New Member Intro - E46 330i Touring

[Hazzy 61]

Hi there,

Picked up an E46 330i Touring a few months ago and have been fixing it up to be a reliable daily.

So far I have done the following:

- Full cooling system refresh (Including hard lines under the intake manifold)
- Front pulleys and drive belts
- Power steering reservoir and hoses
- CCV Replaced
- Intake boots
- Oil level sensor
- Oil filter housing gasket
- Valve cover gasket
- Vanos rebuild
- New DISA valve
- Engine & transmission mounts
- Windshield cowl
- Transmission filter & fluid
- FCAB's
- Front control arms
- Tie rods
- Wheel bearings 
- Stock sport springs from HellBM
- Sport Sway bars from BM World
- Koni Special Active shocks on all four corners
- Set of Style 72 rims to replace the Style 79 rims that came with the car
- Changed differential fluid
- Other little minor things around the car

  

What I have got left to do is to replace all the bushings in the rear (If anyone has an RTAB tool I could borrow...) and I am looking at getting some new tyres soon since the ones that came with the new rims are pretty average. Best money spent so far was on the shocks as the originals were completely shot. And having everything in the cooling system replaced is great for peace of mind. For the future it would be nice to swap in a manual, but for now the auto is pretty good for what it is.

  

Only major issues I have had is a tire blowout in Wellington on state highway 1 near the terrace (I think I must of run over something on the motorway), and a fuel line disconnecting itself which left me stranded outside Kumeu (Car didn't catch fire which was good). Overall the experience has been pretty good though, the car's fun to drive and I have learnt a lot during the process.

 

 

 

 

Edited September 5, 2020 by Hazzy

[balancerider 757]

Looks great with the new rims. Sport interior? Think it would suit clear (Euro-style) indicators too.

[Hazzy 61]

5 hours ago, balancerider said:

Sport interior? 

Yep, came with the NZ spec where the non-sport has sport seats.

[Olaf 3317]

great stuff, you've brought it up to scratch with carefully thought out remedial maintenance.  Next stop after your RTABs:  VANOS seals and oil line.  

I've been running an M54325i touring for 8.5 years, still love it.  Wish I had the 330 though!

[Hazzy 61]

16 minutes ago, Olaf said:

great stuff, you've brought it up to scratch with carefully thought out remedial maintenance.  Next stop after your RTABs:  VANOS seals and oil line.  

I've been running an M54325i touring for 8.5 years, still love it.  Wish I had the 330 though!

Thanks, I have already replaced the VANOS seals and oil line back when I did the valve cover (also did rattle repair whilst I was in there) so thats all sorted now.

Really happy with touring,  glad I picked one up rather than the sedan.

[balancerider 757]

1 hour ago, Hazzy said:

Yep, came with the NZ spec where the non-sport has sport seats.

Ah the infamous 'old man' spec choices of BMW NZ. Now you're hard pressed to find anything NZ new that's not an M sport...

[kiwi535 538]

2 minutes ago, balancerider said:

Ah the infamous 'old man' spec choices of BMW NZ. Now you're hard pressed to find anything NZ new that's not an M sport...

thats because sports seats themselves are woth the price of admission

[zero 1162]

Great work.

 

Dont forget the little rubber bungs on the back of the intake manifold

[HalfJobHarry 106]

Welcome. Making me miss my 330i I had for many years back in the UK. 

The front and rear bushes and the VANOS rebuild rank as most memorable changes I did. 

Please please please baby the gearbox in reverse. I had to rebuild my box as a tyre place broke the reverse drum (not totally their fault as they are week) by dropping it into gear with some revs on...