'Oddjob' aka 2002 330i Touring
Discussion
I shall be interested to see how the gearbox swap goes, I fancy doing this if and when mine needs to come out.
I always love to see people put more effort, money and time into a car than it is seen to be worth. It’s always nice to know that you are not the only one (and mine is just keeping it going, nowhere near your standards).
Keep up the good work.
I always love to see people put more effort, money and time into a car than it is seen to be worth. It’s always nice to know that you are not the only one (and mine is just keeping it going, nowhere near your standards).
Keep up the good work.
Well another update to keep people interested.
Carpetsoiler (Sam) is the person working on my car having set up his own business so a bit of plugging for that. He has been working away on this and had a chance find on getting some components from a M3 that was being broken locally. Queue the purchase of the rear gearbox carrier, the selector assembly and the propshaft.
Some mock up fitting later, and checking, everything lined up nicely.
M3 prop to 330i diff flange is a match.
After some work, everything bolted in, the bronze pivot pin and fork has been moved over to the 6 speed and it all came together.
The propshaft though has proven a bit of a tricky thing, the center prop bearing is in the same position, but the shaft is reversed with the UJ on the other side.
This meant making a hybrid shaft up an impossibilty as we come up about 46mm short with the M3 to the 330i diff, least at the moment. It could be a case of offering up a few other shafts from the 330i automatic or 6 speed to see if those have the correct lengths, but for the time being, a machined alloy spacer is going to be machined up. I've already got a basic drawing drawn up and a STP file which will need some tweeks but should work.
Tomorrow's a case of working on the subframe and dropping off the popshaft off at a local machine shop for them to make up the spacer.
More pictures coming soon.
Carpetsoiler (Sam) is the person working on my car having set up his own business so a bit of plugging for that. He has been working away on this and had a chance find on getting some components from a M3 that was being broken locally. Queue the purchase of the rear gearbox carrier, the selector assembly and the propshaft.
Some mock up fitting later, and checking, everything lined up nicely.
M3 prop to 330i diff flange is a match.
After some work, everything bolted in, the bronze pivot pin and fork has been moved over to the 6 speed and it all came together.
The propshaft though has proven a bit of a tricky thing, the center prop bearing is in the same position, but the shaft is reversed with the UJ on the other side.
This meant making a hybrid shaft up an impossibilty as we come up about 46mm short with the M3 to the 330i diff, least at the moment. It could be a case of offering up a few other shafts from the 330i automatic or 6 speed to see if those have the correct lengths, but for the time being, a machined alloy spacer is going to be machined up. I've already got a basic drawing drawn up and a STP file which will need some tweeks but should work.
Tomorrow's a case of working on the subframe and dropping off the popshaft off at a local machine shop for them to make up the spacer.
More pictures coming soon.
helix402 said:
I’ve got a spare E65 prop you can have for free if it helps. The diff end takes the same cv joint as a 330d, not sure of the box end size.
Thanks for the offer Helix, though think we've got this worked out. Sam (Carpetsoiler) has all the details and has the contacts established to do this conversion for anyone who wants to have a 6 speed conversion with a box that doesn't blow up so easily.No pictures yesterday, but some today I got an update on state of play:
Rear arms have been removed, these are going to get cleaned up and have a lick of paint while off.
Original subframe has been removed - this will probably be kept for the next referb job Sam gets on an E46, plus the Powerflex bushes removed ready to be cleaned and installed on the referbished item.
Next up was the fuel tank, which was removed, and has also been given a good clean.
The car's now been pretty much stripped at the rear ready for rub down and welding, the worst of the rust is thankfully just surface scabs which will be brushed back then treated.
The best news is that none of the subframe mounts show any signs of cracking at all, so no major repairs required, it's a straight weld in job with some minor repairs and a fresh lick of paint.
Sf_Manta said:
Thanks for the offer Helix, though think we've got this worked out. Sam (Carpetsoiler) has all the details and has the contacts established to do this conversion for anyone who wants to have a 6 speed conversion with a box that doesn't blow up so easily.
No pictures yesterday, but some today I got an update on state of play:
Rear arms have been removed, these are going to get cleaned up and have a lick of paint while off.
Original subframe has been removed - this will probably be kept for the next referb job Sam gets on an E46, plus the Powerflex bushes removed ready to be cleaned and installed on the referbished item.
