Staff Car Gallery – BMW 330ci E46

As many of you will already be aware from previous Staff Car Gallery posts, our staff love modified and performance cars, just as much as our customers do. Today, we would like to introduce you to Reece and his BMW 330ci E46.

Reece works in our I.T. department and has always been fascinated by the world of cars and bikes. Originally Reece owned a bike however he decided to grow an interest in cars when he had a bad accident not so long ago. Since then, he has owned a number of them. His previous cars include a Vauxhall Corsa VXR in addition to an Audi A3 S-Line. But now, let's talk about his BMW 330ci E46...

Reece's BMW has a 3.0 litre, naturally aspirated, 6 cylinder engine (petrol). The car is rear wheel drive and gives out around 230bhp. It comes with the full 'M Sport' pack (this includes the wheels, body kit, door sills and suspension). It also has 18 inch MV2 alloys on it.

Staff Car Gallery

We asked Reece a few questions regarding his passion for cars, his BMW and his plans for the future...

When did you first discover your interest in cars?

I first discovered a passion for cars when I came off of my motorbike. I decided that four wheels would be far better than two wheels.

What was your first ever car?

Unfortunately, it was a Ford KA Grande Prix. It was however modified to look like the ST (a model which doesn't even exist) and I have to say that it was definitely a head turner at multiple car events throughout the UK.

How has your BMW transformed from when you first bought it, to now?

I've had a number of modifications added to the car. These modifications include:

• Custom Cat-back exhaust with twin exit
• The Alloys have been refurbished, with the original 'M Sport' badges placed onto them
• K&N Air Filter
• The internal dash has been wrapped in gloss piano black
• The car has been fitted with a ZHP black leather weighted gear knob
• E60 Short Shift

How has your car improved in terms of power?

The throttle response feels far more free after the air filter had been fitted, in addition to the Cat-back which was also fitted. I would imagine that this has made improvements however I am unsure of exact gains as yet.

Will you be attending any events or car shows with your car this year?

I regularly attend local events and shows however this year I would love to take my car around the Nurburgring.

Are there any plans to modify your car in the future?

Yes, there is indeed. I have a few ideas of modifications that I would like to happen within the time frame of the next six months. These modifications include:

Cosmetic changes

• Window tinting
• Sport sun strip
• Spray calipers
• SMD conversion on the Dash
• Angel Eye headlights cree LED (these have already been purchased)

Performance and cosmetic change

• Lower the springs to improve the handling and stance of the car

Performance change

• ECU re-map to improve the torque lower down the rev range

Insurance for a BMW 330ci E46

The insurance group rating (which is a number within the range of 1-50) for this BMW is 35. Which puts it at the slightly higher end of the insurance budget.

We also asked Reece what type of insurance policy he has on the car. He explained it's a Comprehensive insurance policy, insured via Markerstudy.

We would like to say a huge thank you to Reece for taking the time to share his car with us. We hope the modification work goes well and are looking forward to seeing all the updates!

Further Information: Modified Car Insurance | Performance Car Insurance