Probably Another E46 BMW 330ci
Discussion
Martin350 said:
That looks better 
May I suggest looking into adding an Aux in? Quite straightforward to do:
g3org3y said:
In other other news, have upgraded the ICE to the 21st century late 20th century. Had the original BMW Business cassette head unit and wanted to upgrade to the CD unit with option of aux in. Members in the BMW section mentioned a bluetooth input via the autochanger but I don't put music on my (old) phone.
If anyone wants info about the different head units out there, this is a great resource. I wanted a headunit that could play mp3 CDs (remember those!?) and have aux in capability.
Reasonable straightforward swap. Head unit very easy to get out.
A lot of people run the aux cable down the centre console and exit in the ashtray insert...seemingly my 330 is one of the few out there with the non smoking package so that was a bit annoying.
Instead decided to install it next to the DSC button.
I'm happy with the installation, looks pretty clean.
Aux in works.
Now I can finally enjoyKylie Pink Floyd properly. 
If anyone wants info about the different head units out there, this is a great resource. I wanted a headunit that could play mp3 CDs (remember those!?) and have aux in capability.
Reasonable straightforward swap. Head unit very easy to get out.
A lot of people run the aux cable down the centre console and exit in the ashtray insert...seemingly my 330 is one of the few out there with the non smoking package so that was a bit annoying.
Instead decided to install it next to the DSC button.
I'm happy with the installation, looks pretty clean.
Aux in works.
Now I can finally enjoy
Edited by g3org3y on Saturday 20th June 18:10
Martin350 said:
I lost control of the spanner...
Then about twenty minutes later I knelt on a wasp which stung my knee, ha! Not my best afternoon of spannering!
What doesn't kill you...Then about twenty minutes later I knelt on a wasp which stung my knee, ha! Not my best afternoon of spannering!
I think it looks much nicer too, and more in keeping with the rest of the car.
That's a really neat installation of the Aux in, I like that, I might well do that. Thanks for the suggestion.
It's bruised and swollen quite impressively now, it looks like my right eye has three eyelids!!
That's a really neat installation of the Aux in, I like that, I might well do that. Thanks for the suggestion.
g3org3y said:
What doesn't kill you...
Haha, if it had been 10mm lower I probably wouldn't be laughing about it now.It's bruised and swollen quite impressively now, it looks like my right eye has three eyelids!!
Edited by Martin350 on Monday 30th August 22:46
For reference, I bought a cable very similar to this one from these guys (Fruity Cables). https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/291049260423
Great service when I realised I'd bought the wrong bloody cable, so check all of their Ebay inventory to make sure you're choosing the right one.
Great service when I realised I'd bought the wrong bloody cable, so check all of their Ebay inventory to make sure you're choosing the right one.
Loooking good with the project there, they're great long distance mile munchers and with some key components replaced for new or upgraded, do handle suprisingly well when you hustle it. Mine's.. a bit more than lightly fettled with these days (engine build currently on the go) but great cars to wizz around in.
C70R said:
Court_S said:
Martin350 said:
Interesting that cooling system is mentioned again, I'll give the hoses and stuff a closer look and keep an eye on it all.
And thanks for the heater fan tip too!
I suffered with all of the E46 issues.And thanks for the heater fan tip too!
Warped / sagging rad, dead water pump and thermostat, split expansion rank, snapped rear springs and a healthy appetite for wishbones. I loved that car even though it seemed to hate my wallet! Bring a compact, the only I didn’t suffer from was rust.
I did have the classics of:
- Split intake hose
- Leaking cam cover
- Rusting arches (pattern parts for the front look cheap until you see the colour match and fit)
- Rear main seal leak (the reason I binned the second one)
It's overall a pretty robust car, but the common problems do grate.
You can add the following to my list of 'common' faults:
- Lost reverse gear (ZF autobox issue)
- GM5 unit died (electrical oddities)
This evening I returned home from a family meeting in Dorset, from Kent and back, including some driving around. About 380 miles in total.
I used pretty much a tank of fuel, and I wasn't exactly driving with economy in mind, but I've just filled up again, done the calculations and, despite some quite enthusiastic driving, it returned about 32mpg!
I'm well happy with that!
I used pretty much a tank of fuel, and I wasn't exactly driving with economy in mind, but I've just filled up again, done the calculations and, despite some quite enthusiastic driving, it returned about 32mpg!
I'm well happy with that!
Edited by Martin350 on Friday 3rd September 23:54
Martin350 said:
This evening I returned home from a family meeting in Dorset, from Kent and back, including some driving around. About 380 miles in total.
