Bargain of the Month??

ninty9er

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/330/200914192395957/advert

If a service history checked out on this it would be a corker of a car to get, just because people are afraid of motor tax.

garyegt

good price alright! thats what i dont get about buying new cars though, you can buy an older one for a lot less, can be very reliable comfy etc. and what you dont spend onthe car can be spent on petrol insurance and tax.

for example, i could have bought a 02 astra for a couple of grand etc but instead up north get a cheap car (nissan primera 96) ok high tax cos 2 ltr engine etc. need parts? scrap yard! and to top it off, the car flew through the NCT yesterday, no advisorys or anything like that

EPM

there has to be a catch! Fantastic if it's true

skyhighflyer

First thought is scam but everything seems fairly legit - if the mobile number is real - I see a nice E90 coupe in the background maybe the owner wants to clear driveway space?

unkel

Well spotted, skyhighflyer

That's some car for the money!

cianclarke

WOW. Although I was after a coup, at that price, I'd be VERY tempted.

jhegarty

EPM wrote: »

there has to be a catch! Fantastic if it's true

The motor tax is enough of a catch.

unkel

jhegarty wrote: »

The motor tax is enough of a catch.

Ah don't be a grumpy old spoil sport mate

Eoin

It does seem like a bargain, but there are a few reasons why:
1) Auto - will turn off people who think a car is only fun in manual (insert rolleyes here)
2) Cream / wood interior is not as sporty as some people like
3) non-mtech / standard looking bodykit & wheels, see above
4) road tax - 323/325 that little bit cheaper, and a nice engine too

If you can see past the mostly superficial reasons above, then you're on to a winner.

cianclarke

Cream/wood is perfect combination in my opinion, most 20 year olds probably won't agree. Needs more carbon fiber etc etc...
Standard bodykit = unmolested, as the factory intended...
At the price it's at, I'd figure maybe even 2k less than it's worth, there's yer road tax..
To be honest the only minus point to me is the fact it's an auto box, and not a coupe. Is the feel of a Tiptronic drive really a match for the manual... I'm finding it hard to believe, but never tried..

bazz26

Decent enough spec for the year, at least the first owner didn't spend all their budget on just the engine. Good price as the coupe with the same size engine would command more money as it would be more sought after. Most folks looking for a BMW saloon with a 3.0 litre petrol engine would probably opt for the 5 Series over a 3 Series, at least in Ireland anyways.

Eoin

cianclarke wrote: »

Cream/wood is perfect combination in my opinion, most 20 year olds probably won't agree. Needs more carbon fiber etc etc...
Standard bodykit = unmolested, as the factory intended...
At the price it's at, I'd figure maybe even 2k less than it's worth, there's yer road tax..
To be honest the only minus point to me is the fact it's an auto box, and not a coupe. Is the feel of a Tiptronic drive really a match for the manual... I'm finding it hard to believe, but never tried..

M-Tech bodykit is still as the "factory intended". I do agree with the cream/wood, but it's just not what a lot of people like. I have tiptronic in mine, and it's pointless. I don't use it at all, despite it being one of my main criteria when I bought it.

I completely missed that it was a saloon, in which case I'm not the least bit surprised that it's going that cheap - big engine 3 series saloons are not popular.

x in the city

eoin wrote: »

It does seem like a bargain, but there are a few reasons why:
1) Auto - will turn off people who think a car is only fun in manual (insert rolleyes here)
2) Cream / wood interior is not as sporty as some people like
3) non-mtech / standard looking bodykit & wheels, see above
4) road tax - 323/325 that little bit cheaper, and a nice engine too

If you can see past the mostly superficial reasons above, then you're on to a winner.

Its good for someone who is having a mid life crisis and wears a tweed cap occasionally perhaps?

Autos are the bane of society IMO

Eoin

x in the city wrote: »

Its good for someone who is having a mid life crisis and wears a tweed cap occasionally perhaps?

Autos are the bane of society IMO

What? I've had a few, so might have totally missed your point?

poreilly101

Sorry but I'm to lazy to look for figures so can anyone tell me what kind of MPG would you get?

What BHP is that 3.0 and what would you be look at 0-60 (or 62 as the case may be)

How much is the tax on a 3.0

Sweet car at fiesta prices (not that there's anything wrong with a fiesta)

Esel

www.motortax.ie is down at the mo, so guessing about €1400, as it's (presumably) just less than 3L? If over, say €1500.

LoveDucati2

I reckon €1295 pa road tax which is a bit too much, from 08 530d is only €434 pa tax

Eoin

LoveDucati2 wrote: »

I reckon €1295 pa road tax which is a bit too much, from 08 530d is only €434 pa tax

Not much point comparing cars that are in different tax regimes though (not to mention 7 years apart) though. If you do, then you can compare the deprecation of an 08 car compared to the 01 car.

