BMW E46 330d SE Touring

BMW E46 330d SE Touring

Author
Discussion

helix402

Original Poster:

7,893 posts

183 months

Thursday 23rd July 2020
quotequote all
JakeT said:
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.
I’ve done similar before, a screw down the washer pipe.

mdmay

25 posts

95 months

Friday 21st August 2020
quotequote all
Can i ask as to where you got the 6 speed gearbox from as I have been looking for one myself to do a 6 speed conversion.

Sf_Manta

2,195 posts

192 months

Friday 21st August 2020
quotequote all
mdmay said:
Can i ask as to where you got the 6 speed gearbox from as I have been looking for one myself to do a 6 speed conversion.
There's 2 options for the 6 speed swap into a Non M E46, the first being the original ZF tranmssion, which was the optional 6 speed box which does bolt in on standard mounts and such, however the prop and the gearbox don't come cheap and are harder to find than M3 components. There's also the fact the ZF 6 speed is known to be quite weak and has issues with syncromeshes.

The 2nd option and may be easier to source is the E46 or E36 M3 6 speed box, which needs the E46 M3 gearbox selector, mount and propshaft. Plus a custom 45mm long spacer and M8 x 110? bolts to fit, details are on my build thread if that helps.

tgr

1,135 posts

172 months

Friday 21st August 2020
quotequote all
Is the M gearbox a Getrag?

helix402

Original Poster:

7,893 posts

183 months

Saturday 22nd August 2020
quotequote all
I bought the box and other parts from eBay. They don’t come up too often as rust or auto box failure seem to kill 330ds. The 6 speeds are usually too new for rust to kill them. The 330d also runs a different diff in the 6 speed.

Sf_Manta

2,195 posts

192 months

Saturday 22nd August 2020
quotequote all
tgr said:
Is the M gearbox a Getrag?
Correct and as Helix said, you'll need a different final drive ratio unless you want super long gears.

mdmay

25 posts

95 months

Tuesday 25th August 2020
quotequote all
Been in search for a full 6 speed gearbox diff prop driveshafts for a while. The old 5 speed is not going to be happy with the additional torque soon to be added...

helix402

Original Poster:

7,893 posts

183 months

Tuesday 25th August 2020
quotequote all
mdmay said:
Been in search for a full 6 speed gearbox diff prop driveshafts for a while. The old 5 speed is not going to be happy with the additional torque soon to be added...
The drive shafts are the same 5/6 speed. I may have a 6 speed diff for sale soon.

helix402

Original Poster:

7,893 posts

183 months

Tuesday 25th August 2020
quotequote all
The car’s due a service now:


d_a_n1979

8,650 posts

73 months

Tuesday 25th August 2020
quotequote all
helix402 said:
The car’s due a service now:

That'll be its running in service won't it? wink

helix402

Original Poster:

7,893 posts

183 months

Tuesday 25th August 2020
quotequote all
d_a_n1979 said:
helix402 said:
The car’s due a service now:

That'll be its running in service won't it? wink
Exactly!

mdmay

25 posts

95 months

Tuesday 25th August 2020
quotequote all
helix402 said:
The drive shafts are the same 5/6 speed. I may have a 6 speed diff for sale soon.
Thanks please let me know if you do

helix402

Original Poster:

7,893 posts

183 months

Thursday 3rd September 2020
quotequote all
Service done, oil and filter+crankcase breather unit and filter. I had a genuine BMW breather unit and a choice of M57/47 and M57n/tu cyclones. The breather unit was original.

I tried both cyclones and both fitted. I fitted the later one as guessed it must be better as it’s for a newer engine.

I also changed the egr to intercooler pipe as despite being silicon the old one was leaking.