Next up was the fuel tank, which was removed, and has also been given a good clean.
The car's now been pretty much stripped at the rear ready for rub down and welding, the worst of the rust is thankfully just surface scabs which will be brushed back then treated.
The best news is that none of the subframe mounts show any signs of cracking at all, so no major repairs required, it's a straight weld in job with some minor repairs and a fresh lick of paint.
Glad it’s going well. Having tidied a few E46 floors up I’d take a good look at all the grommets on the floor and under the tank, it’s where they start to rust. (I’m sure you’re man knows this already).No pictures yesterday, but some today I got an update on state of play:
Rear arms have been removed, these are going to get cleaned up and have a lick of paint while off.
Original subframe has been removed - this will probably be kept for the next referb job Sam gets on an E46, plus the Powerflex bushes removed ready to be cleaned and installed on the referbished item.
Next up was the fuel tank, which was removed, and has also been given a good clean.
The car's now been pretty much stripped at the rear ready for rub down and welding, the worst of the rust is thankfully just surface scabs which will be brushed back then treated.
The best news is that none of the subframe mounts show any signs of cracking at all, so no major repairs required, it's a straight weld in job with some minor repairs and a fresh lick of paint.
The trans tunnel significantly narrows, and the M3 box mounts further back. Hence you can't use the original brace. Plus the original doesn't push the box up a) high enough or b) at the right angle.
Believe me, I spent some time trying to use the original!
Still at the garage now, still welding up the rear end.
Believe me, I spent some time trying to use the original!
Still at the garage now, still welding up the rear end.
Pictures of the welding to be posted, soon as you get them Sam
Anyway, progress today was prep and mounting of the plates, which were TIG welded into place very neatly by Sam's contact, for anyone needing this work done and Radish Motorsport have a 3 month wait, would highly recommend Sam as so far he'll get the work done to the same level of detail
Plates offered up, thankfully in my case, no repair work was needed so no cutting of the boot floor to make repairs, so the plates were offered up for mounting. Weld through primer was applied to plates and subframe areas.
Subframe was also fitted up with all the bushes ready for refit and bolts cleaned up ready for fitting.
Dampers and upper arms have also been cleaned up
Anyway, progress today was prep and mounting of the plates, which were TIG welded into place very neatly by Sam's contact, for anyone needing this work done and Radish Motorsport have a 3 month wait, would highly recommend Sam as so far he'll get the work done to the same level of detail
Plates offered up, thankfully in my case, no repair work was needed so no cutting of the boot floor to make repairs, so the plates were offered up for mounting. Weld through primer was applied to plates and subframe areas.
Subframe was also fitted up with all the bushes ready for refit and bolts cleaned up ready for fitting.
Dampers and upper arms have also been cleaned up
Another day and Sam's been busy at working through the car. The next day or so is going to be spent cleaning up the underside, though from what he's seen, the car is in decent condition considering it's age, and there's not much rust to deal with outside light surface rust. The plates have been fully TIG'ed in and all sorted. These will be seam sealed where needed and a good lick of paint and Dinatol wax will be going on in due course.
Also some parts have had a good clean up, the subframe now has all it's bushes installed, the rear arms are going to get a good lick of paint once cleaned.
The brake lines are in bad condition though, one already failed when being dismantled. I knew these were getting close to needing replacement, so they're due to be remade in copper lines.
As for the driveline issues, the spacer's been made up for the M3 prop to my diff, just looking to find a suitable bolt, to which we may have found one from a Mercedes of all things.
That's it for now, will have more pictures as things progress.
Also some parts have had a good clean up, the subframe now has all it's bushes installed, the rear arms are going to get a good lick of paint once cleaned.
The brake lines are in bad condition though, one already failed when being dismantled. I knew these were getting close to needing replacement, so they're due to be remade in copper lines.
As for the driveline issues, the spacer's been made up for the M3 prop to my diff, just looking to find a suitable bolt, to which we may have found one from a Mercedes of all things.
That's it for now, will have more pictures as things progress.
Max M4X WW said:
Really nice progress. Who is doing the work? Not sure if its a mate or if he takes paying customers - my 325ti needs a bit of this I think!
