Hi all

Hopefully, I'm just weeks away from the end of over a year of Skoda Fabia automatic hell, and I'm looking at getting an E46 330Ci Sport/M-Sport. My top budget will be around 4K.

I've spent months poring over Autotrader, eBay and Pistonheads searching for the right car... Some have come and gone as I haven't had the readies - but looks like

I'll be shifting the comedy Skoda soon and joining the BMWOC for real! I was going to get an E39 M5, and had done masses of research on those, but insane fuel costs and

ropey job situation (I'm self-employed) make me think this is a bit more 'sensible' (really though?!?!).

Anyone with an appropriate car for sale/Px, anyone with 330Ci Sport buying tips/hints, ownership tips, or general welcome/comments very welcome!

BTW, I'm looking to do a combination of ECU upgrade, sports exhaust or straight pipes conversion, sports cat and performance air filter on the basis that I don't give a sh*t about resale values, but I do like torque, power, and (to a lesser extent) noise. Any comments on fuel economy following this lot?

Thanks everybody

Ian

Welcome along mate.

welcome along B)

sounds like you no what you want to do with your car when you get it then. youl enjoy it no matter what you do though :D

Welcome to BMWOC(UK) Pal...

My advise is to calculate how much it would cost for the upgrades etc... Versus that M5 you want?

B) B) B) Welcome to BMWOC B) B) B)

Enjoy the wonderful world of BMW ;)

Welcome along mate don't get to carried away modifying tho lol

Welcome along mate don't get to carried away modifying tho lol

?????

Nowt wrong with modding......go for it :) :) :)

?????

Nowt wrong with modding......go for it :) :) :)

There is with a BMW, doesn't need to be heavy modified! One word BMW!! Not chav

FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT lol

Bring it! Lol ;)

Think we should knock some Tickets out for this one !:P

Now now children..

Think we should knock some Tickets out for this one !:P

Lol how much we gonna charge?

Fiver? That might pay for the CLUB STICKERS !!!

Yeh good idea mate, race for pinks?

LOL Didn't mean to start a rumble!

I'm no fan of over-modding and don't want to look like a chav. I am, after all, 37 years old! But I've been told that doing the mods I mentioned would improve mpg as well as the delicious performance gains.

Anyone done a proper rolling road before and after similar mods? I won't have the cash to do that too - but I reckon on around £5-600 to do the lot at my local BMW specialist (I also live about a mile away from Janspeed). It would take me about 3 months to go through that in petrol alone if I bought that M5! :D

Thanks everyone for your welcoming comments. Interested to know if anyone can help me with some hard(ish) facts and figures - or at least some pseudo-science or mechanical engineering jargon to explain why I'm massively wrong!

Ian

hello and welcome, im sure you wont be disappointed what ever you decide on. As for the mods th bms dont need much changing tbh as im sure you will find out :D