Bargain BMW E91 330d Project tidy up

[martin mrt]

Whilst browsing through Facebook Marketplace last week I stumbled upon a rather cheap BMW E91 330d. The advert was week later old but upon reading it had been posted with the proviso the car wasn’t available until a certain date..... the day I was looking at the advert. Quick message later and arranged to view it the following day.

Now, upon reflection of sending the message I realised I don’t need another car, nor did I really want another car but I had made an arrangement so stuck to it.

The following day what I went to see was a very well used E91, on the wrong wheels, that was absolutely filthy, and I mean filthy both inside and out. I should have walked away then but I had a look around and beneath the dirt was a decent car. If I could get it at the right money.

It’s done 188k, has loads of history and is totally standard.
It has leather, electric tow bar, folding mirrors, sliding armrest and the dealer fit Alpine speaker upgrade, rare in itself.

It’s not without its faults, there’s pucky arches and a rattle when the clutch is depressed which only happens part way up the pedal travel


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Those were the sellers pictures, I can assure you it didn’t look as clean as that when I viewed or picked it up.

Today I set about giving it a tidy up, rain has stopped play so I’ve still to get the interior done, but this is what I started with

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As I said earlier rain has stopped play for today so I’m inside having a well earned beer.

I got the car washed, Clayed, washed again, wheels done as much as I can be bothered as they are not permanent. Started on the interior, the cleanest part the boot which isn’t finished yet. Tomorrow should see the seats removed and a proper clean inside.

Here’s where it’s at now, a vast improvement.





Thanks for taking the time to look, I will update the thread once the interior is done tomorrow.

Quite happy with my purchase, by all accounts probably the cheapest E91 330d in the country.

Edited by martin mrt on Monday 11th March 20:57

[Petetfsi]

Very well bought! Looks to have a good spec.

Those are the correct wheels for a sport model, which yours appears to be.

[andymc]

the rattle will be the dual mass flywheel, not cheap

[martin mrt]

Petetfsi said:

Very well bought! Looks to have a good spec.

Those are the correct wheels for a sport model, which yours appears to be.

You are correct they are for 4 pot cars but 6 cylinder M Sports had the 18” MV3s as standard, the previous owner cracked two and stuck with these instead.

[helix402]

Excellent project. I’d put a new clutch and flywheel in it. Looking forward to the updates. M57s like a good remap.

Please don’t fit a black grille or remove the dpf.

If you don’t like the wheels try Style 158 or 162, avoid the chocolate 18s.

[martin mrt]

andymc said:

the rattle will be the dual mass flywheel, not cheap

I thought that it would be either that or the release bearing, regardless I’ll use it as is until it gets worse

[martin mrt]

helix402 said:

Excellent project. I’d put a new clutch and flywheel in it. Looking forward to the updates. M57s like a good remap.

Please don’t fit a black grille or remove the dpf.

If you don’t like the wheels try Style 158 or 162, avoid the chocolate 18s.

I’ll put a new clutch and flywheel in it once I’ve paid for my half of the bodywork repairs on our R32

No black grilles here, the originals will be left as is.

I like the MV3s my last 3 E91s have all been 330/335s and they suit it I think.

Remap, funny you say that the car did come with a bluefin but it’s not currently installed

[Mr Tidy]

Looking good OP.

I do like a 6 cylinder E91 - but then I did buy a 325i last year! (Paid a fair bit more than you though).

Looks like it's Sparkling Graphite, which is what I've got. Hopefully it will clean up well.

[martin mrt]

Mr Tidy said:

Looking good OP.

I do like a 6 cylinder E91 - but then I did buy a 325i last year! (Paid a fair bit more than you though).

Looks like it's Sparkling Graphite, which is what I've got. Hopefully it will clean up well.

Why thank you, I do like an E91 6 pot too(I’ve had 3 previously) I paid a substantial (10x +) for my last E91 than what this cost

[Chestrockwell]

That’s a very nice looking car, manual as well, I bet that shifts nicely.

The E91 shape is very nice and it looks better than the F31 IMO.

The leather in one of the photos doesn’t seem to be in bad shape, I wonder if it’s Dakota or Nappa

[C350]

I had exactly the same car, also manual, it was easily the best all round car I’ve owned.
Looks like you got a good bargain

[simple00]

I don't know if it has been mentioned but get a disklok, I had a beautiful e91 330d and it was stolen 20 yards from my bedroom window and I never heard a thing, it looks like a decent car for the money so try to hang on to it

[BlueHave]

Amazed you found a car on Facebook Marketplace amongst all the illegal drugs / hooky prescription medication and counterfeit goods.

Decent find if you aren't bothered about cleaning up someone elses filth.

I don't understand how someone can let it get into such a state. I'd actually be embarrassed advertising a car for sale in such messy state.

[Darren1101]

BlueHave said:

I don't understand how someone can let it get into such a state. I'd actually be embarrassed advertising a car for sale in such messy state.

It’s called life. My own car is clean inside, outside I don’t worry about. I do a lot of miles with my job.

My wife’s family car looks as bad as the OPs. Why spend hours cleaning it when you can spend time doing something with the kids? I just pick the big crap out when we’re near a bin.

Although I do wish she wouldn’t leave biodegradable fruit remnants behind. That’s what the window is for!

[Downward]

Darren1101 said:

BlueHave said:

I don't understand how someone can let it get into such a state. I'd actually be embarrassed advertising a car for sale in such messy state.

It’s called life. My own car is clean inside, outside I don’t worry about. I do a lot of miles with my job.

My wife’s family car looks as bad as the OPs. Why spend hours cleaning it when you can spend time doing something with the kids? I just pick the big crap out when we’re near a bin.

Although I do wish she wouldn’t leave biodegradable fruit remnants behind. That’s what the window is for!

Hehe same with mine. Not that bad though but bloody kids leave crap in the back.

[martin mrt]

Thanks for the comments, the weather has improved today so I’ll get cracking on the inside as I can’t bear to drive it as it is.

The leather is Dakota, nappa was never available in these, the E9x M3 came with novillo which is far softer and more akin to nappa.

For the money I can’t think of a better all rounder to be honest

[stuckmojo]

Fantastic. I am jealous and I am looking at something similar for a daily

[martin mrt]

Productive day today, I started off by removing the front seats and the lower rear bench, I can categorically confirm the condition of the interior was disgusting. How anyone could sit in that through choice beats me.

6 hours of hoovering and cleaning the entire inside of the car with G101 and it came up rather well







Parked up alongside the 140, the E91 still looks fresh in my opinion



Next I plan on getting a new OSF wing and some MV3s, it needs some paint too but where do you stop before it gets unjustifiable

[Darren1101]

I’m in the same boat regards where to stop. Paid £1,250 for e46 330d, similar miles. Needs tyres, so should I return wheels? Needs two wings due to rust, should I respray bonnet and bumper which have lacquer peel?

Honest answer is no, you won’t see the money back. But I do like my cars to be the best they can be. Hmm.

[Mr Tidy]

martin mrt said:

Why thank you, I do like an E91 6 pot too(I’ve had 3 previously) I paid a substantial (10x +) for my last E91 than what this cost

Yes, BMW 6 pots are a bit special - I'm currently on numbers 3 & 4!

Anyway your car cleaned up rather well - and I'm jealous of your M-Sport seats!

But then again while mine may be the SE items, they are in Lemon leather and heated - which is handy just now.