BMW E46 330CI NOW RANGE ROVER L322 OF GREATNESS Thread

[SiC]

I probably should sell mine. I didn't even keep my last Saab long after I bought it. 🙃

Just got it out recently and re-setup a laptop for it as it's needed to tweak a few things on @Steve79 9-3.

[Split_Pin]

25 minutes ago, SiC said:

Cheaper than the car!

Clones can be had for under £300 now. 

E.g. https://ebay.us/m/848Ktw

Do you know if you need a laptop for those clones? I couldn't get an answer on the Saab pages and the listing description wasn't clear on that.

[SiC]

8 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Do you know if you need a laptop for those clones? I couldn't get an answer on the Saab pages and the listing description wasn't clear on that.

Depends what you're doing. If you want to scan and clear codes then no. If you want to add/remove (divorce/marry) modules and such then yes you'll need it for security access. Basically you plug into the car, it says you need security access when doing more advanced stuff,  plug it into the laptop and run GlobalTIS to get the access. Plugging back into the car then gives you all the control. I think the 9-3 is what needs it most and the older 93 and 9-5 I don't think does.

That laptop is running Windows 10 with GlobalTIS and WIS in a WinXP VirtualBox image. Works absolutely fine. 

[Split_Pin]

Right so, I'd probably need a laptop as the 9-3 currently needs 2 replacement modules. It would end up being about 2/3 the cost of the car though 😅

[SiC]

6 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Right so, I'd probably need a laptop as the 9-3 currently needs 2 replacement modules. It would end up being about 2/3 the cost of the car though 😅

Not got a windows laptop? It doesn't need to be special like really old or brand spanking new. But even if it was, it would work. 

Even a MacBook will run virtualbox

[AnnoyingPentium]

15 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Right so, I'd probably need a laptop as the 9-3 currently needs 2 replacement modules. It would end up being about 2/3 the cost of the car though 😅

I've probably got a laptop lying about that'd suit your needs, man. I'm having a clear out of tech stuff at the moment. Stuff can be had cheaply.

[Split_Pin]

18 minutes ago, SiC said:

Not got a windows laptop? It doesn't need to be special like really old or brand spanking new. But even if it was, it would work. 

Even a MacBook will run virtualbox

No I've only got my work laptop, work SurfacePro and a decent laptop which is my wife's for her CAD and work CPD.

So ideally I'd need a laptop I don't care about.

However it's all a bit much for a £700 car which is quite rough and in all honesty I'm just going to bin it come January when it's MOT expires. I just bought it as a beater, especially for winter and as the good weather is about to end the non opening roof and window won't matter any more 😂 It'll serve it's purpose.

[SiC]

11 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

No I've only got my work laptop, work SurfacePro and a decent laptop which is my wife's for her CAD and work CPD.

So ideally I'd need a laptop I don't care about.

However it's all a bit much for a £700 car which is quite rough and in all honesty I'm just going to bin it come January when it's MOT expires. I just bought it as a beater, especially for winter and as the good weather is about to end the non opening roof and window won't matter any more 😂 It'll serve it's purpose.

I paid £90 for a Dell laptop locally. Way over kill but mostly because it still had a good battery life. Even a £50 laptop (or free) is good enough. The laptop in the picture is @Cookiesouwest old laptop - originally came with Windows 7 Pro which gives you an idea of the age. 

Also would allow you to run INPA which gives you more advanced stuff on your BMW. 

[SiC]

E.g. this is more than enough and good enough for any future diagnostics software for other cars like a DS150e or a VCDS. 

https://ebay.us/m/7aolnK

I bet you could get something cheaper on FB marketplace locally too. 

 

[Split_Pin]

Aye that is cheap! Could indeed be useful for the other cars, I have a cable for VCDS but never used it. It came with the TT I had a few years ago but held onto it.

I'm still not arsed about the Saab but could definitely be handy for the Audi and BMW.

[Split_Pin]

The garage adjusted up the handbrake a touch but it's still a bit shite, no charge though.

I'm glad it only cost me the test fee, considering what I've spent on it since buying it last July!

 

 

[NorthernMonkey]

I do miss that car 😂

[SiC]

37 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

I'm glad it only cost me the test fee, considering what I've spent on it since buying it last July!

Feeling the love for it again now?

Hopefully you've de-snagged everything that it decided to test you with on its ownership and it'll be relatively reliable for a bit longer.

[Split_Pin]

1 minute ago, SiC said:

relatively reliable

🤫

[SiC]

I didn't want to tempt fate by proclaiming a 20+ year old BMW was in anyway solidly reliable 😅

 

[Supernaut]

My now-190k mile E36 is actually pretty damned reliable.

I don't use it every day or even every week, but it's had a good mechanical going-through over the last 18 months or so.

It still looks rough as arses but I like that about it.

[riek]

E46 handbrakes are always shite.

[Split_Pin]

So I will be BMW-less for the first time in a year after I deliver the 330 to its new owner this evening. It's staying in the fold.

How would I sum up BMW ownership? If you have a good base to begin with and work through the niggles, you should get something reliable and rewarding by the end. The E46 pained me greatly at times but with a half-decent code reader and a bit of thought, I made it into a well-sorted and reliable car that I could jump in at any time. 

But me being me, I always want a new automotive experience and a Range Rover is certainly that. Ever since I drove @dome s example a few years ago, I've wanted an L322.

I gave it a well overdue wash and hoover at lunchtime, just the interior detailing to do.

Jobs lined up are:

-Renault 5 thermostat

- re-apply the Lanoguard underneath

- oil and filter change in September

..and everything else it will invariably throw up!

[Spiny Norman]

An L322 is an itch I have to scratch before too long. Hope you have fun with it.

[Schaefft]

Your L322 still is half a BMW so don't worry about withdrawal symptoms, I'm sure it'll throw a funny code at you eventually!

[Matty]

Looks very unmauled with which is defo a good start. Still a brilliantly resolved piece of styling inside and out.

[dome]

7 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

So I will be BMW-less for the first time in a year after I deliver the 330 to its new owner this evening. It's staying in the fold.

 Ever since I drove @dome s example a few years ago, I've wanted an L322.

 

Don't blame me🤣🤣

5 hours ago, Schaefft said:

Your L322 still is half a BMW so don't worry about withdrawal symptoms, I'm sure it'll throw a funny code at you eventually!

Yep, this is very true. Even the dash lights reminded me of my E46, making me feel at home😳

There's a lot of knowledge out there for these and (some) parts prices are surprisingly good. 

They're a bastard to jack up , especially at the rear and a lot of the suspension fixings are more akin to those on a light tank than a car but I loved mine and quite possibly would again, especially if it was a supercharged one🫣

Oh and a decent code reader is a must. 

[loserone]

59 minutes ago, dome said:

decent code reader is a must. 

Between me, @Split_Pin, @Schaefft and mebbes @NorthernMonkey would it be worth a group buy on an iid tool?

 

I've just put mine on ramps and changed a height sensor but I'm not sure I'm up for writing it up.  Here's some pics.

 

[Schaefft]

31 minutes ago, loserone said:

Between me, @Split_Pin, @Schaefft and mebbes @NorthernMonkey would it be worth a group buy on an iid tool?

 

I've just put mine on ramps and changed a height sensor but I'm not sure I'm up for writing it up.  Here's some pics.

 

I have to check what diagnostics options are available but sharing ownership might make sense if it's pricey to get a good one.

[Split_Pin]

I'm not sure a group buy would work with me included due to distance.

Ive done some reasearch, GAP IID is extremely pricey at between £5-£600 new and around £400 2nd hand but if you have a pre 2005 car it is the only tool that will recalibrate suspension height. So make sure those little plastic arms on the BMW part are kept oiled 😀

Icarsoft seems to be able to do everything else though at around £150. I need to find out if either V2.0 or 3.0 has any issues with a 2004 car though.

[loserone]

1 hour ago, Split_Pin said:

I'm not sure a group buy would work with me included due to distance.

Possibly not ideal but I'd be game for posting it. A few of us are reasonably regularly up and down to the central belt too, but understand if you'd want your own (I would too, but at £500 I can make compromised)

[dome]

I had a Foxwell LR specific one for under £200 and it did everything I needed to. I'm pretty sure when I changed my height sensors I didn't need to recalibrate it, I may well have just got lucky though 

[Split_Pin]

10 minutes ago, dome said:

£200

Thanks, that's more my kind of price. The RR Facebook page is very helpful but they all say to just get the GAP one. New its over £500 and you can only use it on one car at a time. A bit much for me car I'm probably only going to have for a short time!

[NorthernMonkey]

If I think on, I’ll plug my Topdon in to one of mine in the morning and see what it can do. It varies from make to make but the Volvo software is very comprehensive as is Ford. PSA is shit though!

[Gaffer]

Keep in mind the GAP tools are VIN locked for certain calibration features too so unless you add each VIN to the tool (used to be about £60 a vehicle) you’ll not be able to have the full functionality.