e46 320i NA Performance Upgrades

[Kyle]

Ah, another one of these...

 

[KPM3_30]

in my humble opinion this car would be very difficult to sell...i hope you're getting it for nothing...that R45 000 spray job has made it nearly impossible to sell for anything close to its normal value...also its a normal 320 with no sunroof no sports seats etc.

I won't say for nothing hey, it's basically around the average sale price listed all ove -> 60k. 
As for the spray job I'm taking it back to Alpine White, not feeling the current one.

Is the sunroof and seats what makes it an individual? Like I said I have no idea, this is what he said. 
I know he blacked out the interior from the light gray it come in.

Please try to read up and gain your own knowledge, any seller will say what needs to be said to make the sale. In my opinion, you have over paid for an exclusive 320i, that will need some money to make it less ricey. 

https://www.news24.com/wheels/NewModels/2004-BMW-3-Series-Individual-20040804

 

[Riaad]

im gna be real with you now and you may not like it...dont buy this car lol..the amount youre going to pay for a new paint job...wheels...you want to do mods...for a normal 320i...just makes no sense at all...even if you bought a high mileage 325i individual and replaced the engine with a M54b30 you'd be better off....you can have sports seats and sunroof and proper individual!!!!

@"individj" thanks bud, you just saved me the time of typing out this exact message  :ty:

 

[individj]

think we may have saved the OP from buying this....i dont think the seller will be happy because i cant imagine he will have other buyers willing to drive that...he will have to give it away.

 

[JakesSA]

im gna be real with you now and you may not like it...dont buy this car lol..the amount youre going to pay for a new paint job...wheels...you want to do mods...for a normal 320i...just makes no sense at all...even if you bought a high mileage 325i individual and replaced the engine with a M54b30 you'd be better off....you can have sports seats and sunroof and proper individual!!!!

Nope I'm very open minded hey, the purchase itself is also only happening on this coming Friday. 
I did the Smash & Grab on the car but that's ok too. The car is clean though, the guy looked well after it.

I don't wanna be that poor sausage that came to the forum and never listened to us, so you've got my attention.

I'm not sure if you've been car scouting lately though? OLX and all those places are horrible, not even to mention the state of some cars.
Where do I even start looking for something that i can buy cash without the risk of being shot in the face for one..... Or the thing failing on me within a month.

---

Ah, another one of these...

This happens often then?

 

[Tinuva]

That car looks terrible and he is conning you calling it individual of even exclusive pack. That's a regular car that had its bumpers replaced and then called indivi3or sport or whatever. Its a stock standard car with a bunch of after market parts and one horrid paint job.

Run away.

Have a look or ask what real individual or sport pack cars look like

Sent from my Mi 9T using Tapatalk

 

[individj]

look this is the thing...as mentioned here these are old cars and even though one may look clean (to you) youll still have to do maintenance work and a refresh on it...you need to do what you want but you'd probably be making the biggest mistake of your life buying this unless it was always your dream to have a basic spec 320i that youll have to respray after paying a premium for it because of a respray. Patience was a virgin..wait for the right one...if it were me it would have to be an individual if im buying an E46.

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We will now leave you to do some research.

 

[JakesSA]

look this is the thing...as mentioned here these are old cars and even though one may look clean (to you) youll still have to do maintenance work and a refresh on it...you need to do what you want but you'd probably be making the biggest mistake of your life buying this unless it was always your dream to have a basic spec 320i that youll have to respray after paying a premium for it because of a respray. Patience was a virgin..wait for the right one...if it were me it would have to be an individual if im buying an E46.

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We will now leave you to do some research.

---

I've been a Google bot ever since this topic started this morning and I can see what you guys are referring to.

Also found one I think, it's down in Richards though but is this more like something I need to look at then?

https://www.olx.co.za/item/bmw-e46-330i-individual-iid-1064092313

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That car looks terrible and he is conning you calling it individual of even exclusive pack. That's a regular car that had its bumpers replaced and then called indivi3or sport or whatever. Its a stock standard car with a bunch of after market parts and one horrid paint job.

Run away.

Have a look or ask what real individual or sport pack cars look like

Sent from my Mi 9T using Tapatalk

Like I mentioned before he could have said exclusive, I'm not too sure. When I looked at the car I never had the knowledge I have now with the help of everyone here. I see him shortly so will just confirm that.

 

[444YYY]

@"JakesSA" , @"individj" knows what he’s talking about, and I agree with him 100 percent. The 330i you posted above from Richards Bay is a much better starting point!
On a side note, a proper and I say proper respray goes for R30k to R55k!
Not having the car built originally as an Individual and having “some” parts retrofitted does not make it an individual!
Anyway, if the deal is done, then it’s done....

 

[JakesSA]

@"JakesSA" , @"individj" knows what he’s talking about, and I agree with him 100 percent. The 330i you posted above from Richards Bay is a much better starting point!
On a side note, a proper and I say proper respray goes for R30k to R55k!
Not having the car built originally as an Individual and having “some” parts retrofitted does not make it an individual!
Anyway, if the deal is done, then it’s done....

Nothing is a done deal yet, I still have until Friday to seal it or not. Like I mentioned I have paid for the smash & grab on the car and the inspection but that's fine even if I decide not to take it now, he got a freebie then.

