DC2 TypeR / E36 328i
Hello all,
Long time no post, but I've just got another E46! So I thought it was time to get back involved with the UKs best E46 forum - ClioSport.net.
It's been almost 3 years since I sold my last E46, an Estoril Blue 320d Sport bought from none other than Sir_Dave on here. I loved that car, and always said I would own another E46, though I did expect it to be an M3. I came close to buying an M3 last year, viewed a few and found a few that I liked, however just getting off the phone arranging to view a lovely Techno Violet example, I was told I would be losing my job, so that plan went out of the window.
This was the old one, which some of you may remember:
Quick Pic by DanielJames., on Flickr
066.jpg by DanielJames., on Flickr
After that I've had a few different cars. Two Integra DC2s, of which I still own one of them. An E36 328i Sport, a Seat Ibiza Cupra, a Audi A4 Avant, an Integra DC5, and a Civic EP3 (which I also still own, but are selling, if anyone is interested). I've been playing the "what is the ultimate daily" card for a while Something happened last week however which made me think that something with comfortable heated seats, cruise control, sat nav, and an engine that could comfortably tow my DC2 track car to events was needed asap. This happened when I took my car to track for the first time on a trailer. The benefits are exceptional, but I didn't want to buy an excellent towing car and end up with a shitty road car that I would hate. I thought about buying a Disco 3, excellent to tow with, but how long until I'd get bored of it, or bored of fixing it? I considered getting another A4 PD130 Avant, a brilliant car no doubt, and very sensible, but I don't need sensible. Sensible lasted a couple of months the last time I tried it, and petrol is probably the cheapest it will ever be at the moment. When I was thinking about the Audi I started to think about E46s again, notably the 330d. Power, torque to tow with, and an excellent chassis with half decent fuel economy? No brainer surely? Then I remembered about the time my mates HPFP died on his E46 330d, and remembered the bill it came to. So why not a 330i?
To start with, they're properly rare to get, and to get in a good spec, even harder. One of my CS FB friends suggested speaking to a guy on here about one he may be selling, but unfortunately we didn't agree on the value. It wasn't the perfect spec anyway, so not to worry. Then on Friday morning I was tagged into a post on FB, from a man selling a 330i Manual Touring Sport, with under 100k and every option I could have wanted. Xenons, Sat Nav, Heated Leather Seats, H+K, Auto lights/wipers, Digital TV tuner, I think the only thing it doesn't have is electric seats and a sunroof. I could live with that. Best of all, it had a manual gearbox, and a 6 speed one at that. I got on the phone to the guy straight away, it was down in Stevenage which is close to 3 hours from me. No biggie, I've travelled further. Once I got talking to the guy though, I knew the car had to be mine. He'd owned it for 8 years, and best of all, he was a BMW Master Technician. This meant the car had full dealer service history, last serviced 3k ago. It had proper tyres fitted, Michelins up front and Bridgestone Potenzas on the rear. It meant the services had been done properly, things that most cars of this age are overlooked on like brake fluid and coolant had been changed. The leather seats had no signs of wear, no sags, no shine. It meant the Sat Nav disc was up to date, it meant that only genuine BMW parts had been used with the proper oil etc. I could go on, but knowing stuff like this gave me great confidence in the car and the seller, and made me quickly realise I had to own it. I made an offer on the phone, with the promise that if accepted I would take the car that night. He accepted, so after sorting a lift, off I set!
Upon arrival of the car I was greeted by not only one M car also in the household, but two. An M6 and an E46 M3 sat on the drive of the house. You know when you just get that feeling that things are going well? Anyway the car drove great, was exactly as advertised, and even had a few things thrown in that I didn't expect like a bluetooth car kit and a iPod link fitted in the glovebox.
I haven't yet taken any good quality pictures of the car, as I started my shift at work the next day. Here it is in the petrol station on the way home:
(Average MPG on the way home was 34.5mpg, with cruise set at 72mph all the way.)
I'll get some better pictures of it this week if anyone is interested. Hopefully it'll be my tow car to Spa/Ring in April as I don't really want to risk driving the DC2/drive the DC2 that distance in its current build. I need to get a towbar fitted and do my trailer test before then. I've got Cadwell on the 9th of March so going to try and get it done before then.
The interior is fantastic.
This is easily the best car I have owned to date. It might not be an M3, it might be in a slightly dull colour compared to my other BMWs of the past, but I absolutely love it.
Quick picture with my EP3 in the background.
