E46 330ci vs E46 M3?

[Darren P]

Hi all

Im looking to get either a 330ci convertible or save a bit more and get an M3 convertible.

The thing that i am concerned about is the running costs of the M3 vs 330ci, ive read on a post that it cost £700 for an inspection 1 on the m3!!

This is what ive found out already.

Fuel:
M3 200-250 for £60 optimax
The 330ci 350 for £50 normal petrol

Insurance for me:
M3 convertible £1150
330ci convertible £950

MOT and TAX are the same.

Servicing ??

This i dont know how much either cost of how oftern?????

Any other things i should consider??

I do love both cars but cant justify loads more cash for an M3 when got loads of other toys.

Thanks Darren P

[Shuriken]

Peppernick will fill you in on the running costs point as he did a post about it a while back.

If you are in a position where you could get a fully loaded 330 or a lesser spec m3, I personally would go for the fully loaded 330. You can enjoy that it's own way and then when you're done with that, you still have scope for improvement in way of an M.

Shuriken.

[Chaos]

I would suggest budgeting around 50% extra on the M for running costs, especially if you go to a dealer. The difference in performance is worth it if you're not on a tight budget, but I'd be wary of buying an M unless you're prepared for the odd big bill. Insp1 is indeed around £700 (£677 for mine 2 months ago), but that's once every 50k miles starting at about 25k. Ordinary oil services (12.5kish, 37.5kish, etc) aren't much more than the 330 at about £175 instead of £125. M servicing is aimed at every 15k like the non-M cars, alternating big service / oil service, but often ends up slightly sooner because of the way the cars encourage you to drive hard. Just my observations of course. ;)

Likewise tyres will feel the strain of the extra 130 horses so will wear quicker, but depending on how you drive that could be 10k or 30k of course. Petrol, well, Teddy will confirm that I've had 30mpg showing on mine after a run around the countryside with a very light foot :D (like once, tho, and I was growing seriously impatient :rolleyes: but determined to do it lol), but urban will usually yield around 200 a tank and countryside driving will push 250-300 tops on the M. The 330 should hit 300 miles if you cane it and up to 400 if you have cruise on during a long and leisurely motorway run. So, 50% saving on that.

If you get one out of warranty, then the repair bills can be a lot higher obviously, so try to think of getting one that has a warranty that you can extend if it's coming to the 3 year mark or one that's already been extended if it's older (you'll need to buy from a dealer to get that transferred though, BMW void extendeds if you don't buy the car from a dealer, just a FYI).

They have very similar depreciation and as you say the insurance isn't a long way apart, so other than that it's fairly cosmetic. All depends on your mileage and so on of course, but 50% isn't a bad ballpark figure to be going on with.

[Mits]

aaahhhh go and buy an M, you only live once :D

Since coming back from the ring i've spent 1k on tyres, 1k on new pads/discs and i've got an oil service in a couple of weeks!!

Cha Ching :D

[Afif]

:eek: mits did u get bbk then dude?

[Nickleback]

try to think of getting one that has a warranty that you can extend if it's coming to the 3 year mark or one that's already been extended if it's older (you'll need to buy from a dealer to get that transferred though, BMW void extendeds if you don't buy the car from a dealer, just a FYI).


That new to me - as I was thinking of extending mine for better resale privately ??? :(

[330ciSport]

Given that is a cabriolet you want, go for the ///M. Once you've had the 330 for 6 months, you'll want the M3 more coz you'll then know that the car can take alot more. Not that the 330's bad, its very good, just the M3's better!

Gotta get one that's in warranty though.

[danch]

My 2p worth, go for the M3, I bought a 330Ci in April and although it is an excellent car I find myself wanting more under the right foot, (coming from a supped up 200sx does not help :rolleyes: )

Therefore hopefully finances permitting when Insurance renewal rolls round next May I will be selling the 330 and trading up to a M [jam

Cheers

Daniel

[Darren P]

Peppernick will fill you in on the running costs point as he did a post about it a while back.



Thats the post that burst my bubble of getting one!!!!!!!!

Petrol is not that much of a worry because i only did 5k last year but thats because ive got a economical car aswell that gets used for long trips, saying that its a lot of money a month for a car i would use twice a week, where as if i got the 330 i would prob use it more because its better on fuel.

