E91 Straight Six Bearding

E91 Straight Six Bearding

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Discussion

Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Sunday 10th February 2019
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MajorMantra said:
Incidentally, this is a genuine BMW battery. Could it conceivably be original? If so, it's survived 13 years.
Edited by MajorMantra on Sunday 10th February 19:47
It could well be. My E86 had a new one in December 2016 at 10 years old and it looked like the one that died was the original. My E91 had a new one in January just short of 13 years old and that also looked like the original.

Mrs Tidy bought a new Mini Cooper in December 2006 and that is definitely still on it's original battery.

They never lased like that back in the 70s! laugh

MajorMantra

1,265 posts

111 months

Monday 11th February 2019
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alpinab3 said:
Exide make BMW batteries now.
Even better!

zippyonline

Original Poster:

354 posts

165 months

Monday 11th February 2019
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Mine looks like that too. Seems I don't have IBS either (which I kinda wish the car did, coz I thought it did smart things like not let the interior lights go on if the battery is in low SoC and stuff).

stevesuk

1,345 posts

181 months

Monday 11th February 2019
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zippyonline said:
Mine looks like that too. Seems I don't have IBS either (which I kinda wish the car did, coz I thought it did smart things like not let the interior lights go on if the battery is in low SoC and stuff).
I think the car still does that stuff to a certain extent. Ours is an early model, and at one time we (and the dealer!) thought the heated rear screen had failed. Turned out it was due to the battery charge being low, and the car disabling high drain devices to save energy.

TheGinger1

64 posts

63 months

Tuesday 12th February 2019
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I had the battery replaced in my 56 plate 330i touring in January. No idea if it was the original battery, but assume it was (only 69k miles)

My symptoms were that it would fire up fine from cold, but if I turned the engine off and left the key in the ignition, e.g. at the level crossing, then it didn't fire up quite as quickly. Felt like it might fail to start. If I left the key in for over 5 mins, e.g. waiting for a ferry etc, then when I started it, the middle of the dashboard instead of displaying as per normal, started off displaying 0.00 km/h. Once the engine started the dashboard display corrected itself. They were my symptoms and I did not notice anything else. I guessed that battery was the cause and it was.

Incidentally, since the battery was replaced (only other thing done was the MOT) my average mpg according to the OBD has dropped from about 27.1 mpg to 25.9 mpg. The driving I am doing is no different to before and the mpg did not drop that much last winter, so not cold weather related.


stevesingo

4,848 posts

221 months

Tuesday 12th February 2019
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TheGinger1 said:
Incidentally, since the battery was replaced (only other thing done was the MOT) my average mpg according to the OBD has dropped from about 27.1 mpg to 25.9 mpg. The driving I am doing is no different to before and the mpg did not drop that much last winter, so not cold weather related.
Could be that the OBC MPG correction factor has reset to 1000.

squareflops

1,808 posts

182 months

Friday 15th February 2019
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Rear brake pads, can anyone advise?

Looking to replace the rear pads on my 07' e92 330i M Sport N52 and of course there's two options for the rear pads from ECP

namely

Brake System Teves
Fitting Kit107110258
Height [mm]57,9
Thickness [mm]17,3
Wear Warning Contact Prepared for wear indicator
Width [mm]123
Fitting Position Rear Axle
Other Information for vehicles without M-technology

or

Brake System Brembo
Height [mm]76,2
Thickness [mm]17,1
Wear Warning Contact Prepared for wear indicator
Width [mm]86,95
Fitting Position Rear
Other Information Suspension for vehicles with M-technics

I'm thinking the bottom one as it's an M Sport but is it that obvious?

squareflops

1,808 posts

182 months

Saturday 16th February 2019
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thanks for the help!

To update it was the set noted 'for vehicles without M-technology' which is nice as they were the cheaper ones. Will take the other set back as bought both.

Why did BMW use 7mm hex for the caliper bolts rolleyes only found out when I'd jacked the car up and taken the wheels off. All back together and off to Halfords for the 7mm socket.

Rear pads changed aaaaand dead battery! smile This car has no clue what a budget is..

nitrodave

1,262 posts

137 months

Thursday 28th February 2019
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Been lurking on this thread for a while and with the recent new arrival of our daughter we needed something a bit more practical so yesterday I picked up a 330 n52 manual e91.

I used to have an e92 330i n53 manual msport and although they have a bad rep it never gave me any problems. I loved that car but had to sell it to help with a house purchase a few years back so bought myself a saab 9-3 aero which was only ever meant to be a stop gap but ended up keeping it 3 years.

It was fast and reliable shedding but since the little one arrived we realised that with the pushchair taking up the entire boot we needed something a little more practical. I looked at various suv’s and nearly bought a CRV, but It didn’t sit comfortably with my wife who like me enjoys a car that’s a little bit thrilling to drive. She couldn’t see us being happy with a CRV and she has always liked the e91 – so she suggested that’s we get one, and so the hunt began.

Living close to the ULEZ zone it had to be compliant and I wanted something dependable yet fun, so that meant it had to be a manual n52 330i. As you guys know these are hard to find but at the best of times but this weekend I stumbled across this car which was beautifully presented and ticked every box. Within a few minutes of calling a deposit was left and yesterday I picked it up. I am now the owner of a 330i n52 manual SE touring with a few nifty extras. biggrin

I wasn’t terribly bothered about idrive or xenons and although good options it has neither. But it does have the panoramic roof, heated seats and some pretty tasty wheels. My old e92 msport with 19s on rft’s was hard going, so I was nervous about the ride quality of an e91 om 19s with 30 profile tyres, but it’s a great on the SE suspension and it handles and rides fantastic.

