E91 Straight Six Bearding
Discussion
daver1184 said:
That's the one we were just discussing isn't it? Seems to have disappeared from Autotrader.zippyonline said:
toast boy said:
How are you finding them when driving Zippy? Is the performance significantly better? Looks like it should be by the size increase!
My experience may be slightly tainted by the ones before being cheapo brembo's from ECP from when I got the car and being well past it.... but brake balance is still good - maybe even better, feel is better (although again, that may just be because I gave them a good bleed! I have braided lines on the front, and originals on the back). It feels like they have a good amount of power, certainly better than stock - but I expect just new discs and pads of OE quality on the front plus a bleed would have made a big difference...They certainly feel like they've got more ooomph, I feel I have more control of the braking if that makes sense - not done anything scientific though!Oh yeah, I'm pretty sure I've lost some rotating weight too!
ferrisbueller said:
zippyonline said:
toast boy said:
How are you finding them when driving Zippy? Is the performance significantly better? Looks like it should be by the size increase!
My experience may be slightly tainted by the ones before being cheapo brembo's from ECP from when I got the car and being well past it.... but brake balance is still good - maybe even better, feel is better (although again, that may just be because I gave them a good bleed! I have braided lines on the front, and originals on the back). It feels like they have a good amount of power, certainly better than stock - but I expect just new discs and pads of OE quality on the front plus a bleed would have made a big difference...They certainly feel like they've got more ooomph, I feel I have more control of the braking if that makes sense - not done anything scientific though!Oh yeah, I'm pretty sure I've lost some rotating weight too!
Stock setup for 330i:
330x24 front disc 9.067kg
Caliper 2.347kg
Caliper carrier 1.765kg
Pads supposedly 2.025kg…. maybe that’s for all 4, so per side 1kg…maybe….
Total = 14.2kg
435i setup now on the car:
340x30 front disc 10.275kg
Caliper (all in) 3.652kg
Pads 2.546kg… (so maybe 1.25kg per side)
Total = 15.177kg.
Ah ok – I’m spouting rubbish! I put it down to feeling lighter as they’re waay bigger but not the associated weight increase due to a but more aluminium being employed. So an increase in rotating weight, and unsprung mass...nevermind!
For the last week my 2005 E91 has developed some electrical issues.
Rear light is out, the usual hinge harness pinch point in the bootlid. I've dealt with this before with my previous E91 but haven't addressed it yet, waiting on cables arriving before I repair but thankfully it is intermittent due to the wires maintaining/breaking contact.
However, a couple of times I have started the car then reversed off the drive but when I have switched to drive (it's an auto), I am only making it 20-30 yards before the car stalls. The car is completely dead at this stage and requires a jump start to get going again and is fine for the drive to work and any subsequent restarts for the day afterwards. This has happened when the car is left untouched for 24-48 hours but today was 16 hours.
Battery on it's way out? The previous owner replaced it with a Halfords item last year and is posting me the receipt as it has a 4-year warranty. But before I source myself a multi-meter and check the battery is there anything else that could be causing this?
(325i N52 petrol auto with 66k miles on the clock if that helps).
Rear light is out, the usual hinge harness pinch point in the bootlid. I've dealt with this before with my previous E91 but haven't addressed it yet, waiting on cables arriving before I repair but thankfully it is intermittent due to the wires maintaining/breaking contact.
However, a couple of times I have started the car then reversed off the drive but when I have switched to drive (it's an auto), I am only making it 20-30 yards before the car stalls. The car is completely dead at this stage and requires a jump start to get going again and is fine for the drive to work and any subsequent restarts for the day afterwards. This has happened when the car is left untouched for 24-48 hours but today was 16 hours.
Battery on it's way out? The previous owner replaced it with a Halfords item last year and is posting me the receipt as it has a 4-year warranty. But before I source myself a multi-meter and check the battery is there anything else that could be causing this?
(325i N52 petrol auto with 66k miles on the clock if that helps).
Swervin_Mervin said:
I'm only likely to move it on because I want a change, don't need an estate anymore (we have a Superb 272 hatch which is VAST), and I want to squeeze some other engine configs into my life before inevitably going EV. So V8 of some sort next, and I quite fancy an Alpine A110 as well. If i had lots of space I'd just keep the 330 tbh, but sadly we don't.
I think the BMW 5 litre is where you want to be and if size isn't required then it must be the 650i. This was up for sale in September at 6400. Now reduced to 6000.You need to read the description to appreciate this one although it looks magnificent as is. I'll add a little teaser:
BMW individual ruby black paintwork
BMW individual platinum Merino extended leather
Having recently undergone a complete respray at Rybrook Worcester BMW
Even the interior leather under went a £1600 professional restoration to look and feel like new
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124315678202
beambeam1 said:
For the last week my 2005 E91 has developed some electrical issues.
Rear light is out, the usual hinge harness pinch point in the bootlid. I've dealt with this before with my previous E91 but haven't addressed it yet, waiting on cables arriving before I repair but thankfully it is intermittent due to the wires maintaining/breaking contact.
However, a couple of times I have started the car then reversed off the drive but when I have switched to drive (it's an auto), I am only making it 20-30 yards before the car stalls. The car is completely dead at this stage and requires a jump start to get going again and is fine for the drive to work and any subsequent restarts for the day afterwards. This has happened when the car is left untouched for 24-48 hours but today was 16 hours.
Battery on it's way out? The previous owner replaced it with a Halfords item last year and is posting me the receipt as it has a 4-year warranty. But before I source myself a multi-meter and check the battery is there anything else that could be causing this?
(325i N52 petrol auto with 66k miles on the clock if that helps).
Might be totally irrelevant, but has your car had the wiring recall done? (The one that was issued a year or two back.)Rear light is out, the usual hinge harness pinch point in the bootlid. I've dealt with this before with my previous E91 but haven't addressed it yet, waiting on cables arriving before I repair but thankfully it is intermittent due to the wires maintaining/breaking contact.
However, a couple of times I have started the car then reversed off the drive but when I have switched to drive (it's an auto), I am only making it 20-30 yards before the car stalls. The car is completely dead at this stage and requires a jump start to get going again and is fine for the drive to work and any subsequent restarts for the day afterwards. This has happened when the car is left untouched for 24-48 hours but today was 16 hours.
Battery on it's way out? The previous owner replaced it with a Halfords item last year and is posting me the receipt as it has a 4-year warranty. But before I source myself a multi-meter and check the battery is there anything else that could be causing this?
(325i N52 petrol auto with 66k miles on the clock if that helps).
Edited by MajorMantra on Thursday 29th October 08:24
Hurrah, the 325i just passed its MOT passed with no advisories (for the 3rd year in a row). Although in the last month, I have spent £200 on new tyres and £300 on the having the rear brakes overhauled. Still, hopefully that's bought us another year of motoring for the equivalent cost of a couple of months lease on a modern car.
My 128k '06 325i se manual unfortunately needs some money throwing at it... It's having a new starter after starting to seize and I managed to get the old one off tonight without fully removing the intake. I'm pretty sure the disa valve/s have issues and are noisey. I'm also debating changing the original water pump as I'm concerned it'll leave me stranded at some point.
I've been disappointed with the gutlessness of the car since I bought it back in Feb and I'm getting around 27mpg. The performance doesn't justify the mpg. It might just be the disa valve issues but I'm open to suggestions! I've heard the coil packs can give trouble too.
It's a lovely car in great condition (those issues aside...) but I have been thinking about chopping it in. It's currently on RFTs but the lack of actual space to fit any sort of spare is really offputting, I have dogs so plonking a spare in the boot isn't an option.
Enough moaning, I thought I'd see what a 17" style 5 looked like... Edit: photo should now work!
I've been disappointed with the gutlessness of the car since I bought it back in Feb and I'm getting around 27mpg. The performance doesn't justify the mpg. It might just be the disa valve issues but I'm open to suggestions! I've heard the coil packs can give trouble too.
It's a lovely car in great condition (those issues aside...) but I have been thinking about chopping it in. It's currently on RFTs but the lack of actual space to fit any sort of spare is really offputting, I have dogs so plonking a spare in the boot isn't an option.
Enough moaning, I thought I'd see what a 17" style 5 looked like... Edit: photo should now work!
Edited by rob0r on Tuesday 3rd November 09:40
Hello everyone.
I've been thinking about getting a 330i, and have been mulling over a couple for sale at the moment. I think the upcoming lockdown may result in a delay, but I'd be grateful for some advice.
I'd prefer a coupe but have some concerns about the later 272BHP engine. I've been looking at a high mileage E92 2008 330i which is for sale here on PH. 145,000 miles. it's a great ad and the seller seems a very decent chap, but I am slightly concerned at the sheer level of recent expenditure, which is:
6 genuine index 11 injectors fitted (£1600) and coded by a BMW specialist along with new spark plugs and coil packs (£200)
genuine rocker cover and gasket (£400) due to a faulty PCV
Perished ventilation hose from the expansion tank to the radiator and a weeping thermostat and housing were both replaced and coolant flushed.
It's also had a set of PS4's!
So, lots of good news with the work done, but also alarm bells about other possible upcoming issues? Or is it possible the scary stuff has now been done and it should run well? I realize there are no guarantees with cars, of course.
The other car is a 330i E90 with the 258BHP engine. Lots of good signs here as well, recent water pump, serviced every year and owned for 6 years by the current owner, MOT history showing barely even any advisories. Four new tyres (although they are Nexens) Much lower mileage at 90,000. That one is on eBay.
I'm unsure if I am allowed to post links here, but can update if perhaps someone could clarify.
ETA. Just had a quick thread scan, looks like I can add links:
E92 330i 2008
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10989304
E90 330i:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-Bmw-330i-N52-3-ser...
It might be rather tricky doing this with the upcoming lockdown and so I may end up waiting until after it is done, but I am keen to hear any advice from helpful beardists. Thanks in advance.
I've been thinking about getting a 330i, and have been mulling over a couple for sale at the moment. I think the upcoming lockdown may result in a delay, but I'd be grateful for some advice.
I'd prefer a coupe but have some concerns about the later 272BHP engine. I've been looking at a high mileage E92 2008 330i which is for sale here on PH. 145,000 miles. it's a great ad and the seller seems a very decent chap, but I am slightly concerned at the sheer level of recent expenditure, which is:
6 genuine index 11 injectors fitted (£1600) and coded by a BMW specialist along with new spark plugs and coil packs (£200)
genuine rocker cover and gasket (£400) due to a faulty PCV
Perished ventilation hose from the expansion tank to the radiator and a weeping thermostat and housing were both replaced and coolant flushed.
It's also had a set of PS4's!
So, lots of good news with the work done, but also alarm bells about other possible upcoming issues? Or is it possible the scary stuff has now been done and it should run well? I realize there are no guarantees with cars, of course.
The other car is a 330i E90 with the 258BHP engine. Lots of good signs here as well, recent water pump, serviced every year and owned for 6 years by the current owner, MOT history showing barely even any advisories. Four new tyres (although they are Nexens) Much lower mileage at 90,000. That one is on eBay.
I'm unsure if I am allowed to post links here, but can update if perhaps someone could clarify.
ETA. Just had a quick thread scan, looks like I can add links:
E92 330i 2008
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10989304
E90 330i:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-Bmw-330i-N52-3-ser...
It might be rather tricky doing this with the upcoming lockdown and so I may end up waiting until after it is done, but I am keen to hear any advice from helpful beardists. Thanks in advance.
Edited by paulguitar on Tuesday 3rd November 00:34
In the hope of trying to answer the last couple of posts I bought my E91 325iSE to replace an E46 325ti Sport and I also thought it felt pretty gutless, unless I revved the nuts off it. Then I worked out it was the stupidly high gearing that made it feel that way, but E9* 3 Series feel too refined to encourage that sort of treatment!
My 325i needed a new water pump at 135K miles, but I don't know if it was its first! My first E86 Z4 with the same N52 engine needed a new one after 9 years and 60K miles, but my 2nd E86 seemed to be on the original one after 13 years and 90K miles. So if you don't know the full history I'd budget for one on the basis it will need one some time, but probably only one during most people's ownership!
Anyway after my disappointment with the 325i I replaced it in April 2019 with an E90 330iSE that has the optional split/fold rear seats which performs so much better, even though it also has crazily high gearing. I don't know much of its history so on 114K miles it will need a water pump one day but when it does that's why I am in the RAC!
A plus factor was that it had a new Cam-cover gasket fitted 2 months before I bought it.
It came on Style 158 wheels which actually have 7 spokes, but I've swapped them for something else so will have a set of 158s with good Continental RFT tyres for sale soon.
I've stuck to N52 engines by choice, as apart from the injector issues I've read about for N53s they seem to be prone to High Pressure Fuel Pump problems and coked up inlet manifolds because the N53 is a Direct Injection engine
My 325i needed a new water pump at 135K miles, but I don't know if it was its first! My first E86 Z4 with the same N52 engine needed a new one after 9 years and 60K miles, but my 2nd E86 seemed to be on the original one after 13 years and 90K miles. So if you don't know the full history I'd budget for one on the basis it will need one some time, but probably only one during most people's ownership!
Anyway after my disappointment with the 325i I replaced it in April 2019 with an E90 330iSE that has the optional split/fold rear seats which performs so much better, even though it also has crazily high gearing. I don't know much of its history so on 114K miles it will need a water pump one day but when it does that's why I am in the RAC!
A plus factor was that it had a new Cam-cover gasket fitted 2 months before I bought it.
It came on Style 158 wheels which actually have 7 spokes, but I've swapped them for something else so will have a set of 158s with good Continental RFT tyres for sale soon.
I've stuck to N52 engines by choice, as apart from the injector issues I've read about for N53s they seem to be prone to High Pressure Fuel Pump problems and coked up inlet manifolds because the N53 is a Direct Injection engine
Edited by Mr Tidy on Tuesday 3rd November 01:41
Hey Paul,
For either of those you'd be quite set. The N52 is 'typically' more robust than the N53. Only due to the fact it doesn't have direct injection, and the associated emissions gubbins that goes with it.
The work that the seller has performed on the N53 car is encouraging to me. A set of new injectors, coils and sparks takes away a lot of it, as does the valve cover with the PCV. For note, the PCV system is serviceable on the early N52 that you linked, so less of a concern.
Both engines have an electronic water pump that is known to fail. Bit of a pain to DIY, but the parts cost has come down in recent years. Smaller wheels and good tyres on the coupe are a benefit, as is new dampers.
I'd probably buy the coupe model. Nicer spec, with electric heated seats, and xenon headlights. It's had the N53 iffy bits sorted for the most part, and doesn't have an ugly aftermarket screen in the middle of the dash.
For either of those you'd be quite set. The N52 is 'typically' more robust than the N53. Only due to the fact it doesn't have direct injection, and the associated emissions gubbins that goes with it.
The work that the seller has performed on the N53 car is encouraging to me. A set of new injectors, coils and sparks takes away a lot of it, as does the valve cover with the PCV. For note, the PCV system is serviceable on the early N52 that you linked, so less of a concern.
Both engines have an electronic water pump that is known to fail. Bit of a pain to DIY, but the parts cost has come down in recent years. Smaller wheels and good tyres on the coupe are a benefit, as is new dampers.
I'd probably buy the coupe model. Nicer spec, with electric heated seats, and xenon headlights. It's had the N53 iffy bits sorted for the most part, and doesn't have an ugly aftermarket screen in the middle of the dash.
Looks like a nice e92. I had a 330i n53 e92 manual a few years back with similar miles and it wore them well. Never missed a beat in my ownership and I think most that are around have had the common issues sorted by now.
I now have a 330i n52 manual e91 and it's also been very reliable the past couple of years and I still enjoy driving it.
Of the two, the n53 did feel a bit punchier and effortless, but the n52 still moves well although you have to rev it to get the most out of it. I do think the n52 has a better exhaust note.
I now have a 330i n52 manual e91 and it's also been very reliable the past couple of years and I still enjoy driving it.
Of the two, the n53 did feel a bit punchier and effortless, but the n52 still moves well although you have to rev it to get the most out of it. I do think the n52 has a better exhaust note.
rob0r said:
My 128k '06 325i se manual unfortunately needs some money throwing at it... It's having a new starter after starting to seize and I managed to get the old one off tonight without fully removing the intake. I'm pretty sure the disa valve/s have issues and are noisey. I'm also debating changing the original water pump as I'm concerned it'll leave me stranded at some point.
I've been disappointed with the gutlessness of the car since I bought it back in Feb and I'm getting around 27mpg. The performance doesn't justify the mpg. It might just be the disa valve issues but I'm open to suggestions! I've heard the coil packs can give trouble too.
It's a lovely car in great condition (those issues aside...) but I have been thinking about chopping it in. It's currently on RFTs but the lack of actual space to fit any sort of spare is really offputting, I have dogs so plonking a spare in the boot isn't an option.
DISA valve may make a difference in performance. All up to date with service bits and bobs?I've been disappointed with the gutlessness of the car since I bought it back in Feb and I'm getting around 27mpg. The performance doesn't justify the mpg. It might just be the disa valve issues but I'm open to suggestions! I've heard the coil packs can give trouble too.
It's a lovely car in great condition (those issues aside...) but I have been thinking about chopping it in. It's currently on RFTs but the lack of actual space to fit any sort of spare is really offputting, I have dogs so plonking a spare in the boot isn't an option.
I'm assuming 27mpg is mixed driving?
I test drove an E90 325i a while back and felt it somewhat lacking in performance. This was compared to my E36 328, let alone my E91 330i. I think it just lacks that lower end torque to give you that shove in the back and the N52 generally needs revving out to get the best of it.
I actually don't think RFTs are that bad on the E90, depending on brand. The OE Bridgestones RE050A are not good. Goodyear Eagles are much better.
JakeT said:
I'd probably buy the coupe model. Nicer spec, with electric heated seats, and xenon headlights. It's had the N53 iffy bits sorted for the most part, and doesn't have an ugly aftermarket screen in the middle of the dash.
Agree with this. 
(PS Heated seats FTW)
Edited by g3org3y on Tuesday 3rd November 20:47
Im going to say something thats probably not going to be popular here.
I sold my manual n52 touring for a diesel.
Yep, a 330d manual e91.
I liked the smoothness and the noise was great.
But, although the power delivery would be exactly how I wanted it 20 years ago, screaming power at high revs, I am a different person now.
I know i could have tried a 3.0, but really thats an improvement of the same theme.
I admire the purists with the petrol 6’s but I just couldnt gell with it.
It helps that its an m sport with idrive, maybe that muddy’s the perceived improvement. But hey, its done now.
I sold my manual n52 touring for a diesel.
Yep, a 330d manual e91.
I liked the smoothness and the noise was great.
But, although the power delivery would be exactly how I wanted it 20 years ago, screaming power at high revs, I am a different person now.
I know i could have tried a 3.0, but really thats an improvement of the same theme.
I admire the purists with the petrol 6’s but I just couldnt gell with it.
It helps that its an m sport with idrive, maybe that muddy’s the perceived improvement. But hey, its done now.
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