Tiger
Member
Registered: 12th Jun 01
Location: Leicestershire Drives:Astra VXR
User status: Offline
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I'm thinking about getting one, just didnt know if anyone had any personal experience of one 
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fazza
Member
Registered: 7th Feb 08
Location: Plymouth
User status: Offline
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e46 shape?
mum had one and there awesome to drive, hers was msport model.
quite thirsty but lovely noise to the engine!!
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Tiger
Member
Registered: 12th Jun 01
Location: Leicestershire Drives:Astra VXR
User status: Offline
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Yeah E46
I'm giving the middle finger to all this shit about tax increase, petrol increase, insurance increase. If you can't do it now, when can you do it 
Looked at an E46 M3 too - derestricted and top end of 184mph
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fazza
Member
Registered: 7th Feb 08
Location: Plymouth
User status: Offline
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is there a big difference in performance between the 330ci and the m3?
330ci be alot cheaper tho
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K17STY
Member
Registered: 13th Dec 02
Location: West Lothian
User status: Offline
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We have one, awesome to drive. For some reason its more to insure than the M5 
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sand-eel
Member
Registered: 15th Mar 07
Location: carluke/braidwood--IRNBRULAND
User status: Offline
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110bhp difference.
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fazza
Member
Registered: 7th Feb 08
Location: Plymouth
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by sand-eel
110bhp difference.
Fook me, didnt realise it was quite so much
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Tiger
Member
Registered: 12th Jun 01
Location: Leicestershire Drives:Astra VXR
User status: Offline
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I got a quote on the M3, was £1200 plus £750 excess. Same company quoted me £650 on the 330Ci.
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fazza
Member
Registered: 7th Feb 08
Location: Plymouth
User status: Offline
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grin factor on the m3 would be larger 
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Tiger
Member
Registered: 12th Jun 01
Location: Leicestershire Drives:Astra VXR
User status: Offline
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Yeah, so would the tyres 
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gavin18787
Premium Member
Registered: 22nd Feb 05
Location: Basildon, Essex
User status: Offline
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Really like the look of the 330ci's on the bigger wheels
Drives supercharged Tec with torque 
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VegasPhil
Premium Member
Registered: 16th Jan 05
Location: Fareham, Hants Drives: Octavia VRS
User status: Offline
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Driven an E46 3 Series M Sport. Really nice car to drive. Looks great too
Corsa 2.0 16v Vegas - Sold
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mk4_astra
Member
Registered: 15th Oct 03
Location: aylesbury,bucks
User status: Offline
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i currently have the facelift model, what do you want to know?
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deano87
Member
Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
User status: Offline
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Dad used to have the same engine or very similar engine in a 530i M Sport and it was great.
As for the difference between M3 and 330Ci. Quite a lot imho. Different kind of power delivery and feel.
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Tiger
Member
Registered: 12th Jun 01
Location: Leicestershire Drives:Astra VXR
User status: Offline
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Just wondered how they are, i've read a few reviews, they seem to be a good solid car.
Reliability, faults, quality etc.
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IvIarkgraham
Premium Member
Registered: 27th Mar 04
Location: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire
User status: Offline
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bro had a 325 m sport
that was well nice
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pow
Premium Member
Registered: 11th Sep 06
Location: Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire
User status: Offline
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I want one of these for the noise and the top off mtoroing
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mk4_astra
Member
Registered: 15th Oct 03
Location: aylesbury,bucks
User status: Offline
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well i love mine, its an 03 plate so the first of the facelifts but at 6 years old but it feels new than my dads 57 plate vectra.
in terms of performance it is fast, but in a calm sort of way. i come across an LCR and it was neck and neck from 15mph ish to 70, was very very slightly quicker than a mates ep3 ctr up to about 80ish and you will have the edge over the new a5 3.0tdi v6. they handle well and are suprisinly quick off the line thanks to the nice wide rear wheels but decent tyres are a must. mine is on budget tyres and if its wet the tyres spin very easily.
on m sport suspension they handle well and are very composed at any speed but it is a fairly heavy car.
for reliability they are seriously bullet proof, there arent really any common faults on them, the only thing to check is the suspension as i think its the bushes that are known to crack around 80k..
they feel very well biult and i drove from aylesbury to blackpool (200 miles) with 5 lads in the car and didnt exactly hang about and used just under half a tank of fuel.when i stepped out it felt no different than when you pop down the shops, sport seats are very comfy and supportive.
try and get on with hk hifi upgrade as the standard one isnt exactly great, wouldnt worry about satnav as i heard its abit naff. autowipers and park sensors are handy and electric memory seats are a nice touch.
engine really is a peach, lots of low down grunt and take it passed 5k and it really is a nice noise, just keep an eye on the oil though as can drink alot when you drive them hard.
if your hoping for a car you want to mess about with by tuning etc then the 330ci isnt a good choice. most who put lower/different suspension, wheels etc tend to return them to stock as its often worse. dont expect much from a remap and you get no extra performance from getting a new exhaust as the standard one is stainless steel but it does have 4 cats so you could always ditch 2 of them which i might do.
if you want more power and not just a few more hp then you will have to go down the forced induction route.
expect 30mpg on an average drive and 35-40 on a gentle motorway run.
whats your budget?
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Tiger
Member
Registered: 12th Jun 01
Location: Leicestershire Drives:Astra VXR
User status: Offline
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£5500
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pow
Premium Member
Registered: 11th Sep 06
Location: Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire
User status: Offline
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The cost of repairs and servicing does put me right off though
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Linch
Member
Registered: 4th May 06
Location: Whickham, Tyne and Wear
User status: Offline
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just bought mine
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SetH
Member
Registered: 15th Jul 01
User status: Offline
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Surley an E46 M3 doesnt do 184mph derestricted??? its got what 340bhp?
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AlunJ
Member
Registered: 3rd Apr 07
Location: Newport
User status: Offline
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that's gorgeous linch! would love one of those, maybe next year
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mk4_astra
Member
Registered: 15th Oct 03
Location: aylesbury,bucks
User status: Offline
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that will do, but expect a pre facelift model and highish milage and it probably wont be fully loaded
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gavin18787
Premium Member
Registered: 22nd Feb 05
Location: Basildon, Essex
User status: Offline
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Maybe its the hairdresser in me coming out but I would have a convertible 
Drives supercharged Tec with torque
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