BMW E46 330dA Touring

[jelluzz]

Love a good 330d thread. Very enjoyable read.

Had mine for 4 years and when it left me had just clocked 250k miles (although was a facelift manual) still on the original turbo, clutch, flywheel etc. Apart from general consumables and the common E46 issues (front wishbones, trailing arm bushes etc.) never put a foot wrong.

[helix402]

Glad you enjoyed the thread. It got a new MOT today.

[helix402]

Passed a magic mileage today. It was the second time due to a cluster change, real mileage is around 10k more. Sadly nothing special happened like unicorns dancing round the car.

[helix402]

This happened! I’ve always admired various aspects of Alpinas. When I sold a project bike I had some spare cash. So what does a near 1/4 million mile 17 year old car need?
Correct, it needs a genuine Alpina B3 front bumper:

Edited by helix402 on Tuesday 3rd October 06:40

[JakeT]

So much yes right there. Love the look of an ALPINA, The E46 D3, as imagined by Helix402.

[helix402]

I’m rather pleased with it. Just waiting for new trims now as I can’t bear to put old ones on a freshly painted bumper.

[helix402]

Bumper is on. Had a new problem this week. N/s/r window decided it would open on its own. Quickly cured with a second hand switch in the door for £6.

[helix402]

New crankcase breather filter ready for the next service:



I did try the Vortex type once but found the car smoked under load with one. This is a gen BMW part.

[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.

[JakeT]

Coded on as follow me home lights when flasher activated?

Front bumper looks ace. Might need to be more careful oft he sleeping policemen now though!

[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]

[JakeT]

Did you retain the clutched fan, or move to just running the electric pusher fan?

[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.

[BFleming]

helix402 said:

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.

No gearbox oil cooler on the manual of course, just the auto.
Great thread!

[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.

[ShampooEfficient]

Was it easier with the car on its roof?

[helix402]

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