Unusual Green E46 Cloth Interior

[JakeT]

That's the plan with it. I need to grind and paint that little portion between the sill cover and the front wing too, where these things also end up rusting. The rear arches are alright for now, which is good. I don't need it to be the cleanest variant ever, just presentable and to keep it going well for longer. I want to take this past 200k. Doing 25k per year it shouldn't take too long. Hopefully we can take it there.

[JakeT]

Went to see a friend who also has a 328ci in his new place. His has an auto, and was subject to a similar level of mechanical work as mine. His also had some bodywork. Green interior too.

[JakeT]

The old thing is still trucking on, passed through 125,000 miles on Friday. Still good as ever.

Pulled the skirts off, and one of the sills had a hole in it. Had that welded up for £140.

After my new A/C condenser, I still had a very slight leak, so I put a leak sealer in the A/C system and had it re-gassed. It's quietened down the system a lot, and hopefully stops pretty much all leaks!

Need to pull the wings and skirts off again soon for some more paint tidying and protection. Will make sure to do it before winter really sets in.

[helix402]

If you want to keep the rust at bay, check the rear arch grommets for rust around the edges, also the rear floor for rust around grommets and seams where the seam sealer has cracked.

Also the rear jacking points.

[JakeT]

I had a look at the inner arches, and the floor after the rust took hold of a friends compact a couple of years ago. Ground back the surface rust on the floor, and then Kurusted it, went over with a zinc rich primer and topped it with a coat of underseal with Waxoyl. Should hopefully keep the rust at bay for a while. Rear jacking points are okay too, and were Waxoyled too.

[JakeT]

Still tramping on. Up to 130,000 miles now.

Since the last update, a hole appeared in the O/S sill, so had that welded up.

After the cooling system refresh, the new expansion tank started leaking, even though it was a 'good quality' Hella one. So on went another, and the mounting plate for good measure.

And finally, just completed another oil service. Third one this year. Front suspension is still okay, and brakes are wearing lightly.

Busy Christmas period for it though. It's off to Belgium next weekend for a tour of some Christmas markets and a bit of time away before it all goes mad.

[JakeT]

This thread draws to a close,

The other day I started it up, and on were the ABS, ASC and the handbrake light. Oh dear. These were combined with a lack of speedometer, also.

I attempted to fit a wheel speed sensor, but it was well and truly stuck in the housing. The sensor broke off flush with the rear arm.

While doing this I noticed that the subframe was starting to pull out of the boot floor too. All of these combined mean it's curtains for the car. Listed it on Facebook, and I've been left a deposit. It'll be collected on Tuesday.

Sad end for the old thing, but it's as I imagined it would go. 40,000 trouble free miles all around Europe and some happy memories.

Some final pics from the ad I posted up.

[helix402]

I bet you’ll miss those green seats!

Is is destined to be a drift shed, an engine donor or something else?

[Touring442]

I condemned an E46 320Ci last week like this - thudding sound from back on pulling away, NSR mounting broken away but not quite torn the boot floor. The car has been nothing but aggro the last 2 months so I've suggested either flogging it to someone deaf, or weighing it in.

[Mr Tidy]

Shame it has reached the end of the road OP, but it wouldn't be economic to sort all that out.

[JakeT]

helix402 said:

I bet you’ll miss those green seats!

Is is destined to be a drift shed, an engine donor or something else?

That's the bit I'll miss the most about it. But it's time for it to go. I've had my fun and it's been a great car. I don't know what it's fate is. It's being collected tomorrow, so I'll ask the chap then.

This has been a really good runner for me. Given no trouble Over the past 40,000 miles I've put on it. All around England, Scotland, Wales an even through Europe three times. But being 20 years old soon the age caught up to it. Very crusty underneath, diff is on the way out, and the boot floor going. Strangely it was the N/S/R on mine too.

[Touring442]

Always NSR. The Subframe tries to twist down at the back under acceleration, and looking from the rear, it tries to twist anti clockwise to counteract the diff/prop. The spot welds are inadequate, the threaded bit breaks away and the cracks in the lower skin is the threaded but trying to pull through. I have fixed them in the past but an old E46 isn't worth the bother now.

[Sardonicus]

It's an awful design flaw TBH , it's not like BMW are not old hands at RWD design , it's not like it was some new fandangaled arrangement

[helix402]

My last 330d had a crack on the n/s/r suspension turret:



It had only done 250k! The floor wasn’t cracked, just lots of holes which I repaired.

[Touring442]

The E36 could very occasionally do this, but I've never seen one myself.

[JakeT]

That sounds about right, shame it does happen so much. I know BMW improved, but none are really immune.

I was getting ready for a change of car too, but this sealed it's fate for me. I'll post a new thread about the new bus when it lands.

[JakeT]

All sold. Chap came with a trailer for it, gave me the cash, and took it away. As painless as a sale could be.

He said it's going to The Netherlands for the engine (And I am sure interior) to live on in something else.

Sad it's gone, but it opens up the opportunity to have something different. The age was catching up up, and after this winter it was looking quite tatty. Was the right time to go too. Needed a service, rear tyres, and the MOT is due next month.

Thanks to all for your help, and insight on this thread. As a Serial E46 owner (We've had at least one in the family since September 2000) it's been nice to learn some new things. I'm sure I'll have another by this time next week.

[anonymous-user]

so whats the new wagon!

[Touring442]

It's odd about it going abroad - I had a terminally shagged 2007 120d in that had melted a piston. Took a call for it in a bar from a German speaking Turk so had to converse in German, agreeing a price for it. That was 9pm. He said he'd send a guy to collect it.

At 1pm the next day, he rang me. He was there himself, having driven from Cologne with an old Merc ML and a car trailer, loaded it up and took it to his yard near Wisbech. Apparently he hoovers up this stuff, employs Eastern Europeans or whoever to strip it and ships it all back in containers. £500 120d's just do not exist over there, even when fked.

He buys on average 50 cars a month here, mostly from Copart. Not E46's though I suspect. They're worthless everywhere.

[helix402]

I sold an E36 328i a few years ago, the buyer turned up with cash and a car transporter bound for Poland.