BMW E46 330d M-Sport Touring Manual (Anyone recognise her?)
Discussion
Thanks Gents... I'm feeling rather pleased with the progress. I even had a small 'win' yesterday evening when I decided to have a go at rectifying the odd mode that my head-unit display had suddenly adopted. For some reason it decided to turn blue with graphics resembling Teletext (?). My research indicated that this is a mode that the unit adopts when the Sat Nav unit fails...
I removed the Nav unit from it's mounting location in the boot - gave the connectors a shot of contact cleaner, and when I connected it back up it whirred into life and began to boot up!!! Result.
I've also tentatively had a go at de-yellowing my misted up headlight lenses recently. Having masked everything up I took to them with varying grades of wet/dry paper before then machine polishing with a medium grade compound and then finally spraying a few coats of clear lacquer on. The overall effect was a definite improvement and I learned from the process - but I don't think I went brave enough with my grades of wet/dry at the outset, and I didn't quite take enough off the outer layer of the plastic coating since some of the misting marks can still be seen. It's only really noticeable upon close inspection. A quick glance at them and they look fine - but I know the marks are there - so I might have another go when I get the chance...
On the topic of headlights - I noticed that the nearside one had accumulated a lot of condensation after the above process??? I suppose I did directly spray a lot of water at them to keep everything lubed up when I was using the wet/dry paper - but i'm surprised that it found its way in... It hadn't happened before (despite being driven in torrential rain frequently) so I wonder if i've disturbed a seal or damaged something???
I've tried letting it stand for 24 hrs in the sunlight with the main beam bulb removed in order to allow the moisture to evaporate out - but it doesn't seem to have made any difference at all??? Any suggestions / alternative solutions gratefully received...
I removed the Nav unit from it's mounting location in the boot - gave the connectors a shot of contact cleaner, and when I connected it back up it whirred into life and began to boot up!!! Result.
I've also tentatively had a go at de-yellowing my misted up headlight lenses recently. Having masked everything up I took to them with varying grades of wet/dry paper before then machine polishing with a medium grade compound and then finally spraying a few coats of clear lacquer on. The overall effect was a definite improvement and I learned from the process - but I don't think I went brave enough with my grades of wet/dry at the outset, and I didn't quite take enough off the outer layer of the plastic coating since some of the misting marks can still be seen. It's only really noticeable upon close inspection. A quick glance at them and they look fine - but I know the marks are there - so I might have another go when I get the chance...
On the topic of headlights - I noticed that the nearside one had accumulated a lot of condensation after the above process??? I suppose I did directly spray a lot of water at them to keep everything lubed up when I was using the wet/dry paper - but i'm surprised that it found its way in... It hadn't happened before (despite being driven in torrential rain frequently) so I wonder if i've disturbed a seal or damaged something???
I've tried letting it stand for 24 hrs in the sunlight with the main beam bulb removed in order to allow the moisture to evaporate out - but it doesn't seem to have made any difference at all??? Any suggestions / alternative solutions gratefully received...
Well... It's been a little while since my last update - but actually quite a few little jobs have been ticked off the list... Firstly - I've gotta say a massive thank you to Mr Ian Clements (m2_cool_comp on insta) who has done all the work for me recently since (a) I've recently had to turn my own garage into a home gym & (b) I wouldn't have had the technical skills to do these jobs anyway!!!
First up was the replacement of the air-conditioning compressor and a re-gas of the system. This took care of things perfectly and I'm now lucky enough to have ice-cold air conditioning. It really does feel like a luxury and a privilege to have this in an older car and I'm super chuffed for all Ian's hard work to make it happen...
Also done at the same time was a change of oil, oil filter, air filter, fuel filter, cabin filter and a general once over whilst she was up in the air...
This led to a few more jobs being identified - which largely have also now been taken care of!!!
First up was a new set of rubber. Purchased via Camskill and fitted by my good friend Mr Clements.
Next was a pair of control arms, rear bushes and ARB drop links...
I'm also going to get a proper 4 wheel alignment done, but I've ordered some new track rod ends as the old ones look like they aren't keen on being easily adjusted LOL...
