My E46 BMW 330 MSport Coupe.
My E46 BMW 330 MSport Coupe.
Author
Discussion

Daz172

Original Poster:

10 posts

190 months

Monday 19th September 2011
quotequote all
Picked it up about 3 months ago completely standard.










Along with the modifications, I have also replaced the annoyingly common front lower bushes with Powerflex items, aswell as front discs and pads from BMW which to my surprise only cost £148 (trade).

As with any car I buy, I always give it atleast an oil change straight away.

This one recently had a Inspection 1 service approx 3,000 miles before I got it, where a 5-30w Fully Synthetic was used. I noticed the engine liked a drink of this stuff, so I decided to try Mobil's expensive 0-40 New Life oil.

Needless to say, the car's done over a 1000 miles since without using a drop. I know alot of people tend to fret about oil comsumption on these (M54's) so maybe this oil could help others.

Daryl

DanielJames

7,543 posts

196 months

Tuesday 20th September 2011
quotequote all
Nice car, think I've seen it on E46Zone ?

Mike_C

984 posts

250 months

Tuesday 20th September 2011
quotequote all
Nice car Daryl. I have a 53-reg 330Ci M-Sport and love it!

Like you I replaced the front wishbones + bushes as soon as I got it as they were shot (around 75k miles). I replaced them with Febi Bilstein items. However, the bushes have gone again (approx 89k now) so have now replaced them with OE-spec Lemforder bushes, which have stopped all the steering wobble and most of the tramlining.

With regards to oil, I've heard about high consumption on these so when I changed the oil I used Castrol Edge Sport 0W40. The car runs noticeably smoother and barely uses any oil, and I also say a small increase in MPG too - about 1mpg. Running it on Optimax also increases the MPG by another 1-2, which is good for a long journey!

Anyway, nice looking car - whats the inside like?

ghibbett

1,915 posts

213 months

Tuesday 20th September 2011
quotequote all
I also use Castrol Edge and my engine doesn't use a drop. I've done 12k miles now and have never needed to top it up (although it has had a full oil change in this time).

johnfm

13,751 posts

278 months

Tuesday 20th September 2011
quotequote all
How much for a key of charlie?

wink

Actually quite like that. But you will get stopped by the police if you venture to the 'wrong' part of whichever town you are in.

rumple

14,719 posts

179 months

Tuesday 20th September 2011
quotequote all
nice car, ive got a black one with lemon yellow interior, fitted meyle hd lower arm bushes meself and e46 m3 rtab's livened the car up, got the rear rose bushes to do next, might try your oil at the mo im running edge, using a litre every 1000 miles, gonna do an intermediate oil change in the next few weeks

Mike_C

984 posts

250 months

Wednesday 21st September 2011
quotequote all
rumple said:
nice car, ive got a black one with lemon yellow interior, fitted meyle hd lower arm bushes meself and e46 m3 rtab's livened the car up, got the rear rose bushes to do next, might try your oil at the mo im running edge, using a litre every 1000 miles, gonna do an intermediate oil change in the next few weeks
Opie Oils recommend the Edge, but the Edge Sport was on offer when I first got the car and changed the oil, and have ran it on that ever since. Seems to run very well and barely uses any.

If yours does use a lot, check out the various threads on BMWland as there's a couple of causes and cures.

rumple

14,719 posts

179 months

Wednesday 21st September 2011
quotequote all
Mike_C said:
Opie Oils recommend the Edge, but the Edge Sport was on offer when I first got the car and changed the oil, and have ran it on that ever since. Seems to run very well and barely uses any.
I'll do that I know it's nothing and normal for this engine, gets on yer nerves though cars only done 70000 miles
If yours does use a lot, check out the various threads on BMWland as there's a couple of causes and cures.

Charlie Michael

2,753 posts

212 months

Wednesday 21st September 2011
quotequote all
Love the black wheels. thumbup

Daz172

Original Poster:

10 posts

190 months

Wednesday 21st September 2011
quotequote all
Mike_C said:
Nice car Daryl. I have a 53-reg 330Ci M-Sport and love it!

Like you I replaced the front wishbones + bushes as soon as I got it as they were shot (around 75k miles). I replaced them with Febi Bilstein items. However, the bushes have gone again (approx 89k now) so have now replaced them with OE-spec Lemforder bushes, which have stopped all the steering wobble and most of the tramlining.

With regards to oil, I've heard about high consumption on these so when I changed the oil I used Castrol Edge Sport 0W40. The car runs noticeably smoother and barely uses any oil, and I also say a small increase in MPG too - about 1mpg. Running it on Optimax also increases the MPG by another 1-2, which is good for a long journey!

Anyway, nice looking car - whats the inside like?
The main thing that prompted me to change the oil was the mileage. Mines ticked over 100k now and from various opinions, a thicker oil seemed the way to go.

The inside is in excellent nick. Full black leather, I've just ordered a Mtech weighted gearknob as the standard one is abit worn now and feels abit naff towards gearchanges.

I havent ran it on anything other than Tesco 95/97 tbh, MPG seems fairly good and it runs smooth. Average 25 around town, can get 40+ if im gently on a run wink

rumple

14,719 posts

179 months

Friday 28th October 2011
quotequote all
Any more mods yet, is it still looking good on the oil consumption,

bikealarmblair

1,085 posts

236 months

Friday 28th October 2011
quotequote all
It looks like a twin of my 357ci !!!

RESSE

6,071 posts

249 months

Friday 28th October 2011
quotequote all
Daz172 said:
Picked it up about 3 months ago completely standard.










Along with the modifications, I have also replaced the annoyingly common front lower bushes with Powerflex items, aswell as front discs and pads from BMW which to my surprise only cost £148 (trade).

As with any car I buy, I always give it atleast an oil change straight away.

This one recently had a Inspection 1 service approx 3,000 miles before I got it, where a 5-30w Fully Synthetic was used. I noticed the engine liked a drink of this stuff, so I decided to try Mobil's expensive 0-40 New Life oil.

Needless to say, the car's done over a 1000 miles since without using a drop. I know alot of people tend to fret about oil comsumption on these (M54's) so maybe this oil could help others.

Daryl
Great car!

Thanks: Regarding lower bush issues (next job on my 330Ci Sport Convertible (56,000 miles).

carter711

1,849 posts

226 months

Friday 28th October 2011
quotequote all
Lovely machine, shame about the image they now have.

anonymous-user

82 months

Friday 28th October 2011
quotequote all
carter711 said:
Lovely machine, shame about the image they now have.
Do they? Can you expand on that?

carter711

1,849 posts

226 months

Friday 28th October 2011
quotequote all
I've seen lots of s driving them?

anonymous-user

82 months

Friday 28th October 2011
quotequote all
carter711 said:
I've seen lots of s driving them?
I see that settles it then rolleyes

Nuttah

566 posts

200 months

Friday 28th October 2011
quotequote all
carter711 said:
I've seen lots of s driving them?
Really?...dam i was going to get one but based on that i think i will pass.. no way i can be seen driving a car i like if other people have already stereotyped it.

anonymous-user

82 months

Friday 28th October 2011
quotequote all
Nuttah said:
Really?...dam i was going to get one but based on that i think i will pass.. no way i can be seen driving a car i like if one other person has already stereotyped it.
Changed that for you

Max M4X WW

5,026 posts

210 months

Friday 28th October 2011
quotequote all
Looks smart that! Best mod - front indicators.

Some tinted top rear lights would match match well and I also think the grile's would look better gloss black too?