I'll admit I think I jumped into this too fast, been waiting a while to get a e46 collection started, think excitement just took over. I can see from doing study on the models now exactly what you guys are referring to.

Need to say thanks again to everyone here for the guidance so far!

Are there any pointers to be looking out for on this 330i buy? 
I got in contact with the guy, steering and gear knob is worn. Spot lamps need replacing and hood lining needs attention (seems like small stuff)

 

[individj]

do a compression test on it.

 

[Blue Shirt]

You can decode the VIN to see all the details of the build specification for the car (options, Individual or Exclusive spec, etc).

http://bimmer.work/

Rather do your homework properly and don't be blinded by a bling paintjob and oversized wheels.

 

[JakesSA]

@"JakesSA" , @"individj" knows what he’s talking about, and I agree with him 100 percent. The 330i you posted above from Richards Bay is a much better starting point!
On a side note, a proper and I say proper respray goes for R30k to R55k!
Not having the car built originally as an Individual and having “some” parts retrofitted does not make it an individual!
Anyway, if the deal is done, then it’s done....

Nothing is a done deal yet, I still have until Friday to seal it or not. Like I mentioned I have paid for the smash & grab on the car and the inspection but that's fine even if I decide not to take it now, he got a freebie then.

I'll admit I think I jumped into this too fast, been waiting a while to get a e46 collection started, think excitement just took over. I can see from doing study on the models now exactly what you guys are referring to.

Need to say thanks again to everyone here for the guidance so far!

Are there any pointers to be looking out for on this 330i buy? 
I got in contact with the guy, steering and gear knob is worn. Spot lamps need replacing and hood lining needs attention (seems like small stuff)

Disa valve flap is also acting up, car misses every now and then, switching off the ignition and starting again makes it run fine for a few days or weeks. 

Apparently this is common on research? GW sells em for R850 I think so also not too bad.

 

[madness_inc]

 

[v1p3r]

Disa valve flap is also acting up, car misses every now and then, switching off the ignition and starting again makes it run fine for a few days or weeks. 

Apparently this is common on research? GW sells em for R850 I think so also not too bad.

You're just mentioning more and more problems and then saying "not too bad" or "not that expensive".

A grand here and a grand there, plus the big ticket items already mentioned, then things you won't know about unless you've dealt with E46's before like the power steering pump and control arms and window mechanisms etc, and you'll end up spending more money just making this thing look like a proper E46 than just buying a well looked after enthusiast-maintained car. If you're talking about CSL's and collections, then this shouldn't even be a consideration, this is nowhere near collectors level and will never be.

You've been given great advice from former and current E46 owners and people who know what's klapping with these cars and sales like these. I'd advise you to give it a rethink and not waste any more time on nit picking a car that no self-respecting enthusiast would spray in that two tone job in the first place.

 

[SubLoaded]

lmao "build thread" loading.

 

[madness_inc]

@"JakesSA" , @"individj" knows what he’s talking about, and I agree with him 100 percent. The 330i you posted above from Richards Bay is a much better starting point!
On a side note, a proper and I say proper respray goes for R30k to R55k!
Not having the car built originally as an Individual and having “some” parts retrofitted does not make it an individual!
Anyway, if the deal is done, then it’s done....

Nothing is a done deal yet, I still have until Friday to seal it or not. Like I mentioned I have paid for the smash & grab on the car and the inspection but that's fine even if I decide not to take it now, he got a freebie then.

I'll admit I think I jumped into this too fast, been waiting a while to get a e46 collection started, think excitement just took over. I can see from doing study on the models now exactly what you guys are referring to.

Need to say thanks again to everyone here for the guidance so far!

Are there any pointers to be looking out for on this 330i buy? 
I got in contact with the guy, steering and gear knob is worn. Spot lamps need replacing and hood lining needs attention (seems like small stuff)

Disa valve flap is also acting up, car misses every now and then, switching off the ignition and starting again makes it run fine for a few days or weeks. 

Apparently this is common on research? GW sells em for R850 I think so also not too bad.

My dude. This isn't the car for you. Listen to the advice being given. You'll be in a 50k hole before you know it

 

[v1p3r]

That went downhill from from "mint" and "looked after like you can't believe" in no time at all.

Great that the community has stopped a poor fella from falling into a trap once again

 

[UpNcOmiNg!]

Dude. There is a BEAUTIFUL 330i in CPT just waiting on someone. It is for more than the usual <60k you made mention of, but WELL worth it!
He is a member on here as well.

 

[Jeremy.d]

At the risk of repeating much of what has already been said: e46 models are getting on now. Pretty much anything you buy is going to need some work, big or small. Put yourself in the best possible position by buying something that requires as little work/money as possible to deliver what you want. i.e if you wanted an Alpine White 320i with a little more power, go buy an Alpine White 325i or 330i instead. If you want Individual, buy individual, don't settle on something with a handful of retrofitted parts. You've gotta consider each car you look at as exactly what it is and not get clouded out by your love for the model or the brand...If you do, you'll undoubtedly get taken for a ride and end up spending more than you had planned, to get less than you wanted.

Hope you find what you're looking for.