RE: BMW 330d (E46) | Shed of the Week
Discussion
Julian Scott said:
I had a very early 330d touring, ex-demo bought in very early 2000, rumoured to actually be the first 330d Touring in the UK but never confirmed.
Pre-LCI facelift, pre the availability of the M-Sport pack. Silver, cream leather, auto, wood trim, sport suspension, comfort seats, strange spec but suited it. By todays standards it's nothing, but back then it was a rocketship and so luxurious.
My early touring was a strange spec too, it was officially an SE but had M Sport suspension, wheels and seats.Pre-LCI facelift, pre the availability of the M-Sport pack. Silver, cream leather, auto, wood trim, sport suspension, comfort seats, strange spec but suited it. By todays standards it's nothing, but back then it was a rocketship and so luxurious.
to3m said:
(This one in the advert looks like it'll be a pre-facelift 2.9 version. The redline in the 3.0 is higher than the 4600 shown here, as I recall. The 6000 max rpm is probably unattainable, but you can hit a spicy 5000. Be sure to check the rear view mirror when you do, because the amount of muck that comes out is quite impressive. Flooring it in 2nd or 3rd will deter all but the most determined of tailgaters.)
Some d
head drove into mine in late 2017 and wrote it off, and I'm still pissed off six years later. I bought a E90 330i M Sport to replace it, which I had until last year when an engine fault killed it. Another good car, certainly better than the 330d for driving purposes - but it just did not exceed expectations in quite the same way.)
(This one is a no for me on account of the gearbox. But I love the seat colour and I don't care what anybody says.)
My facelift 320td had a red line at 5,000 rpm but the last 500 rpm didn't do anything, other than chuck out a nice cloud of muck!Some d
head drove into mine in late 2017 and wrote it off, and I'm still pissed off six years later. I bought a E90 330i M Sport to replace it, which I had until last year when an engine fault killed it. Another good car, certainly better than the 330d for driving purposes - but it just did not exceed expectations in quite the same way.)(This one is a no for me on account of the gearbox. But I love the seat colour and I don't care what anybody says.)
For the last 5 years my daily has been a manual E90 330i that drives better in every way. My 320td probably only felt special because it was the first car I had bought that was less than a year old. My 330i was 14 years old when I got it!
If my sister didn't live in a London Borough and I was still doing a high annual mileage I'd definitely look for a 330d.
Gtamaddog said:
I've got a 2004 330d Sport (manual) that I have owned since January 2014. I've done nearly 120,000 miles in it (now on 210k) and it has been pretty smooth sailing from my perspective. Within the first two months I had the swirl flaps removed as a precaution and changed both front suspension arms because they were knackered. Out of the norm, it had new springs and dampers a few years back, three brake calipers in my ownership, a wheel bearing and last year I had to replace the rear brake lines which decided to fail the night before the car was due for its MOT. I don't think the previous owner cared too greatly about it, but I service it every 10-12k miles, keep it looking clean, kept it largely original and it keeps plodding on. Funnily enough, I'm just waiting for some contractors to stop making a mess of my driveway so I can change the oil today.
I brought it a bit more up to date a few years ago with an android headunit that looks similar to an original satnav units and allows for bluetooth calls, music, satnav and so on.
With the aforemention brake line failure and me taking my time repairing it I went out and bought an E92 335d (it would be the quickest car ever, but it isn't mapped, innit) because one old BMW is never enough. I prefer the manual gearbox and the E46 handles better in my opinion and the thing still feels like home after not driving it for 8 months last year. Realistically, my E46 is too old and high mileage for most people and it may need a sill repair this year for the MOT, which I'm prepared for, so mine won't be leaving my hands any time soon.
Interesting stuff ! I am going to be taking on my sons 04 330d manual M coupe, as he is now working in central London. It feels a bit flat performance wise, any recommendations on “ sprucing its BHP “ up ? I brought it a bit more up to date a few years ago with an android headunit that looks similar to an original satnav units and allows for bluetooth calls, music, satnav and so on.
