2004 BMW E46 330i Sport Automatic
Highlights
- Low mileage E46 3litre
- Desirable 220bhp M54 straight six
- Well maintained by specialists
- Long MOT to April 2025 with no advisories
- Well presented and practical sports saloon
The Appeal
There are compacting sports saloons and then there is the E46. And there are E46s and then there is the M54-powered 330i.
The E46 hit the sweet spot in motoring development when technology enhanced driver engagement rather than robbed it. For those seeking real-world thrills with a decent dollop of comfort, the 330i was the perfect alternative to the more no-holds-barred M3.
These cars were built to be enjoyed and most have been, which makes this 2004 330i a rarity. It is a very low mileage car, finished in popular silver-grey metallic, with condition to match the sparing use. Inside and out it shows few signs of being a 20 year old modern classic.
It has clearly been enthusiast owned as the service book has been kept up to date with visits to specialists like Munich Legends. It was most recently serviced 5,000 miles ago and comes to market with a long, advisory-free MOT to April 2025. Perfect as a daily driver or preserved for weekend fun, this quick and capable E46 looks tempting.
A great car to use as a daily driver and also a unique opportunity to add an original, low mileage, well-survived E46 to your collection. Over 20 years on the E46 is still a sought-after car, offering 00s executive class at an affordable price bracket. With many examples losing their original good looks and adopting a modified enthusiast look, good cared-for and unmolested examples are becoming increasingly rare
A great car to use as a daily driver and also a unique opportunity to add an original, low mileage, well-survived E46 to your collection. Over 20 years on the E46 is still a sought-after car, offering 00s executive class at an affordable price bracket. With many examples losing their original good looks and adopting a modified enthusiast look, good cared-for and unmolested examples are becoming increasingly rare
The History and Paperwork
- First UK registered 29th June 2004
- SIx registered keepers from new
- Service book with 12 regular stamps including by specialists like Munich Legends
- Last serviced at 47,280 miles in March 2022
- Full set of handbooks and factory wallet, all in good condition
- Six registered keepers from new - This is a machine that has been handed on from one family member to another and kept within the family due to the fact the family did not want to depart with such a rare machine. They ended up keeping it in the family hence the number of owners and the super rare low mileage.
- MOT to 28th April 2025 with no advisories and 52,116 miles showing on test - looking at the MOT history it is evident that this animal has been used sparingly and has been loved as the MOT history since birth does not show any significant concerns in its life on the road. It illustrates the genuine low mileage and lack of use. It is evident that this was one of many cars by owner and was used briskly
The Condition
- Factory silver-grey metallic paintwork is well kept
- There are some minor signs of age such as stone chips
- As a 20 year old car the buyer should expect some level of wear
- Factory double spoke M alloy wheels generally well kept with some kerbing visible
- Exterior trim including rubber fillets and front and rear bumpers are well kept
- Underside presents well with surface corrosion but no MOT structural advisories
- Well kept interior with high full leather specification and M Sport trimmings
- Factory Fitted SAT NAV that had the TV option in the 2000's - this was a rarity and made those having this more sought after as it was a three thousand pound extra. Awkward to use but pleasing to the eye, dash and potential buyers
- Leather shows few signs of age or wear including driver’s seat
- Carpets in good order with protective rubber mat to boot area
- M Sport front seats with adjustable knee support
- M Sport three spoke steering wheel showing only light wear
- Switchgear is well kept with no noticeable scuffs
- Carbon fibre trim to dashboard and centre console
- Electric front seats with memory function
- Factory fitted with Parking Distance Control and Xenon headlights with washers
The Mechanics
- Highly regarded 2,979cc M54 straight six engine
- Standard car with 220bhp power output
- 5spd automatic gearbox with some sequential shift functionality
- Sports factory-fitted suspension
- Well maintained with 5,000 miles since last service
- Attended to by specialists including Munich Legends
- No reported driving or running issues to advise buyers
BEFORE YOU BUY
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ The seller is registered as a private seller which means consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not come into effect. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic’s own Terms and Conditions..
✓ We request that a non-refundable fee be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates.
✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.
✓ We want a smooth transaction just as much as you do and as such we run all UK-registered cars and motorbikes for sale on Car & Classic through an online HPI check to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing, allowing you to bid with confidence.
✓ We also check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed on Car & Classic and we helpfully provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance. However, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and it is always worthwhile carrying out your own full vehicle history check before making an offer on a vehicle.
✓Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection
or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it’s worth checking beforehand.. If requested, we may refer you to a third-party shipping company who can help. For more details and to speak to the team, email [email protected]
About Max Bids
The max bid process allows you to bid without any hassle.
Enter your maximum bid and we will then bid on your behalf to ensure you're the highest bidder - just enough to keep you in the lead and only up until your maximum.
Anti-sniping
Car & Classic prevent auction snipers from bidding in the last seconds to win an auction.
Auctions are extended by 3 minutes if anyone bids within the last 2 minutes to allow other bidders to react and counter-bid.
Auto-bidding increments
- If your maximum bid is equal to or below the reserve price, your maximum bid will be applied in full if you are the highest bidder.
- If you are the highest bidder and place a maximum bid above the reserve, we will automatically put in the reserve as your first bid.
-
- Once the reserve has been met, Car & Classic will make sure you are the highest bidder using only the bidding increments stated below.
- We will keep you in the lead up until your maximum bid OR the increment closest to your maximum bid, providing your maximum bid is enough to cover the increment value.
| Bid Amount | Increment |
|---|---|
| £0 to £9,999 | £100.00 |
| £10,000 to £49,999 | £250.00 |
| £50,000 to £99,999 | £500.00 |
| £100,000 + | £1,000.00 |
Automatically outbid immediately
When you place a max bid and are outbid immediately that means that another bidder has placed a max bid limit which is higher than yours.
You can bid again and we will use our automatic bid system to try and get you as the highest bidder.
Matching max bids
When there are two max bids of the same value, the one placed first remains the lead bidder.
Pre-authorisation
We may hold a pre-authorisation charge on your card until the end of the auction when the hold will be cancelled. If you win, we'll take a security deposit which counts towards the payment for the vehicle and isn't any extra cost to you.
What are pre-bids?
A pre-bid means you're able to place a bid before the official start of the auction.
You will be notified whether or not you are the highest bidder when the auction starts.
Problem with your bid
Bids are contractually binding. To help protect you, we have some rules in place if we think it's been mistyped. Please check and amend what you have entered.