Discussion
Hi
I'd like to introduce my E90 330i SE. It's my daily which also doubles up as my track car. I bought it because I wanted NA and 6 cylinders (my personal favourite setup). Also a must was a manual box to match the engine perfectly.
Mods:
MV3 alloys
Retrimmed steering wheel to padded perforated leather (Transformed feel, now I can man handle the car)
M sport gear knob (weighted, transforms feel again)
Disabled second exhaust flap actuator - more noise below 3000rpm
Lowered on Eibach Pro's and Bilstein B4 Dampers
Immediate plans :
Alloy refurb
New front discs and pads (stayed out too long on track = warped discs)
Replace Diff (slight metallic pitch since I had the car)
Red out the rear white tail light by film, paint or aftermarket replacement tail lights - this makes the rear look more ugly than it ought to.
Med term:
Remap - Yeah I know it's NA but luckily Simon from Emaps is local to me so I should get at least 15hp and 20nm increase. Small but I've remapped NAs before and whilst you don't get night a day difference like a turbo the difference is still marked
Long term:
Induction Kit - If I can ever find one which sounds great but does not induce heat soak for less than 200 quid.
Exhaust - Thinking about this one
And some pics - I think it looks great for a 12 year old car.
I'd like to introduce my E90 330i SE. It's my daily which also doubles up as my track car. I bought it because I wanted NA and 6 cylinders (my personal favourite setup). Also a must was a manual box to match the engine perfectly.
Mods:
MV3 alloys
Retrimmed steering wheel to padded perforated leather (Transformed feel, now I can man handle the car)
M sport gear knob (weighted, transforms feel again)
Disabled second exhaust flap actuator - more noise below 3000rpm
Lowered on Eibach Pro's and Bilstein B4 Dampers
Immediate plans :
Alloy refurb
New front discs and pads (stayed out too long on track = warped discs)
Replace Diff (slight metallic pitch since I had the car)
Red out the rear white tail light by film, paint or aftermarket replacement tail lights - this makes the rear look more ugly than it ought to.
Med term:
Remap - Yeah I know it's NA but luckily Simon from Emaps is local to me so I should get at least 15hp and 20nm increase. Small but I've remapped NAs before and whilst you don't get night a day difference like a turbo the difference is still marked
Long term:
Induction Kit - If I can ever find one which sounds great but does not induce heat soak for less than 200 quid.
Exhaust - Thinking about this one
And some pics - I think it looks great for a 12 year old car.
Mike335i said:
Nice, I really like that. How is she on track?
Thank you!Last time on track she had the standard SE suspension. I always had thought the rear shocks were shot since I had the car and when I swapped the shocks over the rears were totally perished, I mean you could sneeze on it and it would compress with no rebound. So on track she was a handful in fast corners, heavy braking at an angle and transitions were shocking, but even so she managed to hang onto quicker machinery (Evo 260, FK2 Type R), although that could have also been a driver thing
Going to Donnington next month with the new setup so will see how it behaves!
e21Mark said:
Nice looking car, if a little bigger than I like myself.
How much firmer is suspension? Is the amount of roll reduced?
Thank you. The suspension is firmer, but not uncomfortable. The pro kit is designed for stock shocks, which is why I choose Bilstein B4 shocks as these are basically highest quality OEM but are also 10% stiffer, so a good match.How much firmer is suspension? Is the amount of roll reduced?
Due to the fact my rear shocks were perished, and the ride height as been reduced by about 30mm, the roll reduction is significant in my experience. Before I had to hang onto the steering wheel for dear life when cornering hard, however now I am stable.
Nice, like that, have you got SE seats, or the sports ones? The spec sounds very similar to mine, except it's a touring, mine is an 330i se manual, I've also got staggered style 193's for summer, a Birds B3 suspension kit, so Bilstein dampers and Eibach springs.
Ive got the darkline/performance rear lights, which personally I prefer over the standard items. however I am tempted to do an LCI boot and light conversion. Mine also has LCI halogen headlights which look a bit fresher than the pre-LCI units.
