E46 330ci vs M3

shoes · 27 Sep 2011 at 20:17

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?

mjt · 27 Sep 2011 at 20:18

Massive.

chaparral · 27 Sep 2011 at 20:20

mjt said:
Massive.

I guess tyre costs between them two would be one the massive running costs of the M3 compared to a 330ci

mjt · 27 Sep 2011 at 20:20

chaparral said:
I guess tyre costs between them two would be one the massive running costs of the M3 compared to a 330i

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

[TW]Fox · 27 Sep 2011 at 20:22

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..

chaparral · 27 Sep 2011 at 20:23

mjt said:
I'm not sure, but I hope there's just a hint of sarcasm in there!

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

I thought the M3 had wider wheels/tyres

mjt · 27 Sep 2011 at 20:23

chaparral said:
Tell the truth i was just guessing as i have no idea what sizes tyres are fitted as standard on these two cars..

Seriously, tyre sizes are the least of your cost issues if you're considering an M3

Will Gill · 27 Sep 2011 at 20:24

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

panthro · 27 Sep 2011 at 20:30

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.

shoes · 27 Sep 2011 at 20:34

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.

mjt · 27 Sep 2011 at 20:37

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.

You clearly have your thinking hat on.
Get a mint 330ci and enjoy it

thepeteh · 27 Sep 2011 at 20:40

[TW]Fox;20167890 said:
70% of the car for 50% of the costs..

Spoken like a true accountant!

(You are an accountant right?...)

shoes · 27 Sep 2011 at 20:46

[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..

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:

PMKeates · 27 Sep 2011 at 20:56

thepeteh said:
Spoken like a true accountant! (You are an accountant right?...)

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.

Will Gill · 27 Sep 2011 at 21:00

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.

you, gift wrapped on the bonnet of an e39 m5?

*rubs knees in an orgamiscally sex wee kind of way*

Crizzy · 27 Sep 2011 at 21:00

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

£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.

[TW]Fox · 27 Sep 2011 at 21:04

A 330Ci Coupe with a red interior is a properly rare car indeed.

shoes · 27 Sep 2011 at 21:17

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

I did say 8k, but i'm thinking i want a beaten up 325 to skid around buxton etc. for fun times

thepeteh · 27 Sep 2011 at 21:21

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

I did say 8k, but i'm thinking i want a beaten up 325 to skid around buxton etc. for fun times

Spend 8K on a nice 330 and forget about being the next drift king.

shoes · 27 Sep 2011 at 21:22

thepeteh said:
Spend 8K on a nice 330 and forget about being the next drift king.

I don't want to be a drift king, I want to have a laugh in a car I don't really care about. Hence the ebay suspension parts and near-dead car