E46 330ci 'vert, european wallet muncher
Discussion
As per my thread, I owned this first...
BMW E46 330ci Convertible by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
Pre-facelift 330, a lovely car, but had a few niggling issues.... it was sold on and 2 years later I bought another 330, but this time a facelift version, and it was a minter....
IMG_7727 by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
after 6 months it looked like this....
BMW E46 330 CONVERTIBLE by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
BMW E46 330 CONVERTIBLE by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
I literally only sold it because funds came available to buy an E46 M3, the 330 is a massively under estimated car, pure VFM and I would recommend one to anyone!!!
BMW E46 330ci Convertible by Cliff Judson, on FlickrPre-facelift 330, a lovely car, but had a few niggling issues.... it was sold on and 2 years later I bought another 330, but this time a facelift version, and it was a minter....
IMG_7727 by Cliff Judson, on Flickrafter 6 months it looked like this....
BMW E46 330 CONVERTIBLE by Cliff Judson, on FlickrBMW E46 330 CONVERTIBLE by Cliff Judson, on FlickrI literally only sold it because funds came available to buy an E46 M3, the 330 is a massively under estimated car, pure VFM and I would recommend one to anyone!!!
Today has not been ideal.
A colleague took me to the garage and I picked it up. A cool £1031 pounds later I drove my car away.
5 minutes later it conned out with a broken fuel pump. The mechanic came back and towed the car away to find out the problem. I'm not saying the issues are related, but in my experience with these cars when you try to fix an issue you usually uncover a few more.
I'm on the way back to the garage now to throw more money at the car. James the mechanic said he's sorted the issue so hopefully that's it for a while.
At this rate she will not be getting treated to a new set of alloys this winter and will be forced into a set of rusted steelies!!
A colleague took me to the garage and I picked it up. A cool £1031 pounds later I drove my car away.
5 minutes later it conned out with a broken fuel pump. The mechanic came back and towed the car away to find out the problem. I'm not saying the issues are related, but in my experience with these cars when you try to fix an issue you usually uncover a few more.
I'm on the way back to the garage now to throw more money at the car. James the mechanic said he's sorted the issue so hopefully that's it for a while.
At this rate she will not be getting treated to a new set of alloys this winter and will be forced into a set of rusted steelies!!
matthias73 said:
Today has not been ideal.
A colleague took me to the garage and I picked it up. A cool £1031 pounds later I drove my car away.
5 minutes later it conned out with a broken fuel pump. The mechanic came back and towed the car away to find out the problem. I'm not saying the issues are related, but in my experience with these cars when you try to fix an issue you usually uncover a few more.
I'm on the way back to the garage now to throw more money at the car. James the mechanic said he's sorted the issue so hopefully that's it for a while.
At this rate she will not be getting treated to a new set of alloys this winter and will be forced into a set of rusted steelies!!
Ouch not good on the fuel pump. Can ask what you got changed in the cooling system?A colleague took me to the garage and I picked it up. A cool £1031 pounds later I drove my car away.
5 minutes later it conned out with a broken fuel pump. The mechanic came back and towed the car away to find out the problem. I'm not saying the issues are related, but in my experience with these cars when you try to fix an issue you usually uncover a few more.
I'm on the way back to the garage now to throw more money at the car. James the mechanic said he's sorted the issue so hopefully that's it for a while.
At this rate she will not be getting treated to a new set of alloys this winter and will be forced into a set of rusted steelies!!
My theory is thus:
The fuel pump was knackered and not functioning properly. It was visibly broken and had been bouncing around inside the fuel tank which can't have helped.
When the engine is cold it runs rich. This means that a permanently rich running engine (due to a knackered thermostat) was actually overcoming the dying fuel pump. However, as soon as it got up to temperature, the engine stopped running rich. This meant it starved itself of fuel and died.
In conclusion, much like Monty burns from the Simpsons who was diagnosed with every terminal illness on the planet, the car was in effect invincible! That is, until I started fixing things.
To answer the above question:
Both 02 sensors
Thermostat
Water pump
Radiator
Top hose
Bottom hose
Belts and tensioners
Fuel pump and filter
Rear diff fluid
Random housings etc
Came to 1250. Ouch.
On the plus side, performance has improved drastically.
The fuel pump was knackered and not functioning properly. It was visibly broken and had been bouncing around inside the fuel tank which can't have helped.
When the engine is cold it runs rich. This means that a permanently rich running engine (due to a knackered thermostat) was actually overcoming the dying fuel pump. However, as soon as it got up to temperature, the engine stopped running rich. This meant it starved itself of fuel and died.