With the aforemention brake line failure and me taking my time repairing it I went out and bought an E92 335d (it would be the quickest car ever, but it isn't mapped, innit) because one old BMW is never enough. I prefer the manual gearbox and the E46 handles better in my opinion and the thing still feels like home after not driving it for 8 months last year. Realistically, my E46 is too old and high mileage for most people and it may need a sill repair this year for the MOT, which I'm prepared for, so mine won't be leaving my hands any time soon.
SS427 Camaro said:
Interesting stuff ! I am going to be taking on my sons 04 330d manual M coupe, as he is now working in central London. It feels a bit flat performance wise, any recommendations on “ sprucing its BHP “ up ?
Best thing I did to my 2004 330d was a remap via a local company who used 'Veizu' software. Took it to a claimed 280bhp (realistically felt less than that) but my oh my was that car quick. I literally made no other modifications to it and it ran perfectly.My cousin owns a E39 M5 and stated that he felt my 330d was comparable on torque with his M5.
Wren-went said:
Am I first , had the adsatly the same model 20 + years ago , spent a fortune on it , infact I spent that much on it I traded it in for the only brand car I've ever bought a 51 plate Mk4 PD 150 GT TDI golf.
This generation of 330d put me off BMW'S for life .
How does that work? Had a BMW but only ever bought VWs?This generation of 330d put me off BMW'S for life .
AmyRichardson said:
howardhughes said:
The shape has aged really well, which is more than I can say for the interior.
Visually the interior is very dated, though not offensive - but the ergonomics and material quality looks better than in my F31. This era was a bit of a high point re. "real" interior quality in premium/semi-premium cars. I've long thought the E46 is one of the best looking cars BMW ever made, and on the rare occasion you see one now, it's generally been ruined, running along on its belly with black tints, window graphics, and belching dodgy remap black smoke in the case of a diesel. Looking at this one, it reminds me what good looking car this always fundamentally were.
IIRC the SE spec was quite unloved back in the day, with the M-Sport being the one to have. I know when I looked at them at a couple of years old in the mid 2000s, the M-Sports were more plentiful, and commanded a significant price premium over an equivalent age, mileage and condition SE.
IIRC the SE spec was quite unloved back in the day, with the M-Sport being the one to have. I know when I looked at them at a couple of years old in the mid 2000s, the M-Sports were more plentiful, and commanded a significant price premium over an equivalent age, mileage and condition SE.
njw1 said:
Julian Scott said:
I had a very early 330d touring, ex-demo bought in very early 2000, rumoured to actually be the first 330d Touring in the UK but never confirmed.
Pre-LCI facelift, pre the availability of the M-Sport pack. Silver, cream leather, auto, wood trim, sport suspension, comfort seats, strange spec but suited it. By todays standards it's nothing, but back then it was a rocketship and so luxurious.
My early touring was a strange spec too, it was officially an SE but had M Sport suspension, wheels and seats.Pre-LCI facelift, pre the availability of the M-Sport pack. Silver, cream leather, auto, wood trim, sport suspension, comfort seats, strange spec but suited it. By todays standards it's nothing, but back then it was a rocketship and so luxurious.
cobra kid said:
Wren-went said:
Am I first , had the adsatly the same model 20 + years ago , spent a fortune on it , infact I spent that much on it I traded it in for the only brand car I've ever bought a 51 plate Mk4 PD 150 GT TDI golf.
This generation of 330d put me off BMW'S for life .
How does that work? Had a BMW but only ever bought VWs?This generation of 330d put me off BMW'S for life .
Limpet said:
I've long thought the E46 is one of the best looking cars BMW ever made, and on the rare occasion you see one now, it's generally been ruined, running along on its belly with black tints, window graphics, and belching dodgy remap black smoke in the case of a diesel. Looking at this one, it reminds me what good looking car this always fundamentally were.
IIRC the SE spec was quite unloved back in the day, with the M-Sport being the one to have. I know when I looked at them at a couple of years old in the mid 2000s, the M-Sports were more plentiful, and commanded a significant price premium over an equivalent age, mileage and condition SE.
