BMW 3 series questions

eidolon · 23 Dec 2007 at 23:30

As you might know I'm looking to replace my runaround car (currently an MG ZR 120+)
I'm undecided what to get so I'm just researching difference vehicles right now. I want something that doesn't feel like it's held together by bluetack and chewing gum like the MG's have, hence my other thread about Golfs. This leads me to the BMW 3 series.

Problem is that I know very little about them, having always avoided threads about them in the past. I want something with a decent amount of poke so no 316's please, but I dunno what the difference is between the 320, 323, 325, 328, SE CI blah blah blah....

Anyone care to enlighten me or point me to a decent site that can help?

Budget is probably around £7k ish. My driving is a mixture of stop/start town driving on the way to work and a 30 mile motoway jaunts to my girlfriends house in Gloucester.

Saytan · 23 Dec 2007 at 23:36

the 323 and the 328 engines are the earlier generation, replaced by the 325 (200? bhp) and 330 (230? BHP). Ci = coupe or convertible. SE is the comfort variant, sport is the nice looking one - with the elise tucked in the garage, the handling differences probably wouldnt bother you hugely

PMKeates · 23 Dec 2007 at 23:47

Sounds like a job for 330i Sport to me.

paradigm · 23 Dec 2007 at 23:48

Avoid ES models, they are bargain basement, but with an appealing external facelift.

Saytan · 23 Dec 2007 at 23:49

PMKeates said:
Sounds like a job for 330i Sport to me.

why? what possible advantage does the sport carry for a man with an elise in his garage, who's going to use this car for hacking about town and going on m-way jaunts. SE Auto, surely?

Jez · 23 Dec 2007 at 23:51

Bmw E46 models are very easy to understand

CI means coupe
Sport means its equipped with sports suspension and general m-tech goodies.

323 and 328 were replaced with 325/330, and can be compared directly.

The 3.0 is the engine to get, and you WILL want a sport spec, dont bother with SE, you will find it too soft, unsupportive, and the interior isnt as nice. Combined with a budget of £7k this leads to a 330i Sport.

Every car will have different options fitted, in terms of resale you ideally want a car with satellite navigation, and leather. Heated seats are a nice touch as the electric seats. None of this is standard, so watch what you buy.

If it were me i would be after a car a bit like my first 330, it was an automatic sport, with leather, satnav, heated seats. Coupe shape is much nicer, but you will have to skimp on the engine.

Tom|Nbk · 23 Dec 2007 at 23:56

Jez said:
The 3.0 is the engine to get, and you WILL want a sport spec, dont bother with SE, you will find it too soft, unsupportive, and the interior isnt as nice. Combined with a budget of £7k this leads to a 330i Sport..

You can get a 330i Sport for 7k?

Jez · 23 Dec 2007 at 23:57

Yes, a large selection. Ive seen them go for as low as 5.

PMKeates · 23 Dec 2007 at 23:58

Saytan said:
why? what possible advantage does the sport carry for a man with an elise in his garage, who's going to use this car for hacking about town and going on m-way jaunts. SE Auto, surely?

As Jez says, the Sport is the trim to be with.

Tom|Nbk · 24 Dec 2007 at 00:01

Jez said:
Yes, a large selection. Ive seen them go for as low as 5.

News to me. Any examples?

Saytan · 24 Dec 2007 at 00:03

PMKeates said:
As Jez says, the Sport is the trim to be with.

on what basis for this job role?

both the sport and the SE will feel wobbly compared to an elise.

PMKeates · 24 Dec 2007 at 00:03

Tom|Nbk said:
News to me. Any examples?

It's going to be quite difficult to substantiate that considering you rarely see the eventual sale price of a car published.

PMKeates · 24 Dec 2007 at 00:04

Saytan said:
on what basis for this job role?

both the sport and the SE will feel wobbly compared to an elise.

The Sport much less so. The Sport will look better and have a better level of standard equipment.

Tom|Nbk · 24 Dec 2007 at 00:06

PMKeates said:
It's going to be quite difficult to substantiate that considering you rarely see the eventual sale price of a car published.

Or possibly due to the fact they rarely go for such a price?

At least that's the case when I've *briefly* looked at these in that price bracket.

Saytan · 24 Dec 2007 at 00:06

what kit *excluding m-touches and "sport" bits* does the sport gain over an SE?

PMKeates · 24 Dec 2007 at 00:07

Tom|Nbk said:
Or possibly due to the fact they rarely go for such a price?

At least that's the case when I've looked at these.

Yeah, they do rarely go for that price. Jez said that he's "seen them go for as low as 5". Doesn't mean they are all being flogged for that!

You could get a nice 330i for £7k.

[TW]Fox · 24 Dec 2007 at 00:07

You can only get a 330i Sport for £7k in Jezland of weird bargains that only he manages to get. A £7k 330i Sport will be ropey, a £7k 330Ci Sport simply does not exist.

Best bet is a 330i SE or a 328Ci, IMHO.

Don't waste your time with the lower engines becuase they cost the same to run, return the same fuel economy and cost the same to service.

Jez · 24 Dec 2007 at 00:08

Tom|Nbk said:
News to me. Any examples?

If we take one avenue of car advertising (autotrader) as an example, you have to go three pages in on 330i sports to get to ones which probably wouldnt be available for £7000.

Saytan - ive posted here many years, as has eidolon, he will want a sport. They have better seats, a nicer wheel, much better suspension, nicer interior trim. I just know thats what he would want, its not even worth him trying an SE in my opinion.

[TW]Fox · 24 Dec 2007 at 00:08

Saytan said:
what kit *excluding m-touches and "sport" bits* does the sport gain over an SE?

Nothing - the kit the Sport gains is the M-touches and sport bits, ie bodywork and suspension etc.

Tom|Nbk · 24 Dec 2007 at 00:08

[TW]Fox;10742843 said:
You can only get a 330i Sport for £7k in Jezland of weird bargains that only he manages to get. A £7k 330i Sport will be ropey, a £7k 330Ci Sport simply does not exist.

Best bet is a 330i SE or a 328Ci, IMHO.

Don't waste your time with the lower engines becuase they cost the same to run, return the same fuel economy and cost the same to service.

Voice of reason speaks. Confirmed my initial thought's.