend a manual as that's what I have experience of, it's a nice box.

 Mine has had an alternator, battery, thermostat, front wishbone rear bushes and front discs and pads in the time I've had it, apart from oil and filters etc.

 

They do use a bit of oil as previously mentioned, and the front wishbone rear bushes, and rear arm bushes, but that's about it. I get about 28mpg combined out of mine, not bad for a 6.2s to 60 155mph machine. Unplug the vacuum hose off the rear silencer for maximum burbleage

I remember now ours has had a front wishbone and some bushes.

 

I get 22mpg, Mrs C6 get around 30mpg.

[Anglevan]

My son has (had) one - in fairness it was not a great example, done 130k when he bought it against my better judgement. However the amount he paid it was worth it. My son is not great on maintenance and i was very nagging him to check oil and water which he would never do.

Suffice to say he has owned it just short of a year, done about 5k in it and the headgasket has just gone. Just sold it and they are collecting it Thursday. He's not put off though and in fairness I really liked it and would have another. My advise would be, buy the best you can for the money and if no history walk away. Also nearly everyone we looked at had been crashed, including the one we bought but as stated the price was right.

[83C]

I've had my 330ci Clubsport for nearly 5 years now, and done 46K in it, I flipping love it. I'd definitely recommend a manual as that's what I have experience of, it's a nice box.

Mine has had an alternator, battery, thermostat, front wishbone rear bushes and front discs and pads in the time I've had it, apart from oil and filters etc.

 

They do use a bit of oil as previously mentioned, and the front wishbone rear bushes, and rear arm bushes, but that's about it. I get about 28mpg combined out of mine, not bad for a 6.2s to 60 155mph machine. Unplug the vacuum hose off the rear silencer for maximum burbleage

 

Here's mine earning its keep..

 

bmwbike.jpg

 

bmwtrailer.jpg

If I had the money that's exactly the spec I'd like, in the right colour too.

 

However, I'm looking at the sub-grand cars. I really would prefer a manual but in that price bracket they all seem barried/borked. Good tidy autos seem much more attainable.

 

28mpg is about what my E38 is returning overall, so I can live with that. I was going to off the E38 but seeing a Clubsport with a tow bar means I might sack off the Transit instead!

[EssDeeWon]

I had a 2002 330ci M-Sport.

 

Nice car, needed £££ spending on it despite being a so called cherished example. Silly things like trim buttons and door locks used to break. Handled 'OK' but remember it's a powerful RWD car but great for going fast in a straight line.

 

I liked it but it wasn't the bullet proof German engineering I was expecting, but then what is? IIRC the front arches rust from the inside out for fun.

 

Verdict; yes go for it, just buy the best one you can with SH and a none ' Barried' example.

[Partridge]

Jesus. If that's anything to go by, they must be shit cars. I used to want one. I don't want one anymore.

[dome]

I got my 330d touring as a friend was selling a car I knew had been looked after fairly well. I thought it would be a fix up and sell on job but as a tool for getting me and bikes round the country quickly, comfortably and economically it's brilliant. Mine's an MSport and I find the grip and roadholding brilliant and the ride just on the right side of too firm while still being comfy over long distances.. 

 

Mine lived near the sea for the last 8 years though so any work underneath it gives me the fear. Which is handy*, as I'm about to change a rear wheel bearing....

[83C]

They'll be fucked!

 

A sub-£1k more-door 316 in povo trim with flat seats and housewife suspension is still a gamble. A £995 ono 330 manual coupe is one off-camber corner away from ruining your no-claims bonus.

To be fair, most sub-£1000 cars are a gamble, my E38 being just such an example. Still, I have a bottle of super-strength brave pills, access to a 4-post lift and a total lack of sense when it comes to sensible car buying. What could possibly go wrong?

[Peter C]

I bought a 330Ci SE automatic for my wife a week before Christmas. I paid £1,400 for it, got it from a dealer, 100k miles on the clock, tidy car.

 

I gave it an oil and filter change and in two months it's done troublefree 3k miles. The only fault a couple of weeks ago was a blown headlight bulb, replaced in 2 mins, cost £5.

 

Car starts first time rain or shine, drives like new, wife gets easy 30MPG.

 

Simple really, buy a decent car that has been looked after, even if it means paying £150 more than the experts down the pub or on Autoshite say it's worth and you should have hassle free motoring. Buy a cheap and tired example and you'll have trouble that will cost you in the long run.

 

Peter C

 

PS: the automatic gearbox is a gem! Buy a manual if you like but chances are that at the lower price end of the market the car has been drifted to fuck by at least nine of the last ten owners.

 

Good luck!

[Supernaut]

They'll be fucked!

 

A sub-£1k more-door 316 in povo trim with flat seats and housewife suspension is still a gamble. A £995 ono 330 manual coupe is one off-camber corner away from ruining your no-claims bonus.

Mine and 17-Coffees' 316i is perfectly fine*

 

Now that it's had a few hundred in welding and exhaust work done...