paulg1979

iTrader: (1)

Hi,

I am about to purchase one of these this week hopefully on a 54 plate.



I'm looking at a PCP deal as it is £21,000. Do you think this will still look nice in 3 years time or look like an old convertible Beemer?

RobEvo5

iTrader: (9)

You would have sold it long before the 3 years is up for don't worry. Nice cars, but you will soon grow tired of it, if you are a petrol head.

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Look at a W reg one and doe it look old, not to my eyes, I looked at a Silver 330Ci Coupe when I bought my Saab but it only had 2 proper rear belts (3 kids) and a lap belt, very impressed with it and I think the shape is far more resistant to starting to look old than the previous one, in fact I prefer it to the new one which although quite nice is a little bit awkward from angles compared to the E46 which is such an effortlessly good looking (if a little predictable) car.

I heard as RobEvo said that they can be a little dull but I kind of wish I had gone for one above the Saab which is ok but also a little short on character.

paulg1979

iTrader: (1)

Well I took the plunge and just bought this one. Collect it tuesday and can't wait.

zs_phil

iTrader: (1)

its nice ive just ordered the new shape one its out in a couple of weeks


















joking funnily enough i looked at one exactly the same as that 2 weeks ago they are nice

paulg1979

iTrader: (1)

I believed you for a minute!! I love this shape. I hope the shape holds out for a couple of years though.

GavFre

It has been replaced, 2007

Cocker

iTrader: (3)

nice cars and a cracking engine

turboman786

I owned exactly the same car for 10 months......nice car, brilliant engine, nice exhaust note, and quality car......BUT it starts to get a bit boring after a while, they are thirsty around town (my 330ci sport auto only managed 18mpg around town)........

Think they look a tad dated now, especially as they are now the 'old' model...and for £21k I would deffo look at other cars, how about an A4 convertible S line?........OK Audis are a bit dull too, but nice build, slick looks and lovely interior....

£21k is a lorra cash for a used car, and would go a long way if you are willing to look at other cars...

paulg1979

iTrader: (1)

Yes there are lots of cars for that sort of money but there isn't much brand new for that sort of money. Mainly hot hatches. I just fancied a convertible and being the facelift e46 I think was quite a good deal. Its fully loaded. TV, sat nav , Harmon Kardon Hifi, Full leather, Climate control, Cruise control. I personally think its alot for your money. Really not keen on Audi's, too boring unless its an RS4 or R8.

GavFre

Yours isn't brand new though is it? its four years old?

For the price you paid, you could of had this...

Autotrader - MASERATI 3200 Assetto Corsa

GavFre

Convertible?

Autotrader - MASERATI Spyder GT Convertible

Going 4 400bhp

iTrader: (2)

I think you could of got an M3 for that sort of money?

paulg1979

iTrader: (1)

I didn't say it was brand new I just said you can't get alot for that money brand new. The interior on the Maserati is awful.

Its not all about the price of the car you have to take running costs in to consideration. I love the BMW!!

paulg1979

iTrader: (1)

For £21,000 an M3 would have been a bag of nails.

GavFre

Not at all..

Autotrader - BMW M3 2dr COUPE SMG PADDLE TRONIC LEATHER

Bag of nails M3s start at 15ish K.

Still, as long as you think you have had a good deal and you like it, who cares.

But..

This is less than yours...

Autotrader - BMW M3 Individual Convertible

and considering depreciation on your model, will probably save you money in the long term.

Jeff Stryker

And a lot better

Boro

iTrader: (1)

Who gives a $hit if YOU would buy something else with £21k. He's not buying you a car is he.

I like it and PCP can work well as long as you keep doing them

paulwrxboro

its a nice car mate im sure you will love it, evan more come summer

paulg1979

iTrader: (1)

Exactly I love the car. If I wanted the M3 I would have bought one. Don't get me wrong that convertible M3 is lovely but its double the mileage of the one I have bought and servicing three times as much. They also have the older front. The one I have bought has a better looking front (well to me it has) I'm only 28, i'm sure one day i'll purchase an M3 but not an old one. Roll on summer so I can look like a **** with my roof down!!

turboman786

£21k will definitely NOT get 'a bag of nails m3'...a very nice exaample could be had...I did that too...had an M3...awesome car once you get to know it, but I found it quite pricey to run , and also found that the local mafia were all riding in them, so I moved onto a e60 5 series!

Still think the e46 looks very dated now....and the same car can be had on an older plate for £10-12k, hence detracting from the fact that you will be shelling out 21k on effectively the same car ....

Blueblaster

Paulg1979, pay no attention to the posts telling you to buy an M3. As you say you have got a much lower mileage car that will be a lot cheaper to run and a lot easier to live with than an M3. It'll be a doddle to sell as well. There is a huge group of posters on this forum who disregard everything but performance when buying a car. You can spot them because they are generally penniless. Ignore them and enjoy your purchase.

leonpoole

Nice looking car although i do agree with the dated looks comments.
It's almost 10 year old that design though so it's bound to look slightly dated.

paulg1979

iTrader: (1)

Blueblaster, Totally agree and thanks I'll enjoy it. I've had a Subaru, done the performance bit. Its nice to have a change. So many people tell you to buy these high performance cars but moan when someone writes a post saying how fast they have been on public roads.

Leonpoole, Yes I agree they do look a tad dated but BMW seem to make there looks last. Even the E36 M3's and the older M coupes still look pretty impressive. I'm sure my 330ci will last a couple of years without looking to dated.

stineal

love em, was going to buy one instead of my scoob but had a convertible before and kinda got board of it since you only have the roof down for about 4 days a year! bloody weather.

but yeh nice motor

rickya

iTrader: (18)

IMO better off with 330cd convertible, but still lovely car mate

paulg1979

iTrader: (1)

Thanks. Yes I was tempted by the diesel but IMO I love the sound of the petrol.

Jeff Stryker

paulg1979 dont worry about looking like a tw@t in summer. Its only when you see people driving around in weather like todays with the roof off you look like a tw@t.
Why do people do this ?

paulg1979

iTrader: (1)

Yes I know. I was out today and saw a fella in a merc with the roof down and a massive jacket on. Why not loose the jacket and leave the roof up.

I can assure you the roof will only come down when its lovely and warm out.

lee-swindon

i moved from an impreza to a bmw e46 convertible i went for the 2.2 due to high insurance compared to the 3.0 and the running costs, ive owned the car for a year now and im still loving it!!

excellent car in the summer with the roof down and in the winter i would suggest getting a hard-top it makes so much difference to the inside temperature!!


have you picked it up now??