BMW E46 330d SE Touring
Discussion
5harp3y said:
Do these fit the standard pop out centre caps?
They fit the two piece badges and replace the non adhesive factory ones. They don’t fit the one piece earlier badges. I have bought the latest complete caps before but didn’t like them on the E46. I sold them to a friend with an E91. I found they were a little “bling” for my taste and also protuded from the wheel centre.
Egr cooler fitted this morning:
Before:
Parts to be fitted:
Old parts removed:
New parts on:
All back together:
I cleaned the egr valve whilst it was off. I’m hoping the cooler with bring an improvement in fuel consumption and maybe power. I used some new stainless bolts for fitting it, some of the original and even some Fiat bolts I had!
Before:
Parts to be fitted:
Old parts removed:
New parts on:
All back together:
I cleaned the egr valve whilst it was off. I’m hoping the cooler with bring an improvement in fuel consumption and maybe power. I used some new stainless bolts for fitting it, some of the original and even some Fiat bolts I had!
It would appear that my egr cooler retrofit has worked as planned. My wife had the car today, todays average indicated mpg has gone up to 45.
Previous best was 43 pre cooler, was down to 41 before I reset it after I fitted the cooler.
Will my 127k 330 achieve the mpg of my 250k 330? The difference between the two cars reminds me of the good old E30 325i, the local potter to the shops car would never go as well as the high mileage car that got more open road use.
Previous best was 43 pre cooler, was down to 41 before I reset it after I fitted the cooler.
Will my 127k 330 achieve the mpg of my 250k 330? The difference between the two cars reminds me of the good old E30 325i, the local potter to the shops car would never go as well as the high mileage car that got more open road use.
My new 330 has certainly been well looked after. I know the specialist who used to service it once it left the dealer network. He is stickler for genuine parts.
Every part his garage has fitted on this car is genuine BMW, it even has four new gen BMW dampers, all brakes and filters are genuine. It’s had regular crankcase breather filters too. I was going for H&R springs like the last one but I don’t think it needs them with the thicker anti roll bars.
I’m just making it a little more to my taste. I may have to put my winter wheels on soon.
Every part his garage has fitted on this car is genuine BMW, it even has four new gen BMW dampers, all brakes and filters are genuine. It’s had regular crankcase breather filters too. I was going for H&R springs like the last one but I don’t think it needs them with the thicker anti roll bars.
I’m just making it a little more to my taste. I may have to put my winter wheels on soon.
New rear pads today, I was taking my winter wheels off so thought I’d pop some new pads in at the same time.
I had some ATE Ceramic pads on the shelf so they went in. The old pads were on 5mm at the lowest, they hadn’t hit the sensor but I prefer the ceramic pads for clean wheels. The old pads were genuine BMW.
I had some ATE Ceramic pads on the shelf so they went in. The old pads were on 5mm at the lowest, they hadn’t hit the sensor but I prefer the ceramic pads for clean wheels. The old pads were genuine BMW.
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.
Just to vindicate your point Helix - OEM rear top mounts are useless. I had replaced them along with rear shocks, wheel bearings, handbrake plates and brake lines. Lasted around 750 miles with the condition of the roads before the NSR rubber failed.
Safe to say i've just ordered the uprated poly ones from bimmertune....
Safe to say i've just ordered the uprated poly ones from bimmertune....
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.
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