E46 M3 vs 330Ci Sport |
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northerner
Newbie Joined: 04-April-2005 Location: Up North Status: Offline Points: 7 |
Topic: E46 M3 vs 330Ci Sport Posted: 04-April-2005 at 10:19 |
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Newbie question - I'm looking at buying either a 330Ci with the sport pack and with the spare cash buy a E30 M3 or pour it all into a E46 M3. Is the E46 M3 quantifiably better that the 330Ci to justify the extra cash?
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Stone-IslandV8
Really Senior Member II Joined: 31-January-2003 Location: North Somerset Status: Offline Points: 3015 |
Posted: 04-April-2005 at 11:28 | |
Yes. Definately. Completely different drive and handling, consider that an E36 M3 will out perform a 330 and it kinda points the way.
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Gentlemen I may not have a brain but I do have an idea
Past; E39 540T/E46 328CI/ E39 535/ E39 520/ E36 M3/ E36 318iS jet black Mtech/ E46 320d/ E36 318iS diamond black/ E36 318iS blue Mtech kit |
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Coasting
Really Senior Member II www.TOTALTORQUE.net Joined: 05-February-2005 Location: Not with the two-faced bloke. Status: Offline Points: 2125 |
Posted: 04-April-2005 at 12:03 | |
There is no comparison at all as Stone says. Just go drive one. You won't need to ask any more questions. |
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Stone-IslandV8
Really Senior Member II Joined: 31-January-2003 Location: North Somerset Status: Offline Points: 3015 |
Posted: 04-April-2005 at 14:16 | |
IIRC Evo magazine summed up the 330 clubsport by saying that BMW had goofed slightly cos instead of making it a 'poor mans M3' (their words NOT mine) they'd merely made an expensive 330.
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Gentlemen I may not have a brain but I do have an idea
Past; E39 540T/E46 328CI/ E39 535/ E39 520/ E36 M3/ E36 318iS jet black Mtech/ E46 320d/ E36 318iS diamond black/ E36 318iS blue Mtech kit |
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skull
Really Senior Member II Joined: 20-April-2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 640 |
Posted: 04-April-2005 at 14:43 | |
wanted one, test drove one . bought one go for it .
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just a little crazy.
My drive E46 M3 COUPE [MAN]CARBON BLACK GREY LEATHER H/K 19"s LED REARS S/B. |
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Coasting
Really Senior Member II www.TOTALTORQUE.net Joined: 05-February-2005 Location: Not with the two-faced bloke. Status: Offline Points: 2125 |
Posted: 04-April-2005 at 14:48 | |
Northerner - you must drive one. The two cars simply aren't comparable at all. A 330Ci has 231bhp, an M3 has 343bhp....that's about as quantifiable as anyone would want! You really could be give a list that was pages long. Here's what to do - get someone to DRIVE YOU in a 330Ci. Then get the same person to DRIVE YOU in an M3. In one, you'll feel it's quite quick. In the other, well I'll let you find out. |
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therealmccoy
Really Senior Member II Joined: 27-April-2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 552 |
Posted: 04-April-2005 at 15:20 | |
It really depends what you want the car(s) for... All three are totally different in all ways... Do you want to do Trackdays? Or just normal roads? |
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Lancastrian
Bavarian-Board Contributor Joined: 10-July-2004 Location: Lancashire, UK Status: Offline Points: 760 |
Posted: 04-April-2005 at 15:34 | |
I could not agree more. I am quite sure that an E46 M3 is considerably quicker and a completely different drive to a 330. In its defence I would say that a 330 sport has a reasonable turn of speed and in most normal driving situations (ie hundreds of miles up and down the motorway, round town or getting from A to B across country) it is more than adequate. If however you are looking for an enthusiasts "drive of your life" then I would think it probaly lies in the E46 M3 (not that I have ever had the pleasure of driving one). |
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E30 M3 Project - Specification TBC
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Von Paulus
Banned User Cruisin’ the Reeperbahn Joined: 17-March-2005 Location: Hamburg and UK! Status: Offline Points: 118 |
Posted: 04-April-2005 at 15:42 | |
330Ci Coupe manual with the ACS blower kit -
superb bit of kit. Even better, the Alpina B3.3. Only buy an M3 with the manual 'box and a BMW warranty. They've had quite a few engine problems. To be honest, I'd rather have an E39 M5 for the £30'000 you need for an M3. They aren't much faster (if at all) but the engine is astounding and the brakes are much better. Better image too. |
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Coasting
Really Senior Member II www.TOTALTORQUE.net Joined: 05-February-2005 Location: Not with the two-faced bloke. Status: Offline Points: 2125 |
Posted: 04-April-2005 at 15:48 | |
What???? Sorry, but the engine problems were all resolved on recalls and very few people ended up footing their own bill. It was purely hype and the odd car story getting blown out of all proportion. Furthermore, the SMG software issues would have been resolved on recalls too. I agree about the warranty side personally, but an awful lot of people buy them without one and get few issues. However, the point I gave my "What???" about was the Manual box statement. I had an E46 M3 Manual and changed to an E46 M3 SMGII - the latter being far superior in my opinion. The manual is notchy, difficult for 1st and 2nd changed in particular, and just not suited to any amount of heavy traffic/slow driving. SMG holds it's residuals better too and whereas I fell for the original desire to have a "purist" drive with a manual I was soon proved wrong.
Edited by Coasting |
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Von Paulus
Banned User Cruisin’ the Reeperbahn Joined: 17-March-2005 Location: Hamburg and UK! Status: Offline Points: 118 |
Posted: 04-April-2005 at 16:35 | |
So why is there a website called 'engine of
Damocles' devoted to the E46 M3 engine? SMG is not that clever. At present the major problem is the clutch slave cylinder and you cannot buy one on it's own so it's a complete gearbox replacement. Also, the electronics are all made by........ MAGNETTI MARELLI (FIAT!!) Magnetti Marelli is Latin for 'warranty claim'. Sorry, but 100% reliable they are not although you've probably been lucky so far! |
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GordonAC79
Newbie Joined: 22-March-2005 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 11 |
Posted: 04-April-2005 at 16:38 | |
I have had a 330ci and am now on my third M3, if your looking for refinement then the 330ci is your car, the M3 is a completely different animal, you can't appreciate the power difference until you have driven both cars, it's quick up to 4000 revs, get it above that and I swear it'll blow you away and I guarantee you won't be able to remove the grin from your face for days. If you drive both I'll put my house on which one you'll choose, there is no comparison!! Manual or SMG, your choice, but make sure you test drive the SMG, I had my SMG doubts before my first M3 arrived and it probably took me a while to appreciate how to get the best from it..... I'm now on my third SMG in a CSL and wouldn't have it any other way.
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Coasting
Really Senior Member II www.TOTALTORQUE.net Joined: 05-February-2005 Location: Not with the two-faced bloke. Status: Offline Points: 2125 |
Posted: 04-April-2005 at 16:45 | |
This is old hat - there is a website of such ilk devoted to almost every car you can think of. I can only speak from personal experience rather than quoted sources, and having driven both Manual and SMG I think (as per the above user too) that SMGII is far superior. |
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GordonAC79
Newbie Joined: 22-March-2005 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 11 |
Posted: 04-April-2005 at 16:51 | |
Disagree, I think the "SSG" box is made by the above, is/was a five speed variant available on 325 and 330 coupe and saloon models. The SMG box is made by a different manufacturer, whos name has escaped me for now? I have an article somewhere which details the technical differences between the two and which manufacturer made which. |
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Stone-IslandV8
Really Senior Member II Joined: 31-January-2003 Location: North Somerset Status: Offline Points: 3015 |
Posted: 04-April-2005 at 16:51 | |
From what I've heard/experienced the SMG is a personal preference, I personally like the manual but thats just me. As for the E39 M5 it gets my vote on the choice-not seen as often as M3s, huge power and cheaper than the 25k an E46'll cost, even from a dealer. |
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Gentlemen I may not have a brain but I do have an idea
Past; E39 540T/E46 328CI/ E39 535/ E39 520/ E36 M3/ E36 318iS jet black Mtech/ E46 320d/ E36 318iS diamond black/ E36 318iS blue Mtech kit |
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Coasting
Really Senior Member II www.TOTALTORQUE.net Joined: 05-February-2005 Location: Not with the two-faced bloke. Status: Offline Points: 2125 |
Posted: 04-April-2005 at 17:03 | |
I've yet to see a sub £25k M3 at a dealers anyway! |
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Von Paulus
Banned User Cruisin’ the Reeperbahn Joined: 17-March-2005 Location: Hamburg and UK! Status: Offline Points: 118 |
Posted: 04-April-2005 at 17:22 | |
Yes Gordon, you're absolutely correct - I stand
humbled!! Laguna Seca blue manual M3 Coupe for me I think! To be honest Coasting I only drove the old E36 SMG which was bloody awful and I understand the E46 is much better. I just like gearchanging though. My 750i E38 has the Steptronic box which I can't be bothered with. Just stick it in D and off it goes! |
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Stone-IslandV8
Really Senior Member II Joined: 31-January-2003 Location: North Somerset Status: Offline Points: 3015 |
Posted: 04-April-2005 at 17:23 | |
I'm talking about buying price Coasting,not screen. I.e 3 examples all at dealers 2002 M3 pheonix gold 62k on clock.Screen price £26,995, will sell at 24-25k with no trade-in. 2001 M3 imola red 30k on clock. Screen price £26k, will sell 24.5k. 2001 M3 carbon black 35k on clock. Screen price £25,995, will sell at 24k. All are manual. The above are from 2 dealers who were asked straight the question-if I have cash and/or finance with no p'ex what are you going to let it go for? They are there if you look and if you ask the right person. |
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Gentlemen I may not have a brain but I do have an idea
Past; E39 540T/E46 328CI/ E39 535/ E39 520/ E36 M3/ E36 318iS jet black Mtech/ E46 320d/ E36 318iS diamond black/ E36 318iS blue Mtech kit |
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Coasting
Really Senior Member II www.TOTALTORQUE.net Joined: 05-February-2005 Location: Not with the two-faced bloke. Status: Offline Points: 2125 |
Posted: 04-April-2005 at 17:29 | |
Ah, early or high milers for age, I see. They must be low on spec too I'd guess (although perhaps the 02 is a bit higher)? £24k is about as low as it gets (as you say ignoring screen price which you'd always do anyway) for a dealer sold model, but it's a lot of smiles for the money!
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Stone-IslandV8
Really Senior Member II Joined: 31-January-2003 Location: North Somerset Status: Offline Points: 3015 |
Posted: 04-April-2005 at 17:35 | |
Point is they sub-25k, low spec or early or not.
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Gentlemen I may not have a brain but I do have an idea
Past; E39 540T/E46 328CI/ E39 535/ E39 520/ E36 M3/ E36 318iS jet black Mtech/ E46 320d/ E36 318iS diamond black/ E36 318iS blue Mtech kit |
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