The condition of the entire vehicle is immaculate and it wants for nothing. The guys at Bespoke Sports and Performance down in Surrey have gone to levels of preparation and inspection I’ve not experienced in 20+ years of buying cars. They were first class and if you’re in the market for a BMW they are without doubt the guys to go to. They really know their stuff and have gone through this car top to bottom and presented it brilliantly. It feels tight as a drum, there isn’t a mark or blemish anywhere and even the interior feels like new. It’s comprehensively serviced and been detailed to perfection.




Edited by nitrodave on Thursday 18th April 09:52

zippyonline

Original Poster:

354 posts

165 months

Thursday 28th February 2019
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Nice one - I do like the Alpina wheels - although think they suit the SE style better - they didn't quite work in my mind on my M sport. Looking forward to hearing about it - my manual n52 330i is on over 209k miles now and the engine still purrs.

Last week after getting held at a level crossing for 15 minutes at 5am in the morning with a meeting at Gatwick airport for 0730, I was behind time (leaving 5 minutes later at the time in the morning loses you 15 minutes out the other end, so 15 minute level crossing delay = potentially 45 mins later!!) - but the roads were still clear - so cue a PPBB style of 30 minutes at pretty much a 100 leptons down the dual carriageways that lead to the motorway network, car felt comfortable, and it was fairly relaxed despite the required concentration levels – perfect car for the job, try doing that in something with a lesser engine and it would have felt like hard work and the car being worked hard! That was probably the first time I was able to drive it like that for any actual length of time (it’s cruised at similar speeds for the decent lengths of time before, but dual carriageways with bumps, bends and elephant racing trucks are a different story). And I made my meeting on time!

JakeT

5,406 posts

119 months

Thursday 28th February 2019
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Saw it for sale, really nice purchase that. Lovely spec, I love the bumper and wheels. Plus unlike the ALPINA, it's a manual!

Swervin_Mervin

4,429 posts

237 months

Thursday 28th February 2019
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That is very nice.

The only thing I've want to change would be the rear bumper - I much prefer the MSport version personally.

I've been thinking a lot lately about whether I'm going to change out of my 330i soon. We've a Superb 3 hatch coming soon (272 version) which will take over practical family car duties, so I've no need for an estate anymore. Trouble is, I think I've had it too long now and I can't think what else I'd want! It's too good at what it does, and I love the analogue feel compared to later models. I just wish it was a little quicker, and had a few more modern creature comforts.

This begs the question whether I spend much more on its upkeep. I was planning on a bodywork tidy up this year, along with sorting the fuel filler breather hose and some weepy oil gaskets.

gizlaroc

17,251 posts

223 months

Thursday 28th February 2019
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That looks loverrrlyyyy.

I saw that too when perusing autotrader. wink


nitrodave

1,262 posts

137 months

Thursday 28th February 2019
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thanks smile

I'm always looking at cars for sale just out of curiosity and every now and then something pops up that makes you go wow and is clearly a bit special and been cared for. This was one of those cars and had to have it.

Rear bumper is staying as it is for now. I rather like it. Only thing that let's these down is the entertainment system. I've been doing some research and stumbled across these ! They get pretty good reviews too

https://avinusa.com/10-25-bmw-3-series-e90-e91-e92...

Perhaps in the future if I'm brave enough to cut a hole in the dash I'll do it. For now it's stay as it is


Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Thursday 28th February 2019
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That's lovely. thumbup

I'm not sure about the wheels, but having bought an E91 325iSE last year I'm more than happy with an SE (well maybe other than the dead water pump). laugh

I just couldn't justify a 330i - they were mostly twice the price of 325is!

I would have loved the panoramic roof, but at least I got heated seats - handy now it's got colder again.

And I'm really not a fan of Sport rear bumpers - if I wanted it unpainted I'd just buy a basic MK3 Escort! laugh

nitrodave

1,262 posts

137 months

Friday 1st March 2019
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The wheels are certainly unique and a bit marmite. Right now I love them but I'll see how get on with them. They look just as good up close as they do in the pics and work with the styling of the car. I can see myself swapping them out for a set of 18s with higher profile tyres at some point though. For now it;s staying as it is.

The previous owner apparently did the water pump but there's no evidence of this and it's my one fear with this car. The n52 seems to have a pretty good reputation for robsustness otherwise.

ATM

18,095 posts

218 months

Friday 1st March 2019
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Nice manual saloon 330i on eBay. I'm trying to tell myself saloons are rubbish, saloons are rubbish, saloons are rubbish.

ATM

18,095 posts

218 months

Friday 1st March 2019
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nitrodave said:
The wheels are certainly unique and a bit marmite. Right now I love them but I'll see how get on with them. They look just as good up close as they do in the pics and work with the styling of the car. I can see myself swapping them out for a set of 18s with higher profile tyres at some point though. For now it;s staying as it is.

The previous owner apparently did the water pump but there's no evidence of this and it's my one fear with this car. The n52 seems to have a pretty good reputation for robsustness otherwise.
I ran 17s on my 335i and it drove lovely.

cerb4.5lee

30,189 posts

179 months

Friday 1st March 2019
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ATM said:
Nice manual saloon 330i on eBay. I'm trying to tell myself saloons are rubbish, saloons are rubbish, saloons are rubbish.
They are if you want to carry anything big!! biggrin

ATM

18,095 posts

218 months

Friday 1st March 2019
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cerb4.5lee said:
ATM said:
Nice manual saloon 330i on eBay. I'm trying to tell myself saloons are rubbish, saloons are rubbish, saloons are rubbish.
They are if you want to carry anything big!! biggrin
I do have 2 and a half cars in my stable. Not sure a 330i saloon is required.