With the 3 series I find that, more or less, every other generation is a good looker, relatively speaking. Eg, E30 looked nice, E36 less so (IMO), E46 looked and still looks great, E90 which replaced it looked very bland until the LCI refresh. The F30 to my eyes was a better looking car than the E90 (I own one, so may be biased however), the current G80 with its grille, less so, although again the LCI has improved things.IIRC the SE spec was quite unloved back in the day, with the M-Sport being the one to have. I know when I looked at them at a couple of years old in the mid 2000s, the M-Sports were more plentiful, and commanded a significant price premium over an equivalent age, mileage and condition SE.
Hopefully the next gen should be ok, but perhaps not, given the current direction of BMW styling
I had both a 330ci (at 22 years old, how the feck did I insure that?) and the 330cd both were amazing cars for someone used to a Mk4 Ford Fiesta and a Citroen Saxo VTR.
The 330ci in the pic below was quite an unusual spec too. It came with the oxblood leather seats (darker than the usual tanin red seats these got), Rainbow sound system, and it had M3 mirrors and HSD Monopro coilovers.
I serviced the Vanos and DISA valve on it, it was also sent to BMW to have all 4 arches repaired under warranty.
I loved every minute of ownership until a bin lorry hit it and I sold it as a breaker.
Looking back, it would've been an easy fix but I didn't have the time, money or skill. If anybody knows of the car I'd love to have it back, although I fear it's long since been stripped of its nice bits and crushed.
The 330ci in the pic below was quite an unusual spec too. It came with the oxblood leather seats (darker than the usual tanin red seats these got), Rainbow sound system, and it had M3 mirrors and HSD Monopro coilovers.
I serviced the Vanos and DISA valve on it, it was also sent to BMW to have all 4 arches repaired under warranty.
I loved every minute of ownership until a bin lorry hit it and I sold it as a breaker.
Looking back, it would've been an easy fix but I didn't have the time, money or skill. If anybody knows of the car I'd love to have it back, although I fear it's long since been stripped of its nice bits and crushed.
Escort Si-130 said:
st shed, everything that went wrong with motoring another diesel stbox. Only interesting thing about this was the Jenson Button story
Tell us you never drove one without telling us you never drove one....t shed, everything that went wrong with motoring another diesel stbox. Only interesting thing about this was the Jenson Button storyI had the 535d with a 370bhp / 690nm remap. Certainly changed my perspective of diesels.
Discendo Discimus said:
Escort Si-130 said:
st shed, everything that went wrong with motoring another diesel stbox. Only interesting thing about this was the Jenson Button story
Tell us you never drove one without telling us you never drove one....t shed, everything that went wrong with motoring another diesel stbox. Only interesting thing about this was the Jenson Button storyI had the 535d with a 370bhp / 690nm remap. Certainly changed my perspective of diesels.
tboxness, the awe inspiring Escort Si-130. Discendo Discimus said:
Escort Si-130 said:
st shed, everything that went wrong with motoring another diesel stbox. Only interesting thing about this was the Jenson Button story
Tell us you never drove one without telling us you never drove one....t shed, everything that went wrong with motoring another diesel stbox. Only interesting thing about this was the Jenson Button storyI had the 535d with a 370bhp / 690nm remap. Certainly changed my perspective of diesels.
greenarrow said:
Discendo Discimus said:
Escort Si-130 said:
st shed, everything that went wrong with motoring another diesel stbox. Only interesting thing about this was the Jenson Button story
Tell us you never drove one without telling us you never drove one....t shed, everything that went wrong with motoring another diesel stbox. Only interesting thing about this was the Jenson Button storyI had the 535d with a 370bhp / 690nm remap. Certainly changed my perspective of diesels.
nismo48 said:
greenarrow said:
Discendo Discimus said:
Escort Si-130 said:
st shed, everything that went wrong with motoring another diesel stbox. Only interesting thing about this was the Jenson Button story
Tell us you never drove one without telling us you never drove one....t shed, everything that went wrong with motoring another diesel stbox. Only interesting thing about this was the Jenson Button storyI had the 535d with a 370bhp / 690nm remap. Certainly changed my perspective of diesels.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff