Vein's Black 330Ci Sport

Post Tue Sep 13, 2011 8:09 pm

So... I'll try and make this short.

Had the 172 for 2.5 years but decided it was getting on a bit and I wanted something more mature.

I'd had a 1990 E30 320i before but that needed too much work and I then bought a 2003 E46 318Ci but that was too slow and gutless despite the brilliant condition it was in.

Naturally the next step was a 330Ci in E46 form.

My dad had got one about 7 months ago and the comfort and power levels were exactly what I was after but his was in the most common colour of silver with black leather so I naturally wanted something slightly different.

Restricted by the sale of the Clio I'd been looking around for black ones, preferably with black leather and no wood trim (which was quite difficult) and then saw this one about 80 miles away.

Thankfully the Clio sold last Thursday so I phoned the dealer up, arranged a viewing and PX'ed the 318Ci against this.

Uber happy now! I do mainly town driving so don't expect to see much better mpg than an R27 but it's what I wanted so all is good !

Going to be a mini project too as it's got a few things I want to change and personalise but nothing obscene!

To Do:

* Private Plates
* New wheel badges
* Possibly tinted indicators
* Rust on wheel arch (very common fault)
* New dash trims or sprayed or carbon covered
* Clubsport Gearknob
* New gearknob gaitor and handbrake gaitor
* CD Changer or Business CD headunit
* BBS CHs (possibly) when the tyres run out

The wheels were refurbed by the dealer and he had new tyres put on but they're quite cheap so I'm driving it quite casually in the rain.

Post Tue Sep 13, 2011 8:47 pm

Nice chariot

Post Tue Sep 13, 2011 9:52 pm

Shed

Post Sat Oct 01, 2011 9:03 pm

How many miles were on that?

* Private Plates
* New wheel badges
* Possibly tinted indicators - i wouldnt do this i think it looks naff
* Rust on wheel arch (very common fault)
* New dash trims or sprayed or carbon covered - new dash trims
* Clubsport Gearknob
* New gearknob gaitor and handbrake gaitor
* CD Changer or Business CD headunit - if BMW unit then yes
* BBS CHs (possibly) when the tyres run out - get the 7 spoke BMW wheels refurbed or these ones on currently refurbed

If that were me i would add:
*HK stereo system - retro fit?
*BMW M3 CSL steering wheel - retro fit?

Post Sun Oct 02, 2011 11:11 am

Thanks mate, might do silver visions now instead of the tints.

Fitted a BMW cd changer last week and alot happier now and the private plates are on too.

Do you mean the mv3's? I'm thinking bbs ch or lms.

The CSL wheel is nice but lacks functionality!

Post Sun Oct 02, 2011 3:42 pm

Yeah those ones on or another BMW OEM wheel.

On mine i has the 16inch 6 star spoke wheel which came as standard. They look a bit naff. However, I changed them to second hand and refurbed 17inch 7 star spoke wheel (which were available as an option when new and are quite often found on BMW E46 330Ci SE (Coupe). It looks better in my opinion and helps give more air to the brakes and looks smart/tidy when everything is clean.

However, it wont stand out or anything if that is what you are after in terms of a "bling" motor. For that you need some seriously fancy wheels and a fancy paint job and a fancy stereo.

Me i prefer to keep it OEM. I kept the yellow indicators even. When it was new i thought white looked best but now i realise it looks good in yellow indicators even though it is an early model in my opinion (E46 323Ci).

Post Sun Oct 02, 2011 5:25 pm

Ah yes I know which wheels you mean! I too am trying OEM+ but those IMO would be a step backwards from the MV1s currently.

I'm not really after bling, just something slightly different whilst keeping to at least BM spec or better!

-------------------------

Things are slow but I've had quite a few things to pay out for this month inlcuding the oil service and tax on this beast.

Updates so far:

* Private Plate
* CD Changer

Post Sun Oct 09, 2011 9:45 pm

So.. slow week this week! Busy at work and bought my IOW festival ticket so only some minor things to the 330!

It's a common modification on ClioSport.net to have some silver visions but they do improve the car's image vastly so had to get some

And some nice new BMW logo badges for the wheels.

All in the minor details!!

Thinking about some depo smoked indicators next or colour coded grilles but both together would make it look cheap!?

