Poised to take the mantle of the iconic 3-Series baton in 1997, the fourth-generation E46 encompassed BMW’s core values with what was regarded as the best chapter of the ever improving saga. With its famed 50/50 weight distribution, the M52 190bhp straight-six 2.8-litre engine was perfectly matched, offering class-leading handling, reasonable fuel costs with punchy performance and the famous ergonomic virtues. It developed a reputation for being one of the most reliable cars of the era too, becoming the car for the everyman.
This eye-catching 328 Ci Sport started its life at the flagship BMW Sytner dealer in 1999. It was well specified by the owner, who requested electric sports leather seats, headlamps washers and metallic paint. With just 33,997 recorded miles on the clock and just one previous owner, it also comes with recently restored wheels complementing an excellent exterior finish. Sold with a fresh MOT and full-service history, It's a very nicely presented example of a car that has been looked after to ensure it retains its appeal.
Sold new by Damon Hill BMW in Warwick, which was to become Sytner BMW, the car was bought new by an older gentleman who then provided the car with a rather charmed start to its life, with much of its miles covered in the first 10 years of its life and then only casually used thereafter. After its frugal use, it has spent a little time in storage and revitalised back into use by the current seller, a car storage specialist based in the heart of Oxfordshire. As a seasoned Ford fan, the BMW doesn’t fit into his vision but he appreciates that this low mileage car has huge potential and it deserved a chance to be enjoyed.
Regularly serviced at the BMW main dealer, and then independently thereafter, the car has also undergone a HPI check which offers the all clear, with only the registration plate being flagged. The car would have been issued with a V reg plate but has worn the Northern Irish vanity plate since new. If this doesn’t appeal to the new owner, the car also comes with proof of the dealer issue age-related plate. However, the current owner has gone some way into replacing the plates with new items that replicate the Sytner dealer logos. A small but pleasing detail that completes the cars already attractive presentation. The current owner has also replaced the rear brake discs, along with the pads to ensure a clean MOT sheet and the car has seen a service in preparation for the sale. There is also an invoice from 2015 that confirms that the front items were replaced too. Going back further into the paperwork, the suspension arms along with a set of bushes were replaced in 2011. Several cosmetic items, such as the BMW badges, a full passenger door mirror unit, front door speaker grills, a drivers side seat bolster and front bumper repaint as well as the powder-coated renovation of all four alloy wheels have also been carried out to enhance the appearance of the car. Furthermore, a professional specialist has gone over it to remove the small number of minor body dents that the car had picked up over the years.
The interior retains much of the E46’s ergonomic plus points, the quality of materials and its low mileage has certainly contributed to its preservation too. The front sports seats are good and retain their shape, the rear seats look hardly used. There are no significant rips or tears to the leather, although the plastics on the supports of the drivers seat have a few scuffs. The light grey carpets have suffered from fade and staining, but haven’t worn too badly and are rip free. They are damp free.The driver side door cards show minor signs of scuffing and there is an odd chip to the plastics. The passenger door card is better with just a small amount of discolouration around the speaker cover - a scrub should sort that out. The dashboard is nicely presented, with no particular issues concerning damage or wear.
The dials, controls and switches are in good condition and all are said to function. The climate control cold air may need re-gassing. The electric window motors are all functional and operate with no strain. The centre console is good, although the gear stick and armrest would benefit from some TLC. The three spoke sports steering wheel is good with no major issues of note. The headline is good with a small number of tarnishing but is overall in a rip free state. The boot comes with a full tool kit, and aside from a little carpet discolouration, is in good condition.
The bodywork is pleasingly straight, with even panel matches complementing the equal panel gaps. The rear bumper may have been subject to an incident in the past with the offside rear fit being slightly out but not a significant flaw. The car is free from parking dents, largely due to a recent attention of a dent repair specialist. The only outstanding issues are two curious indentations observed on the metal in-between the off-side rear lights and the bumper.
The engine bay, including the front strut towers are looking solid, the floor pan looks good with just a small odd sign of corrosion noted, particularly on the rear suspension arms but these are not on the MOT advisory stage yet so not necessarily cause for concern. Externally there were no significant signs of rust observed on the body, the car retaining a very solid looking appearance, with the front wings and all outer arches looking good. The inside of the lower arches of the rear wing shows small signs of bubbling under the paint and is another item that might be worth keeping an eye on. The paint finish is enhanced by the fetching metallic topaz blue paint and is particularly eye-catching in coupe form. The quality of finish is good with an even lustre. The front bumper has seen a recent blow-over and the bonnet has seen a quality repaint in the recent past. As a result, the front of the car is clean with no significant signs of road wear damage. There are a handful of minor scratches and scuffs observed around the car but not enough to distract. There are a handful of lacquer blisters on the boot too, but overall the paint is well above the expectation of a car of this age. The glass is good with no damage to the panes or lamination.
The scuttle windscreen rubber shows minor signs of wear and the driver's door rubber has seen a repair. The exterior trim has been well preserved, with the plastic and chrome work retaining their quality, enhanced by a couple of new BMW badges as the original items had perished with age. All of the light jewellery looks good with a minor suggestion of ageing on the front light covers. The 17” Sport Package 7-Spoke alloy wheels, as the seller fully appreciates, is a key factor in making a car look presentable, and this is exactly the case. They have been professionally restored and display no damage at all. The wheel nuts show a little surface rust but these will be resolved by the time the car is handed over to the new owner. The correct spec Continental tyres are all well within the legal tread, three are over 10 years old with off-side rear items being a recent replacement.
Mechanically the car starts up with no issues, the engine reaches temperature with no signs of flashing warning lights on the dashboard. It ticks over nicely with no excessive grinding or tapping coming from the block. The car did not leak while the engine was running. The brakes, having seen recent attention, are good, with no issues with binding or grinding.
The clutch is still well-weighted, with a healthy biting point and the gear changes are slick. No issues with the power steering, no noise or straining evident. The suspension is said to be good, with no creaking noted. The visual condition of the engine is encouraging and falls in line with the car's low mileage. The key components look good, with ancillaries and hoses in a good state. The exhausts perform well, with no issues in regards to leaks or blowing.
The car is comparable with a modern car, it's a roomy and safe car to use as a daily, yet offers a style and eagerness not seen on a car at this price point - it’s no exaggeration to suggest the E46 performs and manages itself better than many new cars. As a modern classic the car is a cert to become a car to watch in the future. As a textbook BMW, you can expect the usual driving and engineering dynamics that make the brand so well regarded, the car’s near-perfectly weighted steering combined with its blend of road-holding, comfort and pace, the E46 is the perfect BMW coupe for the enthusiast on a budget.
Notice to bidders
Although every care is taken to ensure this listing is as factual and transparent as possible, all details within the listing are subject to the information provided to us by the seller. Car & Classic does not take responsibility for any information missing from the listing. Please ensure you are satisfied with the vehicle description and all information provided before placing a bid.
As is normal for most auctions, this vehicle is sold as seen, and therefore the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. All bids are legally binding once placed. Any winning bidder who withdraws from a sale, is subject to our bidders fee charge. Please see our FAQs and T&C's for further information. Viewings of vehicles are encouraged, but entirely at the seller's discretion.
Car & Classic's secure payment system protects buyers and sellers. At the end of the auction, the winning bidder transfers payment into a third-party escrow account. Once the transfer of the vehicle is complete, both parties confirm they are happy with the sale and the money is released to the seller.
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NO RESERVE! - 1999 BMW 328i Ci Sport
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