Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

After giving up on the Impreza STI route due to stupid high insurance - (near on £1000 for a 29 year old with 10 years no claims), I have my eye on an E46 330. (only £400 to insure)
Problem is, I much prefer the coupe, but I have a little 1 year old boy to think of. Will it really be a pain in the backside putting him in his car set 2-3 times a week?
The mrs has a 3 door peugeot 107 and we cope with that ok.

Also, what are they like to drive?
I had a 328 E36 a while back and although I liked it, the power steering was knackered so I never got a good chance to sample proper BMW handling.

I only live 3 mile from work so mpg is not a problem.
Not sure on manual or auto though. Man I am getting old!

fatscoobfella1

iTrader: (1)

They are a nice thing..

Watch out for rot on the front wings and rear 1/4 panels can get bubbles along the bumper line.

Mechanicals are pretty good upto 130k and then things can start to go wrong..

If i was you an E39 sport would fit the bill.

ScoobyJawa

I have an E92 coupe and while I don't have to put kids in and out of the back it would be no great hardship if I did, theres quite a lost of opening space. Imagine the E46 coupe would be similar....

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

Yes it will be a pain. The doors are pretty large on coupes so getting babies in and out at the supermarket can be fun.

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

Thought of that. We get home shopping every fortnight now. I can't be doing with going to those places any more. And even if we do end up there, we will just use a 'parent & child' space.

I take my boy too and from nursery every Friday and then may be pop out somewhere as a family over the weekend.

Think I have convinced myself!

This:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3804337.htm

looks so much nicer than this:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3847318.htm

I also think I would prefer alcantara over leather too.

jonc

I prefer the look of the saloon to the coupe personally, I had a 325i Sport (e46) and I do miss it now and again.

Jamescsti

I prefer the look of the second one too, maybe I'm getting old?

MMT WRX

Have you had the chassis inspected for cracks/corrosion where the diff carrier is bolted to the floor pan?

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

Erm, no. Not even looked at either one yet.

I had heard on this issue.
Is it very common on these cars?

MMT WRX

I have an E46 M3 and its fairly common on them. Reading through the forums it would appear the 330 can suffer from it quite often too.

An M3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHgQBvAJaqY

A 323i
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOgC_BJxVwU

w44syf

iTrader: (2)

mine is up for sale.

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-m...port/101017550

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

Thanks but no for me.
Not looking for a convertable or an auto.

Jamieee

I have a 2004 330ci M-Sport Auto & I love it. Ok it don't give me a semi on like my scoob used to, but it's a cruiser with some performance, and it does sound good when you floor it.

I get 27mpg on a run & about 20mpg in stolen mode, I expect you may get more from a manual.

What to look for....

Tramlining, rust on wings, make sure all the electrics work. If you get a high mileage one, if it's had the water pump done & a rad change - bonus! If not it's idea to have them done both common failures, washer bottle leaks another common fault. Check the xenons work if fitted with them, some serious bucks if you need to replace them.

Other than that just the general stuff.

ScoobySteve69

iTrader: (13)

My girlfriend reckons its actually easier getting a little one in and out of the back of a 2 door car.

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

In some ways I agree, but it depends what car it is. My comment was regarding a car like this with long doors and only a tight space to open them (hence the supermarket) Obviously if you've got plenty of space, no problem but the long door and short space = very tight gap.

Robert Rosario

Got one myself, Mystic blue with beige leather on a 54 plate.

Got to say its the best car I have had. Smooth, powerful, great to drive, I must admit the shape does look a bit dated now, but value for money is superb.

Mine has done 63,000, got sat nav, etc, and having had it for just over a year, I have no urge to change, which for me is very unusual.

I dont have young children, but I cant see it being a problem really. Go check one out with your car seat.

maff125

iTrader: (1)

I've had my 2002 330d sport saloon since my boy was 6 months old and looked out for a 4 door manual and found the best car I've owned, boys three and a bit now and the car swallows everything, family, shopping not to mention doing 44.8 mpg average while running 245bhp/370lbft, great cars

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

You can get the remote fob programmed on e46 coupes to fully open the driver's window when you open the door, which then recloses when you shut it. Need someone with the diagnostics kit to enable that feature though if its not already enabled. (or you can just press and hold the remote buttons as usual).

The idea is it aids access into the car in tight parking spaces. Not alot of people realise the coupe has this feature.

Getting in and out the back is still an **** (for old adults ), although seats do roll forwards when tilted, so reaching into the back isn't too bad.

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

Well I am still looking.

It has got to have the spec like this:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...ge/1?logcode=p

I only 6 miles a day to and from work, so it would be pointless having a diesel. At most, I do 6000 miles a year.

It has to be grey, coupe, sport, manual. Don't mind if it doesn't have leather.

matt_uk

Shame it has to be grey, im selling pretty much the exact same car as that, but in dark blue, lovely cars though, only selling mine as i fancy something with a turbo, will proberly regret it afterwoods, but we live and learn..

Had mine for over half a year now, and always put a smile on my face, just a shame i get bored easy and fancy a different car every few months, lol.

As stated above shouldn't be a problem getting kids in the back.