330i change?
- Thread starter Tom|Nbk
- Start date
Just a rebuild? An £3k RX7 would need scrapping.
5 years ago you would have grabbed one at a good price, but they have now shot up in price and all the cheap one's now have either been crashed into Halfords or on their last legs.
Pretty sure OP doesn't want a complete lemon that will need ££££'s putting into it to get it right again.
Complete different car from an RX8 needing a bit of work.
5 years ago you would have grabbed one at a good price, but they have now shot up in price and all the cheap one's now have either been crashed into Halfords or on their last legs.
Pretty sure OP doesn't want a complete lemon that will need ££££'s putting into it to get it right again.
Complete different car from an RX8 needing a bit of work.
Newage I'd agree but classics no. There isn't really that much difference between a WRX/UK turbo and an STI. Put an STI turbo on a UK model and it will go just as well - and won't blow up either done properly.
As a project car I would start with either a MY99/00 UK turbo or WRX.
E46 M3, we've been through this!
YES!
That's what I am looking into as a possible next car. As much as I like my current car I want more fun and power. Mine handles well, the front end is 20KG lighter than a 330Ci due to the engine and this helps being a bit more nimble but I want that rear end power and noise for my next car.
We'll see what happens.
I'd disagree on them all being a whole world of crap 
The 1.9 version, sure, but not the 2 litre. As far as 4 cylinders go it's well planted and smooth but as mentioned elsewhere to get anywhere at speed you have to pretty much live between 4 and 6500rpm.
I have a neighbour who has a silver M3 cab, same age as mine in the same trim and colour combo and in similar condition. He rarely drives it so I will have to start making friends with him at some point and work my way to the point about asking about how much if he sold it
The 1.9 version, sure, but not the 2 litre. As far as 4 cylinders go it's well planted and smooth but as mentioned elsewhere to get anywhere at speed you have to pretty much live between 4 and 6500rpm.I have a neighbour who has a silver M3 cab, same age as mine in the same trim and colour combo and in similar condition. He rarely drives it so I will have to start making friends with him at some point and work my way to the point about asking about how much if he sold it
Of course you'll be losing out on the fact that the E46 facelift is one of the nicest looking (and least "ageing") shapes of pretty much all cars, ever.
The pre-facelift isn't that pretty IMO.
That said, the M3 will be a world of difference and beyond aesthetics, obviously will be immeasurably better!
The pre-facelift isn't that pretty IMO.
That said, the M3 will be a world of difference and beyond aesthetics, obviously will be immeasurably better!
It's just the front end of the M3 from the wing forwards that hasn't really changed on the facelift, the rear lights have of course. I don't mind that, the front looks nice enough especially on Titanium silver as the indicator lenses being so light coloured don't stand out so much.
I didn't think it needed extra clarification but I was on about the light clusters. Of course the body panels themselves are completely different but the light clusters didn't change in style at the front from the wing forwards.
Did the later M3's get the facelift rear LED lights?
I can't remember seeing one with them fitted.
I agree that the 330i does get a bit mundane after a while, it's linear in its power delivery so it never really 'feels' fast until you look down and see you're doing silly speeds, and the DSC sticks it to the road like poo on a blanket. I've often thought about selling and swapping for an M3 but I don't think I could realistically afford the potential bills that would come up, and I don't want to be one of the people that buys the car and has to sell it when a big bill comes up
It sounds stupid, but I preferred driving my e36 318is over the E46 330i, it was more fun to drive as you had to keep it in the power band, it had a lighter nose end which made the handling super sharp when coupled with Powerflex bushes and refreshed suspension, and I had an aftermarket exhaust on it which made it fun.
I think I might stick an aftermarket induction kit on it and see if that helps liven it up for me - I'm booked in for an exhaust resonator delete next week so the two should go together very nicely.
I can't remember seeing one with them fitted.
I agree that the 330i does get a bit mundane after a while, it's linear in its power delivery so it never really 'feels' fast until you look down and see you're doing silly speeds, and the DSC sticks it to the road like poo on a blanket. I've often thought about selling and swapping for an M3 but I don't think I could realistically afford the potential bills that would come up, and I don't want to be one of the people that buys the car and has to sell it when a big bill comes up
It sounds stupid, but I preferred driving my e36 318is over the E46 330i, it was more fun to drive as you had to keep it in the power band, it had a lighter nose end which made the handling super sharp when coupled with Powerflex bushes and refreshed suspension, and I had an aftermarket exhaust on it which made it fun.
I think I might stick an aftermarket induction kit on it and see if that helps liven it up for me - I'm booked in for an exhaust resonator delete next week so the two should go together very nicely.
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Yeah Atari that's what I found too in regards to the sharpness due to lighter nose. Obviously this all changes with the M3
My annual mileage is lucky to reach 4000 now so there really is no excuse to look anywhere else and maintenance costs are well on control because of that too.
My annual mileage is lucky to reach 4000 now so there really is no excuse to look anywhere else and maintenance costs are well on control because of that too.
Yeah Atari that's what I found too in regards to the sharpness due to lighter nose. Obviously this all changes with the M3
My annual mileage is lucky to reach 4000 now so there really is no excuse to look anywhere else and maintenance costs are well on control because of that too.
The lighter engine is so much more noticeable even though it's only a bit lighter, I've tried to get the same sharpness on my 330i but I've not managed yet - new control arms, new Powerflex bushes, new shocks and H&R springs and although it's close, you do notice the extra weight - though I'm not 100% sure if it's due to parts changes from the E36 to the E46.
The one area the 330 excels in though is motorway cruising, it's got the grunt when its needed, and returns pretty damned good economy when it's not being pushed. On a trip to Birmingham -> Newcastle and back again, mine averaged 38/39mpg (with a bit of pushing in between to make up ground) and returned about 475 miles from a tank.
I suppose though if you're doing 4000 miles a year, a well cared for M3 might be worth a look, though they are sadly becoming harder to find as more and more ****** get their hands on them
