My New Car: E46 320Ci

[Rob]

So, despite the fact I wasn't even looking for a new car and fully intended to buy the TT in Feb/March, out of the blue this come up. A member on here looking for a Clio in PX.

I thought I'd send him and PM and things started being agreed very quickly. Less than a week later we met up at lakeside and took a look over each others cars.

An hour or three later I drove home in this:

Gave it it's first wash today and after driving it for a few days I've come to the conclusion it's an all round lovely motor. The 2.2 6 cylinder engine sounds and goes brilliantly despite not being the most economical, so smooth and linear.

The interior is a world apart from the Clio in terms of build quality and the black leather is amazingly comfortable.

A totally different car to the Clio, but I've been looking for something a bit more grown up and comfortable for a while (this certainly fits the bill).

Only mod I think I'll be making is an iPod connection in place of the CD changer.

Opinions and comments welcome.

 

[Gally]

Lovely change Rob and I like the plan ahead.

Didn't realise how nice the seats were. Über comfort. Wish I had something that comfy just now!

 

[Chris32uk]

very nice car, and as said before that 6 cyl engine is a peach.... Turbine smooth,

 

[fletch8]

very nice, seats electric too?

i had 2 325cis and never had a problem.

enjoy

 

[Ian_182]

Nice motor...

 

[Jon.G]

Another BMW owner.

Nice choice though, straight swap or money involved? Not 100% on the wheels though. Probably will grow on me though.

 

[bendee]

ahh so your the jammy sod that got in there before me would of loved that. looks good tho.

 

[montana]

I saw this up for swap , looks a nice motor , was miles away from me though.
What did you have before - 182?

How is the economy compared to the Clio mpg wise

 

[Rob]

Lovely change Rob and I like the plan ahead.

Didn't realise how nice the seats were. Über comfort. Wish I had something that comfy just now!

Cheers Kev, I think even you'd be impressed with the paint, the only bad areas are some scratches on the lacquer on the bootlid done by putting things on it, and a graze on the front bumper/wheel arch.

Love the effort you went through with actually using a proper "U" in uber.

very nice car, and as said before that 6 cyl engine is a peach.... Turbine smooth,

Yeah it really is amazingly smooth, another world compared to the Clio.

very nice, seats electric too?

i had 2 325cis and never had a problem.

enjoy

Unfortunately not electric seats, would have completed the car really.

Another BMW owner.

Nice choice though, straight swap or money involved? Not 100% on the wheels though. Probably will grow on me though.

I'd rather not disclose the details of the deal

The wheels, some like some don't, personally (as someone who doesn't know an awful lot about BMW's) I love them.

ahh so your the jammy sod that got in there before me would of loved that. looks good tho.

Did you try and get in there then mate? Sorry!

It's a lovely car so you definitely missed out :rasp:

 

[Rob]

I saw this up for swap , looks a nice motor , was miles away from me though.
What did you have before - 182?

How is the economy compared to the Clio mpg wise

I had a ph1 172 but a bit of a special one. It had full ph2 interior (dash, the lot), recaro's, decent exhaust, FK coilovers..

Economy, I can't really say yet, so far I've spent 5 hours stuck in traffic in it, so I haven't got much for comparison.

It'll be worse, but not LOTS, around 5mpg less or so.

 

[Jon.G]

I'd rather not disclose the details of the deal

The wheels, some like some don't, personally (as someone who doesn't know an awful lot about BMW's) I love them.

I believe they are Alpina wheels.

 

[VeinAST]

Style 32 wheels look nice Rob! Love the interior!

Only thing I'd do to it is maybe shadowline trim and sport front bumper? (The SE one is a pain in the arse to clean )

Remind me a little of my old 318Ci!

 

[bennno2005]

Looks really nice mate.

I'm in a similar boat, think i've just grown up a bit and don't really seem to get to drive properly so would prefer something a bit more grown up and comfortable.

I think it would look better on some different wheels but thats all down to personal opinion. Looks a tidy example.

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

Smooth, but needs boost ! :evil:

Another BMW owner.

Nice choice though, straight swap or money involved? Not 100% on the wheels though. Probably will grow on me though.

He still has the Clio. This was purchased in exchange for a funsize Mars Bar and a reacharound.

 

[chris_p]

It'd bore me, but if your after a comfy bus that looks alright it will fit the bill!

I'd 100% get some depo led rear lights though, transform the car.

 

[Sir_Dave]

Ah, didnt realise it had the Sport seat option - soo much better than the standard SE tat!!

Personally, leave it exactly as it is, put you money torwards the next step up on the ladder

I'll see you in a 330 soon no doubt ...

 

[Bluebeard]

Rear seems to be a bit low with a lot of camber??

Not my cup of tea but for you sat in london trafic all the time its perfect.

Enjoy!

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

Rear seems to be a bit low with a lot of camber??

Scrooge said the same thing :S I've yet to see it in the light...

It defo needs about another 5000RPM though !

 

[Bluebeard]

I'm sure dave can diagnose it as some sort of rear bush or something.

Dave?

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

 

[Bluebeard]

Is that PC nowadays?

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

Wut ? I'm on a Mac ...

 

[Sir_Dave]

I'm sure dave can diagnose it as some sort of rear bush or something.

Dave?

Lol, online diagnosis FTW

Camber is probably knackered RTABs and lowness will be snapped rear springs. I need 2 atm.

xx

 

[Nickson]

Me likey Rob!

Nice little step up from the Clio!

Has it gone to a member? Or has it gone from CS for good?

 

[_williams_]

M sport bumpers will improve that, makes the car look 10x better imo

 

[bendee]

Did you try and get in there then mate? Sorry!

It's a lovely car so you definitely missed out :rasp:

yeah haha been looking at them for months and when i seen this pop up looking for a part ex with a clio i almost blew my beans.

 

[Matt W]

Is there anybody left on here with a clio?

Looks very clean!

 

[DanielJames]

I remember thinking how nice this looked last week when it came up, looks lovely love the wheels!

 

[Rob]

Cheers all, especially you Dave for the online diagnosis.

Mods may be pretty much non existant TBH, the rear lights sounds like a good idea though....

Nickson, it's gone to a member

 

[alex-avfc]

I like the wheels but I notice a lot of camber at the rear, will need seeing to.

 

[Rob]

I'll take a look when the weather clears up, every one keeps mentioning this, is it a big deal then??

 

[Bluebeard]

It will be when you're getting through tyres every 3000 miles.

They're not 195/50/15s no more son! You'll be looking at £100 a corner minimum for semi decent stuff.

 

[Rob]

Fair point darling, I'll get under it and have a look at some point soon.

f**k knows what I'm looking at though

 

[Bluebeard]

Just poke stuff.

If it moves, its probably broken.

 

[Rob]

Will do. Cheers for the advice from "Daniel's school of mechanics"

 

[Bluebeard]

I removed my first engine yesterday. (me and a mate, neither of us know what we're doing)

I was proper chuffed. All out in one piece and NOTHING broken.

 

[Herr Flick]

I removed my first engine yesterday. (me and a mate, neither of us know what we're doing)

I was proper chuffed. All out in one piece and NOTHING broken.

The hard part is putting it back together and getting it to work. lol

 

[AK]

WTF?

Nice.

 

[Rob]

WTF are you WTF'ing at?

 

[Revels]

You're a massive gay.