BMW 323ci SE Auto E46, 65K Miles, 2000

For Sale, a beautiful and superb condition BMW 323Ci coupe first registered in 2000. With a silky smooth six cylinder 2.5 litre engine, it has covered only 65K miles in the hands of 3 careful owners, the most recent of which took delivery in 2004.

There is a full service history and a large file of paperwork to back-up mileage and proper maintenance.

 

Reg W112 AKO

In standard trim the 323Ci came very well equipped, including but not limited to:

ABS brakes

Automatic air conditioning - climate control

Alarm system

Airbags - driver and front passenger with head and side airbags in addition

Automatic dimming rear view mirror

Automatic Stability Control

Traction + Cornering Brake Control

BMW light alloy wheels 7-star

BMW Business Radio/Cassette with 6 CD multi-changer

BMW tool kit in boot

Check Control

Colour coded body

Courtesy light package

Electric front seats with driver memory

Electric adjustable and heated blue tint mirrors with auto dip for reversing

Electric front windows + rear quarter opening windows

Front fog lamps

First aid kit

Heated washer jets

Illuminated centre console

Immobiliser

Lowered Sports suspension

On board computer

Outside Temperature Display

Power steering

Remote central locking with remote boot release and convenience opening/closing

Rear armrest

Rear headrests

Space saver spare wheel

Sports leather steering wheel, adjustable and multi-function

Third Brake Light

Through-loading system with 60/40 split rear seat

Tinted glass

Two Keys with Car Key Memory

Warning triangle

Window surround in chrome

This particular car was tastefully specified by the first keeper in Orient Blue Metallic Paint (code 317) combined with extended Nappa Leather Mosaik upholstery in light beige (code Q9HC) with high quality Myrtle wood trim to doors, dashboard and gear selector.

You can imagine the original owner perusing the brochure and thoughtfully considering the choices and combinations of colour and trim. A copy of the original brochure forms part of the comprehensive documentation which includes Owner Handbook (both for the car and BMW Business Radio) and booklet of all European BMW Service Centres all in the original black BMW embossed wallet.

Velour floor mats, heated seats and front armrest adds to the interior comfort and ambience along with Cruise Control for wafting along. The S785A White Indicator Light Package also specified on this car really sets it apart. A Smoker Package was also added though the car has never seen a smoker inside but this does provide for a useful and functional 12v power socket.

Manufactured on 25th April 2000 the vehicle was first registered in the UK on 8th June 2000 the first owner having taken delivery of the car in Hamburg Germany as was common at the time. Unusually as part of the documentation records kept with this car is the original EC-Certificate of Conformity unique to this vehicle.

BMWs operate on a variable service programme based on mileage and use and alternate between Oil and Inspection (I and II) Services.

After its PDI (Pre-delivery inspection) the first service was carried out on 14th November 2001 at Stephen James, a London based BMW dealer still existing.

 

Service Record and History

1. Oil Service (including Microfilter) - 14th November 2001. Mileage 12585
2. Transfer of Ownership - 27th September 2002 a lady in Bedford acquired the vehicle as the second keeper
3. MOT - 3rd July 2003. Mileage 21950
4. Inspection 1 Service (including Microfilter and bodywork inspection) - 27th February 2004. Mileage 28794
5. Traded in to Elms BMW Bedford and prepared by them for sale:
6. MOT - 30th March 2004. Mileage 29567
7. Transfer of Ownership - 1st April 2004 a gentleman in Bedford acquired the vehicle from Elms and would be the only keeper going forward cherishing the car for 15 more years (and covering less than 36,000 miles in that time) prior to trading it in for a Mercedes in the Spring 2019. A Used Vehicle Invoice from Elms Bedford shows the gentleman paid £17280 for W112 AKO (using a variety of Building Society cheques!). Elms provided an approved used BMW wallet with the car which is retained along with period AA Membership card and information. The car still wears the Elms BMW number plates. The new keeper used Knightsmead Garage of Castle Road Bedford for servicing and MOT requirements going forward with the uninterrupted record as follows:
8. MOT - 17th March 2005. Mileage 32853
9. Oil Service (including Microfilter) - 27th March 2006. Mileage 36499
10. MOT - 27th March 2006. Mileage 36499. No advisories
11. MOT - 26th March 2007. Mileage 40293. No advisories
12. Inspection II Service (including Microfilter) - 25th April 2008. Mileage 43762
13. MOT - 25th April 2008. Mileage 43762. No advisories
14. MOT - 24th April 2009. Mileage 45514. No advisories
15. Oil Service (including Microfilter) - 23rd April 2010. Mileage 47816
16. MOT - 23rd April 2010. Mileage 47816. No advisories Oil Service - 26th April 2011, Mileage 49777
17. MOT - 26th April 2011. Mileage 49777. No advisories
18. Inspection II Service (including Microfilter) - 25th April 2012. Mileage 52465
19. MOT - 25th April 2012. Mileage 52465. No advisories
20. Oil Service (including Microfilter) - 15th April 2013. Mileage 54434
21. MOT - 15th April 2013 - this was a fail for the nearside headlamp not working on main beam! Soon fixed and MOT issued same day, though with advisories on slightly deteriorated front suspension bushes. These were replaced with no subsequent advisories on this matter. Mileage 54434
22. Oil Service (including Microfilter) - 24th April 2014. Mileage 55764
23. MOT - 24th April 2014. Mileage 55764. No advisories
24. Inspection 1 Service (including Microfilter) - 22nd April 2015. Mileage 56606
25. MOT - 22nd April 2015. Mileage 56606. No advisories
26. Oil Service - 24th April 2016. Mileage 58078
27. MOT - 24th April 2016. Mileage 58078. No advisories (other than noting plastic under-trays fitted)
28. Oil Service - 25th April 2017. Mileage 59838
29. MOT - 25th April 2017. Mileage 59838. No advisories (other than noting plastic under-trays fitted and a worn tyre)
30. MOT - 24th April 2018. Mileage 62564. This was a fail for offside rear direction bulb incorrect colour and insufficient washer jets! Again fixed same day and MOT issued.
31. A service was carried out in April 2018, the Service Interval Indicator built into the car currently states : Next Inspection Service due 12200 miles Brake Fluid due 04.20
32. Brake Fluid changed in April 2018
33. Air-Con Service - 31st May 2018 at Knightsmead. Recharge and no leaks detected. The Air-Con blows ice cold and all heater valves and flaps are operational giving heating or cooling as and where required.
34. MOT - 16th May 2019 (failed on Stop Lamp bulb repaired same day resulting in pass with no advisories). Mileage 65454

The car has just been fully inspected and all fluids are fresh and topped up and all filters clean. 4 new BMW specification Bridgestone tyres have just been fitted as the others were too old even though they had lots of tread on them.

The rocker cover gasket has also just been replaced as it was aged and becoming brittle.

We are so confident of the condition of this car, a fresh MOT will be provided to its purchaser.

Please email us for more details

 

The new millennium....

as it happened the world survived the predicted meltdown and we all went on with our lives.

BMW had launched the E46 3-Series saloon in November 1997 with first deliveries in April 1998, so it too survived through the millennium. Until 2006 in fact in the case of the coupe version. The body shell of the E46 was claimed by BMW to be 70% more rigid than its E36 predecessor with aluminium used for an increased quantity of suspension components

With this generation of 3-Series BMW looked to its heritage to revive the 'Ci' moniker, first used in 1965 to denote BMW's sports coupes. Upon the coupe launch in April 1999, the range entered with the 170bhp 2.5-litre 323Ci featuring the silky-smooth straight six-cylinder engine that, despite the increasing prevalence of V8 and V12 engines, still represent something of a trademark for BMW. An entry-level 318Ci model was introduced shortly afterwards, powered by the same 1.9-litre four-cylinder engine that buyers had been used to in the previous generation 3-Series and the Z3 roadster.

It is the creamy six-cylinder 323Ci with the benefit of the optional 5-speed Steptronic automatic transmission that is offered here with extended Nappa leather upholstery and high quality Myrtle wood trim

If asked to identify how the BMW 3-series coupe differed from its humbler saloon origins, most would point to the obvious number of doors. BMW actually went to great lengths to point out that the BMW badge, the door handles and the side indicator lenses were the only visible parts shared with the saloon. Park the two cars side by side and the differences become apparent. This sort of attention to detail has given BMW their reputation as one of the most bulletproof used car purchases around, with correspondingly resilient residual values. The coupe is always in high demand.

The coupe is lower by 46mm, longer by 17mm and wider by 18mm than the saloon. The windscreen raked back a further two degrees and the rear window slope is steeper, making the coupe's roof both shorter and flatter. The front grille is more purposeful, bigger intakes reside in the deeper front spoiler, and even the headlights and bonnet show subtle differences. The mirrors are broader and lower in profile, with unique and characteristic five knuckle-like fins atop each, designed to reduce wind noise. At the back, the boot-lid has been re-profiled The optional Sports pack suspension offered on the saloon is standard on the coupe, lowering the ride height by 15mm. Inside, the generous shoulder, elbow and legroom mark the coupe out as a proper four seater. Rear seat access is easier thanks to front seats that not only fold and slide forwards but actually lift off the floor to make entry even easier. Equipment levels are high, including twin front, side and head airbags, a remote control alarm, electric seats, alloy wheels, air conditioning climate control and 60/40 split-folding rear seats that can be unlocked from the boot.

Driving the coupe at first it doesn't feel as if you're travelling that fast - a deceptive impression as it happens: the 170 bhp 323Ci is deceptively quick, its 2.5-litre engine almost whisper quiet but capable of getting to 60mph in less than eight seconds and onto 145 mph where allowed. It's not only about sheer speed however, this car flatters your driving without overtly doing so thanks to two clever features - Automatic Stability Control + Traction (ASC+T) and Cornering Brake Control (CBC).

This is still a great car to hustle along the sports suspension and communicative steering, a BMW trademark, keeps you perfectly in touch with the road surface. Against period opposition such as the Peugeot 406 Coupe and Mercedes-Benz CLK the BMW 3-Series coupe is the one you wanted then and now.

Please email us for more details.

 

 

• Vehicle Summary
• Technical Specs
• Performance Specs