Bmw E46 Touring for £350?!

[Slow]

So my boss was looking for a economical car and he asked if I knew anyone looking to buy his car. Up to now all I knew was that it was a E46 touring of some sort with very rusty front wings.

Asked him what it is exactly. The answer? A 330i Manual!

So whats up with it? Nothing he tells me, Mot until October and is going to Mot it again for a buyer.

Fairly intrigued I asked him what he wanted for it. Knowing I already have 3 BMW's (my old e46 in bits included), a Range Rover requiring a new engine and a Rolls Royce requiring serious work. Shouldnt of asked what he wanted as I really didnt need it but ive never owned a estate so...

£600 with a fresh Mot. Utter bargain in my eyes - yes the front wings needed replaced and its on 170k miles but its a 330i manual!

Agreed to buy it off him, bearing in mind I was flying out to the US for 3 weeks. Oddly when I got my last e46 I was in the US that time as well. My mums a bit of a legend in dealing with my car addiction.

He gets the windscreen replaced as its cracked so wont pass a Mot, all ready to go he thinks. So in it goes 3 days ago - it fails.

Quite a few items on the fail sheet, the guy is upset as he belived it was a good car. Says he doesnt know what to do and says I can take it away for £350. I agree as the fails its self arent that bad and things I can do at home. Car is due to be dropped off tomorrow.



Front wings will be some duct tape over the sharp edge for now till I find wings in the correct colour on ebay.
A friend is coming to my house this weekend to weld the sill for me ready for when I return from the US. He is also bringing up a code reader from work to see whats up with the SRS light.
Mums going to get a new tyre fitted for me while im away also.
Suspension wise its all past its best, its on 170k miles. Think im going to buy a £250 set of adjustable coilovers as its cheaper than all round springs + shocks.
It mentions the tailgate wont close, boss said one day it just stopped locking, dont quite know whats up really. Shouldnt be bad to fix.

Heres some pictures he sent to me, no the wheels arent gold.








Plans for the car include cheap coilovers as mentioned above, get new wings, sort out some sport seats or buckets (whatever is cheaper really), going to try wire a aux input into the cd changer with a usb socket to charge my phone fitted too.

Really its just make a decent daily driver as my E38 is coming off the road for a respray (learning to spray myself so its a practice shell) and as 8mpg is not sensible for a 20 mile drive to Uni everyday.

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C70R said:

Love the fact that you can accumulate such a large collection of dross and still live with your mother! She must have the patience of a saint - I know mine would have kicked me around the walls if I was sponging from her and throwing money away on wrecks.

To give you a bit of a leg-up, and hopefully make sure this one is more of a bargain than some of your previous money-pits.

• Unpainted pattern wings are available for £40 or so on Ebay, or you could hold on for someone to be breaking the right coloured saloon/estate (interchangeable wings). Replacing them is a 15min job, as they are only bolted on.
• Front seats from the Sport models (saloon or estate) are a straight swap, and are loads better than the SE 'park bench' kit.
• Aux inputs are cheap and easily fitted. Get in touch with this guy (www.fruitycarcables.co.uk) and work out exactly which one you need (assume you have "Business" cassette and changer without Harmon Karden).

I know I can buy unpainted wings for £40 each, had a pair ready for my old E46 before the engine let go. Would rather buy a used set in the correct colour if I can to get a better match in my eyes.

I know the seats are a straight swap, only problem is finding a full interior without damage for a good price. If not I think a nice set of cloth bucket seats will semi match the interior.

Aux inputs are easy in post 2002 radios, believe its just a cable into the back. With the pre 2002 you need to splice into the cd changer wiring.

About the comment in regards to me "sponging", we live on a old farm with quite abit of land so they dont take up much space. I worked for her business for a year, lived in my own flat for a year and moved home as I am starting Uni in September.

bmthnick1981 said:

How the hell is your e38 doing 8mpg? My V12 e38s did 14-15 mpg round town easily!

My commute to work is about 5 miles of single track lanes with hairpin bends and often have to reverse too. The mpg obviously improves on a run but even just driving to town is 10 miles of single track lanes. The gearbox is playing up wont change up from 3rd unless its cruising for 15 seconds or so without any acceleration which is hard to do on single track lanes.

_Nathan_ said:

The tailgate not locking could be a problem with cut wires need the hinge

Remove the rubber boot covering the wires - I saw a cab where are the wire were cut on a sharp ledge inside

Bit of electrical tape..

Cheers for the info, will check it out when I get home from the US.

[Slow]

C70R said:

Slow said:

Aux inputs are easy in post 2002 radios, believe its just a cable into the back. With the pre 2002 you need to splice into the cd changer wiring.

The link I sent you will sell you an aux cable that plugs straight in the back in place of the CD changer. I know, because I fitted one to my 2002 and I've now got one on my 2001 model.
No need for cutting or splicing, just plug and play (and leave a CD in the changer to fool it).

Ah right, I remember looking into these 2 years ago when I had my first E46 and ended up changing the whole radio as it was easier. Will just buy one of these as its plug and play which makes life easy.


Ordered up some coilovers and adjustable rear camber arms off ebay. £250 for the lot delivered which is cheaper than buying new springs + shocks all round.

[Slow]

Now the boot fix doesn't look as easy to me, looks like the left side is sticking out slightly.



m

Looks like they used metal off the titanic to make this







Has a aftermarket radio so that makes life easier

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Yeh I had a e46 320ci which drank far too much oil, like 5l per 300 miles so I broke it for bits. Still got quite abit left which I can use for spares I imagine.

[Slow]

I imagine he has tried slam the boot on something and it's pushed the hinge out of alignment but won't know till I see it myself. Luckily I have a steering wheel + gear knob sat on my other car which is in a much better condition.

I was thinking a cloth alcantra type buckets, i don't ever go in the back of my car to worry about the rear seats.

[Slow]

C70R said:

Christ, that's rough up close.
It looks like it's been used as a farm runaround on the basis of the condition... Given that it's done so many miles, is it really worth spending the money on bringing it up to "presentable" standard? Surely the mechanical bits are going to be needing a fair bit of attention soon enough too?

No offence, and I'm sure you don't need my advice (based on your previous threads), but this looks like a bit of a waste of money to 'restore'. When there are decent 325/330 tourings starting at £1300 on Ebay, is it really worth pouring cash into this one?

It's not been a farm runaround, it's the Scottish weather which does this to cars. Doesn't help that my boss had a small child which made a mess of the inside.

I have a spare steering wheel and a few other inside bits so will look presentable. Infact everything bar the seats/wings/bumpers/wings/headlights.

The hinge on the tailgate was snapped so I've ordered a used one for £29 so easy enough fix. So far I've got 2 new tyres, 2 wings, coilovers, adjustable lower control arms, a friend booked to weld the sill. While I was ordering things I've also bought 4 new axle stands as my current ones have been firmly wedged below my mums corvette for 6 months. Also got a waterpump + gasket for my e30. Got quite a lot to do when I get back home, I also start uni as well so this will be fun.

[Slow]

Rear diff on it is leaky, mum says she found a wee bit of oil on the floor when she moved it. Not sure where on the diff it is leaking from as obviously I am not able to check myself yet.

How big a job is changing the seals on it?

If its rather long would my old e46 320ci diff fit? Looking at this website

http://www.bokchoys.com/differential/BMW_parts.htm

It appears the ratio would be higher which would increase acceleration? Obviously it would rev higher while cruising.

[Slow]

My Chinese suspension arrived. Got a few pictures from my mum as I wanted to check all was there.

Seems well packaged.... About all I have to say.

Will give reviews as there really isn't alot about this set on the Internet. £250 for 4 coilovers and rear adjustable arms delivered to the Highlands.

[Slow]

So I got home from the USA this afternoon so figured I will crack on.

First of all I got to look over the car myself. It really has not coped with the winters up here well at all.

I hate people with dogs... Nice tray though with some odd tools







Rust next to the tailgate, dont even gather how it starts there but whatever.



Bit next to the windscreen - stone chip caused this I guess.



Lovely rotten wings after poking it.



Rear arches are both like this, not that worried with the car being £350 haha



Dont know what happened to this.



Comes with a hands free thing, which appears to have vasaline on the back, very strange location.





It has a engine



Snapped hinge



Rear tyres on it backwards... Nuts were coppergreased so someone bothered to do that but not put the tyres the right way.



Stripped half the boot to get access to the top damper bolts which was a pain in the ass.

Never having fitted coilovers before am I correct in putting the spring adjusters in like this? Assuming the gap where my thumb is would be where the arm is.



Damper is much much shorter, it is however adjustable. Do i adjust it to be slightly smaller than stock?



Arm is drooping here so would be closer with weight on the vehicle

[Slow]

Rsdop said:

Are the rear wheels just on the wrong sides?! Don't know about the coil overs but be interested to know what they're like when fitted I'm in the market for new shocks and springs.

No the other side/ all other 3 were correct.

I got the rear ones on this evening. Sits slightly lower than when it had the snapped springs.

started on the front and the big bolt which tighens the hub round the shock base snapped. Its not a bolt and nut so I cant just cut both ends off. I need to drill the damn thing out then put a normal bolt + nut in place.

[Slow]

Finally got them fitted.... fking mission.

Snapped the bolts on both sides which attach to the bottom of the struts. Took like 15 drillbits and 3+ hours as they are threaded into the hub. They now are a classic nut and bolt affair. The suspension has obviously never been replaced.

Rear hatch hinge was really easy, just lift the glass top half and use your head to hold that end up and can change it without removing anything which helps. Also fitted a set of heko wind deflectors which were very simple.

Got both front wings in paint, going to clear coat tomorrow and see how they come out. Not expecting much as they are dangling under a car port so stuff can land on them. Better than wings which are so rusty they fail a mot. Also all the bolts holding these in were rusted/stripped heads.

[Slow]

C70R said:

Jesus, God. That thing is filthy up close. How come you can bring yourself to drive it and fit coilovers, but not give it a decent scrub? It makes my skin crawl!

How is the underneath, including the sills etc.? If the rest of the car is that rotten (the rust in the boot is coming through from under/inside the panels - terminal if not resolved), then surely there must be some fairly significant structural rot hiding away?