Inside I've also got the clubsport gear knob, feels much better than the standard one. No steering wheel upgrade yet but it's possibly on the cards. If yours has the CCC navigation I can recommend upgrading to CIC, it's a far superior set up, mine is paired with the Alpine speaker upgrade which is a vast improvement over the standard kit.
I really struggle to know what I will replace mine with, so for the time being it is probably staying, one day I'll get round to sorting a thread out for it!
Ive got the darkline/performance rear lights, which personally I prefer over the standard items. however I am tempted to do an LCI boot and light conversion. Mine also has LCI halogen headlights which look a bit fresher than the pre-LCI units.
Inside I've also got the clubsport gear knob, feels much better than the standard one. No steering wheel upgrade yet but it's possibly on the cards. If yours has the CCC navigation I can recommend upgrading to CIC, it's a far superior set up, mine is paired with the Alpine speaker upgrade which is a vast improvement over the standard kit.
I really struggle to know what I will replace mine with, so for the time being it is probably staying, one day I'll get round to sorting a thread out for it!
Thank you.
I was looking for an E91 because I liked the estate and I think they can look sleeker than the e90. However there wasn't any for sale when I was looking, especially manual ! I wonder what prices will look like in a few years for our cars.. the last crop of N.A. 6 Cylinder manuals...
I have the se seats not the sport. Again on the wish list. However I bought a cg-lock, basically a mechanism which fixes your seatbelt tight as you want like 80% of a harness to stop you moving around.
Agree 're dark lines. I would get lci but BMW didn't do my colour in LCI so I would have to respray. Other ones I've looked at are f10 replicas and e90 lci replicas (that fit on pre lci) , both are around 250-300 quid.
I don't have ccc or cic. I have a aux to Bluetooth adapter, a magnetic mount for my phone, Spotify, Google maps and a large data package. Works well... luckily the new thing car manufactures are doing (looking more at Audi and Mercedes) is sticking a tablet on top of the dash.. so basically I'm almost up to date
I was looking for an E91 because I liked the estate and I think they can look sleeker than the e90. However there wasn't any for sale when I was looking, especially manual ! I wonder what prices will look like in a few years for our cars.. the last crop of N.A. 6 Cylinder manuals...
I have the se seats not the sport. Again on the wish list. However I bought a cg-lock, basically a mechanism which fixes your seatbelt tight as you want like 80% of a harness to stop you moving around.
Agree 're dark lines. I would get lci but BMW didn't do my colour in LCI so I would have to respray. Other ones I've looked at are f10 replicas and e90 lci replicas (that fit on pre lci) , both are around 250-300 quid.
I don't have ccc or cic. I have a aux to Bluetooth adapter, a magnetic mount for my phone, Spotify, Google maps and a large data package. Works well... luckily the new thing car manufactures are doing (looking more at Audi and Mercedes) is sticking a tablet on top of the dash.. so basically I'm almost up to date
Cracking car - mine is an SE - bought off eBay in the dark on a rainy winter evening from a Greek chap who wasn't in the country at the time and hardly spoke any English!
64k miles, Full BMWSH, manual, serviced when It beeped but not looked after in terms of body work - £3.7k. I couldn't not buy it for the price. And the private plate came with it (yes I know its not a V8 and yes its embarrassing when people feel the need to point that out, worth a few quid though).
Have a friend who works for BMW who got me the OE alloys and OE Sport kit front and rear bumpers and side skirts all painted for £500 all in. Fitted it myself and scrubs up well.
Now at 85k miles, average about 28 mpg and had one issue with a vanos actuator -about £80 to fix.
Only other issue is the windscreen wipers turn on but only turn off when you re-start the car - tried replacing the relay but it looks to be a control box which im trying to find second-hand but the exact part number replacement is clearly not that common - thank god for Rain-X.
Would have preferred a touring but as you say they are not that common.
Although thinking of getting rid of my E36 M3 since there a nice black E46 Schnitzer touring (330i supercharged) which would suit the fact we now have a 10 week old a little better (I've been told by the better half that she's never going in the M3!)...
