BMW E46 330d SE Touring
Discussion
helix402 said:
Still running well, still doing less mpg than the 250k 330d it replaced! 44 against 50. Perhaps it will increase now the warmer weather is here.
I suppose on the plus side it’s still better mpg than it’s supposed to do. I’m quite pleased with the paint finish despite doing it in the garden. I think the side skirt is the largest part I’ve ever painted. I’ve done lots of little bits over the years. I did watch closely when my friend painted the rear 1/4 on the old 330 and made a mental note of his technique. I’ll fit the parts and may wet sand them depending how they look when fitted.
I imagine it's because the old one was remapped and the new one isn't. I suppose on the plus side it’s still better mpg than it’s supposed to do. I’m quite pleased with the paint finish despite doing it in the garden. I think the side skirt is the largest part I’ve ever painted. I’ve done lots of little bits over the years. I did watch closely when my friend painted the rear 1/4 on the old 330 and made a mental note of his technique. I’ll fit the parts and may wet sand them depending how they look when fitted.
When I fist got mine (53 plate Sport Touring) I was seeing about 43 at best. Not super impressive for a diseasel. After a couple of years of ownership I eventually bit the bullet and got it mapped with a so-called 'Blend' map. MPG shot up to about 50-55, with a noticeable increase in speed and power. According to the mapper it had been increased to around 230bhp and 500 newton metres of torque over (iirc) 208hp/450nm. I did it before a long Euro trip and was kicking myself for not doing it sooner - it paid for itself after the sixth tankful.
Oh dear. The car failed to proceed today, lost power, then stalled, would not restart.
Fortunately I was able to coast safely off the dual carriageway.
Any guesses as to the cause:
I plugged Carly in:
These faults can be caused by failed under floor pump, that had been replaced by the last owner and I could hear it priming with ign on.
They can be caused by faulty rail pressure sensor or plug-but normally only on the very early M57s.
Next option: out of fuel, have I lost at “range roulette”?
Yes, a 100m walk to the petrol station and 5l diesel, sorted.
24 miles! It lies.
Fortunately I was able to coast safely off the dual carriageway.
Any guesses as to the cause:
I plugged Carly in:
These faults can be caused by failed under floor pump, that had been replaced by the last owner and I could hear it priming with ign on.
They can be caused by faulty rail pressure sensor or plug-but normally only on the very early M57s.
Next option: out of fuel, have I lost at “range roulette”?
Yes, a 100m walk to the petrol station and 5l diesel, sorted.
24 miles! It lies.
Compared to my last 330d, this one has better bodywork, the other one handled slightly better as it had H&R springs and Bilstein B8 front dampers, I think this one is about as quick as the last one now, it may or may not be as economical-hard to tell at the moment as I’m doing fewer miles.
My wife has banned me from lowering this one, a pair of B6s on the front would make for a much better ride though. I can’t justify them though as it has quite recent new Sachs dampers all round.
My wife has banned me from lowering this one, a pair of B6s on the front would make for a much better ride though. I can’t justify them though as it has quite recent new Sachs dampers all round.
Helix the rear hub bushes are on my to do list also and you seem well versed at these.. can you tell me is it just a top and bottom each side, the top being a standard replacement ball joint and the lower being a bush that you replace with a e46 m3 ball joint. Is it as simple as that? I've read somewhere about inner and outer rear hub bushes which confused me somewhat.
[quote=daniel-5zjw7] can you tell me is it just a top and bottom each side, the top being a standard replacement ball joint and the lower being a bush that you replace with a e46 m3 ball joint. Is it as simple as that.
Pretty much, the upper ball joint is replaced with a new ball joint and the lower bush is replaced with an identical ball joint to the upper. The lower ball joint is used on the E46 M3 (I think the E36 M3 too) but it’s actually the same part as the upper one on all E46s.
Pretty much, the upper ball joint is replaced with a new ball joint and the lower bush is replaced with an identical ball joint to the upper. The lower ball joint is used on the E46 M3 (I think the E36 M3 too) but it’s actually the same part as the upper one on all E46s.
eezeh said:
Helix, have you ever changed a key fob battery that appears to have gone flat?
