Time to ditch the E46 - please spec me

Oxide™

Oxide™

Oxide™

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As much as I don't want to, it has got some rather big bills coming up :(

Is there anything that can match or exceed the performance of a facelift 2001 E46 330i for £3k? or am I living a pipe dream and should just keep it?
 
Well you can definitely get more performance for £3k but the tradeoff is going to be a car that isn't as comfy and almost certainly an older car.

Is level of comfort something you're bothered about?
 
iaind said:
How big are the bills?
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Next service it would need = cracks in alternator drive belt £115 ,wiper jets £84, intermittent electric front seat, clutch bearing, radiator £424, rear main oil seal leak - replace when replacing clutch bearing ~£1000

MeAnBoY said:
Well you can definitely get more performance for £3k but the tradeoff is going to be a car that isn't as comfy and almost certainly an older car.

Is level of comfort something you're bothered about?
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Unfortunately yes, what about an ST220? I would like leather seats, HID lights etc

Blackhawk47 said:
BMW M3.
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Far too expensive to maintain but that would be my first option.
 
Seems pretty reasonable. I'd pay up, particularly if you like the car. Another £3k car is only going to need a grand or so spending on it sooner or later, and it's likely you might be able to get those prices down a bit. Hell, the drive belt's probably only £25 and a bit of time to change.
 
mjt said:
Are there any lovely late-model E46 330is around with a better spec?

If you haven't got xenons or leather then I can kind of see your point, but if you can continue to live without, just pay up, as Lashout says.
Better the devil you know...

1 owner, £3k

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifi...-3-series-98-06/2004-e46-330i-m-sport/3129352
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It has leather seats and xenons etc, those are things I wouldn't give up lol.

I can see your points about better the devil you know, to put it right the way I'd like it will probably cost another 2k tbh.

I should be able to get 3.5k for it, it has nav + intravee and a new set of Eagle F1 Assymetric 2

I just feel it's time to move on - oh the dilemna
 
Oxide™ said:
It has leather seats and xenons etc, those are things I wouldn't give up lol.

I can see your points about better the devil you know, to put it right the way I'd like it will probably cost another 2k tbh.

I should be able to get 3.5k for it, it has nav + intravee and a new set of Eagle F1 Assymetric 2

I just feel it's time to move on - oh the dilemna
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But what can you move on to if you've only got £3k?
I honestly don't think you can get anything better for the money than what you already have.

Unless you go crazy and get a CL600 or something, but then you'll bankrupt yourself just looking at it.
 
Spend money on it and keep it. £3k is a lot of money for another purchase which could end up costing you more. Trust me I know, been there done that. 330's are great cars.
 
Doubt you're going to get £3k for the 330i which leads me to believe you have the money to increase whatever it's value is to £3k.

Use that money and sort the 330i out.
 
mjt said:
But what can you move on to if you've only got £3k?
I honestly don't think you can get anything better for the money than what you already have.

Unless you go crazy and get a CL600 or something, but then you'll bankrupt yourself just looking at it.
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Exactly, you've got xenons etc and other extras on your car. You might as well fix the car and then its sorted. Another £3k E46 would probably need all the repairs doing to it which I am guessing you've already done to your own car. :)
 
Like others have said, you're problems seems to be fairly minor, just get them sorted.

The prices you've quoted above, have they been provided by a main dealer or a local BMW indy? They seem quite high?
 
Probably better to keep the car and fix it as its a known entity. But if you are looking at a change, a B5 S4 would meet your requirements I would imagine. The only other motor around that budget that would beat the 330i performance, and I would consider.
 
Am I reading this right?

Aux belt £100+ - lol
Radiator £400+.....lol
Washer jets...£85 - just...what?

Most of the items you've listed you could do yourself at a fraction of the price you've listed - if worried about what you're spending on it do things like the belt (5 mins), rad, seat and washers yourself
 
Agree with the above, that's why I still have my top spec 2001 v70, I wouldn't be able to get a decent replacement without dropping ten grand on something.

I could get something a little bit newer with trade in plus three or four grand but the spec /engine will be a compromise, plus in the last five years I've done the cam belt, from brakes, rear brakes, brake hoses, drop links and various other semi expensive bits.. You could be walking into that cost all over again with a new (older) car.

If it's well maintained I'd say keep on top of what you have.
 
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