BMW E46 330dA Touring

BMW E46 330dA Touring

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helix402

Original Poster:

7,888 posts

183 months

Friday 28th October 2016
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New battery today, old one was a little weak on cold mornings. The battery was the original, 16 years and 229k miles!



helix402

Original Poster:

7,888 posts

183 months

Thursday 10th November 2016
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Gearbox service time today, new oil, filter, fill and drain plugs, magnet and two solenoids.




helix402

Original Poster:

7,888 posts

183 months

Thursday 10th November 2016
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Mines on 230k now. There's a lot of potential for the 328, have a look through my old thread for ideas. The 330 manifold is a good move.

The first no on the battery is the week of manufacture. Many years ago BMW dealerships used to have a chart displaying the battery build date and when it should be charged (on new cars prior to delivery). Then it was abandoned and they all got a full charge with the pdi.

Edited by helix402 on Thursday 10th November 20:57

helix402

Original Poster:

7,888 posts

183 months

Friday 11th November 2016
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M50 manifold won't fit the M52tu, you need an M54 330 manifold and adaptor plate for the throttle. You can bin the aux air pump too and put an M54 blanking plate on. Watch some eBay sellers with the manifolds, they'll try and sell you a non 330 manifold as a 330 one.

helix402

Original Poster:

7,888 posts

183 months

Monday 21st November 2016
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helix402

Original Poster:

7,888 posts

183 months

Thursday 24th November 2016
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If it was a manual I'd map it but I wouldn't risk it with an auto. I've got a spare M52tu sump gasket on the shelf if you need one. Thanks for the offer re 184 bits, will drop you a message if I need any.

Edited by helix402 on Thursday 24th November 07:33


Just remembered I have remapped it, but only with the BMW software for the later air mass meter.

Edited by helix402 on Thursday 24th November 09:14

helix402

Original Poster:

7,888 posts

183 months

Thursday 24th November 2016
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The prop bearing made a huge difference as it had failed (more the rubber support than the bearing itself) to the point where the prop was banging on tight turns under load.

helix402

Original Poster:

7,888 posts

183 months

Tuesday 29th November 2016
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eBay made me do it:



21mm Eibach rear anti roll bar. I have a 19 on now but wanted a 20 from a convertible, couldn't find one. If it turns my car into an oversteering disaster I'll have to put an M3 26mm on the front.

helix402

Original Poster:

7,888 posts

183 months

Thursday 1st December 2016
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New links for the rear bar:



M3 links arrived somehow, let's hope they fit!

helix402

Original Poster:

7,888 posts

183 months

Thursday 1st December 2016
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I haven't found any Compact arbs for sale yet, there seem to be more M3 ones around. I'll see how it goes first with the 21 rear bar .

helix402

Original Poster:

7,888 posts

183 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
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Turns out M3 rear anti roll bar links are shorter than standard E46 ones. Two M3 links now on eBay if anyone wants some!


helix402

Original Poster:

7,888 posts

183 months

Monday 5th December 2016
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Eibach rear bar waiting for the new links:



I had to paint it black as I can't be doing with red bits.



helix402

Original Poster:

7,888 posts

183 months

Tuesday 6th December 2016
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Bits to go on:



Rusty brackets in the bin now.


Minor eBay error, my German let me down! I thought I had a bargain from Germany for a set of H&R springs. These are the specific ones for the extra weight of the 330d Touring. It was only when I read the small print that I realised I had only ordered the fronts. With Christmas coming I can't justify buying a complete set of four now so have taken the Eibachs off the rear and put a pair of Sport rear springs on.

B8s ready for the H&R springs:



Edited by helix402 on Tuesday 6th December 18:30

helix402

Original Poster:

7,888 posts

183 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
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Springs on:



Standard Bilstein damper against B8, a somewhat larger rod in the B8!




helix402

Original Poster:

7,888 posts

183 months

Friday 9th December 2016
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H and Rs on:






This is a more sensible ride height:






Eibach 21mm rear bar on too.

helix402

Original Poster:

7,888 posts

183 months

Thursday 15th December 2016
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Updated my list of changes: BMW 330dA SE Touring

BMW Individual Interior sill trims
Philips Silver Vision/Chrome Vision headlight bulbs
Clear indicator bulbs
Bilstein B8 front dampers
H+R Sport front springs
Z4 24mm front anti roll bar
Eibach 21mm rear anti roll bar
M3 rear damper top mounts
M3 rear trailing arm bushes
O/s/f Alcantara/cloth sports seat
Sport rear springs
LED interior light bulbs
LED no plate bulbs
Z3 rear top mount plates
Purple tag steering rack
Flat wiper blades
Metal no plates
X5 silver/leather gearknob


Edited by helix402 on Thursday 15th December 21:01

helix402

Original Poster:

7,888 posts

183 months

Wednesday 4th January 2017
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TroubledSoul said:
TroubledSoul said:
Excellent thread, this has really helped me ahead of getting mine. Hope you don't mind me asking a small number of questions?

1. What size silicone hose do I need to refresh the vacuum hoses and how many are there/where are they?

2. I'm going to try the EGR delete, but if like you I find it makes things worse, did you end up purely removing and blocking the EGR vacuum hose?

3. Unless I'm mistaken, a lot of the bits such as the hose to the EGR and the Allard EGR bypass are actually listed as being 320d items but they look correct for the 184 engine to my eyes. Is this the case?

4. I've not looked into this for years, but what are the biggest OEM anti roll bars that fit?

Cheers and best of luck continuing a nice project thumbup
Glad you enjoyed the thread. This is the hose I use:






The hose connects the egr, turbo, engine mounts.

My egr is still fully connected and operational, you can bypass it by just unplugging the vacuum pipe and plugging. You can also programme the egr to operate differently (inject more or less exhaust gas) with BMW diagnostic software.

You may be right about M47 egr bits fitting, you can check on realoem if they are the same.

Re arbs, the largest front bar is 24.6 on late 4 cylinders. Compacts (320td and 325ti) have 26 front, M3s have 26.5 front or 30.8 on the CSL. I can't confirm the Compact or M3 front bars fit, I think they should. Largest rear bar is 20mm from a conv.

The easiest arb option to source and keep the price down is a 24.6 front and a 19mm rear. Watch out for some eBay sellers, they may try and sell a bar as one size when it's not.





Edited by helix402 on Wednesday 4th January 09:06

helix402

Original Poster:

7,888 posts

183 months

Wednesday 4th January 2017
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I hadn't noticed the 4 cylinder front bars were a different shape. The 24mm will definitely fit. I have B8s on the front and standard Sachs on the rear. I couldn't cope with the rear B8s, they were too firm for me. Here's an M57tu getting a new thermostat:



I haven't had B4s on my car, I've fitted them to others with no complaints.

helix402

Original Poster:

7,888 posts

183 months

Thursday 5th January 2017
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Cleaned my wheels up for a new pair of front tyres:




It's also time for a "fun" job:





helix402

Original Poster:

7,888 posts

183 months

Monday 16th January 2017
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New front to rear brake lines fitted today. I had genuine BMW ones ready to go. However when I looked at the job I realised that fitting them would mean removing the fuel tank. I didn't fancy that so made new lines out of copper. I routed them over the fuel tank. It was a bit fiddly but not too bad. The trick is to lower the tank and not undo any brake pipe clamp fixing bolts, just slide the pipes in.
Also remove the n/s fuel tank cover panel under the rear seat. I cleaned up the surface rust on the floor too. I think the copper pipes will outlast Munich's finest steel! If anyone wants a pair of gen BMW pipes for a non DSC car (ASC/ASC +T only) drop me a pm.