[Mikedav]

Imagine you LIKE BMWs, even if you dont, for the purpose of this excercise. Given the choice, which of these three do you think is the better buy?

[*] 2003 318Ci, brand new import, full UK spec.

- New car which is nice

- Performance not that sluggish and the 4 cylinder does make a nice roar

- 143BHP, 135MPH, 0-60 in 8.8 and 34MPG

- Fairly limited spec but everything you would see on a GTi

- New facelifted shape (may cause values of the two below to fall slightly)

- £18,600

[*] 2000 323Ci, 20,000 miles from a main dealer.

- Quicker car and a BMW straight 6...yum

- Used car, but not exactly high mileage

- Better spec than a standard 318Ci

- Less posey, more go

- 170BHP, 143MPH, 0-60 in 7.6 and 31MPG

- £18,995

[*] 2000 330Ci, 41,000 miles from a main dealer.

- Blisteringly quick and a 3.0 BMW straight 6...who needs an M3

- Used car, mileage creeping up now...

- More toys than either of the other too

- Real performance car but a lot of money

- 231BHP 155MPH 0-60 in 6.2 and 28MPG

- £19,995

Insurance for all is negligable in difference. What, taking all factors into account (new vs used, performance vs running costs, etc), would you go for?

EDIT: I dont do posts without pictures, so heres a nice facelifted E46 Convertible []

 

[Vee]

330ci all day long if the budget allows

I came very, very close to getting one but it had done 69k and was up for £20k

Instead plumped for another 4 motion with 20k and saved just over £5k

All that put me off about the 330 was the maintenance costs as the mileage builds up

 

[Chris]

Id go for the 323 personally ... mileage is definately reasonable, and even with a few years use, would still be short of 70-80k (well, for me anyway). Like the look, its certainly quick enough for me, and running costs are good. Thatd be my choice..... though for only a grand more, the 330 is VERY interesting... like you say mate, they are blistering, a mate at work a has a 02 model... crikey, it goes alright! With superb poise too..

 

[smithy]

I would go for the 330ci mike.

My wife uses one in work and brings it home very often. I think its the only other car i would go for than a VW. They are very quick and the looks you get off people is worth all the money in the world. They might let her keep it if all goes to plan in her works. I will be able to bring along to the meets.

 

[MOB]

330 - definitely

or a 325 if the price was good enough - 192bhp I think??

 

[Thos]

Stay clear of the 4cylinder for starters.

It has to be the 330, more power, more toys, what else do you need ?

 

[Gti Fly]

330 mate.

 

[hmi1750]

330 all the way...

 

[Mikedav]

Heart does say the 330, but £20k+ for a 3 year old car with 40,000 miles? Seems a lot...

EDIT: I am of course just dreaming for the time being! []

 

[PharCyder]

Isn't the 330 petrol 6.6secs on 0-60 and not 6.2secs?

 

[CarlT]

330 definitely.

[]

 

[Reflex TDI]

330 no contest. Beatiful engine, just run in!

 

[Baron Von Marlon]

330 most definately, but watch out for servicing costs. I also have (apart from the golf ) a 523i SE and servicing is horrendous, £180 for an oil service, bearing mind this is only and interval job, major services will cost alot more ! Nice cars but they have many hidden costs, remember only ever believe a qaurter of what you read and half of what you see ! If that makes any sense ?

[}]

 

[Mikedav]

It would be interesting to buy one and put it up against an R32 at Santa Pod though...not a rally course though because the BM would get slaughtered []

 

[paulcsp]

330Ci without a doubt....loads of show loads go go.

There's also lots of stuff you can buy for the bimmer too.

 

[Irish]

Mate has a 325ci 190bhp....lovely roar but heavy on juice! Don't believe any of that 28MPG rubbish - I don't even get that on the Golf! Go for either of the used but if you want the new car thing and less petrol bills go for the 1.9...

 

[Daniel]

Think it will have to be the 330ci.

Dan

 

[18ME]

I've just bought myself a 330ci Sport 2001 (due to R32 probs) and I must say it does go pretty well. On the goodies side its got all what the R32's got plus a bit more and the MPG would surprise you, I picked it up from Nottingham on Wednesday and it was about an 80 mile trip home and it averaged on the computer just over 30mpg, admittedly 2/3 of the trip was motorway but the rest was stop start traffic as it was about 5.00pm. I've booked it in for its 30k service Insp1 with a cost of £201. Now thats what I call reasonable.

Yep the 330ci.[^]

 

[Drystone]

I'd also go for the 330Ci. I've done a fair few miles in a 325Ci and it is a great car with a fantastic engine, so smooth revving to the redline and lovely torque. The extra power of the 330 would turn an already quick car into a really quick car and it's a case of the faster the better for me[^]. Something like an Audi S3 would take a 325 but in my experience struggles against a 330[8D].

Don't worry about the miles, trust in the BMW build quality, 40k is f*ck all on a modern car.

Cheers,

Christian

 

[Stevoraith]

Mmmm- tough choice!

Got to be one of the sixes. Would probably go for the 330.

My boss had an E36 328, then changed it for an E46 323.

The performance difference between the 192bhp in the 328 and the 170bhp in the 323 was more noticable than you would expect.

Would depend if they were 2001 model years or not though- my boss's car was leased and he was meant to get a 2000MY car. They sent a 2001 by mistake so he ended up with clear lenses, multi function steering wheel and more that he wasn't meant to get!

I'm going to wait for the 330Cd though!