BMW E46 330d SE Touring
Discussion
Shadowline nearly done, need to respray a few bits before fitting:
The front of the car is high in one pick as I’d just jacked it up to fit the new fuel filter duct. As UK dealers are shut I bought the duct from Latvia.
The non sport duct goes straight to the bumper. There’s no where obvious on the sport one for it to go. I guessed it must be fed from the n/s brake cooling duct. I removed the duct and BMW had done one of their great tricks I’d forgotten about.
The brake duct had a template on it to mark where an opening should be cut for the fuel cooler duct. One Stanley knife cutting session later, sorted.
I’m rather pleased with the bumper and trim updated look. It was a long drive to Latvia though.
I have the original price list for my car. Shadowline was a £310 option.
Here’s what is costs now (for a saloon):
I bought mine used for a whole lot less than the new price.
The front of the car is high in one pick as I’d just jacked it up to fit the new fuel filter duct. As UK dealers are shut I bought the duct from Latvia.
The non sport duct goes straight to the bumper. There’s no where obvious on the sport one for it to go. I guessed it must be fed from the n/s brake cooling duct. I removed the duct and BMW had done one of their great tricks I’d forgotten about.
The brake duct had a template on it to mark where an opening should be cut for the fuel cooler duct. One Stanley knife cutting session later, sorted.
I’m rather pleased with the bumper and trim updated look. It was a long drive to Latvia though.
I have the original price list for my car. Shadowline was a £310 option.
Here’s what is costs now (for a saloon):
I bought mine used for a whole lot less than the new price.
Edited by helix402 on Thursday 7th May 23:31
The car is looking great Helix, I'm also liking the sport bumper.
I've read both your 330d threads from start to finish, but I can't recall mention of water pump changes - sorry if I've missed or forgotten it.
Having finally got rid of my 330ci and bought an E92 330d, I'm interested to know if this is something you'd change as preventative maintenance around a certain age/mileage or wait until warning signs? And if the former, when would you be looking at replacing?
I have to say the M57 is fantastic and for my driving profile I should have changed ages ago, the auto in mine makes for effortless mile munching.
Thanks for taking the time to post about your cars and please continue to do so, very entertaining reads and extremely informative also.
I've read both your 330d threads from start to finish, but I can't recall mention of water pump changes - sorry if I've missed or forgotten it.
Having finally got rid of my 330ci and bought an E92 330d, I'm interested to know if this is something you'd change as preventative maintenance around a certain age/mileage or wait until warning signs? And if the former, when would you be looking at replacing?
I have to say the M57 is fantastic and for my driving profile I should have changed ages ago, the auto in mine makes for effortless mile munching.
Thanks for taking the time to post about your cars and please continue to do so, very entertaining reads and extremely informative also.
Spitfires said:
The car is looking great Helix, I'm also liking the sport bumper.
I've read both your 330d threads from start to finish, but I can't recall mention of water pump changes - sorry if I've missed or forgotten it.
Having finally got rid of my 330ci and bought an E92 330d, I'm interested to know if this is something you'd change as preventative maintenance around a certain age/mileage or wait until warning signs? And if the former, when would you be looking at replacing?
I have to say the M57 is fantastic and for my driving profile I should have changed ages ago, the auto in mine makes for effortless mile munching.
Thanks for taking the time to post about your cars and please continue to do so, very entertaining reads and extremely informative also.
Glad you’re enjoying the threads. Re M57 water pumps, it seems fairly rare for them to fail-even at high mileage. I wouldn’t bother changing one as a preventative measure. Even the petrol M54 pumps aren’t as bad as the internet makes out, the earlier M50/52/52tu pumps were less reliable. I've read both your 330d threads from start to finish, but I can't recall mention of water pump changes - sorry if I've missed or forgotten it.
Having finally got rid of my 330ci and bought an E92 330d, I'm interested to know if this is something you'd change as preventative maintenance around a certain age/mileage or wait until warning signs? And if the former, when would you be looking at replacing?
I have to say the M57 is fantastic and for my driving profile I should have changed ages ago, the auto in mine makes for effortless mile munching.
Thanks for taking the time to post about your cars and please continue to do so, very entertaining reads and extremely informative also.
I decided to change my front seats (again). I’ve had all sorts of seats in my E46s, standard, leather manual sports, leather electric sports, half alcantara sports, M3 seats.
