Project 330Ci

[Steve79]

Yeah that what I enjoyed about it. Think it may have been lowered by one of the many owners ago

[NorthernMonkey]

On 21/01/2024 at 20:16, Schaefft said:

Nice one,  seems like it might be worth keeping alive after all. Also I completely forgot about the Roadmaster!

Please peel that plasti dip off the kidney bezels asap though.

Before…

 

And after…

Unfortunately, all the retaining clips have long gone so a new pair of grills are on the shopping list, along with half a litre of silver base coat. It’s only the front edge of the bonnet and the bumper that need painting…I might even consider a complete bonnet if one should become available locally with the same paint code.

Not done too much with it yet other than mess about with the roof and investigate the fault codes. It does look lovely from the back end though!! 😂

[NorthernMonkey]

Whilst we’re on the subject, do any of the BMW specialists on here know whether the kidney grills are pre or post facelift? I can find both online but I’m not sure what the difference is?

[Tayne]

The car is post facelift.

The headlights are different shape, you have LED tailights and a six speed manual box.

I'm not sure but i think the grilles are a slightly different shape.

[NorthernMonkey]

16 minutes ago, Tayne said:

The car is post facelift.

The headlights are different shape, you have LED tailights and a six speed manual box.

I'm not sure but i think the grilles are a slightly different shape.

It’s a ZF auto but it definitely has LED rear lights so post facelift it is…much obliged! 👍👍

[Schaefft]

40 minutes ago, NorthernMonkey said:

It’s a ZF auto but it definitely has LED rear lights so post facelift it is…much obliged! 👍👍

If it's anything like the E38 and E39 either will fit, the hood itself won't have changed in the facelift.

[EspenO]

…but if it’s like the E92/3, they won’t. I tried putting older grilles on my LCI E92, they were a slightly different shape. Didn’t fit.

[NorthernMonkey]

On 27/01/2024 at 21:49, EspenO said:

…but if it’s like the E92/3, they won’t. I tried putting older grilles on my LCI E92, they were a slightly different shape. Didn’t fit.

I’ve ordered a pair of facelift ones in chrome now but they can wait to be fitted until it’s warmed up a bit and I can respray the bonnet.

[HMC]

Well done on the kidney grilles! I wanted to peel off the half peeled stuff but never got very far- looks way better.

[riek]

The quickest way to spot facelift from prefacelift is the front indicators. The prefacelift has the point of the triangle at the bottom, the facelift has it at the top in a vague nod to bangle flame surface design.

[NorthernMonkey]

As mentioned in another thread, I remembered this was still kicking around the other week when the sun came out. I taxed it at the start of the month as it still has a bit of MOT left on it so it seemed a good idea to get a few miles on and see what it needs for a test.

First job was to throw the keys at the better half as she hasn’t actually driven it yet…

The verdict was positive so it seems it could have a long term place on the fleet. Next job was to get it up in the air and start to address its issues.

Main issues are a selection of brake and ABS lights along with a smell of burning oil wherever you go. I’ve just picked up a pair of rear ABS rings, a pair of sensors and a rocker cover gasket.

I actually stripped down and removed the near side rear drive shaft yesterday which was fun as it was well and truly seized into the hub. I was that engrossed that I forgot to take any pictures but I’m going to go and strip the offside tomorrow so I’ll get some photos then of my heavy duty three legged puller in action as that side is stuck fast too.

It’s very noticeable how much better quality the fixings are on these compared to the likes of Ford and the Korean offerings. Everything looks as crusty as you’d expect on a 20 year old car but when you unfasten it, the threads are spotless and it all comes apart pretty easily.

[NorthernMonkey]

Today saw the removal of the other rear shaft ready to descale and treat with Vactan ready for fitting new rings tomorrow.

Once the rear anti roll bar is removed, there’s six M12 spline bolts on each side holding the inner joint to the diff. Not brilliant access but a couple of long extensions and the impact gun made light work…

Then, it’s time to get brutal…

To be fair, this side didn’t put up too much of a fight. Once removed, the crustiness is there to see…

Five minutes with the power file and give it a coat of 

resulting in this…

 

Here’s one I made earlier…

[NorthernMonkey]

Tomorrow should see the new rings fitted and a clean up of the anti roll bar whilst it’s off, then a bit of reassembly and two new sensors, very reasonably priced at £12 each from my local factors, which will hopefully result in less warning lights and more Speedo/trip computer action!