I used pretty much a tank of fuel, and I wasn't exactly driving with economy in mind, but I've just filled up again, done the calculations and, despite some quite enthusiastic driving, it returned about 32mpg!
I'm well happy with that!
That’s not bad going really. My old 325ti was pretty good on fuel and it average 31.7mpg over my ownership, more than any of the more modern BMW six pots that I’ve had since.I used pretty much a tank of fuel, and I wasn't exactly driving with economy in mind, but I've just filled up again, done the calculations and, despite some quite enthusiastic driving, it returned about 32mpg!
I'm well happy with that!
Edited by Martin350 on Friday 3rd September 23:54
Today I decided to put some fresh brake fluid through it.
Whilst I was at it and had the back end up in the air I decided to 'just do' the rear roll bar links and mounting bushes, which was a little bit fiddly and took me over an hour to do.
To be honest, they weren't bad and didn't really need doing but up until mid October I work for a large wholesale car parts supplier so I'm making the most of the impressive staff discount and kind of 'future proofing' the car. It could save me quite a bit of money and time later on.
I actually found it easier to remove the roll bar complete with the links, once I'd popped the rear silencer off its rubber hangers to make room to wiggle it all out, as the bottom link bushes were very tight on the roll bar.
It's quite an unusual set up in that the top of the roll bar links are bolted to the rear lower suspension arm via a bracket, and it's easier to unbolt the brackets from the arm and take it all out as one.
Whilst I was at it and had the back end up in the air I decided to 'just do' the rear roll bar links and mounting bushes, which was a little bit fiddly and took me over an hour to do.
To be honest, they weren't bad and didn't really need doing but up until mid October I work for a large wholesale car parts supplier so I'm making the most of the impressive staff discount and kind of 'future proofing' the car. It could save me quite a bit of money and time later on.
I actually found it easier to remove the roll bar complete with the links, once I'd popped the rear silencer off its rubber hangers to make room to wiggle it all out, as the bottom link bushes were very tight on the roll bar.
It's quite an unusual set up in that the top of the roll bar links are bolted to the rear lower suspension arm via a bracket, and it's easier to unbolt the brackets from the arm and take it all out as one.
Edited by Martin350 on Saturday 4th September 21:08
I got a few more little bits done this afternoon.
New wheel centre caps and M-Sport badges to replace these tatty old things;
New boot lid badge, the old one looked the same as the centre caps;
The stereo and some trim stuff came out again;
And thanks to the suggestions from g3org3y and C70R, I now have a neat aux in socket.
New wheel centre caps and M-Sport badges to replace these tatty old things;
New boot lid badge, the old one looked the same as the centre caps;
The stereo and some trim stuff came out again;
And thanks to the suggestions from g3org3y and C70R, I now have a neat aux in socket.
Edited by Martin350 on Saturday 18th September 22:15
I think I might have mentioned that I was feeling a slight vagueness to the steering, which didn't give much confidence when pressing on a little, and having driven a few of these cars before I was sure something still wasn't quite right.
Having done a few bits on the front suspension I had noticed that the inner and outer track rods/ends were past their best, so I replaced these, as well as the gaiters while I was at it, measuring things as best I could.
Despite my measurements, at first, things were clearly well amiss, and it took a bit of adjustment to make it actually driveable, but it still felt a little vague and wandery at the front end.
Yesterday I had the front tracking professionally set.
Today, I had cause to drive up and down the lengths of Kent and East Sussex, mostly by B-roads, and I have to say, it is now an absolute delight to drive, it really gave me confidence to press on quite well and it has become an utter joy, it's really quite well sorted now!
Apart from, I think I will get new bushes & washers for the gear lever that seems to have a little slack and doesn't feel as nice as I think it should, so that's a job for next week.
Having done a few bits on the front suspension I had noticed that the inner and outer track rods/ends were past their best, so I replaced these, as well as the gaiters while I was at it, measuring things as best I could.
Despite my measurements, at first, things were clearly well amiss, and it took a bit of adjustment to make it actually driveable, but it still felt a little vague and wandery at the front end.
Yesterday I had the front tracking professionally set.
Today, I had cause to drive up and down the lengths of Kent and East Sussex, mostly by B-roads, and I have to say, it is now an absolute delight to drive, it really gave me confidence to press on quite well and it has become an utter joy, it's really quite well sorted now!
Apart from, I think I will get new bushes & washers for the gear lever that seems to have a little slack and doesn't feel as nice as I think it should, so that's a job for next week.
Edited by Martin350 on Friday 15th October 01:26
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