Any thoughts on this 2002 330i? - Page 3

Tim Hancock · 11-03-2008, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmoolenaar

Thanks for the input Tim. I'll take the engine covers off and photo document what I can see. I'm having a retired Audi mechanic do the work. He has access to a garage and discounts on the parts involved. This could save me $700+ vs having the local pro shop do the work...as long as he does a good job.

David, I have never even looked under the hood on a TT, but my A6 had a bunch of wires to disconnect when pulling the front of the car off to get to the belts, waterpump etc. Whoever had done mine previously had made a mess of it when re-assembling. They had wires pinched and zip-tied all over the place instead of following the factory routing. On my A6, many of these wires were grouped together under a cover near the power steering reservoir behind the drivers headlight. It wouldn't hurt to take a peak under there and get a feel for where they head off to the fans and sensors. If your mechanic truly has a bunch of experience with Audis, I doubt he will screw it up, but I personally would still take some pics just in case.

Porsche virgin · 11-04-2008, 09:58 AM

I've been looking at these cars, too. (I have to sell my RSX-S first, though.) Anyway, make sure the waterpump has been replaced. The earlier cars (I'm not sure about the '02s) had plastic impellers that would fail with disastrous results. I believe it is a maintenance item around as the car nears 100k. Also, the bushings for the entire suspension need to be checked carefully. They also should be replaced around 100k.

I've been doing my research on bimmerforums, and it has really come in handy.

E46 FAQ: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=879887

Good luck with your search.

Carrman · 11-04-2008, 10:03 AM

When you get the car, just replace the water pump, it's $60 and an hour of time, max.

onewhippedpuppy · 11-04-2008, 10:11 AM

It's amusing that BMW has used the plastic impeller water pumps for the last 15 years (at least), when there's a replacement with a metal impeller readily available for all models. The story is always the same, they like to die at 100k and spread pieces throughout your engine. I suppose that way they sell more replacement engines?

Tim Hancock · 11-08-2008, 05:50 PM

The red one had issues, I was Ok with most of them, but the guy would not budge on price so we pased on it.

This morning while in Cincinnati for a family wedding we bought an '03 330i in white, stick, with the sport package and 77,000 miles. It was more money, but needs nothing and the wife likes it a lot so all is good. Pics to follow.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Tim, how much did you pay for yours? Feel free to PM me if you want. I'm curious, since my car is the same year, options and mileage, except for the tranny.

Tim Hancock · 11-08-2008, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Tim, how much did you pay for yours? Feel free to PM me if you want. I'm curious, since my car is the same year, options and mileage, except for the tranny.

They were asking $15,995... I got them down to $13,750 after a couple trips back and forth between 3 cars I was looking at. They had had the car for awhile and they knew I would was going to buy a stunning '02 330ic at a local BMW dealership for $13,500 if they did not drop below 14k. The car is very nice and the only boogers I could find (besides a somewhat un-detailed interior), was the severely scuffed underside of front bumper (can't see unless you bend down) and some paint chips on one wheel. I just drove the car a couple hundred miles home and it is awesome! Noticably more powerful than my E36 325 and very tight/firm ride. It has an all tan leather interior with sport heated seats and wood trim. It has nearly new Michelin Pilot something or other tires. There were some smudge marks on the interior, but I cleaned them up nicely while in the parking lot of Meiers store while killing time before the wedding I was in town for. I think I did OK, but I would have rather spent about $2000 less on a car.

onewhippedpuppy · 11-08-2008, 07:16 PM

Congrats Tim, sounds like a nice one.

Tim Hancock · 11-09-2008, 06:37 AM

I was almost late arriving to the family wedding while getting the paperwork signed and my wife gave me hell for getting my suit pants dirty while kneeling on the ground to check the car out prior to buying.

Fortunately, I made it to the wedding just in time. Could have got ugly had I been late as my daughters were bridesmaids and I had the camera.

A few crappy pics at home in the garage this morning. I can't wait to get it out in the shop and up on the lift to give a thorough detailing top to bottom.

Wifey and daughters seem to really like it although my daughters were kind of distraught that we added another "white" car to the fleet (924, 924S, E36 325i, 911SC are all white).

the · 11-09-2008, 07:08 AM

Looks nice! I think you are going to really like it.