The car drives better after the service with less lag. It still has the compromised map on with less torque at low revs to save the DMF. I’m looking forward to putting the 6 speed in and getting it mapped to suit.












helix402

Original Poster:

7,893 posts

183 months

Monday 7th September 2020
quotequote all
All parts have now arrived for fitting the new rear top mounts (Bimmertune):









Reinforcement plates are Z3 style from an eBay vendor.

helix402

Original Poster:

7,893 posts

183 months

Wednesday 9th September 2020
quotequote all
6 speed conversion is done. Parts:

204ps 330d used box, prop and diff
E60 530d 218ps LUK clutch kit
New gen BMW clutch release lever and pivot thing
All new gen BMW gear lever bushes etc
New Motul gear box oil, forgot the grade
New Castrol Syntrax diff oil
New fill and drain plugs for diff and box
New diff output shaft seals
New gen BMW selector shaft seal
New prop centre bearing (Febi)
New clutch cover and flywheel bolts
New gen BMW prop cv joint

All ready fitted were the 535d prop coupling and F10 M5 illuminated gear knob

I was a tad nervous doing the job as the theory behind it was mostly based on internet research of others who had done it. Rather than first hand accounts. We all know there are some lies online!

I did my own research too with parts via realoem.
Tricky bits, prop was seized to diff. A large hammer and chisel sorted that. Both driveshafts were seized to the diff. Air chisel for that one.

The old 5 speed flywheel was fully worn out. After 1 year/10k miles 550/605Nm torque. It had a separate pilot bearing in the crank which has to be removed as the 6 speed DMF has the bearing integrated.

I tried the paper and grease drift removal method. No good. A mechanic at the workshop I was borrowing left me a Ford Cortina pilot bearing removal tool. Perfect, quick and easy.

The rest of the job was straightforward. All works apart from cruise control doesn’t work in 6th. The internet told me this would be the case.

I’ll see if my mapper can make it work when the car is mapped to suit the new transmission.

Pics:











My friend whose workshop I used asked why I bothered with all modifications. I enjoy doing it. I can’t afford a 335d yet without incurring a debt I don’t want. So just make my old 330d as quick as one. It’s also quite nice having a car that most people think is just a old BMW 3 series. Which of course, it is.

This was original map result:



Edited by helix402 on Wednesday 9th September 19:20

JakeT

5,463 posts

121 months

Friday 11th September 2020
quotequote all
Great news, Helix. I'd imagine the DDE is seeing that the revs are too low compared to what it expects for cruise to work. I'm sure that can be sorted easily.

The 6spd box is a great addition to the 330d. I felt mine was better for it over a 5spd.

Sf_Manta

2,195 posts

192 months

Friday 11th September 2020
quotequote all
helix402 said:
My friend whose workshop I used asked why I bothered with all modifications. I enjoy doing it. I can’t afford a 335d yet without incurring a debt I don’t want. So just make my old 330d as quick as one. It’s also quite nice having a car that most people think is just a old BMW 3 series. Which of course, it is.
This is exactly my sentiment, and buying something newer, means deprecication, more expensive parts to boot and more compexity especially with some of the N series engines. E46's are at the bottom of that and beginning to rise and given they're now getting towards classic status (25 years), good examples are becoming harder to find and already climbing in price.

Ok mine's a tad more modified, but I've made sure that everything can swapped out as a rule. Question is, would you want to reverse the changes? hehe

helix402

Original Poster:

7,893 posts

183 months

Friday 11th September 2020
quotequote all
I’m hoping my mapper can tweak the software to allow cruise to work. It should just be a parameter in the DDE.

I decided to upgrade my engine oil and remove the egr as the standard LL04 oil was in a poor state after 10k miles. I’ve advocated keeping the egr in the past but I think with the modifications to my current car it’s time for it to go.

I’ve gone for this oil:




I used to use the 10w50 version many years ago in my Fiat Coupe 20vt. It’s compatible with my one remaining cat.

Next marmite modification comes on Monday. It can’t be that bad as I’m using some genuine BMW parts.....

helix402

Original Poster:

7,893 posts

183 months

Saturday 12th September 2020
quotequote all
New gearbox is great. The 530d clutch is lighter than the 330d one too. The clutch plate is a more complicated design. The changes make the car more pleasant to drive.

All 6 now working:



New diff in situ, it has a different vibration damper to the 5 speed one:


helix402

Original Poster:

7,893 posts

183 months

Sunday 13th September 2020
quotequote all
Gave the car the once over underneath since the change. All good and tight and leak free, here are some pics:



Old gearbox:



Old diff:



Spare 6 speed manual diff: