Newbie Help.... 330CI Clubsport

[Mikedav]

Hi guys, newbie here. Im Mike, 23 and I have a Bora V6 4Motion which I have enjoyed for two good years, but the time for a 330Ci has arrived. Ive driven a few and have a rough idea of what I want, but I could use your input as to what to look for on the E46 - I like to know the car inside out when buying so I can find a good one. My queries...

1) Ive been focusing recently on Estoril Blue Club Sports. Apart from the splitters, spoiler (which I would have removed) wheels and Estoril option, what did these come with over a Sport? Do dealers ask daft premiums for them? Did they make the Clubsport after the facelift?

2) Major issues to look out for on the E46 and desirable spec?

3) SSG - waste of time or pretty good?

4) Can Satnav be retro fitted and the climate control moved, or must it be specced from new?

5) If anyone spots a manual Estoril Club Sport with HK stereo, sunroof, leather, bluetooth, xenons, <30k on the clock and for £21k - £23k, let me know!

Thanks in advance guys

[Raj]

Hiya mate and welcome to the forum. Glad to see another ukmkivs bredrin here.

I could only hazard a guess to the answers to your questions (except that sat nav can be retro fitted) so I will leave that to some of the other knowledgable peeps on the forum.

[peppernick]

Clubsport = Spoiler, kick plates, silver aluminium cube, splitters, 20kg sound deadening removal, Type 71 alloys and 2 Individual colours Estoril and Velvet Blue. Premium of £2000 over standard sport when new but if you buy used, don't pay any more than whnat you would pay for a Sport. Clubsports are available with facelift.

Later E46 are pretty bomb proof. High milers watch out for worn front control arm bushes, but they are not expensive to replace. If you buy from dealer and less than 20k miles, no worries at all.

SSG in my past experience is CRAP with a capital C. It's not what you find on an E46 M3. It's 20X worse. Avoid.

Sat Nav can be retro-fitted but involves a lot of work. People tend to do it themselves because if you get the dealer to do it for you, it's not financially viable. If you are getting a used Clubsport, find one with sat nav. There are many around as Clubsports are usually very highly specced by their first owner. If you want to retro-fit, have a look HERE (http://sankeys.demon.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=1040)

Have a look on Top Marques, lots of CS on there ;)


And here's my old car :D 2002 330ci Clubsport SSG

[Mikedav]

Hiya mate and welcome to the forum. Glad to see another ukmkivs bredrin here.

Damn, spotted! Hiya mate, Keep it quiet though, not told anyone I want to defect yet. ;)

[Mikedav]

Many thanks Peppernick, just the info I need. Im pretty set on an Estoril CS I think, I just want one that as you say is fully loaded and not steptronic; quite a few SSGs apearing and I wasn't keen, you have confirmed my fears. I guess Im asking a bit much spec wise but Im in no rush really so I can wait for the right car.

Lovely car mate, what width and offset are the ACSs?

[peppernick]

ACS Type 3 18X8.5

ET37 all round with factory (ACS) 7mm spacers

[Nickleback]

[QUOTE=peppernick]Clubsport = Spoiler, kick plates, silver aluminium cube, splitters, 20kg sound deadening removal, Type 71 alloys and 2 Individual colours Estoril and Velvet Blue. Premium of £2000 over standard sport when new but if you buy used, don't pay any more than whnat you would pay for a Sport. Clubsports are available with facelift.

Later E46 are pretty bomb proof. High milers watch out for worn front control arm bushes, but they are not expensive to replace. If you buy from dealer and less than 20k miles, no worries at all.

SSG in my past experience is CRAP with a capital C. It's not what you find on an E46 M3. It's 20X worse. Avoid.

Sat Nav can be retro-fitted but involves a lot of work. People tend to do it themselves because if you get the dealer to do it for you, it's not financially viable. If you are getting a used Clubsport, find one with sat nav. There are many around as Clubsports are usually very highly specced by their first owner. If you want to retro-fit, have a look HERE (http://sankeys.demon.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=1040)

Have a look on Top Marques, lots of CS on there ;

Hi Mikedav & welcome to the forum [hiya

I agree fully with Dr Nick, with a MAX avoid SSG - it's total CRAP :mad:

Check this out to see pics of my current 'ril CS330:

http://photobucket.com/albums/y98/Clubsport/

I went for after fit Sat Nav via iPaq & Nav 3 as OEM was too expensive & too much hassle.

Good luck finding one & be prepared to pay a little mor for a good'un with the right spec - You wont regret it [jam :D

[BigFas]

I know it's not Estoril, but a fellow member has this for sale

http://sankeys.demon.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=1345

You won't find a car which has been better looked after and is a totally unmolested example for you to mod :)

[330-Singh]

MikeDav - for your budget you should be able to pick up a nice 330ci clubsport. I bought exactly what you are looking for back in january and have been very happy with my purchase!

There is a really nice Clubsport in the For Sale section, Although I Like Velvet Blue alot, in my opinion Estoril blue takes some beating! It is well priced though and very low miles.....looks well looked after too! Might be worth considering?

[Raj]

Damn, spotted! Hiya mate, Keep it quiet though, not told anyone I want to defect yet. ;)

No problemo mate, my lips are sealed ;) . I defected a while ago so I know the score :D .

[Mikedav]

Thanks for the input guys. Nickelback, I cant view your images as I need to log in with your password! Can you post the urls? Can never see enough shots of Estoril Blue ;)

Ill be honest I won't be buying privately, I prefer the back up and warranty dealers provide despite their arrogance. If its a Clubsport it also HAS to be Estoril, otherwise I think I would go for a Steel Grey or Black Sport. I can wait for the right car at the right price, I just want to see whats available - Im glad there are plenty of CSs to choose from!