Next payday should be:

New Wing
Club Sport Gear Knob

Post Sun Oct 09, 2011 11:24 pm

VeinAST wrote:Thinking about some depo smoked indicators next or colour coded grilles but both together would make it look cheap!?

avoid either in my opinion keep the standard indicators and standard kidney grille

Post Thu Oct 13, 2011 1:18 pm

pony wrote:
VeinAST wrote:Thinking about some depo smoked indicators next or colour coded grilles but both together would make it look cheap!?
avoid either in my opinion keep the standard indicators and standard kidney grille

Thats just boring, smoke the lights and black grill, they look so much nicer with them.

Post Thu Oct 13, 2011 1:50 pm

Gouki wrote:
pony wrote:
VeinAST wrote:Thinking about some depo smoked indicators next or colour coded grilles but both together would make it look cheap!?
avoid either in my opinion keep the standard indicators and standard kidney grille
Thats just boring, smoke the lights and black grill, they look so much nicer with them.

I beg to differ. If you do that your not worthy of driving it.

Keeping it as per original looks.

Post Thu Oct 13, 2011 3:34 pm

pony wrote:
Gouki wrote:
pony wrote: avoid either in my opinion keep the standard indicators and standard kidney grille
Thats just boring, smoke the lights and black grill, they look so much nicer with them.
I beg to differ. If you do that your not worthy of driving it.

Keeping it as per original looks.

There's hundreds of E46's out there. Not as if its a specific model that needs to stay OEM. And whats with the your not worthy of driving it comment? Its his car if he wants to mod it that way so be. They are easy reversible mods.

Post Thu Oct 13, 2011 10:39 pm

I just meant - it looks kind of "try hard image obbessed boy racer" and tends to be associated with asian lads/essex boys/chavs pretty much all the people that cannot really afford to look after BMWs and say innit all the time and bruv and black guys.

Personally i prefer the understated looks BMW has spent millions of pounds designing and their engineering.

You are correct though in that they are easily reversible and do nothing to alter performance.

Though yes it is his car and he can do whatever he wants with it.

We are not going to agree so lets just leave it at this.

Post Thu Oct 13, 2011 10:56 pm

pony wrote:I just meant - it looks kind of "try hard image obbessed boy racer" and tends to be associated with asian lads/essex boys/chavs pretty much all the people that cannot really afford to look after BMWs and say innit all the time and bruv and black guys.

Personally i prefer the understated looks BMW has spent millions of pounds designing and their engineering.

You are correct though in that they are easily reversible and do nothing to alter performance.

Though yes it is his car and he can do whatever he wants with it.

We are not going to agree so lets just leave it at this.

You do make me chuckle

Post Fri Oct 14, 2011 2:03 pm

these cars need uprated ARB's in my opinion to handle even vaguely ok. Thats what iw ould be spending my money on not cosmetics.

Post Tue Oct 18, 2011 11:32 pm

Crikey, bit of hostility! I'm going to get the smoked indicators to see but am keen to keep the chrome!

New wing is next on the list of pricey jobs. Wheels after that.

Post Tue Oct 18, 2011 11:53 pm

VeinAST wrote:Wheels after that.

Different or refurb?

Post Wed Oct 19, 2011 2:49 pm

leeparkes wrote:
VeinAST wrote:Wheels after that.
Different or refurb?

Different, front ones of these have some minor damage, causing a wheel wobble at 80+

Thinking of some BBS LM or CH reps.

Post Wed Oct 19, 2011 5:55 pm

Now this is a car that is worth discussing not like that rubbish Compact. I had a diesel 330 saloon version and ran it for 150K with no trouble at all. When I sold it the engine still performed well and the suspension felt as good as new. Rust on front wings looks a bit unusual mine was on a '52 plate and the body was immaculate. Well done nice motor.

Post Wed Oct 19, 2011 7:04 pm

sideshowbob wrote:Rust on front wings looks a bit unusual mine was on a '52 plate and the body was immaculate. Well done nice motor.

Rust on front wings is very common on coupes and cabrios but not on saloons and tourings.

Post Wed Dec 14, 2011 5:08 pm

Soo.. not really any updates as of recent.

Been to a couple meets, also got a replacement foglight cover (as I never realised I was missing it until recently*)

* AFTER

* BEFORE

Been working to pay the car off so I doubt any major updates on it until next year!

So got some Depos. Think they're OK but I'm not 100%. It's a reversible mod but think they work with the black!

Thinking of some LM reps, next year, to tie in the chrome grilles and black "theme".

Post Wed Dec 14, 2011 8:55 pm

VeinAST wrote:
Soo.. not really any updates as of recent.