Thanks for the info on servicing that helped but how much is the inspection 1 service for a 330? If the M3 is £700 is the 330 a lot cheaper??

I know what your saying about there been a better model ie the m3 ive always had fast cars (got a 310bhp P1 at moment) so trying to be sensible with next car but im sure ill get bored, ive also got a gsxr 1000 so trying to tell myself thats for the speed and the convertible for cruising about.

Something else i forgot to mension i wont be getting one in warranty i know its risky.

Thanks for info so far guys!!!! :D :D

[Chaos]

That new to me - as I was thinking of extending mine for better resale privately ??? :(Was a recent article in What Car where someone had bought an M5 recently, went to validate the extended warranty with BMW GB and they told him to sling his hook as it hadn't been bought from an official dealer, so it seems a bit of a hot topic atm.

[peppernick]

Yes, extended BMW warranty is only valid if you buy the car from UK BMW dealers. They did this not to give too much away because recent laws stated that the BMW UK can't void warranties on cars serviced outside the dealer network as long as the indepedent garages use 'BMW approved' parts.


Darren, HERE (http://www.birds.uk.com/1-PDFs/BMW07000000.pdf) you'll find servicing cost for the cars you've mentioned. It's a top Independent garage and servicing cost is still cheaper than dealers in London. The reason why M3s cost so much to service on Inspections is because the tappets have to be reshimmed and it involves taking the engine head off. The M power S52 and S54 are the 2 most expensive engines to service, more than the S60 from the E39 M5.

[Chaos]

Darren, if you're not going for a warranty, I'd think seriously about going for the 330. Ms are extortionate to repair when they go pop - the dealers double the numbers on everything when they see that letter on the back of the car... Of course, they don't go bang very often, but there's plenty of other things that go wrong with them which you'll have to pay for. I had almost £500 of work done at my last service alone which was covered by warranty, and that's on a 2-year-old car with 20k mileage. Just be forewarned is all.

330s are much cheaper at Insp1, from memory well over half the price of the M. The thing with the latter is that they have to keep the car overnight so that they can work on a stone cold engine for accurate tappet measurements etc. That puts the job at a 10.5 hour allocation instead of the 4 or 4.5 hours that the non-M 6 cyl was when I last asked.

That's 2 reasons to buy the 330, the big one against them is that a 330 is going to feel lightweight after a P1. It'll have a lot more torque and won't be as needy to keep up in the revs or push corner speed with, but it's not as raw either when you're in the mood. The M, however, can be driven as steady as you like through the gears or, when you fancy some carnage, you can cane it as hard as you like - you'll find your limits before you find the car's. One of my best mates has a PP Scooby that we rally in, so the car's no slouch and neither is he. He was never that bothered about my old ride but he can't get enough of the M - that's probably as good a comparison as I can give you.

At the end of the day, the choice is yours. People always told me I'd regret buying a 325 and want a 330. I didn't, I was really happy with the 2.5 and enjoyed it right up until I decided it was time to go top-end and get the M. Sure, now and then you think 'what if', but the beauty of modding is that you can make any car your own, and once it's yours then it's special. Ask Fas if he's ever lusted after a 330 vert. Sure, he'll have thought about it, but one look at the masterpiece on his driveway and the thought disappears.

My call? Buy the 330 and mod the crap outta it with the money you've saved.

Edit: Nick - stop posting when I'm posting :p

[Darren P]

Massive thanks to Choas and peppernick for all that info!!

I cant belive the difference is the price for servicing i understand what you mean about them keeping it over night, its not like you want to toe the m3 to the dealer so the engine is cold!! :D

If i was to get the 330 i would be getting some 19's and lowering it, upgrade to led rears and angle eyes but thats it, if i was to get the m3 i would leave it standard. So the price would end up been the same one ive bought the wheels etc.

Do most people run there 330's on normal unleaded or optimax??

Another thing ive no longer got P1 just sold it right now but taken another scooby in px but a cheap one that i can px in against what i decide to get.

Found this picture on e46 owners in america

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/bigpkr999/juha3232qj.jpg

think theres a bit of photoshop going on there but like the look!!

Heres a picture of 2 of my toys together.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/bigpkr999/bothcarandbike.jpg

just thought id share!

Thanks to all. :D

[Big m.o.]

