2003 BMW 330Ci Sport Convertible Auto *Sold £4,250*

Description

• 3.0-litre straight six engine
• Five speed auto
• Two previous owners
• Genuine 53,351 miles
• All original and unmodified
• Black roof/grey leather interior
• Private plate remains with the car

The BMW 330Ci convertible really is a wonderful blend of style, sport and comfort.

For BMW, the E46 generation of 3-Series Convertibles were hugely significant. Although its predecessors had a relatively easy run at the marketplace, the later cars had to contend with vastly improved competition from Mercedes, Audi and Saab. BMW stepped up. The BMW 330Ci – the 3-Series convertible retains what’s great about a BMW: sophistication, superb engineering and style. Make no mistake, the 3-Series convertible is still the one to have.

History

• First registered 24 September 2003
• Our vendor purchased from Sytner in High Wycombe in 2009
• Only two previous owners
• Packed with options
• Well maintained by a mix of Dealer and BMW specialists
• Original handbooks and pack
• Sadly our vendor had an accident and hasn’t been able to drive the car for a number of years so is looking for a new home for this lovely 330Ci

Outside

Ever since BMW took over building its own drop-tops from the likes of Baur etc, the 3-Series has always looked sleek with the roof up or down and this one continues the tradition perfectly. It does look handsome.

• The Metallic Silver paintwork was detailed recently
• Black power roof is in nice condition
• Original 18” factory alloy wheels
• Low profile tyres
• All of the trim and badging looks to be present and correct
• Facelift model

Inside

Take one look at this BMW 330Ci and you quickly appreciate the trouble BMW went to, to make the two-door convertible work so well. As with the previous convertibles there are no fixed rollover hoops or bulky tonneau cover disturbing the clean lines of the E46 Convertible. When folded, the hood sits neatly under a metal cover.

Redesigned front seats, unique to the convertible, incorporate the seatbelts into their structure, rather than attaching them separately to the car body. The hood is another completely redesigned part of the car. The triple-layer hood itself has a padded lining to reduce wind noise and there’s a proper glass rear window, with demister, in place of the old, easily scratched plastic panel.

• Light Grey leather upholstery
• Matching Light Grey carpets and over-mats
• Sat Nav
• Rear parking sensors
• 6CD changer in the boot
• Electrically operated windows, door mirrors and roof
• Electric seats with 3-memory function to driver’s side
• Air conditioning (that works)
• Cruise control
• The vendor tells us that everything functions as it should
• Boot area in good condition, with polishing kit

Mechanicals

BMW claimed that the E46 body shell was 70% more rigid than its E36 predecessor. Aluminium was used for an increased quantity of suspension components to reduce the unsprung mass and give the car a better 50/50 balance. This was the first 3-Series available with an engine using Valvetronic (variable valve lift). Various electronic features were also introduced to the 3-Series in the E46 generation, including;

• Electronic brake-force distribution
• Automatic Stability Control + Traction (ASC+T)
• Cornering Brake Control (CBC)
• BMW’s Dynamic Stability Control System
• 3.0-litre straight six
• 225bhp
• 0-60 in 6.5 seconds
• Five speed automatic

The 3.0-litre engine is silky smooth, with an instantly recognizable engine note. It delivers effortless power. The 0-60 mph is rapid but, equally, on a steady run the engine is frugal too – well, as frugal as a 3.0-ltr straight six can be. Widely used across the range, the 225bhp petrol engine is probably one of BMW’s finest engines still today.

Our vendor was keen to advise that the last full service was in February 2017 at Sytners (stamp is in the Service Book) @ 52,479 miles. Since then the BMW has only done 1k miles so has had some oil services by a local garage.

Summary

It is hard to believe the BMW 330Ci is becoming quite scarce now. Many were either crashed, bashed or thrashed, usually all three. Or suffered at the hands of the go-faster brigade and heavily modified. Most have ended up in BMW Heaven. That means good ones are hard to find.

It is great to find an original BMW 330Ci. Especially one that has been in the careful ownership with just two before our vendor and such low mileage. If you’ve been looking for a great example, you may have just found it. Good luck.