Happy driving
64k miles, Full BMWSH, manual, serviced when It beeped but not looked after in terms of body work - £3.7k. I couldn't not buy it for the price. And the private plate came with it (yes I know its not a V8 and yes its embarrassing when people feel the need to point that out, worth a few quid though).
Have a friend who works for BMW who got me the OE alloys and OE Sport kit front and rear bumpers and side skirts all painted for £500 all in. Fitted it myself and scrubs up well.
Now at 85k miles, average about 28 mpg and had one issue with a vanos actuator -about £80 to fix.
Only other issue is the windscreen wipers turn on but only turn off when you re-start the car - tried replacing the relay but it looks to be a control box which im trying to find second-hand but the exact part number replacement is clearly not that common - thank god for Rain-X.
Would have preferred a touring but as you say they are not that common.
Although thinking of getting rid of my E36 M3 since there a nice black E46 Schnitzer touring (330i supercharged) which would suit the fact we now have a 10 week old a little better (I've been told by the better half that she's never going in the M3!)...
Happy driving
So front discs and pads have been replaced with oem discs and yellowstuff pads. The vibration when braking still exists, although it is less. I wanted to change the fronts anyway and was hoping this would fix the braking vibration issues.
Got the car onto a brake tester and the rear left brake pressure is flucuating hence my vibration. So new discs and again yellowstuffs (may as well) for the rears ordered. Incidentally rears have a larger diameter than the fronts.
In addition I had the wheel alignment done due to swapping the suspension out over a month ago. Fronts were okay but the rear toe were way out. So now adjusted. I wasn't expecting to feel a difference (I'm not too clued up on alignment) but it feels more planted. Could just be the warmer weather though! My steering wheel is no longer 100% horizontal so I need to sort that.
Finally new spark plugs are in. The car has 140k miles and a comprehensive service history, but no mention of spark plugs ever being changed. I also had a misfire on track. Now they're in the car is even smoother.. hard to describe as I went from a 1.9 diesel to this, so on the grand scale it's always been super smooth, but now it's super super smooth with any millisecond of hesitation removed.
I've also ordered a private reg
I feel as though I have got the car to where I needed it to be now (well once rears are fitted), so very happy with it !
Got the car onto a brake tester and the rear left brake pressure is flucuating hence my vibration. So new discs and again yellowstuffs (may as well) for the rears ordered. Incidentally rears have a larger diameter than the fronts.
In addition I had the wheel alignment done due to swapping the suspension out over a month ago. Fronts were okay but the rear toe were way out. So now adjusted. I wasn't expecting to feel a difference (I'm not too clued up on alignment) but it feels more planted. Could just be the warmer weather though! My steering wheel is no longer 100% horizontal so I need to sort that.
Finally new spark plugs are in. The car has 140k miles and a comprehensive service history, but no mention of spark plugs ever being changed. I also had a misfire on track. Now they're in the car is even smoother.. hard to describe as I went from a 1.9 diesel to this, so on the grand scale it's always been super smooth, but now it's super super smooth with any millisecond of hesitation removed.
I've also ordered a private reg
I feel as though I have got the car to where I needed it to be now (well once rears are fitted), so very happy with it !
Harrison-91xcg said:
So front discs and pads have been replaced with oem discs and yellowstuff pads. The vibration when braking still exists, although it is less. I wanted to change the fronts anyway and was hoping this would fix the braking vibration issues.
Got the car onto a brake tester and the rear left brake pressure is flucuating hence my vibration. So new discs and again yellowstuffs (may as well) for the rears ordered. Incidentally rears have a larger diameter than the fronts.
If you have fluctuating brake pressure, could this be done to the actual brake itself and not the disc ? Just wonderingGot the car onto a brake tester and the rear left brake pressure is flucuating hence my vibration. So new discs and again yellowstuffs (may as well) for the rears ordered. Incidentally rears have a larger diameter than the fronts.
Nice car BTW OP.
nice car :-) The rear light film works well.
