Just been out in a 328Ci

[Scuzi]

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/ww...oad.asp?did=21096&pageid=2&id=200627241369517

I spotted this car at a local dealer and thought I'd go in to have a look at it. Whilst having a nosey inside he chucked me the keys and said, "Bring it back before she runs out of petrol." The trip computer was showing 45 miles remaining so I had plenty left for a bit of fun.

What can I say, I'm very impressed. I'll never ever bore of the sound of that big straight 6 going full tilt. For some reason people think 75k is a lot of miles but the car was like new inside, it was as tight as a new 3 series (I've test driven a few new 330Ci's). The handling was great compared to my Toledo. It took everything in its stride, I even managed to get the tail out around the roundabouts a couple of times
I was going to take it off his hands right away but my car is parked over at my house in England. Looks like I'll just have to wait. He was going to give it to me for £8200 too

Ahh well, hopefully there's plenty more of them left. I think it looks great with the sport kit and 18" wheels on it, are they hard to find in this spec?

What sort of running costs would one be looking at with one of these? Service costs, common repairs etc.?

I'm sold on one

 

[[TW]Fox]

I've been saying this for ages but nobody listens

 

[Oakesy2001uk]

looks lovely, service costs are high ish, but not horribly so, no cambelt to worry about, at a BMW Specialist rather than a stealer you shouldent be too bad. and 70k in a beemer aint a lot at all. maybe in a french hatch, but not a BMW/audi etc....

 

[Scuzi]

I've been saying this for ages but nobody listens

I always thought you were a crazy fanboy but now I've seen the light too.

looks lovely, service costs are high ish, but not horribly so, no cambelt to worry about, at a BMW Specialist rather than a stealer you shouldent be too bad. and 70k in a beemer aint a lot at all. maybe in a french hatch, but not a BMW/audi etc....

I was really really surprised. It felt just like a new 330Ci I tested at the start of the year. I was expecting it to feel a bit tired in at least some areas like a sloppier gearchange or the like but it felt just as tight. I'm very impressed

 

[Magsy]

They wear really well, having had a 140k mile 325 and currently a 100k mile 328 I can tell!

I haven't had to touch an engine or gearbox. Only things I have ever done are discs, suspension and bushes in about 60k miles of ownership!

My father bought a 20k mile 330 currently at 65-70k and all that has had done is a pair of front wishbones!! It needs only discs atm according to the BMW dealer....

Always wanted to try a E46 328 because they mangled the 330 steering and made it too light in the early (now cheap) cars.

My 328 has been to Spain five times, my 325 once and the old mans 330 twice. Haven't had a single real issue on any of the journeys in any of the cars

Parts are cheaper than most Jap's and the independant dealers are resonable. All you have to do is change the oil and pads!

 

[danza]

I've been saying this for ages but nobody listens

Drip...drip...drip...drip...

I'm liking the idea of a 3 series as a possible next car, but nothing without interstellar miles comes up within budget (yet).

 

[BigT]

Well I assume the running costs are similar to my 330Ci I just sold. I can't remember the exact bills but the major service from an independant was under £300 and I once replaced an engine management chip for £140 + labour iirc. New air con compressor was £150 + labour. Tyres £100 a corner for 225/45 R17. 30-35mpg on motorway 20-25 in town. I don't recall the price for brake discs/pads which I changed at some point but I remember it wasn't massively more than my old Escort. A new battery cost me £65 I think.

In two years and 20,000 miles between 55K and 75K Ihad one major and one oil service, five new tyres (weren't great when I bought it), one suspension bush (I think that was what it was called), one replacement key (£98), the engine management chip and battery I mentioned and one set of brake discs/pads all round. Was very reliable all in all.

 

[Scuzi]

Well I assume the running costs are similar to my 330Ci I just sold. I can't remember the exact bills but the major service from an independant was under £300 and I once replaced an engine management chip for £140 + labour iirc. New air con compressor was £150 + labour. Tyres £100 a corner for 225/45 R17. 30-35mpg on motorway 20-25 in town. I don't recall the price for brake discs/pads which I changed at some point but I remember it wasn't massively more than my old Escort. A new battery cost me £65 I think.

In two years and 20,000 miles between 55K and 75K Ihad one major and one oil service, five new tyres (weren't great when I bought it), one suspension bush (I think that was what it was called), one replacement key (£98), the engine management chip and battery I mentioned and one set of brake discs/pads all round. Was very reliable all in all.

