e46 330i

Tue May 31, 2011 7:07 pm

pony wrote:
bss325i wrote: Yes you are right, an E30 325i will keep with an E46 325i and even an E46 328i (same power) but no where near a 330i which this thread is about.
on a separate note (off-topic sorry)
why is the e92 325i just a detuned version of the 3.0litre engine? i presume this is to save costs and produce a smaller range of engines and limit their power electronically.

Basically thats how it is. Its not new either as the E36 323i was a detuned 2.5 engine.

Tue May 31, 2011 7:21 pm

If the E30 ever goes, a 330i is what would most likely replace it!

Tue May 31, 2011 11:41 pm

It's not a 330i, but I just bought this

Been after one of these for ages, and finally spotted this Imola red 330D M-Sport Touring with the 6 speed manual box. It's quite a weapon

It's done 113000 miles, but I think mostly on the motorway. The interior is virtually unmarked.

Ian.

Tue May 31, 2011 11:43 pm

Oh, and saw 51mpg on the computer on the way back from buying it

I've not reset the computer yet, and the average is still over 48mpg.

Ian.

Tue May 31, 2011 11:47 pm

Very nice Ian! Love imola red!

Oil and filter every 6k and frequent oil separator changes will prolong turbo life but i'm sure you know that.

Wed Jun 01, 2011 12:09 am

Very nice purchase Ian!!

Hows the E30 coming along?

Wed Jun 01, 2011 8:25 am

bss325i wrote:Very nice Ian! Love imola red!

Oil and filter every 6k and frequent oil separator changes will prolong turbo life but i'm sure you know that.

Barry,

Oil was changed within days of picking it up. It has had the rather long factory intervals up to now though. It's got an oil service due in about 1K miles, so it'll get another lot of fresh oil then as well. What's the deal with the oil separator though ?

Also, do you have any info regarding the installation of heated seats ? I did it in my outgoing MK4 Golf, but it's looking like new leather seat covers to do it properly on an E46. Don't fancy the expense of that

Cheers,

Ian.

Wed Jun 01, 2011 8:28 am

Jhonno wrote:Hows the E30 coming along?

Still going very well thanks. It doesn't get used as much as I would like these days, but I keep on top of everything. It's actually been super reliable and everything is virtually new, so I don't have to do much to it.

I never thought I'd ever say this about any of my cars, but I think it's actually finished. I really can't think of anything else I'd like to do to it.

Ian.

Wed Jun 01, 2011 6:13 pm

nice purchase ian.
i had a 330d saloon a few years ago.
on a trip to castle coombe once, the reset obc informed me of an average of 54mpg !

gotta love imola red

Wed Jun 01, 2011 6:21 pm

ian332isport wrote:
bss325i wrote:Very nice Ian! Love imola red!

Oil and filter every 6k and frequent oil separator changes will prolong turbo life but i'm sure you know that.
Barry,

Oil was changed within days of picking it up. It has had the rather long factory intervals up to now though. It's got an oil service due in about 1K miles, so it'll get another lot of fresh oil then as well. What's the deal with the oil separator though ?

Also, do you have any info regarding the installation of heated seats ? I did it in my outgoing MK4 Golf, but it's looking like new leather seat covers to do it properly on an E46. Don't fancy the expense of that

Cheers,

Ian.

The intervals are long on E46's especially the diesels so its really best to do another change in between the interval displayed.

The oil separator basically a beather filter which can become blocked if not changed regularly which can cause oil leaks or turbo failure. Its easy to change and its next to the air filter. I would recommend changing it every oil change if sticking to the standard intervals or every other if doing another oil change in between. Best for peace of mind, just like loosing the swirl flaps for blanking plates.

As for heated seats, BMW list a retro fit kit but i think thats just for the wiring, fixings and switches so basically a retro fit kit to fit a pair of seats with heating elements all ready fitted. I think there may be a different retrofit kit with elements though. One of the retro fit kits is NLA i know that much.

If you cant get the elements separately then best of sourcing some s/h heated seats, buying a s/h switch pack and buying new looms.

Part numbers for the looms are,

61116930656 and 61116930660 and are about £18 each.

If you find electric seats then these are easy to wire in as they basically have three wires, a live, earth and a bus line for the memory which i think goes to the ZKE (general body module) or possibly mirror memory module, i would have to check.

HTH.

Thu Jun 02, 2011 5:27 pm

On heated seats, the driver's one on ours is VERY HOT. Is that a dead element?

Thu Jun 02, 2011 6:43 pm

Yes, you will need a new element.

Thu Jun 02, 2011 9:50 pm

bss325i wrote:Yes, you will need a new element.

Can you buy just the elements ?

Thu Jun 02, 2011 10:54 pm

ian332isport wrote:
bss325i wrote:Yes, you will need a new element.
Can you buy just the elements ?

No, they are part of the leather seat cover.

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?mod ... g=52&fg=10

Fri Jun 03, 2011 12:14 am

bss325i wrote: Marc, no E46 328 tourings were made.
.

Only just checked back on this.

Bss that's a terrible comment

I saw plenty in my search and here is a current item number for the bay. 110687483692

I did notice in my search that most of the pre face lift e46's seemed better cars in general, Is that just me or any one else agree ?