My E46 BMW 330 MSport Coupe.
Discussion
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




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
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?
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?
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
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.
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.
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.
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.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 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

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!



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