BMW E46 330dA Touring

[helix402]

Alpina bumper on:



Car is currently showing 50mpg average. Not bad for approx 246k miles, 17 years old. Got a few little jobs to do soon, aux belt tensioner and a track rod end.

Anorak question: in my pic headlights and brake lights are on, car is locked and empty. How is this possible? No prize I’m afraid.

[helix402]

Correct! It lets me check the brake lights on my own.

[helix402]

New aux belt pulley and tensioner today. Ina parts, seems they made the originals for BMW too. Note date stamps:

















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Edited by helix402 on Thursday 2nd November 16:47

[helix402]

[helix402]

Still running the original viscous fan and electric. I did an experiment once with the viscous fan removed and just the electric when I had a 328iA E46. Engine temp was fine but gearbox temp increased. Even though this 330 is a manual now I’ll keep the viscous.

[helix402]

Glad you enjoyed it. I think the manual still runs a viscous on the 330d (I could swop it for an electric fan) but I’ll leave it on in the interests of long term reliability.

[helix402]

Another new airbag due:



This time I got a letter, for the passenger one I found out myself.

I’ve just changed the egr boost hose as the old one had started to crack. This was causing slight smoke under load. I have changed the hose once before for a used one so this time I put a silicon one on.

[helix402]

So much easier! ‘‘Tis the joy of IPhone to Pistonheads photos.

[helix402]

Took the car in today for the drivers airbag recall. I removed the airbag to save time (used to be a BMW Technician-they are paid on bonus-every second counts).

My car doesn’t need a new driver’s airbag, only ones with a yellow sticker on the back need changing. I got to drink free coffee, which was nice. I declined the free health check and wash. I’m quite clean and healthy.

Here’s the airbag:





This is the recall:

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RCRIT-17V047...

I bought this the other day:



It’s a pre cat delete pipe, nothing wrong with the pre cat, but I like shiny stainless things. Let’s hope it brings improvements unlike the egr delete. I’ll try it and see.

Edited by helix402 on Wednesday 22 November 20:17

[helix402]

The silicon egr/intercooler pipe is just visible here:

[helix402]

Here’s a pretty chart:

[helix402]

One new rear tyre going on soon:



I was on Conti Sport Contact 5s. No problems with them, apart from cost and wear rate. It’s only one tyre this time as the o/s/r was recently replaced after I drove over some debris which cut the sidewall.

[helix402]

New Pirelli ready to go on the o/s/r:





Also got a second hand o/s side skirt ready to go on:




The one on the car has a small tab broken off where another trim joins:



Now on 248000.

[helix402]

Getting there! Sure 300k will be around the corner. I may change the o/s/r arch next summer. The turbo is an unknown quantity, i.e I don’t know if it’s original or not.

Still, if it goes, it goes. I do tend to look after turbos so we’ll see.

[helix402]

It gets a Mann or Mahle oil filter and 6.75l of 5w30 LL04/VW 507 spec oil every 10k.

Then a full service with all filters and crankcase breather filter when I feel like it (maybe every other service).

I do keep on top of things, handbrake travel was a bit much so this week I stripped, cleaned, greased and adjusted it. The rear disc backplates are starting to rust so I’ll build up a pair of rear arms to go on at some point.

[helix402]

That Mannol is cheap on UK eBay too. I have a stock of Quantum Longlife 3 (VW trade oil) from my trade days and also 20l of Mercedes 229.51 which I got for £50.

[helix402]

The ATE Ceramic pads are still doing a great job of not producing lots of brake dust. Even in this season there seems to be less dust for the mud to stick to.

BMW pads:



ATE:



I’ve replaced the indicator stalk with a used one as the old one had lost it’s self cancelling ability.

[helix402]

Picked up a pair of gen BMW front discs from eBay:



£80, and I know they work well and I won’t have brake judder due to them.

Also had to order a new radiator as the existing one has a small crack in it. I’ve ordered a Nissan’s rad for £60. I don’t know if the old rad is original or not, but will find out on removal. The exp tank has been changed prior to my ownership with a gen BMW one so that’s ok. Now it’s a manual I don’t have the autobox cooler thermostat to break when I change the rad. Mpg has dropped to 49 in the cooler weather. Terrible really.

[helix402]

Retail is £191 for the discs, BMW direct are selling them for £150. The screws are normally fine to reuse, as long as you hit them hard with hammer aimed at a 6mm Allen socket before trying to undo them!

[helix402]

The rear back plates are a pain when they rust. Mine are ok, though if they do go I’ll probably build up a second harm arm/s with all new bushes, bearing and backplate.