E46 330Ci - worth the risk in 2023?

[anonymous-user]

Hello all, I need a sanity check! I went down to one car after selling my E85 Z4 3.0i last year, and my circumstances have changed to the point that I only have a 3 mile commute I can cycle so a 'fun' single car makes sense.
My Z4 was a bit of a dog and needed a lot of work, to the point that I packed it in for a bit of a loss after 15 months of ownership- I had fun with it but it was just tainted by the amount of times I had to take it in for work I couldn't do!
So having done the early 2000s BMW dance once before with all the issues of an aging German premium segment car, am I mad to do it again with one that's comparatively harder to work on? Should I shop for an E92 instead? Or go one step up on the ladder and settle on a 6er?

[d_a_n1979]

What is it you want out of the car?

If you want a cruiser but a V8 as well; go for a 650i Just do your due diligence re the engine and necessary work needed (ie valvle stem seals, gaskets and proper maintenance etc)

If you want more of a fun weekend car and B road hoonigan; then the E92 or even a well looked after E46 will do the job well...

You want the 3.0i engine minimum IMO, maybe a 335i if you can find one that's been looked after etc

There are plenty of projects re these cars in Readers Cars; worth having a nosey through etc

[anonymous-user]

d_a_n1979 said:

What is it you want out of the car?

If you want a cruiser...If you want more of a fun weekend car and B road hoonigan

Heart says B road basher, head says cruiser- backroads my way are getting absolutely awful for anything remotely sportily set up! I fancy the idea of trying to force a cruiser to tackle a few of the 'better' roads anyway just for the fun of it.

I'm more wondering if it's a stupid idea to jump into some 13-18 year old German metal again with all of the associated issues instead of being sensible and nabbing a Civic Type R or something.

[d_a_n1979]

Pickle_Party_247 said:

d_a_n1979 said:

What is it you want out of the car?

If you want a cruiser...If you want more of a fun weekend car and B road hoonigan

Heart says B road basher, head says cruiser- backroads my way are getting absolutely awful for anything remotely sportily set up! I fancy the idea of trying to force a cruiser to tackle a few of the 'better' roads anyway just for the fun of it.

I'm more wondering if it's a stupid idea to jump into some 13-18 year old German metal again with all of the associated issues instead of being sensible and nabbing a Civic Type R or something.

Look out for Japanese import versions; they're generally a lot better condition than any UK car

But still due diligence is needed etc

[Court_S]

If you buy wisely, they shouldn’t be too much of a pain.

How many seats do you need? I’d be tempted by a Z4 coupe with an N52 engine if two seats work. They look ace, aren’t too big and the N52 is a pretty solid engine.

[anonymous-user]

d_a_n1979 said:

Look out for Japanese import versions; they're generally a lot better condition than any UK car

But still due diligence is needed etc

Good shout, will consider that!

Court_S said:

How many seats do you need? I’d be tempted by a Z4 coupe with an N52 engine if two seats work. They look ace, aren’t too big and the N52 is a pretty solid engine.

I have always liked the E86 coupes, I could do with 4 seats- 99% of the time it's just me though. Boot space is quite practical in them isn't it, as they are liftbacks?

[DJMC]

I had a 2003 E46 330ci for nine years, 115k miles.

Things starting to wear, gearbox selector, suspension components. No rust though, always garaged.

Great driver's car. Great sound.

I test drove a new Z4 yesterday and it was absolutely awful. I had it for an hour but went back after 10 minutes. Terrible suspension in all settings including adaptive, weird steering.

If you can find a low mileage (good luck) rust free (good luck) E46 go for it.

[d_a_n1979]

Pickle_Party_247 said:

d_a_n1979 said:

Look out for Japanese import versions; they're generally a lot better condition than any UK car

But still due diligence is needed etc

Good shout, will consider that!

I had Japanese import Hondas, one after another when I was younger (late 90s into mid 2000s etc); all immaculate underneath

Also had x2 Japanese import BMW E39s (530i Sport Touring, had that for 2.5 years from 2019 & then bought a 540i Sport saloon last year but sold it after 6months, heart wasn't in it)...