Been to a couple meets, also got a replacement foglight cover (as I never realised I was missing it until recently*)

* AFTER

* BEFORE

Been working to pay the car off so I doubt any major updates on it until next year!

So got some Depos. Think they're OK but I'm not 100%. It's a reversible mod but think they work with the black!

Thinking of some LM reps, next year, to tie in the chrome grilles and black "theme".

did we just stumble into the bad parking thread?

hows it going boss?

Post Wed Dec 14, 2011 9:08 pm

My nan parks better than he does.

Snowed today fella, did ya spin at all?

Post Wed Dec 14, 2011 9:54 pm

nice car, but bring back:

i say

Post Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:17 am

HairyScreech wrote:did we just stumble into the bad parking thread?

hows it going boss?

Aha! Well I'm an E46 driver now. Have to live up to the stereotype!

rix313 wrote:My nan parks better than he does.

Snowed today fella, did ya spin at all?

I park brilliantly when I want to!

No, I was in work for some training at the time!

adit wrote:nice car, but bring back:

i say

Adi, I look out for that car almost everyday on PH, Ebay and Carandclassic, the owner after me sold it to someone who does hillclimbs... don't think I'll ever see it again

Post Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:25 am

Post Fri Dec 16, 2011 9:00 am

I frequently remind him of his mistake.

Post Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:39 pm

nice car bud , what sorta power these put out then anyone ?

Post Sun Jan 08, 2012 8:05 pm

231bhp according to BMW when new!

So not much progress, bought some new tyres and got them fitted and the tyre fitter found my rear wheel had a crack which explained the vibrations at 80+mph!

Luckily dad had a spare and that's all sorted now!

New problem though, of which I first thought was an easy fix!

Temperature has been reading +50.0C so decided to buy a new sensor! Turns out this was not the case (tried the original sensor on my dad's 330CI and it works fine) so I'm guessing that it's the wiring??

Also the washer bottle is showing as empty on the dashboard so decided to get a new washer level sender! Again, once replaced still showing as empty (even though its full up) and tried the original sender on dad's car and it's working!

So that's stumped me for the minute!

Plans for 2012:

-Get the above sorted
-New wing
-Black front grlles
-New interior, or interior refurb!

Post Sun Feb 05, 2012 4:24 pm

Updates, updates... well...

Haven't really done much over the winter months! Got my tyres sorted, had a juddering at 80mph, seemed to be down to a cracked rear wheel! Thankfully dad had a spare so that's all sorted and fun can be had

Bought some new gearknob and handbrake gaitors from a company on eBay, not genuine BMW but absolutely spot on! I ripped the old covers off, superglued the new ones on and all OEM!

Also got a clubsport gearknob which is such an improvement on the driving style!

Wing is getting rustier but that should be sorted next month (fingers crossed).

Finally took the car to a BMW specialist in Bradford on Avon because of the temperature sensor fault showing at 50 degrees all the time.

Bought a new sensor but it didn't work and explained this to them.

They resoldered a new plug for the temp sensor but it's still not working so it's going back in on Wednesday, hopefull it will be sorted!!

Post Sun Feb 05, 2012 5:01 pm

Nice knob.

Post Sun Feb 05, 2012 5:01 pm

the gaitor looks quite good and suits well.
can't believe the rust on the wing. is that normal?

Post Sun Feb 05, 2012 5:07 pm

adit wrote:can't believe the rust on the wing. is that normal?

Oh yes! Very!!!

Post Wed Feb 08, 2012 6:25 pm

Another update?

Well.. yes, only a minor one! Car went back to the garage at 8am this morning and picked it up not 20 minutes ago!

Turns out the fault with the temp sensor still being at +50.0C was the fact a technician forgot to plug it back into the dash clocks at the back.

Anyhow... the job has been sorted but the customer care was to be desired so I won't be going back there!

I had a few more eBay items come through the post this week!! My bargain First Aid kit from an 06 BMW and also a brand new First Aid box from CotswoldBMW.

Both look like so:

And in the car!

(So many pictures of First Aid kits eh?)

So I'm a happy chap so far!

Payday Friday so I will order the new wing next week

Post Wed Feb 08, 2012 7:51 pm

VeinAST wrote:Turns out the fault with the temp sensor still being at +50.0C was the fact a technician forgot to plug it back into the dash clocks at the back.

If they told you that then they were talking shit because the plug on the instrument cluster for the outside temp sensor is shared with other things like cruise control, seat belt warning, indicator stalk to name a few.

If they left that plug (X11176) off then all of the above would not function.

They probably didn't plug the sensor in!