Darren,

Go for the 330. If you get the M, it'll be much of a muchness with the P1. They're more or less the same in speeds. I'd go for this combo, coz I already do. Don't want to be spoilt for choice on which car to drive each day (the p1 stays in the garage until i go nova hunting or ringing)

[Darren P]

Darren,

Go for the 330. If you get the M, it'll be much of a muchness with the P1. They're more or less the same in speeds. I'd go for this combo, coz I already do. Don't want to be spoilt for choice on which car to drive each day (the p1 stays in the garage until i go nova hunting or ringing)

I wont be keeping both so wont have to chose!

The only thing me bothers me about getting a 330 is ive never has a car as slow (no offence to anyone there not slow in there own right but compared to what ive had they are) so dont want to get bored with lack of speed thrill.

thanks

[Big m.o.]

you could get a noble - i'm currently looking or even better an AE86

[Darren P]

PRICE ON NOBLE??????

My girlfiend likes the A4 convertible better than the 330ci but told her its my car!

[danch]

Secondhand Nobles start at about the £25,000 mark for a 2002 with 42,000 miles.

Cheers

Daniel

[adood84]

you always could supercharge a 330 ;) ask lee about it

[Big m.o.]

saw a blue one in the garage not far from me. £29k, 12k, blue 03 car. Insurance 3750!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just been out in the P1, quicker than M3 except csl. Stick to the P1 until the E90 M3 vert is available - I am

330 ci vert is fun (when roof is down) and altho not as powerful and quick, it is still good.

[rossi46]

i am thinking the same as you darren.
i too don't use my car often as i've only done 10k over 2 years.
but i don't need a really fast car as i like to use bike to fulfill my adrenaline.
the only reason i may consider a M is becos i have to own one in a lifetime.
maybe not for long or probably be sold before i even get to the first inspection?
so my plan was buy a M and probably change it after a year or 2.
may get a very economical car for everyday driving as sometimes i drive to some place rough which i don't feel safe leaving the M there.
only done under 400 miles since i bought my bike in july, need to drive more to get it's first 600 miles service, as summer is more or less ended, not sure when i will reach to 600 for the service, probably next may?
anyone knows if LPG can be done on a M?

[peppernick]

anyone knows if LPG can be done on a M?
WHAT?????!!!!!!! http://www.bm3w.co.uk/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cry.gif

[rossi46]

WHAT?????!!!!!!! http://www.bm3w.co.uk/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cry.gif
nick you guys need to add more of these smilies to the forum, it's not enough smilies on this forum.

[Chaos]

anyone knows if LPG can be done on a M?http://www.scions.org.uk/phpBB2/images/smilies/idiot.gif


http://www.scions.org.uk/phpBB2/images/smilies/gay.gif


Sorry dude, but you had it coming with that. http://sankeys.demon.co.uk/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Darren P]

LPG is not very high octane rating from what ive heard i looked into getting a X5 4.4 then converting it to LPG and it was £1800 that would take a long time to recover that back, also you get 10% less to gallon but its 1/3 of the price.

I dont know much about M3's but i wouldnt do it even if you could.

Yeah rossi was thinking the same i kept the P1 for just over a year, the car before that was 1 year and before that was 2 years so i dont really keep them that long.

So if i got one which had just had it i would have 50k till the next one?? Which would be 10 year at the rate i do mileage, or is it years aswell, my p1 is 7500k or 6 months which even comes sooner is that service the same??

Well i still dont know which to get??

Anyone had a A4 convertible??

[Big m.o.]

A4 verts are excellent quality but the 330 is more fun. How about an RS4?

[Chaos]

Couple of mates have A4 verts, they're nice inside but feel heavy and are definitely lacking in performance engine-for-engine against the 3. Plus they look like they have a fat ass from the side. :p

[peppernick]

S4 vert will be the one I go for :cool:

[Chaos]

Yah, that's the exception to the rule... :cool:

[Darren P]

S4 look nothing special though for 37k for a cheap one!

They do have a fat ass but look they pretty good, the audi 3.0 compared to 3.0 bmw is neary 1 second slower to 60 and 1 mpg less, she says the audi looks newer because the e46 has been around for 5 years the audi has been out for 4 though but are less common so what does that tell you!!

I saw a a4 the other say with the S8 19" rims on them polished ones it looked really good.

Or yeah and still got the P1 the tire kicker pulled out a few hours before he was ment to be bring me the cash! I hate timewasters!!!!!!