BMW E46 330dA Touring
Discussion
Sadly the 328 had to go due to a new job involving a hefty commute. I wanted another auto as I've enjoyed the last one, especially driving long distances, and I'm old.
The new car has covered 220k miles. It needs a little tlc but that's half the fun. Plus people can laugh at another old BMW thread whilst spending hundreds a month on a lease car. So far I've fixed: airbag light on-£6 resistor, oil level sensor faulty-recode cluster to not display oil level warning, tailgate glass and headlight washer n/w-used GM had been fitted, not coded, carry out full software update, sorted. Replaced original trailing arm bushes with genuine BMW M3 bushes-£17.
It's also now got the 328 suspension fitted and the purple tag rack. The lieing cluster tells me I did 45 mpg on the drive home.
Edited by helix402 on Thursday 24th November 07:06
Can you explain about the oil warning light?
On my 330i the yellow oil warning comes on after the car is running about 30 seconds, then goes off within 10 seconds.
In the past new oil pressure sensor has been fitted, and recently all checks done without any faults. They cant find a reason why it's coming on. Been like this for 5k miles.
On my 330i the yellow oil warning comes on after the car is running about 30 seconds, then goes off within 10 seconds.
In the past new oil pressure sensor has been fitted, and recently all checks done without any faults. They cant find a reason why it's coming on. Been like this for 5k miles.
The oil warning is a well known E46 issue, its an easy fix. Next time you change the oil the sensor screws out of the sump and a new one simply pops back in. Not expensive either I don't think.
Nice to see a high miler live on and be used, I have had plenty and always enjoyed running them to 200k plus. If you haven't done it check your thermostats, easy change and clean the EGR valve and ensure the swirl flaps are gone. Keep clean oil in it and enjoy!
Nice to see a high miler live on and be used, I have had plenty and always enjoyed running them to 200k plus. If you haven't done it check your thermostats, easy change and clean the EGR valve and ensure the swirl flaps are gone. Keep clean oil in it and enjoy!
Thanks for the tips, I found my original launch training manual in a cupboard at home. I have a set of swirl flap blanks ready to go along with inlet manifold gaskets, later crankcase breather and a good length of silicon vacuum hose.
Both thermostats will be changed in due course for a pair of Mahle/Behr ones (genuine BMW with the badge ground off).
Both thermostats will be changed in due course for a pair of Mahle/Behr ones (genuine BMW with the badge ground off).
Did some work on it today:
All new silicon vacuum hoses, the brakes work a lot better now! The vacuum hoses run off the main vacuum pipe from the vacuum pump to the servo, hence with a split one there was a long brake pedal.
Manifold removed and swirl flap blanks fitted. New crankcase breather and filter fitted. Found a coolant leak from the pipe from the engine to the expansion tank. Fitted a new one, bled the system via the 4 bleed screws, then found the bleed screw housing on the heater pipe was cracked. The joy of old BMW cooling systems! I didn't fancy buying another pipe just for a leaking bleed screw section. I took the dremel to the clips and replaced the leaking section with a joiner. Sorted.
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All new silicon vacuum hoses, the brakes work a lot better now! The vacuum hoses run off the main vacuum pipe from the vacuum pump to the servo, hence with a split one there was a long brake pedal.
Manifold removed and swirl flap blanks fitted. New crankcase breather and filter fitted. Found a coolant leak from the pipe from the engine to the expansion tank. Fitted a new one, bled the system via the 4 bleed screws, then found the bleed screw housing on the heater pipe was cracked. The joy of old BMW cooling systems! I didn't fancy buying another pipe just for a leaking bleed screw section. I took the dremel to the clips and replaced the leaking section with a joiner. Sorted.
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Edited by helix402 on Saturday 25th June 00:53
Edited by helix402 on Saturday 25th June 00:56
Edited by helix402 on Saturday 25th June 00:58
|http://thumbsnap.com/jwL75hv7[/url][url]
|http://thumbsnap.com/TVQuWRHX[/url]
Nice looking thing that. The early E46 touring was always my favourite shape. Many moons ago my dad ran a 330i with all the toys from brand new to around 150k. Between fill ups how is the economy looking? Considered one for my commute, but they were all a little tired and I'm nowhere near as skilled as you! Top work, and keep us updated.
This one is a little tired here and there, though I have lots of new/used BMW parts on the shelf and have been working on these since they were launched. It probably wouldn't make sense I was paying someone to tidy it up. i haven't checked a brim to brim mpg yet.
I removed all the updated suspension from my 328 and fitted it which kept costs down, despite the Eibachs not being listed for the 330d. (Hence it is a little lower than Eibach intended).
I removed all the updated suspension from my 328 and fitted it which kept costs down, despite the Eibachs not being listed for the 330d. (Hence it is a little lower than Eibach intended).
It would make sense that is is a little tired with nearly 224k on the clock. Between me and my parents we have had three now, and I really like them. Make sense as a daily now as they're pretty solid things if the cooling system is looked after and still drive very well if the suspension bushes are new-ish. What plans have you got for it apart from piling on the miles?
Re the cooling system, I would normally change both stats as a matter of course. I found the egr one is a new gen BMW one which is handy. I'll change the main one for a new Mahle/Behr one in due course. I've put one new hose on and repaired another. The expansion tank and rad have been changed for gen BMW parts by a previous owner. The bushes are all ok, I changed the original (!) trailing arm bushes for gen BMW M3 ones.
Re future plans for the car, most of the work I'll be doing will be rectifying stuff rather than modding. I'll change the gearbox and diff oil and sort the rust. I'm still considering some thicker rear Spring pads as the back is quite low. Today's job, change the rear wiper spindle. The original was seized, I tried to free it off but it wasn't playing. The old one had seized to the window switch so I had to drill through the centre of the old one to free it.
Re future plans for the car, most of the work I'll be doing will be rectifying stuff rather than modding. I'll change the gearbox and diff oil and sort the rust. I'm still considering some thicker rear Spring pads as the back is quite low. Today's job, change the rear wiper spindle. The original was seized, I tried to free it off but it wasn't playing. The old one had seized to the window switch so I had to drill through the centre of the old one to free it.
helix402 said:
Re the cooling system, I would normally change both stats as a matter of course. I found the egr one is a new gen BMW one which is handy. I'll change the main one for a new Mahle/Behr one in due course. I've put one new hose on and repaired another. The expansion tank and rad have been changed for gen BMW parts by a previous owner. The bushes are all ok, I changed the original (!) trailing arm bushes for gen BMW M3 ones.
Re future plans for the car, most of the work I'll be doing will be rectifying stuff rather than modding. I'll change the gearbox and diff oil and sort the rust. I'm still considering some thicker rear Spring pads as the back is quite low. Today's job, change the rear wiper spindle. The original was seized, I tried to free it off but it wasn't playing. The old one had seized to the window switch so I had to drill through the centre of the old one to free it.
I set the rear toe to 0 deg 12' toe in (16+_10 is the spec)with the new bushes, it was toeing out before. I'll set the rear camber to -1.5 degs unloaded when I get 5 mins, and recheck the toe.Re future plans for the car, most of the work I'll be doing will be rectifying stuff rather than modding. I'll change the gearbox and diff oil and sort the rust. I'm still considering some thicker rear Spring pads as the back is quite low. Today's job, change the rear wiper spindle. The original was seized, I tried to free it off but it wasn't playing. The old one had seized to the window switch so I had to drill through the centre of the old one to free it.
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