g3org3y's shedtastic £900 BMW E46 330Ci

[helix402]

You can bin the whole aux air pump if you want.

[RDMcG]

Looks like a great buy !! Had lots of great experience with BMWs

[to3m]

I like the E46.

I had a 320d for 4 years, which I managed to roll over and put upside down in a ditch, because I'm a tard. Then I had a 330d for 7 years, which some chump - not me this time - wrote off by driving into the side of it. I'm still bitter. They were both great. I fancied a third, but I just didn't believe I'd be able to find one that wasn't a rusty pile of st

I ran the aircon permanently in both cars, and had no issues with it in both cases. Same goes for the E90 I drive now. As far as I can tell, you only get aircon problems if you switch it off. Best to leave it running permanently.

To fix the CD changer, maybe give it a whack with a hammer: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

I had problems with washer jet pressure on my 330d, and in the end it turned out to be the headlight washer jets: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[g3org3y]

Thanks chaps.

F1GTRUeno said:

Always loved MV1's and the steering wheel with the split bottom spoke.

In isolation, I'm not a massive MV1 fan but they seem to really suit the coupe. As mentioned, the 18 inch OEM staggered set up means a v annoying tyre size on the back.

Alpinas waiting...

gchristofi said:

Cracking cars these and such a steal in that condition..... I reckon they are a future classic as too many are left to rot.

They are really great looking. As alluded to in my post, they don't look 20 years old. No shame in turning up to events in this. No-one at work can believe this is a £900 car.

helix402 said:

You can bin the whole aux air pump if you want.

Is that this item?


What does it do?

to3m said:

I like the E46.

I had a 320d for 4 years, which I managed to roll over and put upside down in a ditch, because I'm a tard. Then I had a 330d for 7 years, which some chump - not me this time - wrote off by driving into the side of it. I'm still bitter. They were both great. I fancied a third, but I just didn't believe I'd be able to find one that wasn't a rusty pile of st

I ran the aircon permanently in both cars, and had no issues with it in both cases. Same goes for the E90 I drive now. As far as I can tell, you only get aircon problems if you switch it off. Best to leave it running permanently.

To fix the CD changer, maybe give it a whack with a hammer: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

I had problems with washer jet pressure on my 330d, and in the end it turned out to be the headlight washer jets: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

I saw a few E46 in and around this price point but as you mention, most are rusty as fk. This one isn't perfect, touch of bubbling NS front arch but generally pretty decent.

Build of the E46 seems ok. General impressions is that the E36 is a bit more solid. I've had 3 E36s so a bit of an E36 fanboy.

Aircon is a big help in this country imo. Many seem to think it's just to cool in the summer but the ability to dry the air and demist the windows shouldn't be underestimated.

Will find a hammer.

[ATM]

My mates cayenne v8 had an auxiliary air pump. Apparently it pumps fresh air into the exhaust while the engine is running on choke so the emissions will pass the relevant test for this age of car. So basically they fool the emissions tester by diluting the nasty gasses with nice clean fresh air.

[g3org3y]

ATM said:

My mates cayenne v8 had an auxiliary air pump. Apparently it pumps fresh air into the exhaust while the engine is running on choke so the emissions will pass the relevant test for this age of car. So basically they fool the emissions tester by diluting the nasty gasses with nice clean fresh air.

That's interesting. Never heard of that before. I presume it would only be an issue for the MoT is if the test is done first thing with the car cold.

According to this article, the ECU needs to be reprogrammed to take into account the removal.

[Steve91]

Awesome bargain for the money. I've looked into these a few times but most are wrecks for that budget!

You're in Colchester? I recognise the BMW dealers and the picture in Dedham

[ATM]

g3org3y said:

ATM said:

My mates cayenne v8 had an auxiliary air pump. Apparently it pumps fresh air into the exhaust while the engine is running on choke so the emissions will pass the relevant test for this age of car. So basically they fool the emissions tester by diluting the nasty gasses with nice clean fresh air.

That's interesting. Never heard of that before. I presume it would only be an issue for the MoT is if the test is done first thing with the car cold.

According to this article, the ECU needs to be reprogrammed to take into account the removal.

No the MOT test does not test for this as it's a very crude device. This testing is all done to prove the car can meet emissions regs before it is launched to the market. Euro 3, Euro 4 etc. I think the regs realised these were being used as a hack and regulated them out.

[magpie215]

£900.....That is a lot of car for shed money.

I'm impressed

[g3org3y]

Steve91 said:

Awesome bargain for the money. I've looked into these a few times but most are wrecks for that budget!

