Hi Guys,
A long overdue post since joining.
Introduction
Those who know me will know that I have a bit of an obsession with the E46. It actually started when the E39 was launched. I remember as a giddy 9 year old, struggling to comprehend the quantum leap forward in build quality and refinement that the E39 presented to the market. The E39 was therefore, my first BMW love. I was always indifferent to the E36, but when the E46 was launched, it too captured me. It was for all intents and purposes, and downscaled E39. It had the same design cues inside and out, but in a more compact package, and over time I learnt that this suited my tastes better than the larger E39.
Although my dream was always to own an E46 M3, I always fancied the 330i Mtec II as well. My first BMW purchase was just that - a beautifully preserved 2004 330i M-sport 6MT. I loved this car, but it wasn't an M3. I later went on to buy and own an M3, and learnt a lot about myself and the realities of owning an M3. The key lesson for me was that I did not enjoy the M3 as a daily driver. It is perfectly capable, but I simply wasn't having enough fun on my daily commutes to justify the additional expense and opportunity cost of my capital.
As soon as I sold my M3, what I missed most was my previous 330i. At the time I was driving a Ford Fiesta 1.6, which for all intents and purposes, is an excellent little car. But I hated it, not because there was anything wrong with it, but because it was just transport. Just an appliance. So the next lesson I learnt was that I need to own a car that offers both utility as well as an emotional connection. That is what this 330i is for me. It's my functional daily driver that I am happy to put mileage on, has reasonable*running costs, and and tugs at my heart-strings every time I look at it.
After selling my M3, I thought I would never find another E46 330i that matched the condition of my first. Serendipitously, I managed to track down one that was my best find yet! I approached the owner and we agreed that I would have first option on the car when the time came to sell. When that time came, I jumped on it and here we are!
Vehicle Details
- 04/2004 E46 330i M-sport 6 Speed Manual
- Titanium Silver / Grey Montana Leather
- Current Mileage: 133 500km
Photographic Equipment
- Canon 40D
- Canon EF 17-40mm F4 L
- Canon EF*70-200mm F2.8 L
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