One very small hole in the sill and that's about it. Rust in the boot is from where the paint has been chipped I have to guess.

In other news I bought a e46 320i convertible for £400 last night. Really just bought it for the wheels and the front seats, will be breaking the rest of it up. The autobox had lost reverse so wasn't worth fixing tbh.

[Slow]

Here is the £400 320i convertible I bought yesterday. Bought mainly for the wheels + front seats (if I break it). I know they arent a straight fit as they are electric but shouldnt be too hard to wire up, theres guides online. It has coilovers and a leak free roof so would easily break for what I paid.

It has lost reverse in its autobox so unless I find a gearbox for cheap I will just break it for parts. I do however have my old 01 320i coupe manual lying in the yard still so could attempt a manual conversion but seems like a lot of work, its mot also ran out today so might need other things doing but just dont know yet as I havent looked at it.





Wheels have a nice dish on them, need repainted though really.



Really like this red interior, just a shame it wasnt a touring with red leather so I could swap it all over.



If I do take the seats I will need to do something about these as they arent needed in a non convertible.

[Slow]

Speed addicted said:

Why not put the engine and gearbox out of the 330 into the convertible? Then you would have a good engine/body combination straight away!

Dont want a convertible, always fancied a estate and at the grand old age of 21 it seems time haha.

Anyway ive just had a poke around the thing just now. Front bumper is cracked in a few spots, bonnet needs resprayed, huge array of warning lights on dash, engine missfires, drivers door doesnt open from the outside. Its going to be broken up for bits now.

Wheels could do with a refurb as have a small amount of kerbing and could do with being resprayed/powercoated.

helix402 said:

You need a saloon/touring seat rail to make the seats fit, the seat belt bolts to the seat in the 4/5 door.

I would have the seat rails from the stock seats I could use for this.

All the electrics work in the seats so happy days in that regards (hadnt seen the car prior to it turning up).

[Slow]

So I have started on the seat swap.

Not simple at all. Going to run a live from battery with a inline fuse to power them which is simple enough.

helix402 said:

You need a saloon/touring seat rail to make the seats fit, the seat belt bolts to the seat in the 4/5 door.

However the problem being the seat rails dont line up. Ignoring the seatbelt mount as I could always make one/use the convertible ones.

Only started on the passanger seat but here is the progress thus far.

Back right bolt is fine, as is the front right (in the hole in the rail)





Back left is miles off, as is the front left bolt. (should be the larger hole in the rail not the tab sticking out)





Now I cant make the left 2 line up even if I try them first, can only get 1 to fit at a time so will stick to the 2 on the right.

Width between rails on the vert seats (call it 420mm roughly)



And on the touring seats, 460mm roughly.



As you can see here the right hand rails are the same, the left however is completely different and has no easy way to swap them over.






Think the plan will be to drill new holes in the floorpan at the rear as its miles off, can probably make a bracket for the front left one however. Not quite sure 100% but might just drill a new hole at the front.

[Slow]

There is no way to swap the rails, the whole seat is built differently being the convertible, look at the bases and then look at the base of a saloon with electric seats. If I had a power seat rail for a saloon it might be possible but I want the electric and not a manual seat.

[Slow]

An update!

It failed it's mot yesterday during lunch. Handbrake doesn't work on one side and for some reason the indicator lights up with the side light.

Handbrake worked both sides a few days before so a ham fisted mot tester snapped the cable. New one fitted by 9:30pm last night. Sidelight problem was related to a led so a normal bulb sorted it.

Retest 7:30am today - passed. Filled it to the brim, drove the 10 miles to my house (30 miles now in my ownership) and loaded up.

I'm now in a hotel in bury st Edmonds, having left Inverness this morning. A average of 58mph, 31mpg including a half hour stop when the a66 (I think) was closed for a bit to let some wide loads through.

Coilovers are stiff but not too bad really, expected 20x worse from what people have said about the Chinese brands.

Braking from above 50 mph gives a really bad wobble, disappears the moment you get down to 50 though. Had an alignment done yesterday after the mot fail (next door). Had new wishbones, new trackrod ends, discs/pads brake correctly as tested in the mot so don't pull to a side. Not quite sure what it could be but that's a problem for next week when I get home.

The worst bit is that I have cracked/snapped/burst my exhaust near the front. Think it happened when I hit a crater of a pothole but I had the music up so couldn't say when it happened.

[Slow]

Jimmy Recard said:

Does this still work?

Yup. It's doing daily driver duties at the moment and has done close to 3k since it's Mot.

Might be selling it though and using the S class I bought. Not really sure as it's a good car other than the rust.

[Slow]

GrantB5 said:

Have you sorted the wings then?!

Or do you have a friendly mot man. Hope you gave that interior a clean too.

Wings got swapped for cheap pattern parts then rattle canned in the shed. Didn't come out well due to the fact someone opened the garage door and blew crap all over them. Only like 7 bolts hold them on so easy to swap around.

Interior did get a clean but I'm a messy bd. Live on a old farm so there's always mud on my feet so my carpets don't last. Need big rubber mats like the boot liners you get haha.