BMW 330 Clubsport
Discussion
Just the smallest of updates.
New rear dampers (one completely expired a couple of days before the car was booked in to have them replaced), discs and pads see it with a fresh MOT.
As, I suspect with many people this year, it’s not had much use since April, so little in fact that I think I’ve managed to put more miles on the Cosworth!
Still hopefully next year will be better.
New rear dampers (one completely expired a couple of days before the car was booked in to have them replaced), discs and pads see it with a fresh MOT.
As, I suspect with many people this year, it’s not had much use since April, so little in fact that I think I’ve managed to put more miles on the Cosworth!
Still hopefully next year will be better.
And back on topic.
I got in it the other day to be greeted with the low washer fluid light. Not a problem, filled the bottle up again and all was well.
Until I got in the following day and was met with the same pretty little orange picture. “Bugger”, I thought to myself “it’s guaranteed to be something to do with the headlamp washers”.
Unimpressed with the idea of pulling the front of the car apart in the week leading up to what passes for Christmas this year, I did what any decent home car tinkerer does, start at the easy end.
To my absolute amazement, the trick of putting it off until the next day had worked, in about 10 seconds I spotted the slow drip from the area around the pump for the windscreen.
Pulling it apart I found this ( I didn’t even know it was there, so I’ve learned something)
little fella all blocked with congealed washer fluid.
It turns out the the issue was in fact this.
It was actually leaking from the motor itself. New one ordered and fitted this morning, problem solved
Not a very riveting update I know, but there’s not much going on and I seem to have time on my hands.
I got in it the other day to be greeted with the low washer fluid light. Not a problem, filled the bottle up again and all was well.
Until I got in the following day and was met with the same pretty little orange picture. “Bugger”, I thought to myself “it’s guaranteed to be something to do with the headlamp washers”.
Unimpressed with the idea of pulling the front of the car apart in the week leading up to what passes for Christmas this year, I did what any decent home car tinkerer does, start at the easy end.
To my absolute amazement, the trick of putting it off until the next day had worked, in about 10 seconds I spotted the slow drip from the area around the pump for the windscreen.
Pulling it apart I found this ( I didn’t even know it was there, so I’ve learned something)
little fella all blocked with congealed washer fluid.
It turns out the the issue was in fact this.
It was actually leaking from the motor itself. New one ordered and fitted this morning, problem solved
Not a very riveting update I know, but there’s not much going on and I seem to have time on my hands.
And, I’m back with a new mystery to solve.
I took the car out to do some shopping on Sunday and took the back way. Having very thoroughly warmed the it up on my travels, I thought that I heard the exhaust getting louder. About half a mile from Tesco I realised that it was not my usual paranoia and that the car now sounded like a tank.
Suitably embarrassed and feeling very conspicuous I crept into the car park on tick-over, checked that the exhaust was not lying on the floor and went shopping with the usual intent of checking it out properly when I got home.
Twenty minutes later, food loaded in the boot I started the car, full of trepidation.
It started perfectly making no more noise than usual. I drove five miles home without incident. How the hell can an exhaust blow that badly and then fix itself?
This of course meant that when I got home there was no apparent leak to look for
I took the car out to do some shopping on Sunday and took the back way. Having very thoroughly warmed the it up on my travels, I thought that I heard the exhaust getting louder. About half a mile from Tesco I realised that it was not my usual paranoia and that the car now sounded like a tank.
Suitably embarrassed and feeling very conspicuous I crept into the car park on tick-over, checked that the exhaust was not lying on the floor and went shopping with the usual intent of checking it out properly when I got home.
Twenty minutes later, food loaded in the boot I started the car, full of trepidation.
It started perfectly making no more noise than usual. I drove five miles home without incident. How the hell can an exhaust blow that badly and then fix itself?
This of course meant that when I got home there was no apparent leak to look for
I still have not had a chance to have a proper look, I have managed to make the blow a permanent feature though. It seems to be coming from the manifold end. I think, manifold to engine rather than manifold to exhaust. When I got it home, there was smoke/fumes from under the bonnet. That however I think is a result of the leaking gases being near the oil from the seeping cam cover gasket.
Having made it pretty much unusable, I will have to sort it out this week.
Having made it pretty much unusable, I will have to sort it out this week.
s m said:
daveco said:
What a great thread!
I'm lucky to have a 330ci sport with the 6 speed manual but the clubsport always intrigued me.
Where was the 20kg stripped from?
The engine insulation on the underside of the bonnet weighs nowt so genuinely curious as to where it was lightened.
Exhaust system flanges......I'm lucky to have a 330ci sport with the 6 speed manual but the clubsport always intrigued me.
Where was the 20kg stripped from?
The engine insulation on the underside of the bonnet weighs nowt so genuinely curious as to where it was lightened.
The sound insulation is missing from the bulkhead and/or floor. There is definitely more cabin noise than the standard, although it’s not unbearable.
I’ve only had a quick look but it seems that decent replacement manifolds for these are a bit thin on the ground. The main problem being clearance for the steering, most are listed as LHD only.
I am slightly hampered by needing the car so I cannot have it off the road while things are made or adapted. At the moment I have replaced one of the bolts that was missing which has improved things and temporarily at least made it sort of usable.
Plan A is definitely to try just replacing the gasket along with new nuts and bolts.
Amazing, SWMBO hasn’t suggested that I need to replace the car again.
Plan A is definitely to try just replacing the gasket along with new nuts and bolts.
Amazing, SWMBO hasn’t suggested that I need to replace the car again.
And I’m still being kept occupied. The EML has come on and with the codes read it seems that the Tank ventilation valve 000044 has packed up. I have learned that the Americans call it a purge valve and it appears to be located at the bottom of the inlet manifold. YouTube suggests that this is a quick and easy job (somehow I have my doubts).
The question now is, do I buy an original BMW part or one of the Febi Bilstein parts?
The question now is, do I buy an original BMW part or one of the Febi Bilstein parts?
Thank you, it’s quite therapeutic to be able to share and you can usually be sure that someone knowledgeable will be along to help. I’ve had it now for nearly 6 years and over 60k Miles now (would be more but we all know what the last year has been like).
Anyway, codes read and it is the front left that’s causing the problem. Had the car up in the air quickly and nothing visible. The car is getting a signal, the problem appears at about 50 mph which is when all the lights come back on.
I shall try to get a new sensor and hopefully have a go at the weekend.
Anyway, codes read and it is the front left that’s causing the problem. Had the car up in the air quickly and nothing visible. The car is getting a signal, the problem appears at about 50 mph which is when all the lights come back on.
I shall try to get a new sensor and hopefully have a go at the weekend.
I have a horrible feeling that it will not just be the sensor. The issue reared it’s head over some broken tarmac, making me think that it must be the result of a jolt or vibration. Also it only comes on at over 45 mph suggesting to me that it’s more likely to be a moving part causing the problem. And thirdly, experience has taught me over the years that it is rarely the simplest fix that solves things.
The wallet draining also continues as having the car in the air has also highlighted how worn the RTABs are. Having seen this has made me more acutely aware of the wayward back end when I am driving, so some poly bushes are on their way.
The wallet draining also continues as having the car in the air has also highlighted how worn the RTABs are. Having seen this has made me more acutely aware of the wayward back end when I am driving, so some poly bushes are on their way.
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