You're in Colchester? I recognise the BMW dealers and the picture in Dedham

Essex, it's the only way.

ATM said:

g3org3y said:

ATM said:

My mates cayenne v8 had an auxiliary air pump. Apparently it pumps fresh air into the exhaust while the engine is running on choke so the emissions will pass the relevant test for this age of car. So basically they fool the emissions tester by diluting the nasty gasses with nice clean fresh air.

That's interesting. Never heard of that before. I presume it would only be an issue for the MoT is if the test is done first thing with the car cold.

According to this article, the ECU needs to be reprogrammed to take into account the removal.

No the MOT test does not test for this as it's a very crude device. This testing is all done to prove the car can meet emissions regs before it is launched to the market. Euro 3, Euro 4 etc. I think the regs realised these were being used as a hack and regulated them out.

Ah right, thanks for the info.

magpie215 said:

£900.....That is a lot of car for shed money.

I'm impressed

Sheds FTW.

[helix402]

g3org3y said:

That's interesting. Never heard of that before. I presume it would only be an issue for the MoT is if the test is done first thing with the car cold.

According to this article, the ECU needs to be reprogrammed to take into account the removal.

That article is for US cars. I removed the whole pump and valve from my old M52tu 328i without issue. No engine light, no reprogramming needed, no MOT probs. You just need to buy the manifold blanking plate from an M54 without the pump-as some don’t have it. I can’t guarantee the M54 won’t put an eml on-unplug it and see!

[g3org3y]

Next on the list:

Intermittent illumination:


Our survey says:

[helix402]

You can sometimes get away with recalibration of the steering angle sensor to save replacement.

[Leins]

Very nice G3org3y, these are a fine car

Re the 18” MV1s, E46s with these are very sensitive to tyre choices, so I’d try to avoid mismatching. I had a mix of Bridgestones and Dunlops f/r for a brief while years ago and the DSC couldn’t handle it, making the car almost undriveable. Swapping to the Dunlops all round instantly cured the issue

Just had a quick look and Openeo.co.uk seem to have ContiSport 5s in these sizes, which from memory is a 225/40 18 on the front

[ATM]

I'd recommend 17 inch. Car will feel much better. I'd go 225 45 all round. I've got a set of 17 winter tyres in 225 45 front and 245 40 rear which are probably going in the bin soon.

[g3org3y]

After the ASC/ABS light going on/off intermittently with no rhyme or reason, it's now been off for a week. Better leave it then...

Check engine light came back on. Car still runs fine. Am loathe to fiddle around if the car's running ok tbh. I'll see how things progress over winter. Never failed to start on the button even in this -2 cold mornings.

Thanks for the info re the wheels. 225/45R17s are probably what I'd go for (on the Alpinas). Will need to get round to swapping them over...it's rather chilly outside at the moment though. Car is rather comical on the Arrowspeed tyres. Any decent throttle application = DSC light flashing.

[cerb4.5lee]

That looks great and an absolute steal at £900!

A cracking shed.

[ATM]

My cars are all scrabbling for grip in this weather without winter oriented boots on.

[deadtom]

g3org3y said:

ATM said:

My mates cayenne v8 had an auxiliary air pump. Apparently it pumps fresh air into the exhaust while the engine is running on choke so the emissions will pass the relevant test for this age of car. So basically they fool the emissions tester by diluting the nasty gasses with nice clean fresh air.

That's interesting. Never heard of that before. I presume it would only be an issue for the MoT is if the test is done first thing with the car cold.

According to this article, the ECU needs to be reprogrammed to take into account the removal.

nothing to do with dilution or cheating the system; secondary air injection introduces fresh oxygen to the exhaust system which then gets the catalytic converter to warm up faster after a cold start. The catalysts only become effective once they have reached a certain temperature (usually about 350 C if memory serves) and this happens much faster with secondary air injection.
removing the system would possibly cause you problems at MOT time if the tester checked emissions immediately after a cold start, but shouldn't make a difference once warmed up.

Edited by deadtom on Thursday 5th December 12:00

[helix402]

deadtom said:

nothing to do with dilution or cheating the system; secondary air injection introduces fresh oxygen to the exhaust system which then gets the catalytic converter to warm up faster after a cold start. The catalysts only become effective once they have reached a certain temperature (usually about 350 C if memory serves) and this happens much faster with secondary air injection.
removing the system would possibly cause you problems at MOT time if the tester checked emissions immediately after a cold start, but shouldn't make a difference once warmed up.

Edited by deadtom on Thursday 5th December 12:00

Spot on description of how it works. You won’t have any MOT issues. I took one off years ago, even BMW didn’t fit them to some M54s.