I'll update the thread with some proper pictures later in the week. I just had to let the new car excitement out
Cheers,
Dan
Long time no post, but I've just got another E46! So I thought it was time to get back involved with the UKs best E46 forum - ClioSport.net.
It's been almost 3 years since I sold my last E46, an Estoril Blue 320d Sport bought from none other than Sir_Dave on here. I loved that car, and always said I would own another E46, though I did expect it to be an M3. I came close to buying an M3 last year, viewed a few and found a few that I liked, however just getting off the phone arranging to view a lovely Techno Violet example, I was told I would be losing my job, so that plan went out of the window.
This was the old one, which some of you may remember:
After that I've had a few different cars. Two Integra DC2s, of which I still own one of them. An E36 328i Sport, a Seat Ibiza Cupra, a Audi A4 Avant, an Integra DC5, and a Civic EP3 (which I also still own, but are selling, if anyone is interested). I've been playing the "what is the ultimate daily" card for a while Something happened last week however which made me think that something with comfortable heated seats, cruise control, sat nav, and an engine that could comfortably tow my DC2 track car to events was needed asap. This happened when I took my car to track for the first time on a trailer. The benefits are exceptional, but I didn't want to buy an excellent towing car and end up with a shitty road car that I would hate. I thought about buying a Disco 3, excellent to tow with, but how long until I'd get bored of it, or bored of fixing it? I considered getting another A4 PD130 Avant, a brilliant car no doubt, and very sensible, but I don't need sensible. Sensible lasted a couple of months the last time I tried it, and petrol is probably the cheapest it will ever be at the moment. When I was thinking about the Audi I started to think about E46s again, notably the 330d. Power, torque to tow with, and an excellent chassis with half decent fuel economy? No brainer surely? Then I remembered about the time my mates HPFP died on his E46 330d, and remembered the bill it came to. So why not a 330i?
To start with, they're properly rare to get, and to get in a good spec, even harder. One of my CS FB friends suggested speaking to a guy on here about one he may be selling, but unfortunately we didn't agree on the value. It wasn't the perfect spec anyway, so not to worry. Then on Friday morning I was tagged into a post on FB, from a man selling a 330i Manual Touring Sport, with under 100k and every option I could have wanted. Xenons, Sat Nav, Heated Leather Seats, H+K, Auto lights/wipers, Digital TV tuner, I think the only thing it doesn't have is electric seats and a sunroof. I could live with that. Best of all, it had a manual gearbox, and a 6 speed one at that. I got on the phone to the guy straight away, it was down in Stevenage which is close to 3 hours from me. No biggie, I've travelled further. Once I got talking to the guy though, I knew the car had to be mine. He'd owned it for 8 years, and best of all, he was a BMW Master Technician. This meant the car had full dealer service history, last serviced 3k ago. It had proper tyres fitted, Michelins up front and Bridgestone Potenzas on the rear. It meant the services had been done properly, things that most cars of this age are overlooked on like brake fluid and coolant had been changed. The leather seats had no signs of wear, no sags, no shine. It meant the Sat Nav disc was up to date, it meant that only genuine BMW parts had been used with the proper oil etc. I could go on, but knowing stuff like this gave me great confidence in the car and the seller, and made me quickly realise I had to own it. I made an offer on the phone, with the promise that if accepted I would take the car that night. He accepted, so after sorting a lift, off I set!
Upon arrival of the car I was greeted by not only one M car also in the household, but two. An M6 and an E46 M3 sat on the drive of the house. You know when you just get that feeling that things are going well? Anyway the car drove great, was exactly as advertised, and even had a few things thrown in that I didn't expect like a bluetooth car kit and a iPod link fitted in the glovebox.
I haven't yet taken any good quality pictures of the car, as I started my shift at work the next day. Here it is in the petrol station on the way home:
(Average MPG on the way home was 34.5mpg, with cruise set at 72mph all the way.)
I'll get some better pictures of it this week if anyone is interested. Hopefully it'll be my tow car to Spa/Ring in April as I don't really want to risk driving the DC2/drive the DC2 that distance in its current build. I need to get a towbar fitted and do my trailer test before then. I've got Cadwell on the 9th of March so going to try and get it done before then.
The interior is fantastic.
This is easily the best car I have owned to date. It might not be an M3, it might be in a slightly dull colour compared to my other BMWs of the past, but I absolutely love it.
Quick picture with my EP3 in the background.
I'll update the thread with some proper pictures later in the week. I just had to let the new car excitement out
Cheers,
Dan
