Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: duggs on 05 November 2012, 20:19:26

Title: BMW 330
Post by: duggs on 05 November 2012, 20:19:26
Has anyone had any experiance of the BMW 330..circa Yr: 2000/2003

Quite fancy one as a second casual drive about ?
Title: Re: BMW 330
Post by: serek on 05 November 2012, 20:22:33
petrol or diesel??
Title: Re: BMW 330
Post by: duggs on 05 November 2012, 20:26:32
Petrol for me !  Personally I'd only ever have a diesel when petrol runs out...and even then, under protest !
Title: Re: BMW 330
Post by: TheBoy on 05 November 2012, 20:27:26
330Ci, after Alpina had tweaked it.

Pretty rapid, not quite in M3 league, but better top end. Apparently ::).

Needs 98RON petrol, and the tyres were £300 a pop. Other than that, the only memory was "what a blast".
Title: Re: BMW 330
Post by: serek on 05 November 2012, 20:31:07
those e46 330I are fast and fault less cars really
front suspension bushes are main problem,
noise from vanos but can buy repair kit from US for about £30 in UK market only complite vanos £700
other then that just normal things


Title: Re: BMW 330
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 05 November 2012, 22:51:03
endless money pit..
 
one of my friends is a bmw mechanic.. and he earns good money from them..
 
no one buys them to drive like a granny..
Title: Re: BMW 330
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 05 November 2012, 23:10:19
and plus if you will pay that much money for fuel,repairs,tax,insurance m3 or m5 will be at least worth it..
Title: Re: BMW 330
Post by: duggs on 06 November 2012, 00:24:44
Oooooo !   In terms of "quick" but NOT fast....what should I look at ?
Title: Re: BMW 330
Post by: Lazydocker on 06 November 2012, 01:35:30
Oooooo !   In terms of "quick" but NOT fast....what should I look at ?
Something small and light... MR2, MX5 etc... Much quicker than an Omega around the lanes ;)
Title: Re: BMW 330
Post by: duggs on 06 November 2012, 13:07:39
Thank you....will keep ebay searchin'.
Title: Re: BMW 330
Post by: Del Boy on 06 November 2012, 13:09:58
They're good cars, E46's are built to last, 3.0 straight 6 will go on forever if the correct oil is used and changed, along with normal service items. The 3.0 sounds lovely, and goes really well, 231 BHP straight 6, lovely  :y. Handle like an absolute dream if you get an M Sport model  :y.
Title: Re: BMW 330
Post by: Broomies Mate on 06 November 2012, 20:38:32
I dont understand why people profess that BMW's are expensive to own. Likely they have never owned a BMW.

Common sense...... if the car has been looked after, it will generally be a sound buy.
Title: Re: BMW 330
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 06 November 2012, 20:46:57
cars are made up of consumables..  import car parts especially bmw are definitely expensive.. even if you diy..
 
and no one will give you a well looked low mileage bmw for some peanuts..
 
 
 
Title: Re: BMW 330
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 06 November 2012, 20:48:43
but if you will drive for few months, go on..
Title: Re: BMW 330
Post by: TheBoy on 06 November 2012, 21:49:04
I've found that BMW parts are often reasonable, although sometimes shocked by some quotes from the parts desk. Mind you, not dissimilar to GM ;D

Some backstreet garages seem to bump up servicing costs with BMW. Not sure if this is because they feel the owners have more cash, or for the extra software/diags, eg to reset brake check inteval etc
Title: Re: BMW 330
Post by: omega3000 on 06 November 2012, 22:15:48
endless money pit..
 
one of my friends is a bmw mechanic.. and he earns good money from them..
 
no one buys them to drive like a granny..

I bought the elite to drive like grandad , enough headroom for a flat cap ::) ;D
Title: Re: BMW 330
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 07 November 2012, 09:06:57
from experience, generally 3 series ( starting with 320,325,328 and 330) here are peferred by boy racers .. they hammer the car until death, and then sell..
 
5 series generally preferred by an older group which leave more lifes under the hood when they are sold.. but you cant find a good example below 200K (kms) unless clocked..  they are generally better looked (relatively to 3 series).. but still not cheap as part shops and mechanics like to empty your wallet when they see a bmw..
 
7 and 8 series definitely well looked .. but if you can find an example below 300K (kms) you are very lucky..
 
Title: Re: BMW 330
Post by: duggs on 07 November 2012, 12:24:35
Assuming your views are based on "The Life of a BMW in Turkey" Cem...although you are right about the boy racer brigade and the 3 series.

In the UK, VERY high insurance premiums have curtailed that somewhat.
Title: Re: BMW 330
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 07 November 2012, 12:35:51
Assuming your views are based on "The Life of a BMW in Turkey" Cem...although you are right about the boy racer brigade and the 3 series.

In the UK, VERY high insurance premiums have curtailed that somewhat.

yep..  for Turkey market this is the general situation..  and especially older e46 series needs welding at the back..
 
needs fuel pump, lambda sensors , front drive train components,shocks, new discs etc etc..  engine is mostly robust excluding vanos unit..  if you sum up those part prices tco increases dramatically..
 
 
if you are going to buy a bmw, 5 series from a doctor or govt worker is a good choice ;D  as they travel less distances..