Talk to me about E46 coupes
Discussion
dr_gn said:
I tried the zip tie trick but it only lasted a month. A complete new mechanism wasn’t much from Amazon though.
Is spray grease really a good idea near glass? I’d have thought once it migrates onto the pane, you’d be forever trying to remove it, plus it would increase stiction? I used silicone spray, but I assumed dry felt was used when new for a reason - ie low friction without needing lubrication. Once it gets clogged with crud though, it’s a different matter.
I personally don't use spray grease: I don't like the stuff. WD40 is fine and a bit of vaseline on the glass edges when lowering it back in. The rubber/felt channels just distort with age.Is spray grease really a good idea near glass? I’d have thought once it migrates onto the pane, you’d be forever trying to remove it, plus it would increase stiction? I used silicone spray, but I assumed dry felt was used when new for a reason - ie low friction without needing lubrication. Once it gets clogged with crud though, it’s a different matter.
I've repaired plenty of E46 regs with tie wraps but it depends how broken the clip thing is. When fitting a new regulator I add the tie wraps anyway and smear plenty of grease on the cables. Saloon ones are normally OK but Coupe/Convertible regs seem to suffer more from cable corrosion.
Touring442 said:
I personally don't use spray grease...
My E36 compact regulators and sliders died when the felt gave up, all the hairs fell off leaving the glass to slide on rubber. Not sure and spray would help, likely make it worse even? Sadly couldn't anywhere with replacement sliders .Daniel
dhutch said:
dr_gn said:
...Interior is pretty much like new apart from the gear knob, where the leather has worn off...
I get the same mpg as you on regular.
Plus I've tried to get the old one off, but it's on there for good I think. Even tried sitting on the armrest to get more force on it, but to no avail.
dr_gn said:
£61.20 for the gear knob from what I can see.....
Plus I've tried to get the old one off, but it's on there for good I think. Even tried sitting on the armrest to get more force on it, but to no avail.
Did you ring Cotswold for that, with the chassis number, they tend to undercut most of the dealer network. I might have the price wrong, and it was four years ago, but mine was a lot less than BMW wanted via email my local dealership and I am sure less than that?Plus I've tried to get the old one off, but it's on there for good I think. Even tried sitting on the armrest to get more force on it, but to no avail.
Pull harder.... if it doesn't hit you in the face when it finally comes up, your not doing it right!
g3org3y said:
dr_gn said:
So on a slightly different topic - if I were to sell my E46 330i, and wanted to get a more modern equivalent, what could it be? Let’s stick with a BMW saloon, same or better performance, decent comfort and better economy. I tend to keep cars a long time, so preferably something robust that I can maintain myself, Say around £5-£6k? Thanks.
E9X 330i with the N52 engine. (I'd avoid diesels and turbos). N52 is also London ULEZ compliant.N53 engine is also a possibility but potentially more problematic (coils, injectors etc), but if those issued have already been sorted by a previous owner, could be a good buy.
I tried an E91 325i SE but that only lasted a year until I replaced it with an E90 330i SE last year because an E91 330i or 130i was out of budget.
But as g3org3y says your newer equivalent has to be an E90 330i Sport, preferably with the less troublesome N52 engine that still gives you another 27bhp and happily revs to the 7,000 rpm red-line! The later N53 may be slightly cheaper to tax with better claimed economy, but the on-paper saving could easily be erased by the other potential issues.
My 330i is my 4th N52 engined BMW and they all felt sharper than the M54 in my E46, but if they have a weakness it is the electric water pump which will die at some point and the new Pierburg pump costs around £300 (or over £500 if you buy from BMW). Then again as they seem to last anywhere from 60K to 100K miles you'll probably only need a new one once.
My E90 is much more refined than my E46 (maybe not always a good thing) but also seems much less prone to rust which is definitely a good thing!
Anyway back on topic I'd still be sorely tempted by an E46 330Ci facelift if I could find one that had no rust just because they look so good.
dhutch said:
dr_gn said:
£61.20 for the gear knob from what I can see.....
Plus I've tried to get the old one off, but it's on there for good I think. Even tried sitting on the armrest to get more force on it, but to no avail.
Did you ring Cotswold for that, with the chassis number, they tend to undercut most of the dealer network. I might have the price wrong, and it was four years ago, but mine was a lot less than BMW wanted via email my local dealership and I am sure less than that?Plus I've tried to get the old one off, but it's on there for good I think. Even tried sitting on the armrest to get more force on it, but to no avail.
Pull harder.... if it doesn't hit you in the face when it finally comes up, your not doing it right!
Mr Tidy said:
g3org3y said:
dr_gn said:
So on a slightly different topic - if I were to sell my E46 330i, and wanted to get a more modern equivalent, what could it be? Let’s stick with a BMW saloon, same or better performance, decent comfort and better economy. I tend to keep cars a long time, so preferably something robust that I can maintain myself, Say around £5-£6k? Thanks.
