E46 330ci vs M3

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Soldato
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What are the real world differences in running costs for these machines?

I can afford to buy and insure both - as per my other thread the 330ci appears to fulfil my exact requirements for an upgrade to the focus. Considering the initial capital outlay of the two is affordable, I'm keen to compare the two in the long run.

Any useful nuggets of info OCUKers?
 
chaparral said:
I guess tyre costs between them two would be one the massive running costs of the M3 compared to a 330i
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I can't be sure, but I hope there's just a hint of sarcasm in there!

FWIW, but 330s and M3s could both be specced with 18"s, so the cost could potentially be the same ;)
 
If you are in the sub £10k budget you'll buy a fantastic 330Ci or a much older M3.

Unless you really *want* an M3, you'll likely find a 330Ci is 70% of the car for 50% of the costs..
 
mjt said:
I'm not sure, but I hope there's just a hint of sarcasm in there!
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Tell the truth i was just guessing as i have no idea what sizes tyres are fitted as standard on these two cars..

mjt said:
FWIW, but 330s and M3s could both be specced with 18"s, so the cost could potentially be the same ;)
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I thought the M3 had wider wheels/tyres
 
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m3 does cost a fair bit to keep on the road, but *touch wood* I haven't had any massive bills yet, biggest outlay is the inspection II - although most indys I've spoken to will take of that for £350 ish plus potential extras if a lot of shimming is required.

things to worry about are SMG, discs and vanos issues, all of them cost rather large buckaroonies
 
The engine alone in the M3 is worth the extra money, but you should be prepared for the costs. They can be relatively trouble free if you look after them and know a decent independent specialist.
 
Hmmm I don't have limitless money and 70% of the car for 50% of the costs - well 70% of sheer awesome I can live with. It's considerably better than my current car which is 7% awesome, although 5% of that is awarded because it's mine, natch.

Maybe I'll stick to the 330 idea then. Chances are I'd bin the M3 almost immediately and probably hurt someone.
 
shoes said:
Hmmm I don't have limitless money and 70% of the car for 50% of the costs - well 70% of sheer awesome I can live with. It's considerably better than my current car which is 7% awesome, although 5% of that is awarded because it's mine, natch.

Maybe I'll stick to the 330 idea then. Chances are I'd bin the M3 almost immediately and probably hurt someone.
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You clearly have your thinking hat on.
Get a mint 330ci and enjoy it :)
 
[TW]Fox;20167890 said:
If you are in the sub £10k budget you'll buy a fantastic 330Ci or a much older M3.

Unless you really *want* an M3, you'll likely find a 330Ci is 70% of the car for 50% of the costs..
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Yeah, looking at spending around 6-8k really, preferably towards the 6k to leave enough left over to buy the cheapest running E30 325i i can find, weld the diff and drop it on some cheapo ebay shocks/springs and then learn to drift.

I can't seem to find any examples of the car I want though. They're all either rag tops, autos, SE or plagued with a dull interior.

I want a black 330ci M-sport manual, 60k miles, with red leather / aluminium dash bits and an indulgent options list damn it :mad:
 
thepeteh said:
Spoken like a true accountant! :D (You are an accountant right?...)
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Fox spends all day crunching numbers and balancing books, and shrieks with delight when he finds a new way to improve the tax situation of his clients.

Then, he wakes up, and cries quietly to himself knowing he will never have that which he desires.
 
PMKeates said:
Fox spends all day crunching numbers and balancing books, and shrieks with delight when he finds a new way to improve the tax situation of his clients.

Then, he wakes up, and cries quietly to himself knowing he will never have that which he desires.
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you, gift wrapped on the bonnet of an e39 m5?

*rubs knees in an orgamiscally sex wee kind of way*
 
shoes said:
Yeah, looking at spending around 6-8k really, preferably towards the 6k to leave enough left over to buy the cheapest running E30 325i i can find, weld the diff and drop it on some cheapo ebay shocks/springs and then learn to drift.

I can't seem to find any examples of the car I want though. They're all either rag tops, autos, SE or plagued with a dull interior.

I want a black 330ci M-sport manual, 60k miles, with red leather / aluminium dash bits and an indulgent options list damn it :mad:
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£6k for a low mileage 330ci in the spec you want is going to be a hard ticket to find.

For £6k you could probably manage a decent 330ci but it would be a needle in a haystack of really poor examples and you would have to compromise on your criteria somewhere down the line. In your other thread you were asking for a car for around £8k which is a bit more like it for a decent 330ci (imo) for £6k I think you should be looking somewhere different or you might end up regretting it.

How about spending a bit less and looking at the ST220, you will be able to get pretty much everything you want for the money. I get the feeling that the car won't have the right image for you based on your previous thread though.
 
So I see - I think I need to find some more in the flesh and see what I like interior wise.

The g/f wasn't liking the idea of a red interior either :P

I did say 8k, but i'm thinking i want a beaten up 325 to skid around buxton etc. for fun times :D
 
shoes said:
So I see - I think I need to find some more in the flesh and see what I like interior wise.

The g/f wasn't liking the idea of a red interior either :P

I did say 8k, but i'm thinking i want a beaten up 325 to skid around buxton etc. for fun times :D
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Spend 8K on a nice 330 and forget about being the next drift king.:)
 
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