Contact Carpetsoiler (Sam) here on PH, he's doing the work on this.Today's work was degrease, treat the rust on the underside, and seam seal the required areas.
Did find one small area that was missed welding, but it's not structual and been dealt with.
Currently being left to derust and tomorrow will be undersealed and painted. Next week will be rebuild and alignment.
Ok final post for this week, and the underseal has gone on. Mercasol and it's all sealed up now.
Next week is chasing threads and gradual reassembly. Alignment and such to do but should be all sorted by Friday, fingers crossed. I'll get it back then and reassemble the the interior next weekend.
Next week is chasing threads and gradual reassembly. Alignment and such to do but should be all sorted by Friday, fingers crossed. I'll get it back then and reassemble the the interior next weekend.
Edited by Sf_Manta on Friday 24th April 19:37
Sam's been busy today, and things are coming back together
New brake line run, the passenger side was in reasonable condition.
Tank straps cleaned up and polished, being they're stainless steel
Tank then reinstalled and connected
The subframe was then offered up and fitted, though partly had to come off to allow for more fitting of other parts.
The xenon light level sensor had some cleanup and greasing before being installed
The differential recieved some cleanup and fresh paint before it went back in too.
Upper and lower control arms went in, the trailing arms are getting a lick of paint tonight before they go back in.
That's all for now, should have more progress tomorrow, some bits need sorting including the sump gasket again, but should be all ready to go providing some bolts show up later this week.
New brake line run, the passenger side was in reasonable condition.
Tank straps cleaned up and polished, being they're stainless steel
Tank then reinstalled and connected
The subframe was then offered up and fitted, though partly had to come off to allow for more fitting of other parts.
The xenon light level sensor had some cleanup and greasing before being installed
The differential recieved some cleanup and fresh paint before it went back in too.
Upper and lower control arms went in, the trailing arms are getting a lick of paint tonight before they go back in.
That's all for now, should have more progress tomorrow, some bits need sorting including the sump gasket again, but should be all ready to go providing some bolts show up later this week.
Looking great!
I just replaced those xenon link things front and rear on my E39 as a part of a suspension refresh. They were fairly cheap and just looked a mess before.
Got them from https://www.bmwautoparts.net/en/ with a load of other bits - highly recommended.
I just replaced those xenon link things front and rear on my E39 as a part of a suspension refresh. They were fairly cheap and just looked a mess before.
Got them from https://www.bmwautoparts.net/en/ with a load of other bits - highly recommended.
Will check it out.
Anyway, another day, trailing arms have been painted and now re-fitted.
Not much today, as it's now getting into the the final bits and bobs. springs, dampers and handbrake cables still to go in and be adjusted. The car's going for alignment providing it can be extricated from the garage.. given apparently the landlord dug up up the area directly in front of the doors to remove some tanks...
Anyway, another day, trailing arms have been painted and now re-fitted.
Not much today, as it's now getting into the the final bits and bobs. springs, dampers and handbrake cables still to go in and be adjusted. The car's going for alignment providing it can be extricated from the garage.. given apparently the landlord dug up up the area directly in front of the doors to remove some tanks...
Sam's been getting onto more things, and as of today, the rear end is now back in place on the car.
Cleaned up the xenon level sensor pivot, now all in place.
The subframe had to be dropped a bit to allow fitting of these tubes for the handbrake cables
The undercoat was still setting , the bushes left their mark
Diff spacer is now mocked up in place, just waiting for the fasteners to arrive.
Sam's OCD kicked in and he's even painted the rear calipers
Springs and dampers went back in. The rear end's now all back into the car.
Tomorrow should be a case of final torque checks, hopefully the fasteners show up to allow the prop and exhaust to be refitted and a shakedown and alignment is to be done.
Cleaned up the xenon level sensor pivot, now all in place.
The subframe had to be dropped a bit to allow fitting of these tubes for the handbrake cables
The undercoat was still setting , the bushes left their mark
Diff spacer is now mocked up in place, just waiting for the fasteners to arrive.
Sam's OCD kicked in and he's even painted the rear calipers
Springs and dampers went back in. The rear end's now all back into the car.
Tomorrow should be a case of final torque checks, hopefully the fasteners show up to allow the prop and exhaust to be refitted and a shakedown and alignment is to be done.
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