I guess you've tried this. https://www.programyourkeys.com/BMW_3-Series_Key_R...Sticks. said:
eezeh said:
Helix, have you ever changed a key fob battery that appears to have gone flat?
I guess you've tried this. https://www.programyourkeys.com/BMW_3-Series_Key_R...Every now and then when unlocking the car with the key, only the one door will unlock & the alarm will go off
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 25th July 18:07
eezeh said:
Yeah tried that, its a bit odd because sometimes when carrying out that procedure on the first or second click of the lock it will lock the car but after that there is no response from the key.
Every now and then when unlocking the car with the key, only the one door will unlock & the alarm will go off
Have you got 2 keys? If so and it's both, it could be the G5 module, or sometimes an aged car battery will do it. or make it worse. If one, people strap them to a toothbrush charger but I've not done so myself. Every now and then when unlocking the car with the key, only the one door will unlock & the alarm will go off
Edited by eezeh on Wednesday 25th July 18:07
Sticks. said:
eezeh said:
Yeah tried that, its a bit odd because sometimes when carrying out that procedure on the first or second click of the lock it will lock the car but after that there is no response from the key.
Every now and then when unlocking the car with the key, only the one door will unlock & the alarm will go off
Have you got 2 keys? If so and it's both, it could be the G5 module, or sometimes an aged car battery will do it. or make it worse. If one, people strap them to a toothbrush charger but I've not done so myself. Every now and then when unlocking the car with the key, only the one door will unlock & the alarm will go off
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 25th July 18:07
I changed the fuel filter as I had one on the shelf and had run out of fuel the other day. It was also a chance to repaint the cooler/filter bracket as it was rusty.
It’s far from the best paint job as the rust was rather crusty. It’s better than it was and better than £30/40 ish BMW charge for a new one:
New filter is a Mahle, replacing the last one which was a Mahle with BMW stamped on it.
It’s far from the best paint job as the rust was rather crusty. It’s better than it was and better than £30/40 ish BMW charge for a new one:
New filter is a Mahle, replacing the last one which was a Mahle with BMW stamped on it.
Just catching up on your thread.
Z4M LCA bushes fit the E46 nicely and give a bit more castor, in the same way that M3 bushes do on E30's.
The m-sport arms have the same geometry as standard arms, but don't have the isolated ball joint, so should be swapped in pairs if switching style (I see you've done this now, but just for anyone reading in future).
Z4M LCA bushes fit the E46 nicely and give a bit more castor, in the same way that M3 bushes do on E30's.
The m-sport arms have the same geometry as standard arms, but don't have the isolated ball joint, so should be swapped in pairs if switching style (I see you've done this now, but just for anyone reading in future).
ndg said:
Just catching up on your thread.
Z4M LCA bushes fit the E46 nicely and give a bit more castor, in the same way that M3 bushes do on E30's.
The m-sport arms have the same geometry as standard arms, but don't have the isolated ball joint, so should be swapped in pairs if switching style (I see you've done this now, but just for anyone reading in future).
Good tip re the Z4 bushes, I did buy a pair for my last 330. I changed my mind on fitting them as I liked the handling and steering as they were so sold them on. Z4M LCA bushes fit the E46 nicely and give a bit more castor, in the same way that M3 bushes do on E30's.
The m-sport arms have the same geometry as standard arms, but don't have the isolated ball joint, so should be swapped in pairs if switching style (I see you've done this now, but just for anyone reading in future).
The other thing I've found recently is that 330i (and I think 330d's have the same brakes) and M3 pads are identical other than the clip on the back of the front pads. These clips can be bent easily so you can use the performance pads aimed at the M3 market on your 330.
I just put minted 1155's on mine for an Anglesey track day and they held up admirably, no fade all day and very streetable to boot, work well from cold etc. Generated a lot of brake dust on the track day, not enough road experience to know how bad that will be day to day yet.
I just put minted 1155's on mine for an Anglesey track day and they held up admirably, no fade all day and very streetable to boot, work well from cold etc. Generated a lot of brake dust on the track day, not enough road experience to know how bad that will be day to day yet.
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