Any e46 gurus here?

Post Wed Feb 13, 2013 12:27 am

My brother has just picked up a really nice cheap low mileage 2002 e46 330Ci sport auto. Known issues are a check engine light from when the alternator died and fault codes were not reset - apparently.

He took it for a good spin and the car runs great. Had a look for all common e46 problems as he's had a couple e46 and a more than competent home mechanic, but all good!

When driving home at 60-70mph he was presented with a check engine, EML and ASC light all together. Car seemed fine and was not in limp mode. He turned it off and started again and fine until after a couple of miles the 3 lights came on again. Drove home fine all the same, again no limp mode. Took it out for a spin to show his misses when he got back and the lights never came on at all.

Any ideas or common issues with this year/model before he begins tearing it down?

Post Wed Feb 13, 2013 10:56 am

Bss325i but he been banned

Post Wed Feb 13, 2013 11:35 am

As with any modern turd, before you start 'tearing it down' (is he a Ford meathead ?) you need to get it scanned. Could be a wheel speed sensor, master cylinder pressure switch or if he is really lucky, the ABS controller

amongst other things .

Post Wed Feb 13, 2013 3:40 pm

Cheers Peter, I do have the BMW INPA software on my laptop, as my missus has an e46 too. So i'll scan it for him and see what it throws out.

The fact that the car runs great and not in limp mode and ABS is working suggests it's it's nothing too serious. Its also intermittent, quite likely throttle position switch / throttle body related as this is a very common problem on this model and specifically year. Wiring or plug on the TPS is dodgy or throttle plate is gummed up and sticky. Having said that when I drove it last night I was surprised how far you have to press the loud pedal down to even get it off the line. He's bringing it round to mine tonight, I think i'll start by cleaning all the usual suspects, throttle, MAF, CCV ect..

Post Sat Feb 16, 2013 7:38 pm

Hows the boot floor???

Post Sat Feb 16, 2013 7:46 pm

diable wrote:
B7 wrote:Hows the boot floor???
2002 should be ok or was that still an issue?

It was never addressed by BMW. There are some very late cars now being affected.

http://www.great-cars.co.uk/features/29 ... floor.html

Post Sat Feb 16, 2013 9:31 pm

http://www.great-cars.co.uk/features/29 ... floor.html

This is the hard way of dealing with it. Easy way is to go in through the boot floor with a 1mm cutting disc, cutting around three sides of the area above the damage, bending the flap up out of the way, and then rebuilding the damaged area, adding strengthening plates at will, before bending the boot inner floor back into place and welding up the original cut.

Post Sun Feb 17, 2013 12:40 pm

Boot floor is fine, it's a low mileage car and an auto. No clunks or bangs from the rear.

The issue is the check engine, EML and ASC and handrake light all together - intermittently.

Post Sun Feb 17, 2013 6:25 pm

Boot floor affects all E46s including M3s was originally thought to be just E46 323Ci/328Ci

Post Sun Feb 17, 2013 8:37 pm

Brianmoooore wrote:http://www.great-cars.co.uk/features/29 ... floor.html

This is the hard way of dealing with it. Easy way is to go in through the boot floor with a 1mm cutting disc, cutting around three sides of the area above the damage, bending the flap up out of the way, and then rebuilding the damaged area, adding strengthening plates at will, before bending the boot inner floor back into place and welding up the original cut.

Easiest way is to strip out anything thats any goo and scrap the things.

Post Mon Feb 18, 2013 9:45 am

Ok so he brought his car back round and had a look over it. I discovered it had no air filter in the air filter box.!

So I've put a filter in, cleaned the MAF and it's sensor and cleaned the throttle plate out as best I could and all the related air hoses and reset the ECU.

Low and behold no dash lights have come on since.!