We have the gloss shadowline, but i think sparkling graphite looks great with that shiny silver SE trim around the windows. We've upgraded the pre lci headlights with lci ones, with LED bulbs- massive improvement. The M3 alloys are forged and light which has helped ride quality as well as non runflats.
The rear discs are larger than fronts as the car uses rear wheel braking in the traction control systems, so they wear a bit quicker than usual- not that we've had any issue.
Do get the water pump done though, Birds found no signs at all that it was at risk, and 500 miles later it went- not their fault at all, but I had a feeling it was coming! Better done as planned maintenance than abroad, in France, in the holidays, in a rural location, etc etc.
Enjoy the track days and whack some sport seats in when you can! Nice thing is you can get anything for these cars - from BMW, specialists, upgraders or from ebay.
We have the gloss shadowline, but i think sparkling graphite looks great with that shiny silver SE trim around the windows. We've upgraded the pre lci headlights with lci ones, with LED bulbs- massive improvement. The M3 alloys are forged and light which has helped ride quality as well as non runflats.
The rear discs are larger than fronts as the car uses rear wheel braking in the traction control systems, so they wear a bit quicker than usual- not that we've had any issue.
Do get the water pump done though, Birds found no signs at all that it was at risk, and 500 miles later it went- not their fault at all, but I had a feeling it was coming! Better done as planned maintenance than abroad, in France, in the holidays, in a rural location, etc etc.
Enjoy the track days and whack some sport seats in when you can! Nice thing is you can get anything for these cars - from BMW, specialists, upgraders or from ebay.
Thanks Polynesian, nice E91 you have there!
I am keen on upgrading the lights. The pre lci stock halogens I have do date the car.
Re the trim I agree! I tried replacing the front chrome grille with black, but the darkness of the paint vs black, well I wasn't a fan. In low light situations such as dusk the contrast between the chrome and the paint looks great.
The waterpump went last year, so that an the thermostat have already been replaced, as has the fuel tank hose and vanos solenoids.
Agree on the availability of parts. I think that's also an issue because they're always something to tempt me!
I am keen on upgrading the lights. The pre lci stock halogens I have do date the car.
Re the trim I agree! I tried replacing the front chrome grille with black, but the darkness of the paint vs black, well I wasn't a fan. In low light situations such as dusk the contrast between the chrome and the paint looks great.
The waterpump went last year, so that an the thermostat have already been replaced, as has the fuel tank hose and vanos solenoids.
Agree on the availability of parts. I think that's also an issue because they're always something to tempt me!
Just got back from Donington..
It was awesome. So well balanced.
Performance wise on par with the stripped out Clio 172/182s so very happy with that. After the yellowstuff brakes were bedded in (vibrated to begin with) I had zero fade and the only reason I slowed/went in was to cool the tyres.
Tyres went off about 6 laps in even after dropping psi. However this is with Avons and runflats. I think some eagle f1s or mpss are on order.
Engine - flawless performance
Transmission - again brilliant especially as I have learnt to heel n toe
Stability control - amazing.. had this off on my last track day, however with dtc off (allows you to push the car to the limit, but not so far that you spin out) I was able to Craner Curves much quicker than most.
Only issue I left with is a brake light on the dash - same red light as when the handbrake is on. Also get the emergency service light. No leaks or loss in braking performance. Probably a sensor somewhere!
It was awesome. So well balanced.
Performance wise on par with the stripped out Clio 172/182s so very happy with that. After the yellowstuff brakes were bedded in (vibrated to begin with) I had zero fade and the only reason I slowed/went in was to cool the tyres.
Tyres went off about 6 laps in even after dropping psi. However this is with Avons and runflats. I think some eagle f1s or mpss are on order.
Engine - flawless performance
Transmission - again brilliant especially as I have learnt to heel n toe
Stability control - amazing.. had this off on my last track day, however with dtc off (allows you to push the car to the limit, but not so far that you spin out) I was able to Craner Curves much quicker than most.
Only issue I left with is a brake light on the dash - same red light as when the handbrake is on. Also get the emergency service light. No leaks or loss in braking performance. Probably a sensor somewhere!
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff