bmw e46 facelift model
Author
Discussion

Chan6192

Original Poster:

134 posts

175 months

Friday 18th February 2011
quotequote all
hi there about to buy a bmw e46 330ci m sport convertible, theres a few im looking at, just wanted to know what was the difference between the face lift models and the older ones, i beleive the facelifts are 03 plate and after and they have sharper lights at the front and l.e.d's at the back, are there any other differences??????????

Sline

498 posts

214 months

Saturday 19th February 2011
quotequote all
Nope thats it! PS buy an M3 wink

MrReg

1,939 posts

238 months

Saturday 19th February 2011
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I think they also had sharper steering and different style of alloys on the sports iirc

soda

1,131 posts

177 months

Saturday 19th February 2011
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Different side indicators
Front bumper on non-sport models
Wider grill

R0B.

124 posts

202 months

Saturday 19th February 2011
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Pre facelifts manuals are 5 speed and the facelifts are 6 speed

Fox-

13,447 posts

262 months

Saturday 19th February 2011
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If its an 03 it isn't an M Sport. The M Sport trim level is 54 plate onwards.

lordlee

3,137 posts

261 months

Saturday 19th February 2011
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The front wings are also different.

R0B.

124 posts

202 months

Saturday 19th February 2011
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Fox- said:
If its an 03 it isn't an M Sport. The M Sport trim level is 54 plate onwards.
think he's talking about a sport model which has the m sport parts factory fitted.

Fox-

13,447 posts

262 months

Saturday 19th February 2011
quotequote all
R0B. said:
think he's talking about a sport model which has the m sport parts factory fitted.
Indeed he is, so it's a 330Ci Sport until 54 plate, where it was renamed 330Ci M Sport with no other changes.

soda

1,131 posts

177 months

Saturday 19th February 2011
quotequote all
R0B. said:
Pre facelifts manuals are 5 speed and the facelifts are 6 speed
Not always, there is a fair bit of overlap between the cosmetic and mechanical changes. Standard 6sp was in production from March/April 03 but plenty of facelift cars about before that.

Fox-

13,447 posts

262 months

Saturday 19th February 2011
quotequote all
soda said:
Not always, there is a fair bit of overlap between the cosmetic and mechanical changes. Standard 6sp was in production from March/April 03 but plenty of facelift cars about before that.
There are no facelift Coupe or Cabriolet before March 03. You are confusing the Saloon facelift - in late 2001 - with the Coupe facelift.

The Saloon was facelifted on a 51 plate but retained the lower power version of the 330d's engine and retained the 5 speed manual box.

The Coupe and Cab were facelifted on an 03 plate, and at this time the entire model range moved over to 6 speed boxes and 204bhp variant of the 330d.

soda

1,131 posts

177 months

Saturday 19th February 2011
quotequote all
Fox- said:
There are no facelift Coupe or Cabriolet before March 03. You are confusing the Saloon facelift
Correct, must read opening post fully next time paperbag

Chan6192

Original Poster:

134 posts

175 months

Tuesday 22nd February 2011
quotequote all
huh?????
so you dont get m-sports before 04 plate????, im seeing lots for sale on 01/02/03 plates? whats that mean they're fakes? correct me if im wrong but dont the m sports just consist of the body styling, wheels, suspension, and a few m sport badges in the car??? is there any mechanical difference in terms of the engine it self?

Fox-

13,447 posts

262 months

Tuesday 22nd February 2011
quotequote all
Chan6192 said:
huh?????
so you dont get m-sports before 04 plate????, im seeing lots for sale on 01/02/03 plates? whats that mean they're fakes? correct me if im wrong but dont the m sports just consist of the body styling, wheels, suspension, and a few m sport badges in the car??? is there any mechanical difference in terms of the engine it self?
In mid 2001, BMW introduced the Sport trim level on the E46 Coupe. It included Anthricate Headlining, M-Tech bodystyling, 18 inch wheels, M-Tech suspension, Sports Seats, Sports steering wheel, a lip spoiler, sports exhuast and M branded door entry sills.

In late 2004, BMW renamed this trim level to M Sport.

Any pre 04 E46 advertised as 'M Sport' is actually a 'Sport' being advertised by somebody really thick - as it quite clearly states 'Sport' and not 'M Sport' on the V5.

There are no differences other than the name. People with the older cars just think 'yo wiked M Sport innit' or something.

Chan6192

Original Poster:

134 posts

175 months

Tuesday 22nd February 2011
quotequote all
lol i see thanks for clearing that up, well in that case im after a 330ci sport not a m- sport smile is there any differences in the performance at all? or is it purely based on apperance and handling?

david_h

579 posts

279 months

Tuesday 22nd February 2011
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Stupid question but I bought a 2001 330ci (non-sport)last year as a stop gap.

I always found the steering way too light and lacking feedback. I know the coupe's had the sport suspension setup, and mine was fitted with 18" sport wheels and seats.

Did they alter the steering at all in the facelift sport versions? Is the steering on the early ci's the same as on the early sports?

andy-xr

13,204 posts

220 months

Tuesday 22nd February 2011
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Fox- said:
In mid 2001, BMW introduced the Sport trim level on the E46 Coupe. It included Anthricate Headlining, M-Tech bodystyling, 18 inch wheels, M-Tech suspension, Sports Seats, Sports steering wheel, a lip spoiler, sports exhuast and M branded door entry sills.

In late 2004, BMW renamed this trim level to M Sport.

Any pre 04 E46 advertised as 'M Sport' is actually a 'Sport' being advertised by somebody really thick - as it quite clearly states 'Sport' and not 'M Sport' on the V5.

There are no differences other than the name. People with the older cars just think 'yo wiked M Sport innit' or something.
My 53 plate 325 Ci was listed on the V5 as M Sport confused

Fox-

13,447 posts

262 months

Tuesday 22nd February 2011
quotequote all
andy-xr said:
My 53 plate 325 Ci was listed on the V5 as M Sport confused
No it wasn't, it was 'Sport'.

2003 was definately before they renamed it.

Further checking reveals it was actually late 2005 when the E46 Coupe became M Sport.

There is no way your 53 was an M Sport, you've obviously recalled it wrong smile

andy-xr

13,204 posts

220 months

Tuesday 22nd February 2011
quotequote all
Fox- said:
No it wasn't, it was 'Sport'.

2003 was definately before they renamed it.

Further checking reveals it was actually late 2005 when the E46 Coupe became M Sport.

There is no way your 53 was an M Sport, you've obviously recalled it wrong smile
Oh! Who's car was it then, mine or yours?!

Fox-

13,447 posts

262 months

Tuesday 22nd February 2011
quotequote all
andy-xr said:
Oh! Who's car was it then, mine or yours?!
What difference does that make?

M Sport was not a trim level in 2003, thats pretty much all there is to it.