Some ARB bushes are also on order as well as a propshaft doughnut...
Once that's all done - the old girl is really going to get a treat in the form of a rolling road session and a proper re-map by East Sussex Tuning... Exciting times...
First up was the replacement of the air-conditioning compressor and a re-gas of the system. This took care of things perfectly and I'm now lucky enough to have ice-cold air conditioning. It really does feel like a luxury and a privilege to have this in an older car and I'm super chuffed for all Ian's hard work to make it happen...
Also done at the same time was a change of oil, oil filter, air filter, fuel filter, cabin filter and a general once over whilst she was up in the air...
This led to a few more jobs being identified - which largely have also now been taken care of!!!
First up was a new set of rubber. Purchased via Camskill and fitted by my good friend Mr Clements.
Next was a pair of control arms, rear bushes and ARB drop links...
I'm also going to get a proper 4 wheel alignment done, but I've ordered some new track rod ends as the old ones look like they aren't keen on being easily adjusted LOL...
Some ARB bushes are also on order as well as a propshaft doughnut...
Once that's all done - the old girl is really going to get a treat in the form of a rolling road session and a proper re-map by East Sussex Tuning... Exciting times...
Enjoying the new polybushes? the brakes should be also noticiby sharper too.
Though eventually you'll end up with what mine has become, and it's an absolute hoot to drive
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Though eventually you'll end up with what mine has become, and it's an absolute hoot to drive
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
That’s a serious thread you’ve got going on there!!!
What is it about the old E46 Touring that’s so addictive though??? Why are we so compelled to throw such time, effort & money on relentlessly improving them like this???
I’m hooked on mine. Just love it. The E46 represents the 3 series sweet spot to me in terms of styling. In coupe and saloon form as well touring. I can’t put my finger on it but they just have something over the others in my opinion...
First impressions of the power flex bushes are pretty positive. Can’t wait to get the ARB bushes done too.
Hopefully further updates will follow pretty soon...
What is it about the old E46 Touring that’s so addictive though??? Why are we so compelled to throw such time, effort & money on relentlessly improving them like this???
I’m hooked on mine. Just love it. The E46 represents the 3 series sweet spot to me in terms of styling. In coupe and saloon form as well touring. I can’t put my finger on it but they just have something over the others in my opinion...
First impressions of the power flex bushes are pretty positive. Can’t wait to get the ARB bushes done too.
Hopefully further updates will follow pretty soon...
In addition to these little jobs - I also recently thought I’d use some of the spare time that lockdown gave us to experiment with my bodywork restoration skills...
My front bumper has had a scuff and some cracked lacquer low down on the off side corner ever since I bought it. Having watched several YouTube guides to repairing such marks (and also having watched a professional do a similar repair in a body shop) I thought I would be reasonably well equipped to give it a go...
My front bumper has had a scuff and some cracked lacquer low down on the off side corner ever since I bought it. Having watched several YouTube guides to repairing such marks (and also having watched a professional do a similar repair in a body shop) I thought I would be reasonably well equipped to give it a go...
I tried to spend as much time as possible on getting the prep right. Getting the surfaces as smooth as possible and masking every edge as precisely as you can is supposed to be absolutely key...
I think in hindsight I didn’t flat the primer with wet & dry as much as I should have though... It felt like I was doing it for a fair old while, and it ‘looked’ to me to be perfectly flat & smooth - but once I put the colour & lacquer on it I realised that it wasn’t quite perfect...
I think I did a decent job of layering the coats so that the colour coverage was spot on, and I’m really pleased with the glossy finish created by the lacquer.
All in all a vast improvement, but I know I can improve next time...
I think in hindsight I didn’t flat the primer with wet & dry as much as I should have though... It felt like I was doing it for a fair old while, and it ‘looked’ to me to be perfectly flat & smooth - but once I put the colour & lacquer on it I realised that it wasn’t quite perfect...
I think I did a decent job of layering the coats so that the colour coverage was spot on, and I’m really pleased with the glossy finish created by the lacquer.
All in all a vast improvement, but I know I can improve next time...
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