Introduce yourself

[LagoP3]

Hi, I'm married and based near Bournemouth and have only ever had kit cars and a classic. Just bought my brother-in-law's 330i estate off him as needed a car that fits kids booster seats now. Looking forward to tidying it up.....has only been used for commuting to the train station and back for the last few years! Love the car, drives like my Reliant Scimitar and drinks fuel just as fast!

[incredirog]

Hi I’m Rog from SW London, fast approaching 1 year ownership of my 330d touring 5sp. She’s got a not insignificant 180k miles on the clock but I firmly believe her best miles are ahead of her. Currently in full MOT prep mode but I’ve done loads to her already as I naively bought the first one I saw! 

[mazi5g]

I like to say Hello to every one
My name is Damian and i'm from Poland
From 9 Years i live in London and from January i got my Own BMW

[chebmw]

Hi all, my name is Luke.

Have had various BMW's over the years. E30 M3, E30 320is, E24 M635CSI, E30 318is  all those wen they were cheap!!

Currently running a late 2003 330D (204) with 193,000 on the clock, Upgrades have been swirl flap delete and just fixing various problems as they arise, considering the milage the car is still extremely strong, I get roughly 600 miles on a tank with motorway and country roads and thats driving normally not economically!

Also have an E46 M3 with 114000 on the clock, equally the same as above, all strong and sound and reliable. Nothing major done to that, just enjoying it when I can.

Non BMW project car is a 72 Datsun 240Z full ground up restoration, going to take a while.

 

I work as a mechanic specialising in classic Ferrari's but can work on anything. I also work on Movies as a Vehicle art director.

Hectic busy life but hey, plenty of time to rest when Im ....

Currently living between the outskirts of Winchester and London and wherever a movie takes me.

 

[Azzabee]

Hi there, I’m Aaron and I live in a wee village near Newark Notts.

Married for nearly 32 years, no kids!

Bought my 330 Ci M Sport Coupe as a run around 5 years ago and love it.

Currently restoring my Ford Sierra XR4i, which I’ve owned for 30 years.

I also own a couple of motorbikes, one is a 1975 Suzuki GT550.

Can’t think of owt else to tell 😸

[Matt1882]

Hi guys,

I have recently acquired a 54 plate e46 320cd in black with some dark grey csl reps. The tyres are 225/35/R19, what should the tyre pressures be?

Car has 6 stamps in the book and is on 76k.

Seems to drive fine although the boot smells of damp, the boot floor feels slightly damp, its not getting worse/better but its there. The rear window seems to steam up from the inside. Im guessing a leak in the window seal is causing the steam and the slight leak into the boot?

Im also after upgrading the headlights to HID/Angel eyes? something a bit brighter and whiter, anyone able to point me in the right direction?

Thanks
Matt1882

[Angelos]

Hi guys,

new owner from Birmingham. 

My baby is a 320d touring. Glad I have found you as she comes with some issues that need sorting out.

1st: airbag light is on. I have to check the connection under driver's seat probably.

2nd: antispin light and handbrake is on. I will have to check the abs sensors according to what I have read in here.

3rd: I need a frond badge. Is it the 82mm that I find one bay?

4th: I need a new armrest.

5th: I would love to have some leather seats. Can I also look to find some from the saloon version?

Any help will be much appreciated!

Regards,

Angelos

Edited December 6, 2017 by Angelos

[NRN330]

Hi All, 

Reasonably new owner from Harrogate, My name's Nick - Business Dev Manager for a Video/Production Company. The car is a 2003 330ci Convertible which i've fallen in love with, despite the costs incurred!!

Jokes aside it's been spot on apart from a few general fixes when i bought it 6 months ago - new washer pump, window switch, light bulbs here and there! It will however need a new gearbox soon (auto) but for now she's ok!... ok maybe a fuel pump too..

Pretty much stock standard (M spec) and looks good considering it's just passed 105k! No serious oil leaks, clean under the bonnet and sounds good. Can't get past a petrol station mind.

Considering a steering wheel re-trim soon as it's the only thing that lets the interior down, beyond that general maintenance and care to keep the old girl running!

Joined for the knowledge base more than anything! 

[mnb1985]

On 11/2/2017 at 08:30, LagoP3 said:

Hi, I'm married and based near Bournemouth and have only ever had kit cars and a classic. Just bought my brother-in-law's 330i estate off him as needed a car that fits kids booster seats now. Looking forward to tidying it up.....has only been used for commuting to the train station and back for the last few years! Love the car, drives like my Reliant Scimitar and drinks fuel just as fast!

it's not a proper car if it doesn't drink fuel faster than you can earn it  330 touring is a sweet sleeper mate, I'd recommend doing what I did and putting a 316 badge on the back and seeing a lot of surprised w****rs on the M-way  

I've left the 325 on the mrs vert and put a badge 316 on my csl for s**tts and giggles, albeit the csl had only done just over 2200 miles since 2010....