In conclusion, much like Monty burns from the Simpsons who was diagnosed with every terminal illness on the planet, the car was in effect invincible! That is, until I started fixing things.
To answer the above question:
Both 02 sensors
Thermostat
Water pump
Radiator
Top hose
Bottom hose
Belts and tensioners
Fuel pump and filter
Rear diff fluid
Random housings etc
Came to 1250. Ouch.
On the plus side, performance has improved drastically.
I drove the old girl 200 miles yesterday to my new place in Catterick.
The change in performance is quite outstanding. Where before I'd get 30-32mpg if I wasn't being silly on the motorway, I was seeing 37 on this trip. Overall, because of the silly amount of 60mph zones on the M1 North, I actually averaged 39mpg and that's including actually getting on the motorway. With the cruise control set to 61mph it was doing 42 mpg including hills.
You don't buy a car like this to save money, however I did 15 000 miles last year. I think even 5mpg difference at that sort of mileage means around 300 quid.
Man maths therefore dictate over 3 years, the work done will have paid for itself.
Oh and it goes a lot faster again.
The change in performance is quite outstanding. Where before I'd get 30-32mpg if I wasn't being silly on the motorway, I was seeing 37 on this trip. Overall, because of the silly amount of 60mph zones on the M1 North, I actually averaged 39mpg and that's including actually getting on the motorway. With the cruise control set to 61mph it was doing 42 mpg including hills.
You don't buy a car like this to save money, however I did 15 000 miles last year. I think even 5mpg difference at that sort of mileage means around 300 quid.
Man maths therefore dictate over 3 years, the work done will have paid for itself.
Oh and it goes a lot faster again.
That's great stuff! I took mine (old 330) to Cornwall last year, 240 miles there, averaged 31mpg at about 70-80 most of the way and a slight mix of 30/40/50/60mph roads off the motorway, for what they are and the price you can buy them for they're a superb car, like I said before, I have an e46 M3 now but I would never ever look down on or write off a 330.
I have a 2004 330ci coupe, 6sp manual. iv had it for 4 years and its been a great car. I have fitted a genuine bmw performance rear exhaust which I found brand new on ebay in Germany, sounds lovely without being overly loud, and I also fitted a simota carbon air intake which isn't loud until you floor it and it sounds awesome especially over 5k when it gives off a howl of intake noise that turns heads instantly. I have also fitted eibach sportlines, eibach arbs and polybushed the front control arms and rear trailing arms, along with a genuine bmw performance short shifter. its quite a sorted car now and I keep it mint. had both airbags replaced under bmw recall as well. its never had an advisory on an mot under my ownership but I think ill need to stick 2 new rear tyres on it for this years one as they are getting low and have been on it since I bought it (fronts were replaced by me) oh and I had the mv2 refurbished in bright silver with new centre caps after I bought it as well as they were letting the car down.
This is mine .
Can t beat a good 330 CI Convertible E46 , had mine for 10 years now and had nothing major go wrong so far, only consumables , tyres , brakes , so as the car is now 13 years old that s quite an achievement. Like you I fitted the Cades Tyrus Deep Dish 19 inch Alloys but with the black insert . Watch for pitting on the Chrome Dish , keep them well sealed . Happy motoring .
I've been meaning to get the tracking checked lately. Tried taking it to a garage a few weeks ago but they refused because it's a bit low.
Wish I'd trusted my instincts!
That'll be two new rears in the spring then.
More pressingly I need to get the wheel alignment sorted. I wonder if I've bent something.
Now, the good bit!
Winter tyres and genuine BBS 17' 7.5j wheels to compliment. I've only driven it to its natural habitat (the fuel pump) and checked pressures etc, but in that short drive I noticed how much nicer it is to drive.
I may keep it on 17s in the summer too.
Wish I'd trusted my instincts!
That'll be two new rears in the spring then.
More pressingly I need to get the wheel alignment sorted. I wonder if I've bent something.
Now, the good bit!
Winter tyres and genuine BBS 17' 7.5j wheels to compliment. I've only driven it to its natural habitat (the fuel pump) and checked pressures etc, but in that short drive I noticed how much nicer it is to drive.
I may keep it on 17s in the summer too.
verbarthe said:
This is mine .
Can t beat a good 330 CI Convertible E46 , had mine for 10 years now and had nothing major go wrong so far, only consumables , tyres , brakes , so as the car is now 13 years old that s quite an achievement. Like you I fitted the Cades Tyrus Deep Dish 19 inch Alloys but with the black insert . Watch for pitting on the Chrome Dish , keep them well sealed . Happy motoring .
d on the rear. The arches have been rolled in the past but think I need to go more extreme with it Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff