BMW E46 330d SE Touring
Discussion
I only buy the pads when they are on offer with CP4LESS or Euros, it helps to drop the cost down. I just got so fed up with the amount of dust from normal pads.
Mpg has still improved though I haven’t done enough miles yet to see if it will match the old 330. I suspect it may not. My thoughts are that the mileage of the old one had allowed the engine to bed in very nicely hence giving superb mpg. This one is barely run in at 128k!
The only suspension mod so far is the M3 front arb, I’m putting off fitting the 328Ci rear (19mm) till I borrow a workshop to do the clutch. Having fitted the bar it doesn’t feel like it needs the H&R springs I had planned. Unless a rear spring snaps and a full set is cheaper than one genuine spring!
Mpg has still improved though I haven’t done enough miles yet to see if it will match the old 330. I suspect it may not. My thoughts are that the mileage of the old one had allowed the engine to bed in very nicely hence giving superb mpg. This one is barely run in at 128k!
The only suspension mod so far is the M3 front arb, I’m putting off fitting the 328Ci rear (19mm) till I borrow a workshop to do the clutch. Having fitted the bar it doesn’t feel like it needs the H&R springs I had planned. Unless a rear spring snaps and a full set is cheaper than one genuine spring!
Oil service done this morning. Did a few more bits too, 19mm rear anti roll bar to replace the 18. (If anyone wants a cheap 18mm for a car like a 328i SE or 318i SE, in fact any E46 with a 15mm rear bar, send me a pm). Also changed one fuel pipe to the filter as I had some hose on the shelf and the old one was a bit cracked.
New screen wash reservoir too as the old one was cracked and had a messy repair.
6.75l oil:
Parts ready:
I don’t do the oil filter up with this bar!
Magic funnel:
Fuel filter hoses: (old ones-I didn’t change the long one as it costs over £100)
New and old hoses:
25Nm for the new sump plug:
Manky old s wash tank:
New (used) one fitted:
19mm bar ready to go (from a 328Ci then fitted to my old 330d till I got a 21mm Eibach very cheaply, can’t afford an Eibach today!):
The joyous randomness of upside down photos.
New screen wash reservoir too as the old one was cracked and had a messy repair.
6.75l oil:
Parts ready:
I don’t do the oil filter up with this bar!
Magic funnel:
Fuel filter hoses: (old ones-I didn’t change the long one as it costs over £100)
New and old hoses:
25Nm for the new sump plug:
Manky old s wash tank:
New (used) one fitted:
19mm bar ready to go (from a 328Ci then fitted to my old 330d till I got a 21mm Eibach very cheaply, can’t afford an Eibach today!):
The joyous randomness of upside down photos.
I put a LUK clutch in. Also changed various gear linkage bits which take the play out at the lever. Some of the old ones are pictured, here are some pics of new bits used:
25Nm for the clutch bolts
This last part has been updated so you only need 2 new yellow washers.
Also changed the vacuum pipes to the engine mounts as they were manky.
I removed the primary cat and fitted a stainless decat. Mostly because the cat is huge and annoying when you change a clutch. Not that I’m planning to change the clutch again! Allegedly the de cat improves mpg and performance- we will see. I like it because it’s shiny.
I checked the underside with the car on a lift. Found two split grommets-interestingly in the places where I had to weld the floor up on the old car. Fortunately my friend had two BMW grommets on the shelf. I also checked the rear trailing arm bushes and found them cracked.
I expected that and already have one M3 bush on the shelf. Just need one more.
New clutch feels lovely. Annoyingly the weighted gear knob still rattles. It’s under warranty so I shall visit my local dealer armed with my best serious talking.
25Nm for the clutch bolts
This last part has been updated so you only need 2 new yellow washers.
Also changed the vacuum pipes to the engine mounts as they were manky.
I removed the primary cat and fitted a stainless decat. Mostly because the cat is huge and annoying when you change a clutch. Not that I’m planning to change the clutch again! Allegedly the de cat improves mpg and performance- we will see. I like it because it’s shiny.
I checked the underside with the car on a lift. Found two split grommets-interestingly in the places where I had to weld the floor up on the old car. Fortunately my friend had two BMW grommets on the shelf. I also checked the rear trailing arm bushes and found them cracked.
I expected that and already have one M3 bush on the shelf. Just need one more.
New clutch feels lovely. Annoyingly the weighted gear knob still rattles. It’s under warranty so I shall visit my local dealer armed with my best serious talking.
The clutch problem was a noisy release bearing, it wasn’t slipping yet. It was the original clutch. I arrived at the workshop at 08:30 and left at 15:00 for the clutch change. I took my time and made sure everything was cleaned and greased properly and had several tea breaks.
Changing the bushes etc on the linkage adds a fair bit to the time the clutch change takes. When it was my job to fix BMWs I could do a clutch in 2 hours. The decat does seem to be doing its job well.
Changing the bushes etc on the linkage adds a fair bit to the time the clutch change takes. When it was my job to fix BMWs I could do a clutch in 2 hours. The decat does seem to be doing its job well.
I decided to change the steering wheel as the fine wood trim is a bit much. I quite like it on the dash/doors though.
I changed the steering wheel on my last 330 for an M Sport one. I liked the appearance but preferred the rim width of the normal sport wheel.
So I decided to fit the original wheel from my old 330 bit with a piano black trim. You can’t swop plastic and wood trims.
Wheel ready to go on:
Fitted photo to follow. Steering wheel nut torque is 65Nm.
I changed the steering wheel on my last 330 for an M Sport one. I liked the appearance but preferred the rim width of the normal sport wheel.
So I decided to fit the original wheel from my old 330 bit with a piano black trim. You can’t swop plastic and wood trims.
Wheel ready to go on:
Fitted photo to follow. Steering wheel nut torque is 65Nm.
New (old with different trim)steering wheel is on:
My old 330 was due the airbag recall (drivers and passengers) so I thought I better check this one. According to the DVLA and motor industry recall checker it wasn’t. I wasn’t convinced so checked the drivers one myself:
Looks like I need a new airbag. I popped to my local dealer and they checked the BMW system-both recalls due. I explained that I needed a new drivers airbag but hadn’t checked the passengers. Booked in for the recall next week.
I then asked for my rattling gearknob to be changed under warranty. 1 hours labour at £60 to diagnose which is refundable if the gearknob is faulty!
I didn’t build the best relationship with the service advisor as I explained my thoughts on that. Despite that I have agreed to the comedy diagnosis to be done at the same time as the recall. We shall see what happens. I may remove the drivers airbag prior to the recall and give it to the service advisor with the keys (as I was told the recall takes 1.5hrs). Or this might upset them. We shall see........
My old 330 was due the airbag recall (drivers and passengers) so I thought I better check this one. According to the DVLA and motor industry recall checker it wasn’t. I wasn’t convinced so checked the drivers one myself:
Looks like I need a new airbag. I popped to my local dealer and they checked the BMW system-both recalls due. I explained that I needed a new drivers airbag but hadn’t checked the passengers. Booked in for the recall next week.
I then asked for my rattling gearknob to be changed under warranty. 1 hours labour at £60 to diagnose which is refundable if the gearknob is faulty!
I didn’t build the best relationship with the service advisor as I explained my thoughts on that. Despite that I have agreed to the comedy diagnosis to be done at the same time as the recall. We shall see what happens. I may remove the drivers airbag prior to the recall and give it to the service advisor with the keys (as I was told the recall takes 1.5hrs). Or this might upset them. We shall see........
clarkson22 said:
Good work dude I'm considering a decat on the 320d shed it doesn't have the dpf which is a bonus but have you seen any black smoke with the decat ?
No extra smoke with the decat. The secondary cat is still present. So far I’m pleased with the decat. It seems to do what it says on the tin as they say. LosingGrip said:
Bit annoyed they've told you it takes 90 minutes...i was told they need it all day! Which one did you contact?
I’m not sure on PH rules on naming the dealer but it rhymes with Pesterley. Book time for the drivers airbag recall is 25 mins-it take 5 mins max (the 25 mins includes getting the car in and out of the workshop and getting the part from stores & writing the job up). I haven’t checked the book time for the passengers, it’s a little longer.
Went to the BMW show at Sherborne today. The turn out was good despite the weather. I didn’t take many pics as the weather wasn’t conducive to photos.
Here’s my lonely car (I’m not in the BMW Car Club so didn’t want to upset them by being too close to the flags!):
The car's booked for two new airbags this week. While you wait with no wash thanks (might get it hoovered though).
Here’s my lonely car (I’m not in the BMW Car Club so didn’t want to upset them by being too close to the flags!):
The car's booked for two new airbags this week. While you wait with no wash thanks (might get it hoovered though).
I popped to my parts/tools storage place today and picked some bits up:
These will do the job on one rear corner. The big bush is an M3 one. I’ve picked my special tools up too so will change the bushes hopefully next week. I don’t want to do a four wheel alignment yet so will mark up and measure camber and toe before and reset as it was.
These will do the job on one rear corner. The big bush is an M3 one. I’ve picked my special tools up too so will change the bushes hopefully next week. I don’t want to do a four wheel alignment yet so will mark up and measure camber and toe before and reset as it was.
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