[utenigma]

Well, yesterday I did it. I finally sold my 2001 E46 330i. I ordered it in 2001 shortly after I graduated from college. Those 2 months waiting for it were the longest in my young life. It arrived with 7 miles on the odometer and was pretty much the coolest car I had ever seen, let alone driven.

Until I saw the F30, 12 years later

Just like when I was a kid, the 2 (and a half this time) months of waiting seemed like forever. I read everything I could get my hands on about the car while I waited, dreaming about the day when it would arrive.

About the start of month 2, I started to become nostalgic. In 12 years my 330 was there when I started my first job. It was there when I started dating my (later to become) wife and drove us home from our wedding. It commuted with me to and from 5 different jobs in my career, moved across the country with me and back, and carried both my kids home from the hospital.

I didn't trade it in when I picked up my 335 in December, deciding instead to try to find it a new home in the private market.

After some stalling (and prodding from my wife) I finally put it on the market. It sold to a nice gentleman from Oklahoma who seemed really excited about his purchase, and that made me happy, but I tell you I got choked up signing over the title.

I don't know if I'll have the same "relationship" with my 335, or any car ever again. Life moves on and so do we, but I will never forget tipping into the throttle for the first time 12 years ago on the onramp leaving the dealership, looking down and realizing I just crossed into triple digits.

Welcome to the next generation - you've got some pretty big shoes to fill

[MSPORTWORLD]

Congrats on the purchase!

Shoulda just kept both cars.

[Frencholivier]

What a great story! Congratulations for actually caring about your car. The F30 is a new beginning. And it's good you were able to let go of the old one.

[chugster]

Wow you're 330i still looked so clean! I didn't see any door dings what so ever in the pictures and the paint is still so fresh! Whoever owned it after you should be lucky.

[Agamemnon]

You'll fall in love with your new ride and the old ride will become a fond memory. I've owned lots of really interesting cars over the years and always felt sad when selling them. I have a one car garage and really only the space and time for the proper care of one car. When I got my new EB2 335 xdrive, I knew I had to sell my 1990 Nissan 300ZX TT which I had babied from new. My neighbour really wanted it bad and looks after his cars nicely. So it is now in his carport. Kind of hurts everytime I see him driving it. But I had to move on and the 335 does everything the 300ZX could do and more. Life moves on.

[DarkTrigger]

Wow, your 330i looks like you took really good care of it. I'm sure you'll love the f30, it's much more grown up.

[F30AM]

Oh, how I understand the OP's feelings.

I got my GTI on the 23rd March 2010. I have never loved a car so much and probably never will. It came at a time in my life when there were lots of changes, some good some bad The latter mainly due to an accident and subsequent ill health. My trusty GTI kept me going and transported me in great comfort.

I got my F30 on the 22nd Dec 2012 but simply could not part with my lovely Red Golf GTI.

Well, the time is upon me now and my dearest GTI will have a new home in 4 weeks. I will be very tearful when we part. Can I let go? I wonder?

Bathed in godlight, Regent's Park, London

[Chris@codemybimmer]

Personally i hate the feeling when i drop my car off at the dealer to hop into the new one and then not knowing what happens to the car after that.
My E90 was the car i learned everything about cars from. Took apart the entire interior, did my own oil changes and maintenance(that i trusted myself with) that sentimental value could never go away.
sadly my E90 was involved in an accident and although it was repaired(close to $25,000 worth of damage) there was some intermittent problems with it so i decided to look at an F30.
I felt pretty unhappy about leaving my car to the dealer when i was taking the plates off of it at the lot.
then theres that feeling of driving off in your new car watching the old on slowly dissapear in the rearview mirror...

[BMWforLife]

when you leave your car at a dealer and drive away with a new one its like...leaving your kid at daycare for the first time or something. i hate ittt

[mryakanisachoad]

Photographing your e46 and f30 together like that reinforces just how a good looking a car the e46 is. Timeless.

You really took care of her!

[bringonthenite]

Great post. The E46 looks sad and tired though.

[TACA A320]

Wow. Absolutely gorgeous E46 and a great story to go with it. The design of the E46 is timeless. Enjoy your F30, I am having a blast with mine and I'm sure you will too!

[DrivenByE30]

Great Story ! & Great Photo !

[NordicBob]

Originally Posted by utenigma

Well, yesterday I did it. I finally sold my 2001 E46 330i. I ordered it in 2001 shortly after I graduated from college. Those 2 months waiting for it were the longest in my young life. It arrived with 7 miles on the odometer and was pretty much the coolest car I had ever seen, let alone driven.

Until I saw the F30, 12 years later

Just like when I was a kid, the 2 (and a half this time) months of waiting seemed like forever. I read everything I could get my hands on about the car while I waited, dreaming about the day when it would arrive.

About the start of month 2, I started to become nostalgic. In 12 years my 330 was there when I started my first job. It was there when I started dating my (later to become) wife and drove us home from our wedding. It commuted with me to and from 5 different jobs in my career, moved across the country with me and back, and carried both my kids home from the hospital.

I didn't trade it in when I picked up my 335 in December, deciding instead to try to find it a new home in the private market.

After some stalling (and prodding from my wife) I finally put it on the market. It sold to a nice gentleman from Oklahoma who seemed really excited about his purchase, and that made me happy, but I tell you I got choked up signing over the title.

I don't know if I'll have the same "relationship" with my 335, or any car ever again. Life moves on and so do we, but I will never forget tipping into the throttle for the first time 12 years ago on the onramp leaving the dealership, looking down and realizing I just crossed into triple digits.

Welcome to the next generation - you've got some pretty big shoes to fill

What a nice story. We, my wife and I, did the same thing recently and bought a new 335 M Sport to replace our beloved Forest Green 2001 330ci coupe. We sold our 330 to a friend of ours so we know that it went to a good home.

Enjoy your new car. We are doing the same.

[noro]

I can tell you that the E46 is going to remain the flagship 3er, at least for me, pretty much eternally. The overall dynamic of the later year E46s (LCI) so far haven't been trumped by the E9x or the F3x. The E9x I can tell for sure since I owned that car for 3 years before I went back to an E46. The F3x is lacking something for me that I can't put a finger on yet. Certainly from what I've read so far the steering is nowhere near as crisp and communicative as on the E46. As far as I am concerned the ZHP is the best non-M 3 series ever built.

[noro]

Originally Posted by bringonthenite

Great post. The E46 looks sad and tired though.

Really? The F30 looks odd and award in the back. It's almost like they made up the front as they went.

[Paul02]

what do you do for a living?

[Dinh335]

congrats...i know how you feel. you kept your car in such great shape too and that makes it so hard.

I'm about to take deliv of my new 335, and sell my 2004 Rx8 which has been tough to part with for the same reasons- sort of grew up with a car you know.

Good luck with the f30 and glad your old car found a great home.

[screenshot]

Originally Posted by utenigma

Just like when I was a kid, the 2 (and a half this time) months of waiting seemed like forever. I read everything I could get my hands on about the car while I waited, dreaming about the day when it would arrive.

Hear hear. I think my dear fiancé is sick to death of my obsession with everything cars and BMW. Usually I know when to shut up when the audience has lost interest but I just need an outlet to talk to somebody about it! Btw, I am still waiting for my 328i which is expected in another 2 months! Oh the mixed feeling of agony and excitement.

Originally Posted by utenigma

After some stalling (and prodding from my wife) I finally put it on the market. It sold to a nice gentleman from Oklahoma who seemed really excited about his purchase, and that made me happy, but I tell you I got choked up signing over the title.

I hope my E46 goes to a good home too. My family say it’s such a shame to sell it given how perfectly I have maintained the 2003 model. Such is life, not well off enough to maintain 2 Bimmers in the garage.

Originally Posted by utenigma

Life moves on and so do we, but I will never forget tipping into the throttle for the first time 12 years ago on the onramp leaving the dealership, looking down and realizing I just crossed into triple digits.

Is that a quote from the Rosenthal video? I guess the sentiment rings true for many. Good luck with your car and may be pop out a review once you’ve spent more time with the F30.

[CarFan]

Originally Posted by Frencholivier

What a great story! Congratulations for actually caring about your car. The F30 is a new beginning. And it's good you were able to let go of the old one.

+1

[dmontic71]

Nice story. Your e46 looks like is was well maintained! My first bimmer was the e46 (I had a couple of other BMWs in between), but this F30 is awesome!

[seis-speed]

Originally Posted by bringonthenite

Great post. The E46 looks sad and tired though.

Umm no, it looks like the best car made for a particular time period. E46 was the pinnacle of BMW.