The BMW E46 is the fourth generation of the 3 Series range of compact executive cars. They were produced from 1997 to 2006, and was the successor to the E36, which ceased production in 2000.  The 330CI Convertible made its debut in May 2000.

The E36 had a pretty easy run in the marketplace in the 1990’s as there were very few contenders in high quality four-seater convertibles at the time. Moving forward to this E46 3.0 litre model and things had changed with rivals from Audi, Mercedes, and Saab. 

As the recognised market leader BMW managed to match and some say, stay ahead of the competition with modern chassis, suspension, and electronic upgrades.

The body shell of the E46 was claimed by BMW to be 70% more rigid than its E36 predecessor. Aluminium was used for an increased quantity of suspension components making it stronger and lighter than the E36.

This 330CI was manufactured in Germany before being shipped to England. From there it was bought and registered in the Republic of Ireland in County Wicklow. 

The current owner bought the car ten years ago where it was re-registered to a Northern Irish plate. Because of this the car could be kept with the PXZ8334 plate or easily changed to an Irish registration plate depending on the location of the buyer.

There have been a few updates and improvements that have been undertaken by the present owner. 

The steering rack has been professionally replaced and updated to improve handling. Two cup holders have been inserted into the centre console and new clear side light covers on the front grill have been added. 

There has been a new radio with satellite navigation fitted seamlessly into the dashboard and is in keeping with the style of the interior. The rest of the car is original.

The current owner keeps the car in a dry, well-ventilated garage and it doesn’t see the rain although it is run regularly. It also hasn’t seen salted roads which is a real bonus.

There is a certificate of conformity for the car for when it was re-registered in Northern Ireland and the V5 is present. The Irish service history and original booklet are not with the car. 

Although the car has been annually serviced by a local garage is doesn’t come with any stamped service history although it’s obvious the car has been well maintained over its lifetime. 

There are two working keys.

The three spoke leather steering wheel complements the improved stock bolstered seats, which do show slight wear but there are no rips and can be improved by the next owner.

These redesigned black leather front seats, unique to the convertible, incorporate the seatbelts into their structure, rather than attaching them separately to the car body. This, says BMW, allows a better fit and easier access for rear passengers.

The detachable wind deflector is in place and the back seats appear unused. All the switches work and the car comes with a host of option extras from new including cruise control, electric front and rear windows, electric seats, and metallic paint. There is also an immobilizer alarm.

Take one look at the convertible and you appreciate the trouble BMW has gone to make this two-door model lower, wider and longer with a more steeply raked windscreen than the rest of the 3 Series range.

The triple-layer hood itself has a padded lining to reduce wind noise and there's a proper glass rear window, with demister, in place of the old, easily scratched plastic pane that annoyed previous generation 3 Series Convertible owners.

There are a couple of blemishes on the paintwork but overall, the condition of the bodywork is excellent with smooth level lines from the panels. The MV3 style alloy wheels complement the low-profile tyres perfectly and the few bits of pitting don’t take away the sleek looks.

The silky smooth engine note from the 3.0 inline-6 engine gives a feeling of exceptional refinement and the gear select works beautifully. The car came with Automatic Stability Control + Traction (ASC+T) and Cornering Brake Control (CBC) as standard so cornering is very reassuring.

The E46 was the first 3 Series to be available with an engine using Valvetronic (variable valve lift) making the engine very responsive. The steering rack has been professionally replaced over the last few years to make the handling even more precise and an improvement on the original.

Any of the oil leaks common to BMW engines have been addressed including the inlet manifold. The electric roof works well as do the electric windows. The underneath looks clean and the engine bay is well detailed. There is no sign of corrosion on the rubbers and the sound deadening on the bonnet looks new.

Cars such as this are usually well looked after and cherished, this 330CI seems to be no exception. 

The E46 3 Series Convertible is one of those cars that you can use as a daily driver and with regular upkeep will be a reliable, eye catching car at home on modern roads. 

All indications are that this understated convertible is a hugely affordable and appreciating classic car.