[mnb1985]

On 11/26/2017 at 14:40, Azzabee said:

Hi there, I’m Aaron and I live in a wee village near Newark Notts.

Married for nearly 32 years, no kids!

Bought my 330 Ci M Sport Coupe as a run around 5 years ago and love it.

Currently restoring my Ford Sierra XR4i, which I’ve owned for 30 years.

I also own a couple of motorbikes, one is a 1975 Suzuki GT550.

Can’t think of owt else to tell 😸

XRI 4i is a beautiful machine buddy -  owned for 30 years it must be mint?

 

[Jmunro1989]

Hi everybody. I'm James and I'm 28 from South Devon. I've got a 2001 320d in navy blue. I've had it for just under two years now. Got it when the timing belt went on a focus I had. It's been great so far and up until now no real issues. Just a new battery and the odd bulb, pads etc Failed the MOT yesterday though! Too much black smoke. Going to get to the bottom of it and get it back on the road. 

[JasonDownes]

Hello I'm Jason and I sell tattoo supplies and live in Manchester. Literally just bought today a 330ci M Sport convertible with additional hard top. Absolutely love it already! Grey leather matches the blue paintwork and best of both worlds with it having the additional hard top! Any advice for a newbie and yes I did know the standard things to look out for ie subframe and thermostat issues! 

Edited February 10, 2018 by JasonDownes

[TimH]

Hi All,

I’m Tim, Currently living in North London. Proud owner of this 2006 330ci which I’ve had for roughly 18months. It has been an absolutely dream to drive and whilst it has required a bit of work, nothing out the ordinary for a 90k mile car. Worth noting other than the usual oil service and new tyres all round:

- New front wheel bearings

- New bushings front and back

- New handbrake shoes, discs and pads

Preventative work:

- New Water pump, belts and pulleys

- Diff and Gearbox oil changed

I thought it may be an interesting one to post due to the late build date (Feb/March 06) and list of extras (rear blind being a personal favourite). 

Big fan of the forums. 

Tim

Edited January 10, 2019 by TimH

[Lukeh330c]

Hi all, my names Luke and I currently own a silver grey facelift 330ci msport.. I’ve owned a few e46s and about a million e36s looking to spend some money on this one though! 

[pablosaurus]

Ello ello

e46 newbie checking in. Just bought a silver 2004 facelift 330ci vert, with 45k on the clock. I'm based in Leeds, UK, and am in the honeymoon phase (two weeks since purchase, no problems yet discovered). Only niggle is that the car has no service history (!?) - but the previous owners have obviously worshipped it - no rust, mint bodywork, interior borderline faultless, runs beautifully, sailed through MOT and full service last week. Hoping someone might recognise the car and help me out with some SH intel.

Anyway, here she is. Roll on the summer sun. 

Paul

[Wacko Jacko]

Evening all

I own a 330d Touring which is used everyday and I don't get bored of driving it,owned it for two years wanted it for 7 so when my mate was selling I couldn't give him my money quick enough.

I am based in West London 

glad there is a site for  the E46 for advice and other stuff 

[X37EEF]

Well. Purchased my first e46 in November 2017 from the advice from the new keeper of my previous motor (Audi a4 b7 2.5 v6 auto - s**te) was the first and last auto I would ever own explained I wanted speed and I wanted smoke and my goal was to drift. 

Well look no further. Paid 2k for a 2002 330i M sport 4 door saloon Manual 5 speed for the obvious reasons of more bhp. Full leather interior, Mv2 alloys and all that extra b******t still standard from purchasing. 

Brand new to beemers so any advice Definately through that my way. Managed the first service since my ownership probably the easiest service I've done to date. 

25 year old lad from the North East got myself a good woman and an even better little girl. Not even 2 years old and got the car in her blood. Maybe I shouldn't but she loves to drive too. 

Down to the better stuff: this being my 9th car, first beemer, first Rwd. Open diff in desperate need for a lsd but I see they only went onto the m3 so still abit pricey. Second I sat in this thing to test drive it I knew this was the motor for me. 

Not into all this new car b******t. I wanted something exciting but something I could feel the road in and this beauty ticked all the boxes. Came with a few rust spots but as of last weekend body shop took care of them... Apart from it going back next week for a little rectification.

Not a massive fan of the leather interior even though looking to strip the girl out in a year or two to really take off in this thing. So if anyone is willing to do a straight swap with the Alcantara interior and trim hit me straight up. 

Few questions for you all keep me right. 

FIRSTLY. common problems I should look for and straight up solve immediately.?

SECONDLY. Cheapest and easiest mods? 

