[Porscha!]

One of my possibles if my MR2 T goes on Monday is an E46 BMW 330Ci SE, now a while ago I had a 330Ci Sport Automatic, this is a 330Ci SE manual and though I can tell what bodywork on the car is different I'd like to know about other differences.

i. Power?
ii. Suspension?
iii. Anything else I need to know about the differences in these cars?

Is the sport spec purely a nicer looking front bumper and a set of very hard to clean wheels coupled with a load of ///M badges OR is there something more substancial than that?

[Oulixes]

Originally Posted by Porscha!

One of my possibles if my MR2 T goes on Monday is an E46 BMW 330Ci SE, now a while ago I had a 330Ci Sport Automatic, this is a 330Ci SE manual and though I can tell what bodywork on the car is different I'd like to know about other differences.

i. Power?
ii. Suspension?
iii. Anything else I need to know about the differences in these cars?

Is the sport spec purely a nicer looking front bumper and a set of very hard to clean wheels coupled with a load of ///M badges OR is there something more substancial than that?

In North America, the ///M option on an Exx is just cosmetics, which makes for a more aggressive look.

[sheps]

As per the E9x's the M sport treatment is mild cosmetics and suspension.

You'll have sports seats in lieu of the standard; they'll be half alacantara if not full full leather.

Will be running sports suspension as standard. Circa 15mm lower than SE and firmer. A 330 will most likely be wearing 18" wheels with staggered 225f/255r tyres.

Body work-wise it will have different front and rear bumpers (with a lip on the bootlid IIRC). The window trims will be black in place of the polished silver/stainless surrounds on the SE.

Usual smattering of M badges; small badges to the wheels, door sills, gear knob and steering wheel.

No additional power.

Oops - thought you had an SE in the past and were looking at a sport. Re-read your thread and realised it was the other way round. In which case, the above is what you'll miss out on

[Porscha!]

Thanks, for the info Sheps

I can get hold of one for £2,750 ono (£2.5K it is then!!) on a 51, 89K with SH, 6 months T&T. Have a feeling I could make a bit of money on it so if my MR2T goes I may well go for it

[M3-FAST]

Have you had an insurance quote?

[M3-FAST]

I personally don't like the E46 SE seats at all - missus had an E46 compact in SE trim, and the seats were very flat and unsupportive. Almost fell out of 'em on roundabouts! The M sport models had very nice Alcantara or Leather seats with side bolsters.

It's all down to personal taste - I have always tended to go for the sporty model in just about every car I have owned as I prefer the stiffer suspension, sportier seats and trim, etc.. Other prefer the complete opposite and prefer a softer ride, etc..

As a petrol head Nic, I would have thought a sport model would have suited your driving style and image better?

[Porscha!]

Red - as insuracne was only £900 at 18 for the Sport Automatic I doubt it'll be over £700 now so nothing to worry about there.

It's certainly not a keeper so not really bothered about what it drives like as I don't think it would last a month, as don't see any reason why I couldn't make money on it. Hence needing to know about it

Hoping that mine goes for the reserve (which is £700 profit and buys this without putting any cash to it), if I went for this I'd clean it up and put it straight back up for sale at £3300ono etc. etc.

Got a bit of challenge on with a friend of mine who says I can't get back into a 911 SC (or better) before Sept. '10 ... without spending over £1,000 / STC fund etc. just through swapping cars, while it remains to be seen and I'm well up for any challenge which involves buying and selling cars

[Gibbo]

I think you should double check the insurance on this as I doubt it's any cheaper than the MR2.

Did I read you owned an Automatic? I thought you hated them with a passion or was it the 330 that did that for you.

[TMP]

E46 SE had a tad too much body roll for me, but a still a crackin car and you will enjoy it

[Porscha!]

Originally Posted by Gibbo

I think you should double check the insurance on this as I doubt it's any cheaper than the MR2.

Did I read you owned an Automatic? I thought you hated them with a passion or was it the 330 that did that for you.

Any performance Jap turbo car seems to be expensive for me, probably because they are imports?? Not sure, BMWs are usually cheap to insure. Porsche provided it can be put on Classic with my broker are usually fairly cheap and MGs / other Brits / cars over 25 years old are as cheap as chips, don't ask me why I haven't a clue!

Yes I did own an Automatic 330Ci, no it wasn't the 330 that did that, basically I really wanted the car and said to the salesman on the test drive that I didn't like the 'box, he said I'd get used to it and never want another manual I was rather stupid in believing him!