new car.....

I quite like the look of it, especially with the 2.5 engine in it. whats that engine like? about the same power wise to the 2.8 did it replace it? all the later non 330 ci's are 325's, 328's are the earlier ones, which is the one to have?
 
Oakesy2001uk said:
I quite like the look of it, especially with the 2.5 engine in it. whats that engine like? about the same power wise to the 2.8 did it replace it? all the later non 330 ci's are 325's, 328's are the earlier ones, which is the one to have?
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Initially, the following engines were available in the 3 Series. I'll ignore the 4 cylinders, becuase they are daft:

323i: 170bhp 2.5
328i: 193bhp 2.8
330d: 184bhp 3.0 Turbodiesel (Not Coupe)

In late 2000, these were replaced with:

320i: 170bhp 2.2
325i: 192bhp 2.5
330i: 231bhp 3.0

2003..

330d: 204bhp 3.0 Turbodiesel (Finally reached Coupe in 2004)

All are pretty quick, even the 320 will hit 60 in 7.8 seconds.
 
Morba said:
6-7k for a M3, plenty left for insurance :p

im sure someone out there will insure him for near on 3.5k
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just did a quote on an M3 evo £2800 lol not throwing all that away on insurance when a 328/325/integra etc... is only going to cost me £900. Interestingly, the 325(wether ti/ci or just saloon) is £80 more a year than an equivalent 328.

The idea of a quick beemer is growing on me, even a 323 or 320 isnt to be sniffed at then. Think I want the 325/328 though!
 
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I think 70% of the time an E46 Coupe would be nicer than an M3. The M3 will obviously be faster and more fun when you are really going for it, but when you are just on your way back from work, popping into town, or whatever, you'll be grateful of the 3's nicer more modern interior.

Plus it's not as if they are slow, or handle badly :)

Thought about a 330Ci myself.
 
I do like this idea. I take it its a big thing not to be put off by mileage on these Beemers. Just look for good condition and FSH. Take it these engines go forever with little drama.
 
From what I've found out so far, mileage isnt that much of an issue BUT it does crucify the residual value.

My plan is to buy a BM with over 100k and take advantage of the crucified residuals to get a newer car, such as an 02/52 plate, BUT if you do this you must be prepared for the fact that the car will be very hard to sell on when you've finished with it.

Mechanically, they'll be fine, but the publics perception of high mileage cars is still quite bad. Good thing is, only you'll know your car is a £9k 110k mile 02 plate and not the £16k 30k miler on the local main dealers forecourt :p
 
that is a very good point. Im not too sure on that score. on a saxo, 100000 is a bit scary, but these aint exactly saxo's are they.

I am very tempted by some of these 325/328's with the mtech/msport kits on them they look lovely!
 
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You really should get out and drive some of the cars in question.
The MX might look a little girly, but once I'd got to know mine, I found that it was a MUCH more competent sports car than it appears. Really is a brill drive.
For reference I own an MX, have owned a 200SX and also a BM 325 (though not an E46 coupe, before anyone asks). The three cars are quite different and IMO result in a different response.
The BM impressed me with it's competence, great at a lot of things (apart from reliability on mine), but was basically a well sorted saloon, i.e. just too heavy to really be a genuine sports car.
The 200SX was simply a handful, without the 50:50 balance of the other cars. During normal driving, was a brilliant all rounder, capable of eating miles, brilliant overtaking ability, and for a coupe, good interior space. Didn't handle that amazingly (weight again), and fairly rubbish brakes. A car for a smug grin kind of drive. More than capable of taking on an Impreza if you felt like it.

The MX however is simply a different kind of car. No real practicality, but simply a smile a minute. Roof down on a nice day makes any driving speed a pleasure, which no tin top can match. Get it down a windy road and it has balance, poise and is genuinely competitive against almost anything short of an Elise.

So really you need to base your decision on the style of car you like. All the options listed are good ones, what kind of drive do you want.


One alternative point. What was the point to all the statistics about cars that has been listed? Surely this thread is a about a fun car? Since when has fun been something measured by a piece of calculus?
The MX is a rubbish car on paper. It's not that fast, not that powerful and not as light as an Elise. Worth considering for those of us with less driving experience and more ability to check Top Gears statistics pages.
 
Oakesy2001uk said:
that is a very good point. Im not too sure on that score. on a saxo, 100000 is a bit scary, but these aint exactly saxo's are they
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100,000 miles is fine if its all been on the Motorway, in 5th at 70 (Or 90 30cm from the guy in fronts bumper if its a BMW). Trouble is, working out whether the car has done 100k stress free easy miles on the Motorway or 100k around town delivering curries.

With BM's though, it's a lot easier to tell. They use variable servicing - the car tells the owner when it needs a service and when it does this is entirely dependant on how the car is driven. Spend all your time in town, and it'll need a service much sooner.

So, to check what sort of use its had, see the service history. If there is 15-20k miles between every service, you can be reasonably certain all its done is been used a Motorway mile muncher. If it's been serviced less than every 10k miles, you can guess it's done a lot of town work.
 
Mr_Sukebe said:
One alternative point. What was the point to all the statistics about cars that has been listed? Surely this thread is a about a fun car? Since when has fun been something measured by a piece of calculus?
The MX is a rubbish car on paper. It's not that fast, not that powerful and not as light as an Elise. Worth considering for those of us with less driving experience and more ability to check Top Gears statistics pages.
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It depends entirely on your definition of fun. For some people, fun is a small lightweight car, the right road, and the roof down. For those people, it's virtually impossible to get a better car than the MX5. So, its up to those guys to champion the MX5.

For others, fun is enough power to pin you into your seat when you put your foot down, combined with decent handling. So, these people can try and convince everyone to buy an Elise.

For others, it's a mixture of things. They want power that will pin them into the back of their seat, great acceleration, but also fun to chuck around and good handling. As well as comfort, refinement and prestige for those times when they've just got somewhere to go. So, these people can promote the 330Ci or similar.

Then the original poster can read everyones opinions, everyones arguements as to why their particular choice is the best, and use this information to chose the car thats right to him.

It really is far more useful of making stupid remarks about Parkers performance figures. Nobody is daft enough to state performance figures are everything, but if you are looking for car with performance, they are at least a good start.
 
Didnt know that fox, thats interesting, how does the engine know it needs a service?
I am not writing off the MX5, nor am I writing off the integra or the BM. Just not really sure which one of the 3 I would want to own. on a windy road in the summer no question MX5, to take on a track day (whic appeals to me) and generally loon about in, the DC2 is the only choice. Then the BM seems to cover every other base. All of them will hold their value well, none are really stupid on fuel, so its a really tough decision. there is something to draw me to all 3 and something else to put me off.
 
I'm not entirely sure how it calculates it, I think it measures certain time with the engine at cold and counts cold starts.
 
Oakesy2001uk said:
Didnt know that fox, thats interesting, how does the engine know it needs a service?
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It's linked to your bank account. As soon as you pay your overdraft off - the service light comes on.
 
I believe the amount of starts(both hot and cold but cold moreso), mileage driven and the amount of work the engine has done i.e. hard driving/towing brings the service mileage down.
 
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