Would never have a UK E39 (or E46/E38) after that; they fizz in the rain now the age they're at.. Well worth taking into consideration!

The thread for my touring is here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

A manual E39 530i Sport (fairly rare) would be a superb car; fantastic engine and on decent suspension (springs/shocks, or coilovers) they handle superbly and they're roomier/comfier than an E46 too

[anonymous-user]

DJMC said:

I had a 2003 E46 330ci for nine years, 115k miles.

Things starting to wear, gearbox selector, suspension components. No rust though, always garaged.

Great driver's car. Great sound.

I test drove a new Z4 yesterday and it was absolutely awful. I had it for an hour but went back after 10 minutes. Terrible suspension in all settings including adaptive, weird steering.

If you can find a low mileage (good luck) rust free (good luck) E46 go for it.

Thanks for your insight rust is the main concern with them nowadays hence why an E92 seems to be a smarter buy.

I'm not fussed about mileage- my Z4 was on circa 70k when I bought it but lots of issues with it arose through lack of use- overall condition is more important to me. Definitely too many with rust round me.

[DJMC]

Pickle_Party_247 said:

Thanks for your insight rust is the main concern with them nowadays hence why an E92 seems to be a smarter buy.

I'm not fussed about mileage- my Z4 was on circa 70k when I bought it but lots of issues with it arose through lack of use- overall condition is more important to me. Definitely too many with rust round me.

Rust would absolutely be my main concern. After that, wear and tear items.

[nw942]

DJMC said:

Pickle_Party_247 said:

Thanks for your insight rust is the main concern with them nowadays hence why an E92 seems to be a smarter buy.

I'm not fussed about mileage- my Z4 was on circa 70k when I bought it but lots of issues with it arose through lack of use- overall condition is more important to me. Definitely too many with rust round me.

Rust would absolutely be my main concern. After that, wear and tear items.

Brakes lines on mine are an MOT advisory - that's a big job if it's done properly i.e. remove fuel tank, rear axle etc.

[Deep Thought]

Having ran several 330Cis, an E63 C630i and an E90 330i in the last few years, i'd be going for the E92 330i.

330Ci prices are starting to creep up, yet they are very prone to rust.

I ran the 630i for a year and its probably the most expensive car i've ran in terms of cost in a year. Granted, some of it was self inflicted (BC Coilovers) but anything you went to replace (due to wear and tear) was £££s.

So my money would go on the E92. Easier to drive as a daily, not too old that you're in to big maintenance and parts are cheap as it shares most things with the E90.

[Court_S]

E9x cars are starting to differ from crusty rear subframes, bolts etc can look a bit ropey but they’re generally pretty good at resisting rust. Front wings are plastic, so won’t rust.

I like my E92, it feels like a sensible size on the road and is modern enough to be upgradable if that’s of use. It’s reasonable practical too.

[sortedcossie]

My E91 definitely has metal front wings.

[Deep Thought]

sortedcossie said:

My E91 definitely has metal front wings.

E92 has plastic front wings

[sortedcossie]

Gotcha

[Mr Tidy]

When I bought my first Z4 Coupe in 2014 I needed something vaguely sensible as a daily driver suitable for elederly parent taxi duty, so I bought an E46 325ti Compact, and loved it.

But after a few years rust was starting to appear on one of the front wings, and all the underside was getting very crusty looking - things like brake pipes, suspension, brakes, etc.

So having been impressed with the N52 engine in the Z4 I bought a 2005 E90 330i manual that is so far proving to have far less rust problems and drives really well.

But it just feels a bit sensible and maybe sterile compared to my old E46, so I'd rather have an E46 - the only problem is finding a good one. And as someone said earlier E46 prices are climbing, whereas E9* models have probably dropped about as far as they are going to.

[c3m]

FWIW, I'll be putting up my 330Ci (xenons, satnav, heated seats - fully loaded) for sale in two weeks - DM me if interested.

[junglie]

Looks handsome - auto or manual?

[junglie]

This is my facelift, non rusty, 6 speed manual.

I sometimes toy with selling it……