E46 330i Touring

[Barchettaman]

Cracking work on a lovely car.

There’s a PH guy called Helix who really knows his stuff on these, although by the look of things you’re more than handy yourself.

Best of luck going forward.

[JakeT]

You got off quite lightly there. I was having low speed smoothness issues with my E91 330i, and when I was pulling the manifold to change the starter my big DISA valve wasn't all there.



The flap and pin were rattling around in the inlet manifold!

[d_a_n1979]

Jhonno said:

Drive to work has confirmed the initial thoughts. It's made it much nicer to drive, without realising it had an issue in the first place! Less throttle required for pulling away etc, able to change gear like I've done it before too now.

Same with my previous E39 530i and current touring

Both DISA's weren't as healthy as they could be; X8R kit later (after 30mins of faffing and nearly smashing it with my trusty 12lb sledgehammer ) they were fitted back and a much smoother drive and improved acceleration

It's a mod that I highly recommend to anyone running an M52 / M54 as more of doing it for preventative maintenance rather than leaving it until it does fail!

[d_a_n1979]

JakeT said:

You got off quite lightly there. I was having low speed smoothness issues with my E91 330i, and when I was pulling the manifold to change the starter my big DISA valve wasn't all there.



The flap and pin were rattling around in the inlet manifold!

Bladdy'ell... Close call!

[Jhonno]

Barchettaman said:

Cracking work on a lovely car.

There’s a PH guy called Helix who really knows his stuff on these, although by the look of things you’re more than handy yourself.

Best of luck going forward.

Cheers!

JakeT said:

You got off quite lightly there. I was having low speed smoothness issues with my E91 330i, and when I was pulling the manifold to change the starter my big DISA valve wasn't all there.



The flap and pin were rattling around in the inlet manifold!

Bloody hell! You escaped a disaster there..

d_a_n1979 said:

Same with my previous E39 530i and current touring

Both DISA's weren't as healthy as they could be; X8R kit later (after 30mins of faffing and nearly smashing it with my trusty 12lb sledgehammer ) they were fitted back and a much smoother drive and improved acceleration

It's a mod that I highly recommend to anyone running an M52 / M54 as more of doing it for preventative maintenance rather than leaving it until it does fail!

Yeah definitely, I think if it is over 80k, it needs doing. It's not like they drive bad with light wear on them, but.. They drive much better with them done. Having never driven an M54 before I thought perhaps it was driver error over smoothness.

[Sf_Manta]

d_a_n1979 said:

JakeT said:

You got off quite lightly there. I was having low speed smoothness issues with my E91 330i, and when I was pulling the manifold to change the starter my big DISA valve wasn't all there.



The flap and pin were rattling around in the inlet manifold!

Bladdy'ell... Close call!

Talk about luck there. New DISA and upgrade kit would be agood idea!

[JakeT]

It was lucky. Because of how the N52 valves work compared to an M52/4 I elected to go for a new one. I was also pushed for time. £250 from BMW! However it is an updated design with a metal pin, so shouldn't fail again.

[Jhonno]

JakeT said:

It was lucky. Because of how the N52 valves work compared to an M52/4 I elected to go for a new one. I was also pushed for time. £250 from BMW! However it is an updated design with a metal pin, so shouldn't fail again.

How do they work in comparison?

[JakeT]

Jhonno said:

How do they work in comparison?

The shaft isn't detachable, and the case is nigh on impossible to separate too. The N52 ones are all electric, with no vacuum attachment. Post 2009 (about) new BMW DISA valves for the M54 and N52 have a metal shaft which is much less likely to break. My dad's X5 had one fitted in 2010, and is still fine. I have no worries about the new one I fitted (bar the price). But I suppose one does have to pay to play sometimes.

[Jhonno]

JakeT said:

Jhonno said:

How do they work in comparison?

The shaft isn't detachable, and the case is nigh on impossible to separate too. The N52 ones are all electric, with no vacuum attachment. Post 2009 (about) new BMW DISA valves for the M54 and N52 have a metal shaft which is much less likely to break. My dad's X5 had one fitted in 2010, and is still fine. I have no worries about the new one I fitted (bar the price). But I suppose one does have to pay to play sometimes.

Ah! Fair enough! Makes sense.. Sounds like BMW acknowledged the issue themselves!

[g3org3y]

Great project OP. Really nice spec on your example with heated seats + xenons + the 6 speed manual. I think these will only go up in value.

[Jhonno]

g3org3y said:

Great project OP. Really nice spec on your example with heated seats + xenons + the 6 speed manual. I think these will only go up in value.

Cheers mate.

I agree on both parts.. The Exclusive leather too. Read parking sensors and auto lights and wipers with the Harmon Kardon. The values are on the rise for the nice stuff. I've seen a nice 330i coupe make over 5k and it was auto. A Touring like this sold for over 6k recently too.

[Jhonno]

I'd been dailying this quite happily for a few weeks, before a bouncing idle issue began to materialise.. On low speed manoeuvre it could have a tendency to almost lose control of the idle speed and it would bounce for a few seconds before it came back to normal.. Then driving home from work, it started just doing it at idle in traffic, so I got home and parked it up with the intention of doing the cam cover gasket and having an investigation into the idle issue.. Bits had already been ordered, but the weather was poor, and I still had the E61, so it just sat for a few weeks until the weather turned..

Before..



One of the small oil leaks, you could smell oil sitting in traffic after a while..



Gubbins removed and cam cover exposed then removed..





First bit of mission creep.. I ordered a VANOS refresh kit from X8R, so VANOS off..



Looks OK



VANOS stripped



Supposedly a way to tell if it was needed, is to rock the piston in the bore.. I had plenty of movement in mine.



Essential supplies..



Obviously cleaned it all up as I went..









Before spotting the next bit of mission creep..



VANOS had some deposits in the pistons, all soft, but never the less shouldn't be there..



All the boring bit skipped, there is plenty of videos and how to toos for replacing the seals and I went and did the bearings etc too, because you know.. Proper job.

All cleaned, rebuilt and reinstalled..



To be continued..

Edited by Jhonno on Friday 18th June 15:33

[Jhonno]

Next mission creep..



Upon removing the cam cover, I had an "Oh st" moment.. However, on reading round and reflection, I realised this was actually going to be due to short journeys and the M54 CCV system.. So.. A full new CCV system/hoses ordered.

I was aware of the OS of the block being very wet, however the Fountain of all Knowledge (Ace Engineering) had mentioned somewhere about the oil filter housing seal.. So one was ordered..

Starting to dig in.. A fair amount of engine needs removing to get to it..



Off and split..





Old seal had long lost it's lustre and flexibility..



A quick clean up.





Small bit of tartiness.. VANOS line looked a bit.. Old..



New one duly made up in fancy-onium..



Installed



Back to the radiator..

New Nissen rad ordered..

New vs. old..



Old one was just slightly bowed as seen by the bottom plastic!



Aaaand it's in..



To be continued..

[d_a_n1979]

Some good work there; good to see another M54 being looked after

I've got the HEL vanos line fitted to my touring too; it needed it as mine was weeping slightly

[Jhonno]

d_a_n1979 said:

Some good work there; good to see another M54 being looked after

I've got the HEL vanos line fitted to my touring too; it needed it as mine was weeping slightly

Cheers.. I am trying! It's amazing how much difference some fairly basic maintenance can make!

I actually got it made up for me by a supplier at work.. I had read about a few failing etc, so as mine looked rough and it was cheap enough, I went with it.

[Jhonno]

Cams look pretty good to me, minimal wear..



Randomly found loads of leaves all wedged all up in the alternator, so cleaned them out. Looked to see if I could get a regulator whilst I was there, but seems I can't get one for a Valeo alternator.



Filter housing all bolted back up and the digging for the CCV began.. throttle/ICV removed etc. At this point it was being held in by 1 hose, up through the inlet.



Once removed you could see what happens with the CCV system.. Completely bunged up with crap!



New lines.. Interestingly all the new lines are insulated and so is the CCV.





New insulated CCV tucked up in place..



Couple of "helpers"



When I was about to put the ICV back in on rebuild I had a closer look at it.. The rotating "ball valve" or whatever the mechanism is, was partially seized! I wonder if this was the cause of my idle issues.. (Could have been a free fix). I cleaned it out and then reassembled it, and the throttle body.



New aux belt.. Usual age related cracking on the old one that came off..



Upon reassembly I found a few vacuum lines were perished and one snapped as I was trying to move it.. Silicone replacement duly ordered and fitted. Went with purple..





Am I the only one who didn't realise this panel unbolted and came out by hand..?! Would have been handy if I had realised earlier!



Oil and filter service whilst there, seeing as the oil in there is likely contaminated with moisture. Used 5W-40 Millers EE Nanodrive. Swear by Millers and use it in all my cars.



Random inlet cap found perished, so ordered and replaced..





Buttoned back up, coolant refilled and burped.



Test drive shows it was a complete success.. New Millers oil means the engine sounds so quiet. Idle issue gone. Smoother throttle response/transition, the surge at 3k is gone, feels much stronger at low revs/light throttle. Which considering how much difference the DISA rebuild made, is remarkable. Basically, it drives absolutely brilliantly!

Finished it up and took it to work the next day, where I had to popped to a local Co-Op at lunch.. And some woman proceeded to drive into it whilst I was sat in it, and apparently didn't notice as she was driving off as I jumped out the car and accosted her! Luckily very little damage, I'll be able to machine most of it out, the car is in very good condition, but is 18yrs old so has a few marks already, so other than calling her out on it, I let it go after taking her details..

[d_a_n1979]

All in; a great job well done

I haven't done the CCV on my touring yet; but a few pipes have been taken off to have a look and their spotless (probably due to the warmth of the weather in Japan etc)

I do have the Febi kit from C3BMW on my spare parts shelf; along with Elring Inlet mani gaskets (it's easier IMO to do the CCV kit with the inlet mani off)

[Jhonno]

d_a_n1979 said:

All in; a great job well done

I haven't done the CCV on my touring yet; but a few pipes have been taken off to have a look and their spotless (probably due to the warmth of the weather in Japan etc)

I do have the Febi kit from C3BMW on my spare parts shelf; along with Elring Inlet mani gaskets (it's easier IMO to do the CCV kit with the inlet mani off)

Cheers man.. I try..

I didn't find it particularly hard with the manifold gasket on.. I started with trying to take it off, but went with leaving it in the end.

If the car has done longer journeys in a warmer climate that will help massively!

[helix402]

Jhonno said:

Cheers man.. I try..

I didn't find it particularly hard with the manifold gasket on.. I started with trying to take it off, but went with leaving it in the end.

If the car has done longer journeys in a warmer climate that will help massively!

Cars and repairs are looking good. Re the Ccv kit there is a choice of normal or cold climate version. You have the cold version, which reduces the likelihood of condensation build up in the winter.