ADVICE/WHAT TO LOOK FOR ON BUYING A 330D
Discussion
I think swirl flaps are only on the automatic 184Bhp E46 330D's, the manual didn't have them.
All 204Bhp 330D's have them, manual and auto.
You can buy blanking plates for them now from PMW (do a google search for the website). I think they're £15 each.
If it's had a power upgrade, then clutch/flywheel or autobox will have had a harder life.
All 204Bhp 330D's have them, manual and auto.
You can buy blanking plates for them now from PMW (do a google search for the website). I think they're £15 each.
If it's had a power upgrade, then clutch/flywheel or autobox will have had a harder life.
It just so happens I'm selling one at the moment 
What you need to look for is:
The usual stuff, crash damage, rust, over spray from repairs etc etc....
Suspension bushes wear easily and suspension control arms snap, these will be noticable on the test drive as the car will try and throw you into a hedge when you brake, some tramlining is normal.
The suspension is prone to sag a little at the rear with age, as long as the car handles ok you should be fine but check the rear springs haven't snapped, they do that quite often.
Uneven wear on tyres and corroding alloys.
Brake calipers sieze regardless of fluid services, usually front OS first.
The fuels pumps usually pack up around 60-70k with no warning.
Climate Control modules can fail.
Gear shifts start to feel vague with mileage but can be cured by new bushes but the gearbox needs to come out to do this.
Propshaft doughnuts wear out.
Rust usually appears on the rear wheelarch due to a poor rear bumper clip design, also on the tailgate.
Engine wise they are prone to swirl flap ingestion (mine isn't) and the turbos can last up to 150k miles before you need to think about changing but failure can also lunch the engine so prevention is better than cure, the 320 is worse for engine issues.
Gearboxes need the oil changing regardless of what BMW say.
Black smoke under hard acceleration is normal and a sign that the crankcase breather is clogged with oil, you can change it but it'll just get clogged again but I'm told it's worthwhile.
I'm thinking of throwing a few bob at mine in preventative maintenance and keeping it for another 100,000 miles.
Let me know if you have any more Q's, PM me if you like.
Cheers
Dave
What you need to look for is:
The usual stuff, crash damage, rust, over spray from repairs etc etc....
Suspension bushes wear easily and suspension control arms snap, these will be noticable on the test drive as the car will try and throw you into a hedge when you brake, some tramlining is normal.
The suspension is prone to sag a little at the rear with age, as long as the car handles ok you should be fine but check the rear springs haven't snapped, they do that quite often.
Uneven wear on tyres and corroding alloys.
Brake calipers sieze regardless of fluid services, usually front OS first.
The fuels pumps usually pack up around 60-70k with no warning.
Climate Control modules can fail.
Gear shifts start to feel vague with mileage but can be cured by new bushes but the gearbox needs to come out to do this.
Propshaft doughnuts wear out.
Rust usually appears on the rear wheelarch due to a poor rear bumper clip design, also on the tailgate.
Engine wise they are prone to swirl flap ingestion (mine isn't) and the turbos can last up to 150k miles before you need to think about changing but failure can also lunch the engine so prevention is better than cure, the 320 is worse for engine issues.
Gearboxes need the oil changing regardless of what BMW say.
Black smoke under hard acceleration is normal and a sign that the crankcase breather is clogged with oil, you can change it but it'll just get clogged again but I'm told it's worthwhile.
I'm thinking of throwing a few bob at mine in preventative maintenance and keeping it for another 100,000 miles.
Let me know if you have any more Q's, PM me if you like.
Cheers
Dave
Edited by DJFish on Monday 3rd May 21:13
Edited by DJFish on Monday 3rd May 21:14
DJFish said:
It just so happens I'm selling one at the moment
What you need to look for is:
The usual stuff, crash damage, rust, over spray from repairs etc etc....
Suspension bushes wear easily and suspension control arms snap, these will be noticable on the test drive as the car will try and throw you into a hedge when you brake, some tramlining is normal.
The suspension is prone to sag a little at the rear with age, as long as the car handles ok you should be fine but check the rear springs haven't snapped, they do that quite often.
Uneven wear on tyres and corroding alloys.
Brake calipers sieze regardless of fluid services, usually front OS first.
The fuels pumps usually pack up around 60-70k with no warning.
Climate Control modules can fail.
Gear shifts start to feel vague with mileage but can be cured by new bushes but the gearbox needs to come out to do this.