This one has SE leather with electric lumber originally. I replaced them with M3 manual leather seats, fitted with touring/saloon rails so they bolt straight in.
I saw some local half alcantara seats for sale locally so decided to buy them. Of all my seats I like these best. Pics below (uncleaned).
If anyone wants a pair of M3 seats ready to bolt into a saloon/touring (or a Coupe as I still have the original rails)-drop me a PM.
This one has SE leather with electric lumber originally. I replaced them with M3 manual leather seats, fitted with touring/saloon rails so they bolt straight in.
I saw some local half alcantara seats for sale locally so decided to buy them. Of all my seats I like these best. Pics below (uncleaned).
If anyone wants a pair of M3 seats ready to bolt into a saloon/touring (or a Coupe as I still have the original rails)-drop me a PM.
Hi Helix, question for you if I may..
E46 330d auto, 2004.
Have been suffering with a vibration and noise from rear of car, well today, it suddenly got very much worse followed by a bang and total loss of all drive (auto)
No gears or drive at all.
Jacked up the rear, and the rear CV to diff joint has literally exploded!
All ballbearings have flown out, tearing the metal cover to shreds!
I have removed the complete CV joint from the diff and propshaft spine and am sourcing a new one.
My question is though, why..., if the bolts are still attached thru the CV joint in the diff flange, have I lost all drive?
Surely the diff would still turn, albeit flipping noisily , or am I wrong?
Cheers.
E46 330d auto, 2004.
Have been suffering with a vibration and noise from rear of car, well today, it suddenly got very much worse followed by a bang and total loss of all drive (auto)
No gears or drive at all.
Jacked up the rear, and the rear CV to diff joint has literally exploded!
All ballbearings have flown out, tearing the metal cover to shreds!
I have removed the complete CV joint from the diff and propshaft spine and am sourcing a new one.
My question is though, why..., if the bolts are still attached thru the CV joint in the diff flange, have I lost all drive?
Surely the diff would still turn, albeit flipping noisily , or am I wrong?
Cheers.
A/c packed up this afternoon. Here’s how I diagnosed the cause:
1: Looked at condenser and pipes for leaks. None seen
2. Hooked up ISTA D read all live a/c data, all ok and a/c button working
3. Had a look at the compressor:
The red space isn’t supposed to be that big. New (used) compressor is on order. Terrible really. It’s only done 163k miles over 18 years!
1: Looked at condenser and pipes for leaks. None seen
2. Hooked up ISTA D read all live a/c data, all ok and a/c button working
3. Had a look at the compressor:
The red space isn’t supposed to be that big. New (used) compressor is on order. Terrible really. It’s only done 163k miles over 18 years!
It looks to me like an internal failure of the compressor. My first check if there's any A/C issues is if the Compressor clutches in and out. I thought I had an issue of the A/C not working once, after doing a load of work on it. I checked a load of things to find I hadn't switched it on... 
JakeT said:
It looks to me like an internal failure of the compressor. My first check if there's any A/C issues is if the Compressor clutches in and out. I thought I had an issue of the A/C not working once, after doing a load of work on it. I checked a load of things to find I hadn't switched it on...
Yes, the play is within the compressor itself. I’ve never seen one fail in this way before. This happened yesterday:
(No, not a rare need to refuel, low screw wash).
It turned out the o/s headlight washer jet was leaking.
Handily I had a new one on the shelf:
Headlight out:
Old jet:
All done:
The old jet was only three years old, I think I must have upset it by having the headlight out a few times without being gentle enough.
Took an hour to do as the lower headlight trim was a pain to refit.
(No, not a rare need to refuel, low screw wash).
It turned out the o/s headlight washer jet was leaking.
Handily I had a new one on the shelf:
Headlight out:
Old jet:
All done:
The old jet was only three years old, I think I must have upset it by having the headlight out a few times without being gentle enough.
Took an hour to do as the lower headlight trim was a pain to refit.
I've stuffed a drillbit down the hose on an old car before and then buttoned it all up to stop it leaking. What's worse is I have a full set of washers and hoses sat in a box in the garage.
Either way, a good fix. That low washer light is such an annoying one to look at, as is any warning light.
Either way, a good fix. That low washer light is such an annoying one to look at, as is any warning light.
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