BMW virgin looking for love.

[avt007]

Hi folks,

My name is Rob, and I am looking to become a BMW owner, through my wife, so to speak. She loves convertibles (we had a Boxster until it lost an argument with a truck) and she'd like another, but with 4 decent sized seats. That led us to BMW, and this post. I've done a bit of research on the 328 and 330 series, and it seems that a post 2001 330CIC might be just the thing. What are the problems we could be facing buying used, and overall, what do you think of those cars? The search parameters are manual transmission, power top, and definitely not silver (we had 4 silver cars at one point).

Thanks for the help,

[Jeron]

I dont know anything about the convertibles. Otherwise common problems are window lift mechanisms (window regulator) but its easy to DIY. Weak cooling systems that usually need replacement at about 100k. Power steering leaks that are easy to fix. Suspension is usually shot at about 100k but that's with any car.

[avt007]

When you say "suspension shot" are we talking big dollars, or just strut replacements, or what? And for cooling, is it the waterpump only, or more involved than that?

Thanks

[Jeron]

Not big money. No major component problems just bushings, shocks and struts. Labor can be expensive. Only 1 special tool I can think of and that is to replace the RTAB, rear trailing arm bushing. The tool, a special puller, can be fabricated at a hardware store.

[Jeron]

As far as cooling its the plastic radiator and expansion tank the heated thermostat and the water pump. They last 80-120k miles just like on most cars but a failure can quickly cause the long straight-6 head to warp. And they tend to fail catastrophically.

[avt007]

And the winner is.........................


2001 330CIC, 59,000 km. Topaz Blue.

[Jeron]

Nice.

I dont think I've ever seen a hardtop on a E46 CiC, which is strange in an area the size of DFW.