2000 BMW (E46) 330i M SPORT - MANUAL

This BMW 330i M Sport is an original example of the marque’s non-M flagship 3 Series of the early 2000s. Under the bonnet lies the 3.0-litre naturally aspirated ‘M54’ straight six, producing 231bhp and 221lb-ft of torque. Power is delivered to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox. The odometer reads 171,183 miles from new.

This UK-market E46-generation 3 Series was first registered on 4 January 2001, and has spent most its life in southern England around London, Reading and Cambridge with eight owners to date. The vendor has owned the car for the past six months, and it remains in highly original condition throughout.

Finished in Steel Blue metallic, the E46’s taut lines have aged well and retain a good shine. Some stone chips are present on the front end, with an indentation on the black plastic rub strip. The front bumper’s lower corners have some scuffs, as does the rear bumper on its offside corner. Corrosion is also visible in both metal front wings around the wheel arches, and at the extremities of the sills. The photo gallery below provides extensive documentation of the condition. This example has also been reassigned the correct 18-inch ‘MV1’ design alloy wheels, which remain in good condition and retain the correct centre caps and M icons thanks to recent refurbishment.

Inside, the E46’s driver-centric cabin remains in good order. In 2007, the car’s original grey interior was upgraded with silver grey inserts on the seats and door cards in the style of a BMW ‘Individual’ product – as a previous owner wanted a two-tone colour scheme – at a cost of £1,400 by interior specialist Trim Technik of Prenton. Signs of wear are noticeable on the driver’s seat base and outer bolsters, with the steering wheel and gear knob also showing patina. The rarely specified optional electric sunroof remains fully operational, as do the electric windows and climate control system. The vendor states that no warning lights are illuminated on the dashboard, save for a bulb malfunction light.

This 330i has reportedly been well maintained to date. The most recent service was carried out at 166,000 miles and saw the engine oil and filter replaced, as well as the spark plugs, front discs and pads. In early 2021, the power steering pump was serviced, with the gearbox also serviced and its gear selector bushings replaced. In addition, the ignition coil was renewed, along with the rear coil springs.

Prior services were carried out at 159,000 and 145,000 miles respectively. In 2019, the manifold gasket was replaced along with the anti-roll bar bushings, differential and driveshaft bushes, and new hoses were fitted for the power steering system and radiator.

The most recent MOT test was on 3 June 2020 at 166,371 miles, with all advisories bar an oil leak subsequently addressed by the vendor. Wearing a matched set of Matador tyres, these are in good condition, having only covered 200 miles since being fitted.

Offering an affordable entry point into the world of straight-six sport saloons; this BMW 330i benefits from a rare manual gearbox, as well as a good service record. It would make for a fun inexpensive project to gradually improve over time, and could be readily enjoyed as a daily driver as-is.

The description of this auction lot is, to the best of the seller's knowledge, accurate and not misleading. Collecting Cars requests a range of detail about the lot from the seller, and performs a level of due diligence. However, bidders must satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of the description, and conduct any research they feel is necessary before committing to a bid. Please see our Terms and Conditions for full details.

All UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Collecting Cars are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and has no finance owing.