It's not an Audi...

[OMS]

Afternoon all, after much deliberation on what car I should buy next I've made my choice.. it's not an M Coupe, it's not an M3, it's not a 350Z I'm sorry but the DD costs and horrific depreciation of these put them out of contention!

I've just bought an 06 330cd and taken the first step into BMW ownership! The car in question was found through the BMW used car network. It's a 2006 330cd, 6sp manual, silver with black nappa leather with just 20k miles on it... it's well optioned and I think I was lucky to get it, apparently there were 12 people interested and it only went onto the forecourt on Monday last week, an early drive down to the Isle of White on Thursday sealed the deal ! It's being delivered on Saturday and although I promised myself a sportscar I'm really looking forward to it! Thanks to everyone who offered advice, I know it's not an out and out sports car but the red thing in the garage is for the weekends, the BMW fits my job, should drive well and above all was bloody cheap!

Here are some dealer pictures... better ones to follow!

[gj88]

Tidy job. Love these so no problems from me

[Muzzer]

OMS said:

I think I was lucky to get it, apparently there were 12 people interested and it only went onto the forecourt on Monday last week

And you believed this?

Still you seem happy with it and they are nice.

Make sure the heated rear window works, the rear springs aren't snapped and everything electrical inside works. I speak from experience.

HTH

[OMS]

Muzzer said:

And you believed this?


HTH

I know, that did cross my mind. I asked the sales guy on the test drive whether this was a sales technique to close the deal and of course he said no. What I witnessed afterwards convinced me... two sales guys arguing, behind closed doors, because the other sales guy had already sold the car verbally to someone coming from Derby later that day just after I'd said I'd have it! Anyway, everything works, they've just replaced two rear tires, front pads and disks, a switch and given it 12 months "insured" MOT for me...the dealers were a good bunch and a much nicer experience than the mainland dealer I spoke to before Christmas!

[MrBennett]

May I ask how much?

[OMS]

MrBennett said:

May I ask how much?

Sure check my profile.

[chevronb37]

Muzzer said:

OMS said:

I think I was lucky to get it, apparently there were 12 people interested and it only went onto the forecourt on Monday last week

And you believed this?

Still you seem happy with it and they are nice.

Make sure the heated rear window works, the rear springs aren't snapped and everything electrical inside works. I speak from experience.

HTH

My Dad had an E46 M3 which went wrong alarmingly regularly for a £40k car, as did my Mum's E46 330i Touring. I now have a mate with a 320i which has gone wrong twice and another mate with a 318i Touring which has also gone wrong. Electrical, engine and spring problems, among a miscellany of other things. How they got repeat business from my family I'll never know. I understand they are excellent to drive, though, and certainly from a passenger point of view, more involving than the E90/E92.

[OMS]

chevronb37 said:

My Dad had an E46 M3 which went wrong alarmingly regularly for a £40k car, as did my Mum's E46 330i Touring. I now have a mate with a 320i which has gone wrong twice and another mate with a 318i Touring which has also gone wrong. Electrical, engine and spring problems, among a miscellany of other things. How they got repeat business from my family I'll never know. I understand they are excellent to drive, though, and certainly from a passenger point of view, more involving than the E90/E92.

Hi Chevron, you certainly paint a good picture of the 3 series

At the moment I'm just looking forward to getting it, it felt tight when I tested it, is covered on the BMW used car warranty and looks like it's been babied! Everything checks out and BMW have replaced all items that showed up on the preparation as well as things I've pointed out so going into this I'm optimistic!

[monza 16v]

Nice, i have an E46 330 as my daily and it's a great motor.

[chevronb37]

OMS said:

chevronb37 said:

My Dad had an E46 M3 which went wrong alarmingly regularly for a £40k car, as did my Mum's E46 330i Touring. I now have a mate with a 320i which has gone wrong twice and another mate with a 318i Touring which has also gone wrong. Electrical, engine and spring problems, among a miscellany of other things. How they got repeat business from my family I'll never know. I understand they are excellent to drive, though, and certainly from a passenger point of view, more involving than the E90/E92.

Hi Chevron, you certainly paint a good picture of the 3 series

At the moment I'm just looking forward to getting it, it felt tight when I tested it, is covered on the BMW used car warranty and looks like it's been babied! Everything checks out and BMW have replaced all items that showed up on the preparation as well as things I've pointed out so going into this I'm optimistic!

Dude, I am sorry for being so cynical. My Dad's had a string of 3 series and after the E46 cars, he bought an E92 M3 and an E90 335i Touring, so they can't be that bad. Personally, though, if I'd had that much trouble with a car(s), I'd have bought something else. Scores of folk have owned and loved E46s; I'm sure you will too.

I'm currently looking for an Elise, so I expect I'll be able to write the textbook on shoddy reliability by the end of the year!

[OMS]

chevronb37 said:

Dude, I am sorry for being so cynical. My Dad's had a string of 3 series and after the E46 cars, he bought an E92 M3 and an E90 335i Touring, so they can't be that bad. Personally, though, if I'd had that much trouble with a car(s), I'd have bought something else. Scores of folk have owned and loved E46s; I'm sure you will too.

I'm currently looking for an Elise, so I expect I'll be able to write the textbook on shoddy reliability by the end of the year!

Hey Chevron, no worries I didn't take your comments to heart! I'll be keeping the blog up to date so we can both see how bad/well it goes!!

Good luck with the elise!

[PhantomHumper]

OMS said:

MrBennett said:

May I ask how much?

Sure check my profile.

Your profile doesn't mention it?

[OMS]

PhantomHumper said:

OMS said:

MrBennett said:

May I ask how much?

Sure check my profile.

Your profile doesn't mention it?

Click here

[chevronb37]

OMS said:

chevronb37 said:

Dude, I am sorry for being so cynical. My Dad's had a string of 3 series and after the E46 cars, he bought an E92 M3 and an E90 335i Touring, so they can't be that bad. Personally, though, if I'd had that much trouble with a car(s), I'd have bought something else. Scores of folk have owned and loved E46s; I'm sure you will too.

I'm currently looking for an Elise, so I expect I'll be able to write the textbook on shoddy reliability by the end of the year!

Hey Chevron, no worries I didn't take your comments to heart! I'll be keeping the blog up to date so we can both see how bad/well it goes!!

Good luck with the elise!

Thanks, dude. I'm looking and driving a few until I find the perfect car.

My Dad's E46 M3 was wonderful. Fast, adjustable and sounded amazing. The E92 is great, but it isn't so intimate for a passenger - he really missed his E46. To combat it, he's now talking about buying an AM V8 Vantage. If he thought a BMW was unreliable...!