E46 330i - how to check boot floor for cracks?

E46 330i - how to check boot floor for cracks?

Author
Discussion

SebringMan

1,773 posts

185 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
helix402 said:
I'd recommend the 328 too, they are quite rare and live in the shadow of the 330. They are fast enough and a 330 manifold will give you 329 power, if such a thing existed.



That's my old 328, replaced with a 330d. I do like the welding on your M3.
I will be honest, his 328i is not a bad machine at all.

Cheers about the welding. ETA's welding is one big reason for why I went there ; I'm not sure if even Redish weld as tidily as them! I cannot weld anywhere near as tidy as them underneath the car. On top maybe, but not underneath ; I hate upside down welding. The fact that they stitch the RACP to the inner wing and their reputation helped to seal the deal smile. As well as the cost.

bmwmike

6,918 posts

107 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
Interesting that the ebay seller has only 2 rep yet the business clearly have lots of cars for sale..


MajorMantra

Original Poster:

1,265 posts

111 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
SebringMan said:
Without being funny if someone wanted to jack my car up I'd be a little funny about them doing it too. I'd happily take it to get it onto a ramp for them, but not for them to poke about etc. But maybe I am just weird. I'm still surprised I let someone drive a car I am selling for my parents when he had no concept of clutch control. Parking a car while slipping the clutch at 3k (no, I am not joking!) anyone? I was very nearly ready to tell him to sod off! If I can park a car without using the accelerator once 3k to park a car is absurd in the same spot unless he's trying to create a bargaining chip.
That's fair enough, but all I did was ask. His last reply arrived about half an hour after mine, and given that he told me not to come immediately after I asked about looking under the car (like a minute later) and that the ad is still live, I assume it hadn't actually sold at that point.





Whatever, there are other cars, no big deal.

Edited by MajorMantra on Wednesday 26th April 20:27

SebringMan

1,773 posts

185 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
Indeed there are smile.

Another choice could be drive on ramps. It's how I checked out my M3 underneath a couple of months ago as I tend to avoid going under a car with jack if I can help it.

Cheapstraitsix

269 posts

138 months

Thursday 27th April 2017
quotequote all
Possibly a bit ambitiously price but looks clean of a 325i will suffice?

http://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/showthread.php?t=174...

Had to wait 4 months a looked after 330i 6speed Touring to come on sale, mileage was a bit higher then I would of liked at 133k. However it's been faultless.

MajorMantra

Original Poster:

1,265 posts

111 months

Thursday 27th April 2017
quotequote all
Cheapstraitsix said:
Possibly a bit ambitiously price but looks clean of a 325i will suffice?

http://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/showthread.php?t=174...

Had to wait 4 months a looked after 330i 6speed Touring to come on sale, mileage was a bit higher then I would of liked at 133k. However it's been faultless.
Quite liking that. Am awaiting account activation to message the seller...

I had a very brief test drive in a 2007 Mondeo 2.5t today. Impressive car, but I was disappointed by the interior - nice seats, but some really cheap and nasty looking plastic too.

SebringMan

1,773 posts

185 months

Friday 28th April 2017
quotequote all
MajorMantra said:
Quite liking that. Am awaiting account activation to message the seller...

I had a very brief test drive in a 2007 Mondeo 2.5t today. Impressive car, but I was disappointed by the interior - nice seats, but some really cheap and nasty looking plastic too.
Which spec were you looking at and which? I didn't find the plastics *that* bad even compared to my E46 and newer BMWs (well, the 3 series). The interior certainly wear better ;both of our 2.5Ts have more miles than both the E46s I know (my M3 and a mate's 328i) and I know what looks less tired inside.

The new Astras inside however, now they are dreadful inside!

MajorMantra

Original Poster:

1,265 posts

111 months

Friday 28th April 2017
quotequote all
SebringMan said:
Which spec were you looking at and which? I didn't find the plastics *that* bad even compared to my E46 and newer BMWs (well, the 3 series). The interior certainly wear better ;both of our 2.5Ts have more miles than both the E46s I know (my M3 and a mate's 328i) and I know what looks less tired inside.

The new Astras inside however, now they are dreadful inside!
2007 2.5 Titanium X (so a Mk4). Maybe my expectations were too high, but the silver plastic buttons everywhere looked like something off a cheap hi-fi. I'm still wondering if I should go for it because it's an awful lot of car (rapid, loads of kit...) but it didn't feel very special at all to me inside.

HugoFastmann

279 posts

117 months

Friday 28th April 2017
quotequote all
MajorMantra said:
2007 2.5 Titanium X (so a Mk4). Maybe my expectations were too high, but the silver plastic buttons everywhere looked like something off a cheap hi-fi. I'm still wondering if I should go for it because it's an awful lot of car (rapid, loads of kit...) but it didn't feel very special at all to me inside.
Herein lies the problem with a Mondeo. Lacklustre but value for money.

MajorMantra

Original Poster:

1,265 posts

111 months

Friday 28th April 2017
quotequote all
HugoFastmann said:
Herein lies the problem with a Mondeo. Lacklustre but value for money.
In fairness to it, the controls were pretty good and the seats seemed really nice (on a short test drive at least). It was a quantum leap ahead of my old Mk1 Focus, but it didn't give me the fizz.


bmwmike

6,918 posts

107 months

Friday 28th April 2017
quotequote all
HugoFastmann said:
Herein lies the problem with a Mondeo. Lacklustre but value for money.
And not RWD..

Fastdruid

8,623 posts

151 months

Friday 28th April 2017
quotequote all
bmwmike said:
HugoFastmann said:
Herein lies the problem with a Mondeo. Lacklustre but value for money.
And not RWD..
Every car needs to be taken on merit rather than just because it's RWD or FWD. Otherwise everyone would buy a SsangYong Rodius.

I'm just going to quote a review of the Mondeo here:

The Mondeo’s handling, which is close to neutral in the tight-and-twisties, combines with high levels of roadholding and excellent steering turn-in to provide an overall character that is what rear-wheel drive cars are supposed to be like, but frequently aren’t.

With power-off, handling is closer to neutral than you might expect from a front-wheel drive and, even with power applied, the car does understeer more, but not in an unpredictable way.

bmwmike

6,918 posts

107 months

Friday 28th April 2017
quotequote all
Agree I should probably be more open minded but I prefer RWD especially when reversing and parking etc oh and driving.

HugoFastmann

279 posts

117 months

Friday 28th April 2017
quotequote all
bmwmike said:
Agree I should probably be more open minded but I prefer RWD especially when reversing and parking etc oh and driving.
smilesmilesmile

SebringMan

1,773 posts

185 months

Friday 28th April 2017
quotequote all
MajorMantra said:
2007 2.5 Titanium X (so a Mk4). Maybe my expectations were too high, but the silver plastic buttons everywhere looked like something off a cheap hi-fi. I'm still wondering if I should go for it because it's an awful lot of car (rapid, loads of kit...) but it didn't feel very special at all to me inside.
I'll give you that. The main silver buttens I don't think are *too* bad but the ones on the Denso Sat nav models aren't all that.

The seats are lovely. Put it this may. Some call me mad but I am semi debating selling the M3 for the old Man's Mondeo (it's on the PH classifieds).

Sure, the M3 is a lovely car, but Jesus it's a high maintenance (and pricey; you can see my Garage thread!) thing and from what I have seen no E46 is safe from subframe cracks despite what BMW tell you. For me these days, it's not the case of if an E46 has cracked, it is if it is viably repairable ; i.e has the RACP cracked beyond the point of repair. As said, mine was deemed crack free by BMW but was found otherwise when it was reinforced.

Fastdruid said:
Every car needs to be taken on merit rather than just because it's RWD or FWD. Otherwise everyone would buy a SsangYong Rodius.

I'm just going to quote a review of the Mondeo here:

The Mondeo’s handling, which is close to neutral in the tight-and-twisties, combines with high levels of roadholding and excellent steering turn-in to provide an overall character that is what rear-wheel drive cars are supposed to be like, but frequently aren’t.

With power-off, handling is closer to neutral than you might expect from a front-wheel drive and, even with power applied, the car does understeer more, but not in an unpredictable way.
I can agree alot with that smile. You can even get a little lift-off oversteer as well but you do have to be silly.

bmwmike said:
Agree I should probably be more open minded but I prefer RWD especially when reversing and parking etc oh and driving.
Driving I beg to differ as we all like different things and differing cars can bring different elements/fun factors to the table (i.e my 205 GTi and Clio 172 were arguably more fun than my Ex6s seriously speaking). But that may change in a couple of days. Mind you, I did enjoy the Evo Triangle smile.

Funk

26,254 posts

208 months

Saturday 29th April 2017
quotequote all
SebringMan said:
Some call me mad but I am semi debating selling the M3 for the old Man's Mondeo (it's on the PH classifieds).
If you do, I'd be interested to know what you might want for it...

Edited by Funk on Saturday 29th April 01:20