Propshaft doughnuts wear out.
Rust usually appears on the rear wheelarch due to a poor rear bumper clip design, also on the tailgate.
Engine wise they are prone to swirl flap ingestion (mine isn't) and the turbos can last up to 150k miles before you need to think about changing but failure can also lunch the engine so prevention is better than cure, the 320 is worse for engine issues.
Gearboxes need the oil changing regardless of what BMW say.
Black smoke under hard acceleration is normal and a sign that the crankcase breather is clogged with oil, you can change it but it'll just get clogged again but I'm told it's worthwhile.
I'm thinking of throwing a few bob at mine in preventative maintenance and keeping it for another 100,000 miles.
Let me know if you have any more Q's, PM me if you like.
Cheers
Dave
Not much to add really but owned quite a few E46's in the past these things tend to go wrong on them and not always affected by mileage:
Mass Air Flow sensors fail - Dont go second hand like I did a couple of times didnt do any favours
Injectors - again buy new if possible
Vacumn pipes split - causing poor performance
Wheel Bearings and gearbox's failing - weirdly only ever had these issues with the 330's and non of the others, Gearbox went on two of the 330d's and both times it was torque converter
What you need to look for is:
The usual stuff, crash damage, rust, over spray from repairs etc etc....
Suspension bushes wear easily and suspension control arms snap, these will be noticable on the test drive as the car will try and throw you into a hedge when you brake, some tramlining is normal.
The suspension is prone to sag a little at the rear with age, as long as the car handles ok you should be fine but check the rear springs haven't snapped, they do that quite often.
Uneven wear on tyres and corroding alloys.
Brake calipers sieze regardless of fluid services, usually front OS first.
The fuels pumps usually pack up around 60-70k with no warning.
Climate Control modules can fail.
Gear shifts start to feel vague with mileage but can be cured by new bushes but the gearbox needs to come out to do this.
Propshaft doughnuts wear out.
Rust usually appears on the rear wheelarch due to a poor rear bumper clip design, also on the tailgate.
Engine wise they are prone to swirl flap ingestion (mine isn't) and the turbos can last up to 150k miles before you need to think about changing but failure can also lunch the engine so prevention is better than cure, the 320 is worse for engine issues.
Gearboxes need the oil changing regardless of what BMW say.
Black smoke under hard acceleration is normal and a sign that the crankcase breather is clogged with oil, you can change it but it'll just get clogged again but I'm told it's worthwhile.
I'm thinking of throwing a few bob at mine in preventative maintenance and keeping it for another 100,000 miles.
Let me know if you have any more Q's, PM me if you like.
Cheers
Dave
Edited by DJFish on Monday 3rd May 21:13
Not much to add really but owned quite a few E46's in the past these things tend to go wrong on them and not always affected by mileage:
Mass Air Flow sensors fail - Dont go second hand like I did a couple of times didnt do any favours
Injectors - again buy new if possible
Vacumn pipes split - causing poor performance
Wheel Bearings and gearbox's failing - weirdly only ever had these issues with the 330's and non of the others, Gearbox went on two of the 330d's and both times it was torque converter
Edited by DJFish on Monday 3rd May 21:14
I bought my 01 330d at 109000 (now on 151000). Since I've had it I have had the fuel pump replaced (original failed), and the front suspension bushes have been replaced. Everything else works ok (touch wood!). It did (does still) have full service history though. The only annoying thing is the gearstick is very sloppy (manual), I think the linkage bushes need replacing, but it doesn't cause a problem with normal driving.
bought at 37k, now on 121k
Fuel pump sensor (£5)
Rear lights mounting thingy (£25)
Front suspension arms (£80)
2 injectors (£700)
1 auto gearbox (£1700)
Tyres: Pirelli p6000 can do 25,000 miles (£100)
not too shabby considering I've driven it about 3 times around the Earth or about 1/3 distance from the Earth to the Moon.
still puts out ~220hp at 121,000 miles.
Fuel pump sensor (£5)
Rear lights mounting thingy (£25)
Front suspension arms (£80)
2 injectors (£700)
1 auto gearbox (£1700)
Tyres: Pirelli p6000 can do 25,000 miles (£100)
not too shabby considering I've driven it about 3 times around the Earth or about 1/3 distance from the Earth to the Moon.
still puts out ~220hp at 121,000 miles.
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