Meet eBay Motors UK’s latest project: a 137,000 km E46 BMW 3-Series with a twist. More specifically, it’s a 330Ci that’s been revamped with various technologies sourced from its marketplace. That includes an Xtrons phone mirroring unit, a Nextbase front/rear dashcam, a reverse camera and even a head-up display.
Inside the old-timer, you’ll also spot a new auxiliary USB charging cable and an in-built GPS tracker, along with a 520-watt speaker system from Gladen. Changes that are very much welcome in a two-decade-old coupe.
OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:
First drive: The Honda Prelude isn’t a track toy, but it’s definitely sportier than a Civic
PH-spec Nissan Magnite to get 1.0-liter turbo?
Does any of it work?
The Apple CarPlay unit is seamless, though the head-up display does lag a few tenths behind when you accelerate. It’s far more accurate when decelerating, mind.
The parking camera tucked under the trunk lid is a welcome addition. Selecting reverse gear pulls up a rear view on the central screen, with display lines and noise alerts in place to help with your maneuver. The camera’s positioning is a little low, which is a slight limitation to your field of view, but it’s better than not having it.
Our main quibble lay with the blind spot monitor. It’s a small light switch attached to the lower corner of the side windows, and it lights up when a car enters your, er, blind spot. It does its job, but we feel a classier solution than a flickering rubberized dome could’ve been used here.
Any cosmetic changes to report?
Indeed. New floor mats, kick plates and a gear knob for that six-speed manual transmission. Also new indicator lamps and exhaust clamps, and a set of Michelin all-season tires.
Anything else?
Expert mechanic Hannah Gordon - who worked on the McLaren Solus GT project - oversaw this particular build and said it would typically take between six and nine days to complete.
“The E46 is an iconic shape, so we didn’t want to change too much,” she said. “The brief was to add all the technology but keep it looking as if it had just come out of the factory. So we’ve just done subtle things. Most people wouldn’t even be able to tell it’s been modified.”
As for any complications, Gordon said: “We had to strip out the interior and boot, because with these old cars, it’s likely a previous owner would’ve changed certain components. So you do need some know-how.
“Because of their shape, coupes can be more challenging to work with than, say, a hatchback. And since we wanted the changes to look integrated, it meant the wiring had to be hidden away as much as possible. Sometimes, installing the parts isn’t what takes up the most time, making it look like it was always meant to be there does.”
Verdict
Overall though, this 330Ci is now a far better car than it was: it’s easier to drive and the tech isn’t obtrusive. What’s more, barring an upgraded oil filter and a raspier exhaust, the internals have been left untouched to keep the overall experience as authentic as possible. That’s 228hp and 300Nm at the rear wheels, 0-100kph in 6.5s and a top speed of 250kph. All in all, a solid effort.
Just for argument’s sake, used E46 BMW 3-Series models vary wildly in prices at the moment, so spending upwards a good chunk of cash on a car potentially worth the same might not seem economically viable. However, make the numbers work for you and it's a decent upgrade – nothing too intrusive, just enough to make your life a little bit easier.
NOTE: This story first appeared on TopGear.com. Minor edits have been made.