E9X 330i with the N52 engine. (I'd avoid diesels and turbos). N52 is also London ULEZ compliant.N53 engine is also a possibility but potentially more problematic (coils, injectors etc), but if those issued have already been sorted by a previous owner, could be a good buy.
I tried an E91 325i SE but that only lasted a year until I replaced it with an E90 330i SE last year because an E91 330i or 130i was out of budget.
But as g3org3y says your newer equivalent has to be an E90 330i Sport, preferably with the less troublesome N52 engine that still gives you another 27bhp and happily revs to the 7,000 rpm red-line! The later N53 may be slightly cheaper to tax with better claimed economy, but the on-paper saving could easily be erased by the other potential issues.
My 330i is my 4th N52 engined BMW and they all felt sharper than the M54 in my E46, but if they have a weakness it is the electric water pump which will die at some point and the new Pierburg pump costs around £300 (or over £500 if you buy from BMW). Then again as they seem to last anywhere from 60K to 100K miles you'll probably only need a new one once.
My E90 is much more refined than my E46 (maybe not always a good thing) but also seems much less prone to rust which is definitely a good thing!
Anyway back on topic I'd still be sorely tempted by an E46 330Ci facelift if I could find one that had no rust just because they look so good.
How did you go about sourcing your cars and how did you sell your old one? I ask because I've read recently that selling a car on Autotrader or EBay is an absolute nightmare.
Thanks.
g3org3y said:
M sports = Body kit + Sport Seats + Sport suspension iirc.
Yes, E90s are available as manual but tbh don't seem that common.
IME, vast majority of E90s on sale are 320d. Petrol wise, 325 more common than 330. Trying to find an N52 330 can be difficult.
Yes, my 330i is an M Sport (or just Sport I think for '02). I'm not too bothered about having hard suspension, although I like the styling. Is the E90 330i N52 from 2007?Yes, E90s are available as manual but tbh don't seem that common.
IME, vast majority of E90s on sale are 320d. Petrol wise, 325 more common than 330. Trying to find an N52 330 can be difficult.
2004 (only a couple of very early ones), 2005, 2006, and 2007. With 2007 you'll find some N53 models. To know the difference:
N52: Typically 258BHP in the 330i (some coupes had 272), silver engine cover.
N53: 272BHP in the 330i. Black engine cover.
N52 engine in the bay:
N35 engine in the bay:
There's technically a 'black top' N52 (N52K) in some cars, but it never was in the E90. Models like the Z4 and late 1 series got those. The surefire way to check is to look for the 'lump' on the engine cover near the screenwash fill tube. That's the valvetronic motor, which the N53 doesn't have.
Hopefully I've made sense there.
N52: Typically 258BHP in the 330i (some coupes had 272), silver engine cover.
N53: 272BHP in the 330i. Black engine cover.
N52 engine in the bay:
N35 engine in the bay:
There's technically a 'black top' N52 (N52K) in some cars, but it never was in the E90. Models like the Z4 and late 1 series got those. The surefire way to check is to look for the 'lump' on the engine cover near the screenwash fill tube. That's the valvetronic motor, which the N53 doesn't have.
Hopefully I've made sense there.
Best way if you don't mind waiting. I saw about five E46 330ci before I got mine, quite a few where very tatty for the money, or lower spec, few clubsports that where daft money.
Them found mine, in Imola, pretending to be a clubsport, bit much money, stalling a bit often but about livable, bit or rust on arches told him clearly it wasn't a clubsport (if actually the same spec as one) pushed down in the stall issue, nice car nice price. New part worn cam position sensor. Happy days.
Currently weighting up if I want a E91 touring (head+heart) or a mates friends E34 540 v8 touring (heart+mad) and if I dare suggest the latter to the mrs.
It would be our 'holiday' car, for when we have more stuff than fits in the Fiesta or 330ci with two dogs.
Daniel
Them found mine, in Imola, pretending to be a clubsport, bit much money, stalling a bit often but about livable, bit or rust on arches told him clearly it wasn't a clubsport (if actually the same spec as one) pushed down in the stall issue, nice car nice price. New part worn cam position sensor. Happy days.
Currently weighting up if I want a E91 touring (head+heart) or a mates friends E34 540 v8 touring (heart+mad) and if I dare suggest the latter to the mrs.
It would be our 'holiday' car, for when we have more stuff than fits in the Fiesta or 330ci with two dogs.
Daniel
Touring442 said:
dr_gn said:
No I didn't call them. I'll have another go at getting the old one off first.
Twist as you pull.Plenty of decent Chinese copy gear knobs on Ebay for a lot less than 60 quid.
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