Those costs are quite reasonable given the car in question, I was expecting more. I'm just trying to figure out whether I should go get one in the next few months for ~£8k or save up for a bit longer and get a 330Ci for about £15k. Decisions

 

[Gibbo]

Those costs are quite reasonable given the car in question, I was expecting more. I'm just trying to figure out whether I should go get one in the next few months for ~£8k or save up for a bit longer and get a 330Ci for about £15k. Decisions

Do the 328ci and 330ci differ much in performance?

 

[ajgoodfellow]

Do the 328ci and 330ci differ much in performance?

Not by a huge amount

328Ci - 2.8l, 193bhp, 0-60 6.8s, 150mph
330Ci - 3.0l, 231bhp, 0-60 6.3s, 155mph

 

[Magsy]

I go back to back vs the 330 in my E36 328 (both auto) and there is nothing in it. The 330 starts to pull away at about 120mph and by 140-150 there is about 3-4 car lengths in it.

The 330 is way faster off the line because my E36 has a 45mph first gear and the 330 Steptronic is much lower geared (more like a manual) but from a roll its nearly always pretty level. My father complains about this quite a lot, he sold me his old car and cannot pull away in his new The E46 328 should have more torque than mine too?

 

[teaboy5]

Suzi that dealer is very good. Person across the road from me got a 320i from there and he changed the alloys new tyres and so on all for free. Seems like a good buy. Would he do a part exchange with you?

 

[Scuzi]

Suzi that dealer is very good. Person across the road from me got a 320i from there and he changed the alloys new tyres and so on all for free. Seems like a good buy. Would he do a part exchange with you?

I bought my Passat from him and some relatives have bought cars from him, he's a great dealer
He would do a part exchange but the problem there is that my Toledo is parked at my other house in Windsor. If I had it over with me I'd have signed it over to him there and then!

 

[teaboy5]

I bought my Passat from him and some relatives have bought cars from him, he's a great dealer
He would do a part exchange but the problem there is that my Toledo is parked at my other house in Windsor. If I had it over with me I'd have signed it over to him there and then!

lol mgiht head down and take a look at that some time, seems like a good price.

 

[Morba]

Not by a huge amount

328Ci - 2.8l, 193bhp, 0-60 6.8s, 150mph
330Ci - 3.0l, 231bhp, 0-60 6.3s, 155mph

20% more bhp is quite a bit tbh.

 

[Scuzi]

lol mgiht head down and take a look at that some time, seems like a good price.

Oi hands off! It's mine!

 

[NickXX]

Uber .

When do you think you'll pick it up? I'm driving around in a 103k '52 reg 330d. Interior/exterior are still in fantastic condition - a few members will be able to vouch for this . Mileage really doesn't seem to hurt these cars.

The 328's M52 engine is fantastic - and tends to be overshadowed by the 330i which makes it great value too. I'm not sure if it applies to the engine in the 328i, but on the early versions of the e39 5-series a manifold change could unlock a lot of potential in the car (it was essentially strangled by BMW to keep the engine in line with German Insurance laws) - but Fox is the man to tell this story.

I think Nikasil was an issue with the early ones of these, but all should have been fixed by way of recall by now.

As for running costs - I've just had my Inspection 2. I needed a new front Suspension bush (which can be done for £100) but that is all.

Other costs for me have been a new wheel - which costs £350 from BMW. You can go for replica's (which cost about £350 for 4) but I like being finnickity, and wanted the OEM part. A set of new tyres set me back near on £600, but again, good brands can be had for less. Tyre sizes are 225/40/18 on the front and 255/35/18 on the back.

Other than that, it's been nearly 7,000 miles of happy motoring since February this year. Getting a remap done in a week and a bit which should unleash a new wave of power .

Nothing else really springs to mind, but fire away if you have any questions . Hopefully Oracle will show up in a bit, as he seems to know pretty much everything about the e46


Edit: Oh yeah, I had the Inspection 2 service done recently (the BIG one - I.e. every 50k miles on my car). It cost £365 from a Sytner BMW garage as I got a discount due to my car being older than 3 year's old. I believe further discounts can be had for 5 and 7 year old cars too.

 

[Stonedofmoo]

I'll never ever bore of the sound of that big straight 6 going full tilt.

Aye the straight 6's sound sublime

 

[Badgerpoo]

I'm not sure if it applies to the engine in the 328i, but on the early versions of the e39 5-series a manifold change could unlock a lot of potential in the car (it was essentially strangled by BMW to keep the engine in line with German Insurance laws)

Unfortunatly I don't think the manifold change is possible in the E46 due to space restrictions.

 

[Wossi]

I remember borrowing my uncle's old (R reg I think) 328i sport. That was a fantastic car and the sport button ruled although when I got back I think the engine was on it's last legs and I managed to break it