My BMW E46 330i Sport

My BMW E46 330i Sport

Author
Discussion

wackojacko

8,581 posts

189 months

Sunday 8th April 2012
quotequote all
petrolveins said:
wackojacko said:
M5 time it is then .....
Stedman said:
It would have to be an X350 R.
Will need to test-drive all of them nearer the time. That is if I don't catch wackojackitis in the meantime and buy another car before then. hehe
rofl Indeed ....funny you mention that .... Just as I'm in talks with a dealer about part ex' the S3 for a 330i Sport Saloon. I bought the S3 as an early 19th BDay present, problems is that I'm not 19 for another 4 months.

Stedman

7,213 posts

191 months

Sunday 8th April 2012
quotequote all
petrolveins said:
wackojacko said:
M5 time it is then .....
Stedman said:
It would have to be an X350 R.
Will need to test-drive all of them nearer the time. That is if I don't catch wackojackitis in the meantime and buy another car before then. hehe
The X308 is a VERY nice car, but not 'that' quick mid-range.

The X350s are sublime, but you'll find that out very soon smile

(Had I still been at home, i'd be rolling around in one now!) biggrin

Synchromesh

2,428 posts

165 months

Sunday 8th April 2012
quotequote all
Stedman said:
The X308 is...not 'that' quick mid-range.
How come? I would've thought a 370bhp supercharged V8 would pull hard at any revs...

Only I'm thinking about getting one at some point, but only if it would feel noticeable quicker than the T5 at any given revs.

Stedman

7,213 posts

191 months

Sunday 8th April 2012
quotequote all
Synchromesh said:
How come? I would've thought a 370bhp supercharged V8 would pull hard at any revs...

Only I'm thinking about getting one at some point, but only if it would feel noticeable quicker than the T5 at any given revs.
I would have thought so too, but apparently it's 60-100 is only about 8secs. (I say 'only', like it's not quick! But it's not mega v8 SC bonkers what we were both expecting.)

The Alu' cars are quick though driving

Synchromesh

2,428 posts

165 months

Sunday 8th April 2012
quotequote all
Stedman said:
The Alu' cars are quick though driving
You mean the X350? A little out of my price range I'm afraid...

petrolveins

Original Poster:

1,780 posts

172 months

Sunday 8th April 2012
quotequote all
wackojacko said:
rofl Indeed ....funny you mention that .... Just as I'm in talks with a dealer about part ex' the S3 for a 330i Sport Saloon. I bought the S3 as an early 19th BDay present, problems is that I'm not 19 for another 4 months.
Your Surrey area yeah? You can have a look at mine sometime, I'll take you out in it if you want. I'm pretty sure I met you briefly at the SS last week, I was the chap working there with the Ray-Bans got you and a mate out in an E63 if I recall?

wackojacko

8,581 posts

189 months

Monday 9th April 2012
quotequote all
petrolveins said:
wackojacko said:
rofl Indeed ....funny you mention that .... Just as I'm in talks with a dealer about part ex' the S3 for a 330i Sport Saloon. I bought the S3 as an early 19th BDay present, problems is that I'm not 19 for another 4 months.
Your Surrey area yeah? You can have a look at mine sometime, I'll take you out in it if you want. I'm pretty sure I met you briefly at the SS last week, I was the chap working there with the Ray-Bans got you and a mate out in an E63 if I recall?
Yep that was me smile I'm Berks, just outside Reading.

GTiFrank

625 posts

183 months

Monday 9th April 2012
quotequote all
Great car. I know the feeling of feeling grump about paying so much for insurance, but when you drive the car it feels like good value! biggrin

Benjamin Shute

128 posts

153 months

Thursday 12th April 2012
quotequote all
Sorry to move back points, but only £2000 (roughly) for that? Amazing. Cannot wait to finish college and get a full time job. Off to the classifieds I go.

petrolveins

Original Poster:

1,780 posts

172 months

Thursday 12th April 2012
quotequote all
Benjamin Shute said:
Sorry to move back points, but only £2000 (roughly) for that? Amazing. Cannot wait to finish college and get a full time job. Off to the classifieds I go.
Umm £2000 was the insurance, the car was around £4000. I'm managing to run it (just) while being at uni with a weekend job.

Benjamin Shute

128 posts

153 months

Friday 13th April 2012
quotequote all
Ah yes, sorry that was what I was referring too, cannot believe it. I didn't think I'd be able to get a 'proper' car until I was in my 20's.

petrolveins

Original Poster:

1,780 posts

172 months

Tuesday 22nd May 2012
quotequote all
Time for another little update. The Smileys are on! This month car has just cost me lots of petrol and lots of oil, A worrying amount of oil, which is going to be looked at, doesn't appear to be leaking under the car, Mechanic thinks there is a small rocker cover leak, and the M54s tendency to use up oil. A motor sport friend has ensured that I have a cheap source of oil though, so not too worried.

I also encountered a puncture a little while ago, and due to my stupidity in stopping on a slight hill to change it and not finding the wheel chock in the boot I moved the car and ruined a repairable tyre. So I replaced the rears with a set of Falken FK452s, very pleased, seem quieter than the old GT Radials which came on the car, and much grippier in the wet too. Also the 50 mile trip from Uni to home on the spave-saver (half the profile of the normal rears) resulted in 41mpg. Over the moon with that. Normal 23mpg service has since been resumed though. hehe

The car will be heading to Croatia and everywhere in-between during the summer for 3 weeks so is going in next month for a nice big service to get it all ready for that. I have also finally gotten rid of that butterfly valve that was seized half open in my exhaust, now it sounds simply gorgeous and deep at about 2000rpm. Also just fitted some BMW roofbars that I got on eBay for £50, some pics of those another time. Here are some recent photos, you wouldn't believe it had a full 5 hour valet about 3-4 weeks ago! eek


Dirty E46 by tlynchie, on Flickr


Dirty E46 by tlynchie, on Flickr


Dirty E46 by tlynchie, on Flickr


Dirty E46 by tlynchie, on Flickr

HughesR1

286 posts

173 months

Tuesday 22nd May 2012
quotequote all
Looking good dude!

I did my exhaust valve yesterday on the 330ci. The thing was rusted so tightly shut it actually broke off when I opened it. The noise is amazing though, you actually find yourself keeping the revs low just to hear that quiet howl thumbup

Look forward to seeing what the roof rack is like!


Max M4X WW

4,789 posts

181 months

Tuesday 22nd May 2012
quotequote all
Let us know how you find the Falken's when they are half worn or so, long running debate!

petrolveins

Original Poster:

1,780 posts

172 months

Thursday 24th May 2012
quotequote all
Max M4X WW said:
Let us know how you find the Falken's when they are half worn or so, long running debate!
Oh? What's the debate over? I had read about them on the E46 forum, and they struck me as good value for money, I got a pair of 255/35 R18s for £250.

BorkFactor

7,258 posts

157 months

Thursday 24th May 2012
quotequote all
Butterfly exhaust valve? Will my E46 328i have one of them?

Max M4X WW

4,789 posts

181 months

Thursday 24th May 2012
quotequote all
petrolveins said:
Max M4X WW said:
Let us know how you find the Falken's when they are half worn or so, long running debate!
Oh? What's the debate over? I had read about them on the E46 forum, and they struck me as good value for money, I got a pair of 255/35 R18s for £250.
The debate wether they are any good or not, I rate them but think the ever so slightly more expansive vredestein ultrac sessanta's are better.

petrolveins

Original Poster:

1,780 posts

172 months

Thursday 24th May 2012
quotequote all
BorkFactor said:
Butterfly exhaust valve? Will my E46 328i have one of them?
As far as I am aware only the 325 and the 330 had them, easy to check just look down the end of the twin pipes and if it does have one the right one should have the valve about 4 inches in. Has made a massive difference to the way it sounds, people always ask what I've done to the exhaust to make it sound so deep and lovely.

DJC

4,121 posts

207 months

Thursday 24th May 2012
quotequote all
petrolveins said:
Time for another little update.
Always like seeing your pics as I drive on these roads daily and always try to work out the exact location of each shot! [/sad]

petrolveins

Original Poster:

1,780 posts

172 months

Thursday 24th May 2012
quotequote all
DJC said:
petrolveins said:
Time for another little update.
Always like seeing your pics as I drive on these roads daily and always try to work out the exact location of each shot! [/sad]
I'm always keeping an eye out for you, whenever I'm bored I always head out that way for a little explore, resurfaced tarmac over the Beacon is very enjoyable at the moment I'm sure you'll agree.