E46 330 ci

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Discussion

ooral

Original Poster:

157 posts

222 months

Sunday 4th January 2009
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Just bought an E46, 330 ci Sport.

Picked it up yesterday, a 52 Plate. Cracking car, enjoying it!

I was wondering if anyone out there new of any Scottish based garages that will retrofit the sat-nav? Also any independent specialists out there??

Pork

9,453 posts

234 months

Sunday 4th January 2009
quotequote all
Congrats. Fine choice.

Why do you want the nav retro fitting? While it looks great, save yourself the hassle and buy a TomTom or similar. Far superior and much, much cheaper.

You could do it yourself, but its a pretty big job I think - carpet/seats out to do it right IIRC.

ooral

Original Poster:

157 posts

222 months

Sunday 4th January 2009
quotequote all
The tomtom or similar is the other option, i was mainly after it as it looks good! the couple of places I've seen that do it are very expensive and too far away!

Pork

9,453 posts

234 months

Sunday 4th January 2009
quotequote all
ooral said:
The tomtom or similar is the other option, i was mainly after it as it looks good! the couple of places I've seen that do it are very expensive and too far away!
Yeah, I think its one of those things that you'd do yourself or not at all (due to cost). Have you googled it? I am looking at doing the folding mirrors on mine and found several pages where guys had done the nav. e46fanatics.com was one site I think.

ooral

Original Poster:

157 posts

222 months

Sunday 4th January 2009
quotequote all
I'll have a go on there! The mirrors was another thing I was considering, does it look like an easy job? (The mirrors!)

bimmer_87

205 posts

187 months

Sunday 4th January 2009
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Well i've heard its quite an expensive fit, you need the screen, then wiring looms for gps, tv and aeriel etc, and you need 2 move something into the boot, cant remember what it was, but yeh your looking at 4 figures as a guess, then you'll need to move the climate control buttons aswell.

waremark

3,242 posts

213 months

Monday 5th January 2009
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bimmer_87 said:
Well i've heard its quite an expensive fit, you need the screen, then wiring looms for gps, tv and aeriel etc, and you need 2 move something into the boot, cant remember what it was, but yeh your looking at 4 figures as a guess, then you'll need to move the climate control buttons aswell.
And you will end up with a system which is not a patch on a Tomtom. If you need it to look more integrated than a TT, why not look into the possibility of fitting a more modern non-OEM double-din touch screen system? Apparently you can get the trim pieces to make them look as though they belong, it costs less and you get a better system. But sorry, I cannot remember where I saw the details!!

B3Svert

553 posts

192 months

Monday 5th January 2009
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In my last e46 I did not have NAV and was seriously considering doing the upgrade until I sold it for my new(er) e46 with nav.

Whilst I prefer the cleaner look of having integrated screen, (TV is also nice on the very rare occasion I am early enough at a meeting to sit outside and watch it) I would honestly recommend either just going for a cheapo Tom Tom unit or ideally a custom integrated touch screen rather than the OEM nav. Mate of mine has a 996 Turbo with a very nice custom touchscreen install he did himself, looks and works far better than the BMW unit, and you can have proper warnings for scameras on there too (which BMW nav does not do).

BMW nav is only really worth it when someone else has paid for it.

B3Svert

553 posts

192 months

Monday 5th January 2009
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Guess I should also say that retrofitting folding mirrors is possible as long as you have the wiring loom for it. Do you have electric memory seats?

Slurms

1,252 posts

204 months

Monday 5th January 2009
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If it's the 330Ci then they all came with electric memory seats.. They were an option on the saloon but standard on the 3.0ltr coupes

B3Svert

553 posts

192 months

Monday 5th January 2009
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Fox-

13,238 posts

246 months

Monday 5th January 2009
quotequote all
Slurms said:
If it's the 330Ci then they all came with electric memory seats.. They were an option on the saloon but standard on the 3.0ltr coupes
I wish I knew why BMW did this. My 530i has manual seats despite a higher list price than the 330i. Grrrr.

ooral

Original Poster:

157 posts

222 months

Monday 5th January 2009
quotequote all
It's a 330 ci, Coupe with the memory seats. Does that mean I'll have the loom for the mirrors?

Thanks for the link B3svert, I'll have a look at that!

Thanks for all the helpful comments guys.

Vee

3,096 posts

234 months

Monday 5th January 2009
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ooral said:
It's a 330 ci, Coupe with the memory seats. Does that mean I'll have the loom for the mirrors?
Yes but there are 3 types . .
6 pin, 12 pin and ribbon.
Don't just buy any autofold mirrors as the wrong ones will be a pita to fit.
You'll also need a replacement swtich from the dealer.
Finally, if your car is a sport the mirror bases will be the high gloss finish. Those of a SE will be matt finish.


Edited by Vee on Monday 5th January 17:17