I don't get why people make a bigger deal of the road tax when the car is older - just because it's a greater percentage of the car's value, doesn't make it any less of a pain than paying big road tax on a new car.

Seth Brundle

LoveDucati2 wrote: »

I reckon €1295 pa road tax which is a bit too much, from 08 530d is only €434 pa tax

...and a prius will be even lower again - so what?

Mena

kbannon wrote: »

...and a prius will be even lower again - so what?

Agreed. I'm sorely tempted on this, at that price it may as well be free...

cianclarke

poreilly101 wrote: »

Sorry but I'm to lazy to look for figures so can anyone tell me what kind of MPG would you get?

What BHP is that 3.0 and what would you be look at 0-60 (or 62 as the case may be)

How much is the tax on a 3.0

Sweet car at fiesta prices (not that there's anything wrong with a fiesta)

7 seconds IIRC, BHP I don't know.
Mid-life crisis tweed cap material as somebody said it above, sums it up nicely..

Auto just wouldn't cut it, and the 2.5 is a better buy IMO.. Still, quite the bargain!

Eoin

cianclarke wrote: »

Auto just wouldn't cut it

Why not?

mick.fr

It is a bargain alright. The 3l engine is lovely.

Now automatic trans on e46 are more prone to failures than the manual ones.
It is using either a GM or ZF transmission, and GM being the less reliable one.

Make sure you do a transmission and diffential oil and gasket change when you buy it. It should be done every 50-60k or so. It is not expensive. Try AC Car Sales.

I would go for it if I were you. Assuming it is in good condition and service history is good.

cianclarke

eoin wrote: »

Why not?

I'm 20. I'm no boy racer, but I'm buying a BMW for something that has some bit of fun aspect - an auto box really *really* doesn't.. As i said though, haven't tried the tiptronic boxes.

ninty9er

cianclarke wrote: »

I'm 20. I'm no boy racer, but I'm buying a BMW for something that has some bit of fun aspect - an auto box really *really* doesn't.. As i said though, haven't tried the tiptronic boxes.

Having driven a few smaller auto boxes I can easily say that they can be just as fun if not more that their manual equivalent depending on the car.

The 316i auto v manual certainly leaves the maual living in shame.

Plus given the amount of time you'll spend fun driving v everyday driving doesn't justify to me the strain on my left foot...btw I'm only 22 and that 330i is exactly what I'd drive if I had 8 or 9k spare to buy insure and run it.

Eoin

cianclarke wrote: »

I'm 20. I'm no boy racer, but I'm buying a BMW for something that has some bit of fun aspect - an auto box really *really* doesn't.. As i said though, haven't tried the tiptronic boxes.

Tiptronic isn't all it's cracked up to be - it was one of my criteria when getting my car, but I never use it - the auto box is just too good. Sport mode is good though, and I reckon that most people who insist on a manual probably wouldn't be able to make the difference count significantly anyway.

macnab

For MPG you are probably looking at early 20's

mick.fr

330i with Auto: 0-100
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBDb7H5SL-4 - A bit modified :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l85KDCGLDaA

330i with manual box: 0-200
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttF0Lm9_3CI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrRy2zHQz2Y&NR=1

A little bit of a difference but the auto is still fun.

Fishtits

The price reflects the running cost, when compared to a 318i saloon for example, high tax, low MPG and sod all chance of offloading it in the future when its older.

Whoever buys this needs to have space to bury it when they're finished with it.

Lotta car for the money but down the line nil options IMHO.

galwaytt

cianclarke wrote: »

I'm 20. I'm no boy racer, but I'm buying a BMW for something that has some bit of fun aspect - an auto box really *really* doesn't.. As i said though, haven't tried the tiptronic boxes.

...how you can say 'doesnt' cut it' and 'haven't tried it' in the same sentence, escapes me.

Look at this way. I have 2 x the same car. Identical bar colour and one is Tiptronic, and one is the 6-speed manual. The manual hasn't left the garage in.......6 month's ?.... Why ? The Tip is just so much more..........well, brilliant. It's lazy, sporty, convenient and easy. The manual is just...........well, frustrating.

Actually, idea: seeing as I don't use it, make me a fair offer on the manual, and you're welcome to it. It even qualifies for classic ins this June !

rebel.ranter

Currently I own a manual & an auto BMW, the gearbox does not really affect my driving experience one way or another.
The auto is so smooth, in that car with that 3 litre engine mated to it it will feel superb.
The steptronic is a bit of a gimmick as a previous poster mentioned, you will rarely use it. You will use Sport mode though.
I fitted an SMG steering wheel with paddles to work the steptronic but even still I rarely use it: