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Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
Second hand e46 330i
- Thread starter Sankekur
- Start date
zaleonardz
Well-known member
nothing specific, those motors are pretty good.
usual BMW issues, just try and get a manual.. auto box's could die...
usual BMW issues, just try and get a manual.. auto box's could die...
Whacko
New member
Excellent car, I have a 330i with 136k on the odo. Only problems so far was the resistors for the variable speed aircon fan went at about 80k and a small oil leak from the tappetcover gasket, fixed that myself. Very economical for it's size and it does 0-100 in about 6.8 seconds at the coast and has no problem reaching the limited 250km/h.
I think best if you don't know the car, ask if you can have one of the bmw specialists check it out.
I think best if you don't know the car, ask if you can have one of the bmw specialists check it out.
Sankekur
///Member
This is good to know.Whacko said:
Whacko said:
Yeah, this is what I am planning to do, I won't buy a second had car without someone with expert knowledge having had a look at it. I at least know some basics to see if there is something seriously wrong, but for the more subtle things (and often more dangerous things) I leave it to an expert.
Gizmo
Banned
Trust me, go facelift as it doesn't have the problem the pre facelift had. Plus the fact that it looks so much hotter!
Pre facelift had overboosted steering which made the steering very light, even at speed which is not a good idea. The facelift had a more meaty feel to the steering, you feel more in contact with the road.
I saw a '04 330i sportpack 6spd on gumtree going for R130 000 a little while back so they are floating around. You will always envy a sportpack if you don't have one. They have all the optional upgrades which is what you want. Keep your eyes peeled for a f/l 330i 6spd sportpack and you won't go wrong.
Pre facelift had overboosted steering which made the steering very light, even at speed which is not a good idea. The facelift had a more meaty feel to the steering, you feel more in contact with the road.
I saw a '04 330i sportpack 6spd on gumtree going for R130 000 a little while back so they are floating around. You will always envy a sportpack if you don't have one. They have all the optional upgrades which is what you want. Keep your eyes peeled for a f/l 330i 6spd sportpack and you won't go wrong.
Sankekur
///Member
Gizmo said:
Thanks for the advice, I didn't know about the steering issue on the pre-facelift. But I am just wondering what causes this overboost in the steering is it hydrolics as in the powersteering pump or the steering rack or by some kind of electronic control on the powersteering, I must admit I have never noticed any electronics in the powersteering system of the e46 (of course I could be wrong).
If it is caused by say the pump, coudn't you just replace it with one from a facelift, and the same if it is caused by the steering rack, though personally I wouldn't want to change the streering as it would appear to be a very labour intensive. Actually thinking about it both of these things would be pretty labour intensive to replace.
Personally I am more in favour of the looks of the pre-facelift, for some reason I just like it more, but of course I will keep an open mind.
I have actually found a 2001 330 that looks in to be in good condition and has
-silver exterior with black leather
-sports pack
-sunroof
-FSH
-manual (5 spd) (other than this it has everything I was looking for)
-125 000km on the clock
-asking price is 95k
it has some minor issues, expantion tank seems to be on the way out as well as the driver side electric window (damned plasic gears).
But have booked the car in with a BMW mechanic (private not at a dealership) on monday to run a check and to give the car a thorough going over, as I noticed there is a slight vibration on the engine and I just want to be sure it not something serious. Other than this the motor seems to be in perfect condition (from my own basic checks)
Will of course be doing some more "shopping" on saterday, if only to be able to have some comparison.
(Sorry about the epic post)
Regards
Sankekur
///Member
So, this weekend I had a bit of a look around the second hand car dealerships and only found two 330's that where of note, of which the first was already sold, and the second was way out of my price range, but is everything one could possible want from a 330i, silver, m-tek2 body kit, sunroof etc. I thought I would make them a cash offer for the car to get the price down to being less over my budget, but I have doubts whether they will accept.
Hopefully I will get the verdict from my mechanic later today about the other 330i that looked promising, so fingers crossed.
Hopefully I will get the verdict from my mechanic later today about the other 330i that looked promising, so fingers crossed.
Sankekur
///Member
It is unfortunate in my casemsm said:
.From what I have seen the dealers add about R40k extra to the price if it has the sports pack, which seems a bit steep to me.
At first I thought it would be a better idea to by a car form a dealer as I assume that it is more likely that you would find a car in a good condition at a dealer.
But know I am thinking that they are pro's (its their job after all) when it comes to making a car look to be in a better condition than it actually is. This of course is only my opinion and is by no means fact.
On the same note I noticed all the cars I looked at, at dealerships had ruined bonnet liners from when the engine was washed. Pesonally I don't like it when they have washed the engine.
Whacko
New member
Sankekur said:
You will struggle to find a good one, they are popular and the owners hold on to them. I've given mine to the wife, it is a sports pack full house with sunroof. The steering is no problem at all and is definitely not too light, even as a pre-facelift. If you see one for 120k or so, go for it if the car checks out.
Sankekur
///Member
So yesterday after the work I decided to give my mechanic a call as I had heard nothing from him about the car I wanted him go over. It turned out that he owner never took the car to the mencahnic as he said he would.
Gave the owner a call, he just put the phone down in my ear, called again, but no answer, so I guess the car is no longer for sale, or I scared him off, somehow.
Sigh
Gave the owner a call, he just put the phone down in my ear, called again, but no answer, so I guess the car is no longer for sale, or I scared him off, somehow.
Sigh
andrewbuch
///Member
Sankekur said:So yesterday after the work I decided to give my mechanic a call as I had heard nothing from him about the car I wanted him go over. It turned out that he owner never took the car to the mencahnic as he said he would.
Gave the owner a call, he just put the phone down in my ear, called again, but no answer, so I guess the car is no longer for sale, or I scared him off, somehow.
Sigh
It means that he had something on the car to hide, & just wanted to sell it quick quick.. So count yourself lucky
Sankekur
///Member
It must have been something like this.Gizmo said:
That is what was trying to do and still am, the big problem with most is high mileage or the fact that the guys won't tell you the mileage even if you enquire about it.Muney said:
Then there is also the issue of colour. It might seem petty but I have my prefrences.
I am now looking at one that has low mileage and almost everything you could want from a 330i, the only thing missing is xenons, but this is not a problem can always get some later. The only issue is whether I will be able to afford it.
Edit:Someone was a bit eager with the zeros:
http://www.junkmail.co.za/v-johanne...YCatQX0506QYRgnQX0001QYAdQXF51132QYEdQX201025
