Ideas for a cheaper car

I'm pretty set on a 330 to be honest, it just seems like there isn't much choice of good looking ones.

I found one that looks almost perfect, but it has cream interior, here

Its just a shame about the interior - cream I think I can deal with, I'm not so sure about the wood trim - but the other half seems to bloody like it :(

A perfect one doesn't seem to exist though - ie. sensible colour, xenons, bluetooth, leather and auto lights/wipers, with black interior.
 
MikeHiow said:
I found one that looks almost perfect, but it has cream interior, here

Its just a shame about the interior - cream I think I can deal with, I'm not so sure about the wood trim - but the other half seems to bloody like it :(
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Cream + wood = lush foo!

Autotrader is blocked at work for me so I can't see the actual one, but I personally love that interior combination.
 
The cream is far better than black. Everyone specced black and black. I want to spend a small fortune buying birch wood for mine. The same wood that's in the one you linked to.

If you fancy a swap to black cube (looks like fake carbon fibre) then I'd happily swap!

Oh and RobbieG:

343nps7.jpg
 
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I absolutely hate wood trim. I think it looks horrible, but i kinda really like the black cubed trim.

Seems to be the opposite to the rest of you! :p
 
paradigm said:
The cream is far better than black. Everyone specced black and black. I want to spend a small fortune buying birch wood for mine. The same wood that's in the one you linked to.
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It doesn't put me off enough to stop me buying it if the rest of the car meets the requirements, if I can't put up with it, and do end up with that car, I may end up taking you up on your offer.
 
I always thought that cream/beige was a bit old man, but I'm slowly coming around to it..
Is that engine light anything to worry about in that 330i?
 
MikeHiow said:
I found one that looks almost perfect, but it has cream interior, here
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That is very cheap for a low mileage '53 plate. If its legit its a great buy, but I'd be a bit careful with it I think!

A perfect one doesn't seem to exist though - ie. sensible colour, xenons, bluetooth, leather and auto lights/wipers, with black interior.
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Xenons are quite rare on the 3 Series (And still are even on brand new E90's!) and Bluetooth is even more rare, just think how many people used Bluetooth on a regular basis in 2003 - not many. The other issue is that even if you DO find a Bluetooth fitted car it will almost certainly require a replacement UIM to work with modern handsets like the iPhone, and this is about £300 IIRC.

Bluetooth on the E46 is crap unless you've got the navigation system. The radio screen isn't big enough for it to be of any real use and the only thing it offers you over an aftermarket kit is being able to use the steering wheel button rather than an aftermarket button.

BMW Bluetooth in conjunction with Nav, or with the newer stereos on the E90's, is brilliant, however, but dont lose sleep over not having it on a non Nav fitted 02/03 E46.

Suprised you want the black interior. One of the only things I dislike about my 530 is the dreary interior colour combo of black dash, black leather and silver trim.

Auto lights/wipers are standard on the facelift 330i Sport so they will not normally be mentioned in the advert even if it has them.
 
[TW]Fox;16190037 said:
Bluetooth on the E46 is crap unless you've got the navigation system. The radio screen isn't big enough for it to be of any real use and the only thing it offers you over an aftermarket kit is being able to use the steering wheel button rather than an aftermarket button.
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You can get almost (doesn't let voice command work, although voice dial does) full integration with a Connects2 kit and a Parrot CK3000 Evo. I've just finished installing the above for a grand total of £85. Better solution than retrofitting the extortionate BMW kit, and all the plus sides, no visible wires, no extra buttons, just the steering wheel controls :)


[TW]Fox;16190037 said:
Auto lights/wipers are standard on the facelift 330i Sport so they will not normally be mentioned in the advert even if it has them.
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I was under the impression that they were standard on the 330d too, however my mates has neither, which confused me somewhat. Every other facelift 330i/d I've been in had auto lights/wipers.
 
Did you need the original factory bluetooth to have the appropriate buttons in the first place? That sounds like the ideal solution, I'm just not keen on extra things on the dash, or wires, or aftermarket headunits.

Is the Harmon Kardon system standard with the 330?
 
MikeHiow said:
Thanks for that insight - are the halogens in projector lights as standards? Or are projectors easily available?
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No and no - you only get projectors if you have Xenons, and second hand examples of both are:

a) Rare
b) Pitted and hazed as per most older polycarbonate lenses
 
MikeHiow said:
Did you need the original factory bluetooth to have the appropriate buttons in the first place? That sounds like the ideal solution, I'm just not keen on extra things on the dash, or wires, or aftermarket headunits.

Is the Harmon Kardon system standard with the 330?
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You get the buttons anyway on the later M steering wheel (Which all facelift E46 Sport models have as standard) irrespective of phone prep status.

HK Audio is not standard. TK Audio (TotalKrap) is standard.
 
MikeHiow said:
Did you need the original factory bluetooth to have the appropriate buttons in the first place? That sounds like the ideal solution, I'm just not keen on extra things on the dash, or wires, or aftermarket headunits.
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Nope, the normal multifunction wheel has the buttons as standard.

MikeHiow said:
Is the Harmon Kardon system standard with the 330?
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No.
 
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