Can someone fill me in on what the 'Climate Comfort Panel' is? Some dealers list it in the specs but all 330Cis have climate right?

[Nickleback]

Mine came with Automatic Air Conditioning / Air recirculation according to the dealer blurb as std :( but was climate control an option - Peppernick ?

[peppernick]

Mine came with Automatic Air Conditioning / Air recirculation according to the dealer blurb as std :( but was climate control an option - Peppernick ?
What's on your car is climate control, it's standard across most UK spec E46.

[lee330sport]

Welcome [hiya

To be honest if your gonna remove the spoiler and things, why dont you just geta 330 sport. You could probably pick up a better deal.?

[Mikedav]

Welcome [hiya

To be honest if your gonna remove the spoiler and things, why dont you just geta 330 sport. You could probably pick up a better deal.?

Estoril Blue :) I might not remove the spoiler, might grow on me. Keeping my options open for now as it all depends what cars are available - more important is a good spec I think.

So peppernick, when dealers mention 'climate comfort panel' it doesn't mean anything, as UK E46s all have climate?

Thanks again guys

[peppernick]

Climate control is standard across the range except the 318is.

You sure you're not confusing it with climate comfort screen, which is basically a tinted section across the front windscreen, a £200 option.

[Mikedav]

You sure you're not confusing it with climate comfort screen, which is basically a tinted section across the front windscreen, a £200 option.

[bang

Many thanks mate, that must be it...doh.

I know I said I wanted a CS but this is pretty interesting...

330ci / Anthracite / Loaded (http://www.bmw.co.uk/apm/bmw_auc/car_details/popup_index/0,3237,,00.html?max=73&dpostcode=BH4+9LE&ch=WBABN52090JU65629&di=193&rank=0)

[Nickleback]

Climate control is standard across the range except the 318is.

You sure you're not confusing it with climate comfort screen, which is basically a tinted section across the front windscreen, a £200 option.

Mikedav

Peppernick right, just checked it, it's std across the range [cool except the 318is.
Bl**dy $lealers why cant they get their facts right !! [bang

[Ali_]

Welcome mate best of luck with the search and keep the spoiler, it will grow on you [hiya

[Nickleback]

Welcome mate best of luck with the search and keep the spoiler, it will grow on you [hiya

Yeah, keep the spoiler it will !!! :D grow on you & its also one of the reasons a Clubsport is so recognisable even when modded :cool:

[Matt H330]

Another defector. I moved over from ukmkivs about 6 months ago.

Have a look at this one might be what you are looking for.
http://www.berkshirebmw.co.uk/440.htm

[Mikedav]

Another defector. I moved over from ukmkivs about 6 months ago.

Have a look at this one might be what you are looking for.
http://www.berkshirebmw.co.uk/440.htm

Read my mind, I emailed them yesterday. Definetly interested in that one thanks for the link

[Nickleback]

Read my mind, I emailed them yesterday. Definetly interested in that one thanks for the link

Mikedav,
Very similar to mine, check no center armrest, power folding mirrors ? no unless specified option, manual good, check the deal & the history/
lookin good [read

[Matt H330]

If you go for it, make sure they at least do a deal on the extended warranty. I had the wheel all refurbed too plus a blow over on the bonnet.

Also check that all the work they say they will do, they do. They told me that they were going to replace the front tyres with good quality ones, and when I picked it up they were cheap budget tyres.

They do give a very good deal on the price, but you have to keep on at them to sort stuff out.

They have been very good tho at sorting out other little bits. They have reprogrammed everything so that all the total closure works, alarm beeps on deactivation. Basically they will do all the dealer option stuff that dealer either refuse to do or charge you a fortune.

My advice would be don't rely on the ad as being the correct description. Phone them and give them a list of what you want to know and get them to go outside and check the car and then phone you back. Make sure they know how far you would be travelling to see it. I dealt with Joel and he makes it sound as tho he knows about the cars but I have since found that he doesn't really.

Good luck

M

[Mikedav]

Ok guys check this one out for me - input appreciated!

2002 02 BMW 330Ci Clubsport
Estoril Blue
FBMWSH
Alcantara/Black Montana Leather
14,405 Miles
Manual

Options

Front Centre Arm Rest
Electric Fold Exterior Mirrors
Electric Glass Sunroof
Front Seat Heating
Bi-Xenon Hlamps H/Wash Fogs
Harman Kardon - Hi-Fi

Currently at a main dealer for £22,450.

[peppernick]

Alcantara/Black Montana Leather
Have you seen this in person? The Clubsport version is not to everybody's taste. The leather part is OK but the Alcantara bit has red and blue weave through it :eek:

£22,450 for a 2002 car is STEEP! No nav too. I would say around £20K is more realistic.

[Mikedav]

Have you seen this in person? The Clubsport version is not to everybody's taste. The leather part is OK but the Alcantara bit has red and blue weave through it :eek:

See, this is why I like to do homework! :) No I haven't, thank you for the warning...I will have to have a look. Anyone got pics?


£22,450 for a 2002 car is STEEP! No nav too. I would say around £20K is more realistic.

Thanks for that, could be good news from my point of view if the interior is not too hideous. I wanted Nav but its hard to find; my local dealer has the PERFECT car for me, a 54 reg Estoril CS with Nav, HK, Sunroof, the lot - but its too new for my budget :(

Thanx for the info guys

[peppernick]

Found the perfect pic for you ;)

[Mikedav]

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Um, me thinks not. Thats that one out the window....

NEXT!

Thanks Peppernick....