Incidentally, whilst dropping the exhaust a bit to get the roll bar off, I spotted the vac pipe to the second noisy flap in the twin tail pipes has disintegrated. A bit of investigation uncovered a flap that is well and truly seized in the closed position.

Light* pressure was introduced and the end result is a mangled flap on a still seized spindle…

 

Curious to hear the new exhaust note now!

[NorthernMonkey]

Went to fit the new reluctor rings on Monday morning.

Ah…

Yep. Cheers, Euros.

To be fair, my usual factors didn’t list them when I called them which should have rung alarm bells but instead, like an idiot, I checked ECP who assured me they had them in stock at £10 a piece.

A little digging online suggests that the 330d and the 330ci have thicker CV joints and a search on eBay found a reseller in Birmingham who had a pair of the bigger ones for £22 all in with 24hr delivery.

These were ordered at 14.00 Monday and fair play to them, they arrived at 09.30 Tuesday morning.

£2 cheaper than ECP too once vat etc is factored in!

Anyway, they were fitted to the shafts..

 

…and duly refitted to the car. Just need to nip up the drop link fastenings and torque the driveshaft bolts now which is a job for this afternoon before tackling the rocker cover gasket in an attempt to stem the oil leaks and burning smell.

[hairnet]

Every time i scroll past this i see 300C and wonder why it isn't 

[riek]

The burning oil smell is probably the rocker cover gasket - it drips a little on to the exhaust manifold with inevitable results.

[Tayne]

On 19/05/2024 at 19:17, NorthernMonkey said:

Curious to hear the new exhaust note now!

 

It won't be that loud, I always thought by 330 was a bit too quiet.

 

[NorthernMonkey]

Update time…

Both rear ABS rings and sensors fitted and we finally have a working speedometer, no ABS lights and a trip computer showing an average of around 27mpg around the houses which, for an old school 3.0 petrol auto, I’ll happily take.

I’ve replaced the rocket gaskets too which seems to have cured the oil burning smell. The crank case vent pipes are all a bit knackered looking though and one needed a temp repair as it had a bloody great split in it so I’m probably going to do the ‘Bavarian’ mod as outlined on various E46 forums and which seems to be a popular option.

Other than that, the paintwork on the front bumper and around the grilles could do with tidying up and the MOT is due shortly but otherwise, it’s been performing perfectly. We’ve just been for a saunter around the dales this afternoon and it really is a lovely thing to cruise about in but I really want to get my classic Saab 900 sorted and on the road so once I’ve got this tested, I’ll probably move this over to the for sale section and see if anyone’s got anything interesting to swap. I quite fancy another RR or possibly a Disco 3 to drag the trailer around with but failing that, a modern that needs attention and can be repaired and sold on could be an option.

If anyone has anything peculiar and fancies a reasonably well sorted 330 M sport at the lower end of it’s depreciation curve, shout out.

[Peter C]

What is the Bavarian mod please?

[NorthernMonkey]

16 minutes ago, Peter C said:

What is the Bavarian mod please?

From what I can gather, it involves replacing the CCV system with various gauges of hose and connectors which results in dramatically decreasing the oil consumption these are known for.

I need to do a bit more reading up on it first…the alternative is to replace it all with new bits but various peeps on here don’t rate the Febi kit which I do so not sure.

[Peter C]

5 minutes ago, NorthernMonkey said:

From what I can gather, it involves replacing the CCV system with various gauges of hose and connectors which results in dramatically decreasing the oil consumption these are known for.

I need to do a bit more reading up on it first…the alternative is to replace it all with new bits but various peeps on here don’t rate the Febi kit which I do so not sure.

I need to replace the CCV system on my 325Ci, I look forward to further updates.

[SiC]

17 minutes ago, NorthernMonkey said:

From what I can gather, it involves replacing the CCV system with various gauges of hose and connectors which results in dramatically decreasing the oil consumption these are known for.

I need to do a bit more reading up on it first…the alternative is to replace it all with new bits but various peeps on here don’t rate the Febi kit which I do so not sure.

RBJ on TDW reckons the Febi kit is perfectly fine. It's the kit I plan to put on my Z4 eventually. (Need to get my 330i fully sorted before I put the Z4 out of action)

[NorthernMonkey]

Been using this as my works car as Claire is in the office and has nicked the red C30.

Currently performing perfectly running around quarries and landfill sites in the NW whilst I inspect Volvo A30Ds and returning mid 20s mpg so not too bad. It certainly stands out from the obligatory Ford Rangers in the car parks that seem to be the current favourite of the site engineers!