BMW E46 330d SE Touring

BMW E46 330d SE Touring

Author
Discussion

mattyprice4004

1,327 posts

174 months

Monday 11th March 2019
quotequote all
Excellent thread, and an interesting read. With my 330d (204) on nearly 300,000 miles, I must get around to changing the vacuum hoses. smile
Watching with interest.

I'd love another on less miles, but really struggling to find an E46 with the spec I have to replace it frown

kevburner

126 posts

186 months

Monday 11th March 2019
quotequote all
Pic of boost sensor , it’s the lugs for the the plug that needs modding , 320d sensor on right



Pic of turbo I used










helix402

Original Poster:

7,858 posts

182 months

Tuesday 12th March 2019
quotequote all
kevburner said:
Pic of boost sensor , it’s the lugs for the the plug that needs modding , 320d sensor on right



Pic of turbo I used



Thanks for the info, that’s the turbo I have. Have you fitted yours?

helix402

Original Poster:

7,858 posts

182 months

Monday 18th March 2019
quotequote all
New rear tyres today. The old ones were down to 2mm in the centre. They were Conti Premium Contact 6 and had lasted 21k miles/1.5 years.

I chose Vreidestein Ultrac Cento for the replacements, at just over £50 each a lot cheaper than new Contis. I’ve been very impressed with Vred’s winter tyres so will see how these are.

Slightly annoyed to realise that the Vreds are now obsolete so won’t able be able to match the fronts (now on 3mm).





Also did an oil service last week. Annual mileage is currently averaging 16k/yr.

helix402

Original Poster:

7,858 posts

182 months

Monday 1st April 2019
quotequote all
The car goes in for the drivers door and osf wing repair next week.

There was some rust between the wing and sill as is common on the E46. I removed the wing to remove the rust. I’ll get my painter to paint the repaired section at the same time as the wing. I’ll also be removing as much trim etc before it goes to the bodyshop as despite being a great painter he is always keen to mask trim and paint up to it.

Before:



Rust:



Mostly removed:



Bilt Hamber stuff:



Painted:



Back together (needs a clean):



This is why the E46 isn’t for those who don’t like to tinker/fix their cars.

helix402

Original Poster:

7,858 posts

182 months

Wednesday 10th April 2019
quotequote all
I liked this mileage last week:



The car is currently in the body shop for a front wing and door repair and respray after my neighbour drove into it. Hopefully it’ll be back for the South West BMW show on Sun.

helix402

Original Poster:

7,858 posts

182 months

Wednesday 10th April 2019
quotequote all
This has somehow appeared in my garage:


therusterman

127 posts

119 months

Wednesday 10th April 2019
quotequote all
'Somehow'

helix402

Original Poster:

7,858 posts

182 months

Wednesday 10th April 2019
quotequote all
therusterman said:
'Somehow'
The turbo fairy magically delivered a fully rebuilt GT2660V (from an X3) which will be fitted at some point with a remap to match.

Sadly due to Brexit uncertainty the turbo fairy had to impose an import charge as the turbo was from a German car.

helix402

Original Poster:

7,858 posts

182 months

Saturday 13th April 2019
quotequote all
The car is back from the bodyshop, wing and door repaired and resprayed:





The wing matches the rest of the car now (apart from the previously replaced n/s/f wing)

Just need to clean the car to my standards now!

Darren1101

99 posts

149 months

Saturday 13th April 2019
quotequote all
Excellent. When does the turbo go on? Then is it 204bhp, or something more potent?

helix402

Original Poster:

7,858 posts

182 months

Saturday 13th April 2019
quotequote all
Darren1101 said:
Excellent. When does the turbo go on? Then is it 204bhp, or something more potent?
I’m not sure when I’ll get a free day to put the turbo on. The cars already remapped to around 210hp so will be more than that with the new turbo.

Sf_Manta

2,191 posts

191 months

Sunday 14th April 2019
quotequote all
Should make around 230bhp or so I'd guess?

Either way, it ought to be a bit of a sleeper with that upgrade Helix, car looks tidy from the bodyshop.

duds100

25 posts

194 months

Sunday 14th April 2019
quotequote all
Car is looking lovely Helix. The X3 GT2260 turbo, is that a vacum operated direct replacement for the GT2256 184PS turbo or does the install require some bits & bobs changing?

Edited by duds100 on Sunday 14th April 13:00

helix402

Original Poster:

7,858 posts

182 months

Sunday 14th April 2019
quotequote all
The later turbo is a vacuum operated one, to fit you need a different pipe from the turbo to intercooler from the later engine and the oil feed pipe is different too.

Once fitted I’ll confirm if they are the only extra parts needed. A remap is needed to make the most of the turbo. Sleeper is indeed the way I like this car. Even has standard springs.

I’ve just got back from the Sherborne BMW show so will post some pics from there later.

helix402

Original Poster:

7,858 posts

182 months

Sunday 14th April 2019
quotequote all
Had a good visit to the Sherborne Castle BMW show today:



The touring next to me had an N42, aargh run away!

Barchettaman

6,303 posts

132 months

Monday 15th April 2019
quotequote all
Cracking work as always, Helix.

I had to sell my E90 because of the incoming emissions zone in Frankfurt. I miss it.

helix402

Original Poster:

7,858 posts

182 months

Thursday 25th April 2019
quotequote all
Another wheel mid refurb:


anonymous-user

54 months

Thursday 25th April 2019
quotequote all
Barchettaman said:
Cracking work as always, Helix.

I had to sell my E90 because of the incoming emissions zone in Frankfurt. I miss it.
Wow, what standard do you have to meet now? New Car means more overall environmental impact, but I get that it does make the air where you drive it a bit less crappy.

helix402

Original Poster:

7,858 posts

182 months

Thursday 25th April 2019
quotequote all
Wheel finished:



The nsf wheel bearing has failed, I found a FAG one on EBay for £22.50: