E91 Straight Six Bearding

[Boobonman]

Someone on one of the Facebook groups is looking to swap or sell their E91 M-sport 330i manual! No affiliation to seller but thought someone might be interested

[phil_cardiff]

Boobonman said:

Someone on one of the Facebook groups is looking to swap or sell their E91 M-sport 330i manual! No affiliation to seller but thought someone might be interested

Those photos look recently familiar.

[Robb F]

bodhi said:

That's great info, thanks for posting. After getting a bit frustrated with BMW's inability to fit a temperature gauge, I bought an OBD reader and installed Torque, and was slightly concerned to see the coolant sitting at 100 degrees - looks like it's working as designed.

Interested to know what OBD reader you (or any others) are using. I've got two wifi/bluetooth ones but both are unable to connect to the ecu for some reason. My dad has one that will connect to his car (E91 330d), but even that won't connect to mine (E91 320i).

Swervin_Mervin said:

I'm tying my head in knots with all the different parts that make up the rear. It's like a Meccano set back there!

Sorry if this is common knowledge, but http://www.realoem.com/ makes getting part numbers/diagrams super easy.

Edited by Robb F on Thursday 1st February 14:39

[Swervin_Mervin]

Yeah it's using realoem that tied my head in knots Especially as some stuff is listed as Up To, but not ended.

Anyway, parts are hopefully now on order. I've shrunk plans back a little, to all noew control arms atthe back, with new balljoints shocks, and shock mounts. At the front I'm just going for new shocks and some fixings for the new arm I had in Nov. It's going to be a fair old whack of ££ as it is.

I've had similar issues BTW with a BT OBD reader and torque. Hooks up fine to wife's F20 125i, but not at all to my E91 330i. Bloody irritating.

[Swervin_Mervin]

Just totalled up the cost - I now feel a little faint

I was going to order a spare wheel kit as well as it will fit both cars, but sorely tempted to can that off at £300+. Especially as I also need new fronts!

[ATM]

Edited by ATM on Thursday 20th September 10:29

[to3m]

tomic said:

The Holy Grail - 330i M Sport N52 Manual with leather and nav (albeit a leggy 2005 car)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Advert has expired, but is this the same car again? - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

MOT history doesn't look great... but it does have pro satnav and Xenons. How choosy can you be anyway?

[phil_cardiff]

to3m said:

tomic said:

The Holy Grail - 330i M Sport N52 Manual with leather and nav (albeit a leggy 2005 car)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Advert has expired, but is this the same car again? - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

MOT history doesn't look great... but it does have pro satnav and Xenons. How choosy can you be anyway?

Doesn't look like it's had the most attentive of owners. Then again, he/she clearly didn't put it in for a pre-MOT check so we've got a fairly accurate picture. None of the failures and advisories are that big.

[Mr Tidy]

Well I can now join this thread properly - I put a deposit on an E91 325i SE yesterday!

It drove really well, so I hope that continues!

Quick update - I collected it last Wednesday 21 Feb) and I'm really pleased with it.

Did a VIN check last night and it seems I have Charcoal with Lemon leather (heated) - lovely!

Edited by Mr Tidy on Saturday 24th February 22:28

Edited by Mr Tidy on Saturday 24th February 22:31

[zippyonline]

Are those wheels 16s? Must be pretty on the limit of caliper clearance? Looks smart on the whole from that photo snippet - is it just the photo that makes the bonnet shut line look a bit out?

I'm still impressed by how well mine eats the miles and I don't get bored of the straight 6 purr. It still desperately needs an LSD mind... I just did an oil+ filter change @ 198.5k miles, @ 200k miles I was gonna get it a treat of a new fuel filter, and I might even upload some photos of some of the bigger things I've had to do like drop the fuel tank to change the leaky fuel breather pipe!

[ATM]

6 quid eastern european car wash

Edited by ATM on Thursday 20th September 10:30

[Mr Tidy]

zippyonline said:

Are those wheels 16s? Must be pretty on the limit of caliper clearance?

They are indeed 16s, clad with nearly new Bridgestone Blizzak winter RFTs.

While they work on a 325i, they wouldn't fit a 330i as it has bigger front discs!

Next job is to find some bigger wheels for summer use.

Based on your experience mine is only just run in at 132,000 miles - great news!

Edited by Mr Tidy on Thursday 22 February 21:11

[zippyonline]

Driving back home in the dark yesterday I notice my Xenon headlights were being pretty poor, not illuminating very far in front of me. Main beam was acceptable...
From outside, all lamps seemed ok, haven't scanned for codes yet.

I stopped and restarted the car - the lights didn't do the "sweep" that they normally do with the lights, and I guessed they were just pointing right down.

Having a poke around, the headlight levelling sensor arm (front N/S) had popped off the suspension arm. I've cleaned up one of the seized ball joints on that this morning, and cable tied the other arm back onto the suspension - it seems to all be holding fine. Now it's daytime, so I was struggling to test the lights - but I don't think it's doing the headlight "sweep" still. How can I tell if the actual sensor fubarred? Should there be some resistance in the actual sensor - coz mine flops around?

I'll do some more reading in a bit - and will probs order a new arm anyway as mine is pretty corroded and gummed up.

[zippyonline]

Tested this evening - headlight sweep works, cable ties have fixed the problem. Will just order a replacement arm! I can see again!

[Mr Tidy]

Boobonman said:

Someone on one of the Facebook groups is looking to swap or sell their E91 M-sport 330i manual! No affiliation to seller but thought someone might be interested

I might have been seriously tempted if it hadn't been black! (And if I was on Facearse).

But my lack of membership means I couldn't see the price, but I'm guessing it may have been more than I'd want to pay. Tourings do seem to be really desirable, more so 330is and even more so Sport models - so I've just bought a 325i SE E91, and I really like it.

[cerb4.5lee]

Mr Tidy said:

so I've just bought a 325i SE E91, and I really like it.

Great to hear you have another N52 in your fleet.

Enjoy it.

[to3m]

I saw a E91 330i M-Sport in person the other day. I think it might even be the first one I've ever seen. I feel like I should get a badge or a sticker or something.

(I don't know if auto or manual - I didn't realise what it was exactly until I'd got into my car and saw the model badge.)

[ExVantagemech..]

Picked up a set of staggered 193 18's with useable rfts locally yesterday. Guy wanted £500 but accepted £350
Not sure if I will run them - thinking of getting RS3's and painting them the same colour as I did the OE wheels

If I leave them silver it should look like this.... All thats missing are the bike racks...

Edited by ExVantagemech.. on Sunday 25th February 12:11

Edited by ExVantagemech.. on Sunday 25th February 12:11

[ExVantagemech..]

Also, I splashed out on a set of coils from my local motor factors - Lucas that came in at £150. Took 35 mins to fit and what a difference. No fluffing at idle, smoother delivery and will coast along in 6th at 40mph / 1500 rpm.
Tailgate struts were a bit weak so got a set off the bay for £15. Much improved.
Mine doesnt have bluetooth, but found a nice cheap way of fitting it - KS do a bluetooth audio jack that plugs into the aux in in the console. Ok so you have to turn it on when you get in but it means I can play audio and use hands free for £16.

[Max M4X WW]

Hi all,

I stumbled on this thread and hoping E90 discussion is also welcome! I'm not new to BMW's and currently have an E39 525i Sport and 325ti but I've been offered a 2005 330i SE Saloon for £1000 and I just wanted to gauge opinion a bit.

The car is a bit of a dog and has 167k on the clock but it has (from what I can see) every M sport part fitted along with pro nav, xenons and the alpine speaker system. It came from the factory with Sport seats and suspension but the rest has been retrofitted so the previous owner (who I have been in discussion with) obviously spent a lot on the car before trading it in a couple of years back.

I drove the car yesterday and loved the engine which seems to rev nicer than the older units and is more vocal too which is nice. There are obviously issues - mainly a hesitation when revved (coils?) a slight clatter when the engine is switched off (DMF?), reverse lights not working (control unit?) and the odd suspension knock but nothing too crazy.

The car is probably worth more in bits but breaking it would seem like a shame and I like the idea of buying it and fixing it up mechanically over a period of time and possibly giving it to my wife to use. Only problem is her current lease car does not go back for another 6+ months and I have nowhere to store it (stuff to think about another day!)

Anyway, does the car sound like a lost cause or is there still fun to be had? (I had fun on my 15 minute test drive, despite the above!) A few pics after a 'hand car' wash as it was shocking before..

Edited by Max M4X WW on Sunday 25th February 19:29