LASTLY. that's it really

 

Am out 

 

[Mr_Feen]

Hi All

My name's Chris I'm 43 (jesus, first time I've typed that, I feel shook) I'm a gas engineer from Shropshire, got 3 kids and a 2001 prefacelift 320ci Auto Cab in Oriental Blue, it's had a couple of owners before the last owner which was my brother in law, he changed all of the suspension, on it and stuck some 18" mv1,s on it, I luckily bought it off him for peanuts to fund his Evo 4 rebuild.(he's a mechanic)
It's got 100k which is low for a 01. Only problems I've noticed is a weights fell off the wheel as I've got a bit of wobble at 55 and the rear trim piece spring has snapped so I have to push it back manually when the roof is down.
Happy to be here so I can see what kind of stuff I can do with it.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[robolots]

Just bought a 330D as it was too good to turn down with low miles for one of these 138K and loads of history. Usual arches (rear) that going to sort out first and then got a list that includes wheels/stereo/possible front seat swap (although the current ones have no drivers bolster wear) and possible remap.

From Folkestone, Kent

Pics to follow and any stereo ideas, please pm me

Edited June 20, 2018 by robolots
pic upload

[rasa]

i just put a cheapo one in my that has bluetooth and sd card slot etc,,it does me..just left my e90 330d with standard one in as it has a cd slot,not like my e46b had(cassette)

[Del640]

Hi guys,

Just joined the forum as I've spent my entire life on bikes and due to family commitments (52 FFS!) I have succumbed to four wheels.

on doing this I have inherited from family a very tidy 2004 318i Convertible.

It's slow as buggery but does its job and is actually a very nice drive.

I've already come across a few niggly bits (alarm going off, DTSC/Brake pad light illuminating) however browsing this site I found the remedies (I hope) to these issues.

Anyway, I'm from Marlow, married and kids.

[JPJ89]

Hi

I’m James, a first time BMW owner as of Sunday when I collected my Imola Red E46 325i Sport Saloon! Have joined up here in the hope of learning the ins and outs of these cars and doing jobs on them myself, I have worked on my previous cars but have no experience with BMW’s. First issues are to sort out a check engine light which might be a vacuum leak, got a C110 code reader on the way to help me out. Also had an intermittent set of lights flash up on me (EML, DSC and amber handbrake light) randomly a couple of times, so will need those two things looked at straight away. Car is on 83,000 miles so the first things I’m planning are the CCV system, vacuum lines and hoses, DISA valve rebuild, and check the cooling system out. Is there anywhere that does forum member discounts or anything like that for genuine parts? Cheers!

[rasa]

5 hours ago, JPJ89 said:

Hi

I’m James, a first time BMW owner as of Sunday when I collected my Imola Red E46 325i Sport Saloon! Have joined up here in the hope of learning the ins and outs of these cars and doing jobs on them myself, I have worked on my previous cars but have no experience with BMW’s. First issues are to sort out a check engine light which might be a vacuum leak, got a C110 code reader on the way to help me out. Also had an intermittent set of lights flash up on me (EML, DSC and amber handbrake light) randomly a couple of times, so will need those two things looked at straight away. Car is on 83,000 miles so the first things I’m planning are the CCV system, vacuum lines and hoses, DISA valve rebuild, and check the cooling system out. Is there anywhere that does forum member discounts or anything like that for genuine parts? Cheers!

 probably an abs sensor for the lights your getting and if tyhe speedo is playing up then its the rear nearside abs sensor.,,and the c110 is pretty basic..inpa/carly or foxwell nt510 are the best diagnostics,,inpa being the best..carly best for coding things on and off the car..like dead locking etc etc 

[JPJ89]

On 10/07/2018 at 12:58, rasa said:

 probably an abs sensor for the lights your getting and if tyhe speedo is playing up then its the rear nearside abs sensor.,,and the c110 is pretty basic..inpa/carly or foxwell nt510 are the best diagnostics,,inpa being the best..carly best for coding things on and off the car..like dead locking etc etc 

The code stored by the 3 lights is D3 Idle-speed control valve mechanical failure, I have removed the icv and checked it moves freely and thoroughly cleaned it out anyway, fault still persists. This is from hot starts only I should add, the car drives and idles perfectly from cold and I can drive around for however long I like (half an hour and 25 miles from cold yesterday), but as soon as i shut the engine down and start it up again while still hot and take off the lights quickly reappear within a few hundred feet and the code reappears. What is INPA and where can I get it, is it laptop only? Thanks

[rasa]

1 hour ago, JPJ89 said:

The code stored by the 3 lights is D3 Idle-speed control valve mechanical failure, I have removed the icv and checked it moves freely and thoroughly cleaned it out anyway, fault still persists. This is from hot starts only I should add, the car drives and idles perfectly from cold and I can drive around for however long I like (half an hour and 25 miles from cold yesterday), but as soon as i shut the engine down and start it up again while still hot and take off the lights quickly reappear within a few hundred feet and the code reappears. What is INPA and where can I get it, is it laptop only? Thanks

inpa is laptop only but cheapest at around £20  carly is now a yearly sub of around £50 and foxwell which ive got is around £120 got mine for £107 from certain website..