BMW E46 330dA Touring

[NiceCupOfTea]

Nice. I've just tracked down a new glass hinge for mine so hopefully sorting my annoying non-supporting glass. It's a bit weird, it looks like the knuckle of the hinge has got flipped around somehow but I'm no idea how that could have happened. Will take a pic of the two next to each other when I am mid swap.

[helix402]

Hope the hinge isn't as tricky to set up as a used tailgate! Sure it'll be straightforward.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Took the old one off and hit it with a big hammer on the workbench to try and "flip" the knuckle but it didn't work - putting it back wasn't too bad to realign, took 2 or 3 goes and it was OK!

[helix402]

Good job.

[helix402]

Pretty mileage chart:



Booked it in today for the airbag recall. I'm not wild about someone else working on my car, but I'm sure the new airbag will be worth it. I didn't get a letter from BMW, I just rang their helpline and asked.

[helix402]

Had a little suspension knock the other day, so I had to buy these:

[JakeT]

No powerflex front bushes?

[helix402]

I prefer the standard ones.

[helix402]

Oh dear. My 330dA SE is now a 330d SE. The auto box started playing up last week with a torque converter judder. Options, recon torque converter-false economy at 240k, recon autobox-£1k, too much. I've bought a manual conversion kit, much cheaper.
I've done lots of manual and auto gearbox changes, never a manual to auto. I've got ISTA, DIS, Pa Soft, INPA and probably some other stuff too so I'm sure the software changes will be ok.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Wow! My main worry about buying an auto was the chance of it grenading... Manual conversion sounds like a sensible solution.

[Sf_Manta]

If you're doing a swap to manual, don't forget to get the upgrade if it's a 5 speed box to the selector. Its apparently a doddle to do whilst the box is out, and prevents the box sticking in 5th when cold ... mine does it, despite fresh oil or such.

The 5 speed box is the tougher one of the 2 but 6 speed does give slightly better MPG, least on the petrol side of things, don't know how good the diesel boxes are.

[helix402]

I wasn't planning on the fifth gear fix, just changing all the linkage plastic bits as they wear. I may try the box and see how it is, or price up the fix bits.
It's not much work to drop the manual out again if it is sticky.

[JakeT]

Sad times indeed, and the reason I didn't buy an auto E46. Can you fit a 6spd box to one of these? I know the 204 models had them, but don't know if there was other changes to the engine.

[helix402]

6 speed fits, I chose not too as the 5 speed is cheaper.

[JakeT]

It's the DMF and clutch assembly I've found that are also much more costly for the 6spd it seems. Looks to be an interesting project though. Kudos for keeping the old thing alive.

[helix402]

I'm not quite ready for an E91 yet. I really do enjoy driving the old beast.

[helix402]

Just waiting for gearbox parts now. My understanding of the software side is:

Ews, recode to manual
Dde, reprogramme to manual
Ike, recode to manual (done)

[tgr]

Is that it helix? No changes to the DME required?

[helix402]

The DDE needs reprogramming as a manual, I will use ISTA P to reprogramme it with the updated software for the modified air mass meter for a manual car.





The ews needs telling the car is a manual too.

[tgr]

Thanks helix - is that the same on petrols, and apart from the gearbox and the pedal box you say a modified air mass meter is required - anything else apart from reprogramming?