Ok so I joined bimmerforums and presented myself as a newbie and asked a question, but apparantly an Acura person isn't worthy of an answer there, so I'll ask it here and hope someone can help me out:

"I'm planning on upgrading to a 330ci sometime within the next 6 months or so and I'm wondering where I can get some info on what options, etc. were available in different model years. I'm thinking '01-'03, and sport pkg and manual are imperative. I've looked at http://www.e46fanatics.com/faq/faqs.php and it looked good, but a little out of date. Any help is appreciated."

Thanks.

 

I can help ya, but what exactly are you asking for?

01-03 were basicly the same.

01 first year of the 330ci, also red leather was available as an option
02 started to come with clears with the sport package.

Options were

Premium package
Sport Package
Cold weather package
Navigation
Harman Kardon
Xenon (bi-xenon for 02)
rear air bags
Park Distance control

umm thats just off the top of my head. Cant remember what else...

 

If you're into modding http://www.dinanbmw.com/ has a lot of stuff for Bimmers

 

Dinan gear is heavily overpriced. $600 for a CAI...you gotta be frickin' kidding me.

BTW - check out roadfly.org for info on the E46.

 

dont get the 330ci...lots of maintenance problems

 

Far from sir, dont jump on the bandwagon and start assuming crap.

WTF is a maintenace problem? Taking care of a car isnt a problem.

 

HAHA sellout...im with ya...TOO many ppl are quick to state the "my friend" or "i know someone" posts...alot of these assumptions people make are way outdated...they also seem to forget about the glass transmissions that most of the people on this site have falen victim too..

 

OK thanks. Was the front end revision in '02, with the different lights and grilles?

 

for the coupe? No.

01-03 all had the same front. Only dif was that the 02 and 03 came with clear lens with the sport package. 01 had a different bumper though, but the headlights were the same.

04 330ci is when they got the facelift front end.

 

wait, i think im wrong. I THINK 01 and 02 coupes have the same front bumpers, just the lower grills are different color. I want to say that in 01 the lower grill was black and in 02 the lower grill was a grey color that colormatched the headlight housings.



Why you so picky

 

get the 02.

you get clears
Bi-xenon
color matching lower grills and headlight covers

Plus i had one

Only good thing about the 01 was that you could get red leather as an option. But that would be hard to find now.

 

the red leather option was so hot. don't know why they took it away. also are you looking for factory upgrades or aftermarket? i usually got my stuff from a few places:

Supreme Power Parts

Active Autowerke

Turner Motorsports

BMP

Rogue Engineering

ECIS

Bekkers

BavAuto

for replacement parts:
alloembmwparts

body stuff:
DTM AutoHaus

there are plenty more but that is just off the top of my head. the sites sell mostly aftermarket stuff so if you are looking for factory parts the forums the dealer(stealer) is you best bet. the prices for bmw parts are usually a little inflated and sometimes things that you assume to to cheap come at a premium. modding jap cars are a better bang for you buck. when i had the bmw it cost alot to upgrade, plus i had lots of little repair bills that added up, just wasn't worth it. little things that should be very inexpensive to replace come out costing a fortune. i love bmw's but i couldn't take the headache(and $$$) involved in keeping it running nicely. good luck on whatever you decide.

 

My friend had a 330ci......but had no problems. He got Dinan stuff too because BMW honors your warranty if you had them.

Why don't you check out www.edmunds.com and do your own research.

 

Also, are the M Double Spoke (Styling 68M) wheels on all 3 years? And is that steering issue that everyone complained about gone in 2002s?

 

bimmerfest > e46fanatics

 

Well said.

 

pm crazy sellout, he had an e46 330. And e46 fanatics are usualy good with answering questions and they treat non BMW members great there.

 

Buy a brochure off ebay for the year models you are interested in. If you can hold out longer til the new 3 coupe is out, you'll be in bargain city.

 

^^Oh good idea with the brochures, thanks.