E46 Convertible Time, 10k to spend

Datamonkey

Datamonkey

Datamonkey

Soldato
Joined
21 Jan 2003
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Northamptonshire
Hi guys,

Im looking to spend 10k on an e46 convertible.

I know i can get some nice examples on a 51 plate with pretty good milage.

Im after some info fuel consumption figures for the 325 and the 330 engines.

Anyone know of any links?

Basically im giving up my company car as i moving closer to my main place of work. So will be getting 5.5k a year allowance plus my FUEL CARD still!! :D


Only thing is the car must be able to do 28mpg, can the 3ltr petrol engine meet that?

Cheers
 
the 3l petrol will comfortably do high 30s low 40s on the motorway so yea :)

There is ZERO point in buying a 325, all the running costs, but slower.
 
you are buying at the wrong time tbh, but still plenty of cars in your budget :]

while there is 'NO POINT' in buyin a 325 due to running costs, if you find one significantly cheaper (and not a dog) then you might as well buy it if you want to save a few pennies.
 
I will be buying in sept, so should be the better time to possibly snap up a bargain as the prices come back down.

Mmmm will go check the insurance quotes on a 330i then :D was getting quoted £700 fc for the 325i with business use for myself and the missus, neither of us have our own no claims as they have been built up with company cars.

Any links to sites with milage figures and such lads?

Fox where are ya when i need you matey lol.

Have checked e36coupe.com used to be an active member on there back in 04 when i had my e36 rag top :D
 
A good 330 Cabrio for £10k is VERY tall order - Glass's suggests only a 100k mile W reg example will be near budget. I'd be wary of newer cars for £10k really, this is the textbook example of a wideboy geezers car so there will be a LOT of thrashed, ruined examples out there occupying this pricepoint especially.

To be honest I wouldnt hold out any hope of a nice tidy E46 Cabrio at this money - and why would you want a scabby one?
 
Hey fox,

Looking on autotrader there are a fair few, 100k is nothing for me to worry about, as long as it doesnt look like its been to the moon and back with the seats all split and such.

I can see a couple of what look to be tidy examples on autotrader.

Also just checked the insurance lol, goes up a whacking £22 lol. so £722 for fully comp business user for the 330i.

I would also be getting theaa out to carry out a full check on the car. for £170 i think its a good idea lol.
 
Morba said:
If thats the case, why not wait until winter? prices will be even better then
Click to expand...

My current company car is up for renewal then, if i take another company car im stuck with it for another 3 years :(

I cant take 3 more years in a diesel tractor i mean astra estate even if it is an sri :*(
 
So will you be taking an allowance then? If so, do the rules state it must be a new car or within x years old?
 
thats an auto as well mind, fuel economy will be quite a bit worse than the manual.

might be worth checking how the tax works on the car, as im sure you get taxed on the original price rather than the price you have paid 2nd hand - this might not be a problem, but always worth considering when it comes to a company car :]
 
Hey morba,

Cheers yeah very true it is an Auto,

I wont be getting taxed on it, i will be paying all running costs and such, it will be my car used for work purposes. I will get taxed on the fuel card and thats it.

I was losing over 3k a year on the astra, plus playing £65 a month contribution towards private milage on the fuel card. I dont do very much private milage really at the moment.
 
The SE Cabby looks more like a woman's car than anything else 330ci or not! (it's the bumpers, look too softy!) sport would be where it's at! my next one is a sport!

Also, 330 gets high 30s on motorway???! atm my daily commute is a large portion motorway whilst the 2nd half easy normal driving mostly 40mph roads until you get close to home. I get 470-480 miles per tankful so could I pull off similar miles per tank in a 330? my car doesn't have vanos or valvetronic btw so I can only imagine what a newer engine would get on my commute!
 
I dont think the 330i will get that sort of milage to be honest.

Thats why i think im going to stick to a 325i being a drop top with the roof down most of the time the wind factor will also surely drink more juice?
 
Datamonkey said:
I dont think the 330i will get that sort of milage to be honest.

Thats why i think im going to stick to a 325i being a drop top with the roof down most of the time the wind factor will also surely drink more juice?
Click to expand...

There is no noticeable difference in fuel economy between the three M54 engines (2.2, 2.5 and 3.0). They there is about 0.7mpg combined between the 330i and the 325i. It is no more expensive to run than a 325i.

At a 75mph cruise I can return high 30's in my 530i - I see no reason why you couldnt do the same in a manual 330i.
 
Hey fox,

The main reason for me getting rid of the company car though is i wont be doing any where near as much milage any more.

And the fact im moving to Baldock which is 15 miles from Luton Airport where im now based.

So its mainly going to be short trips to and from work with the occasional longer drive when im on call out for the old bill. 1 week in 4.

So i may even say sod it and look at a 320i thats a 2.2 right? and a straight 6.
 
Yes its a 2.2 Straight Six but unless you find a really cheap one whats the point? You'll be paying 330i running costs but getting 320i performance.
 
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