Washer bottle and bonnet: BMW E46 330CI Thread.

[Split_Pin]

New plate fitted, lifts the car a bit.

I'm not fitting my vanity plate yet as it's 80 quid a time and need to see if I'm actually going to get on with it first.

On that note I'm going to see about getting the bonnet and bumper painted as the rest of the car is tidy.

Oil here for a change tomorrow.

[Split_Pin]

Went to the shops in it, I think I've killed the dodgy aftermarket head unit. I managed to turn it off completely yesterday and now it has either died or blown the fuse.

I want to see if I can get a cheap standard unit.

[SiC]

How does it drive? Is it a floppy, floppy top like many 4 seat saloons with the roof chopped off? Or does it still feel reasonably stiff without too much scuttle shake?

[Split_Pin]

2 minutes ago, SiC said:

How does it drive? Is it a floppy, floppy top like many 4 seat saloons with the roof chopped off? Or does it still feel reasonably stiff without too much scuttle shake?

Great actually, it's very firm with only a wee bit of scuttle shake. I couldn't remember how my pals almost identical 323 drove when it was new as it was 2001 but I was expecting it to be a bit of a quickish wafter like my Saab was. But its actually quite 'sporty' and therefore completely different to anything else on my fleet. I think if it had a better brand of tyre on it, it would be a flier.

[Schaefft]

It might be cheaper to find a silver replacement bonnet as these should be fairly standard facelift E46 coupe in a common color. Much higher quality paint and will automatically take care of the dodgy bmw badge on yours.

[IronStar]

7 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Great actually, it's very firm with only a wee bit of scuttle shake. I couldn't remember how my pals almost identical 323 drove when it was new as it was 2001 but I was expecting it to be a bit of a quickish wafter like my Saab was. But its actually quite 'sporty' and therefore completely different to anything else on my fleet. I think if it had a better brand of tyre on it, it would be a flier.

Hard top, fitted properly, kills all the rattles, knocks, and shakes you get from it. Good tyres are a paramount for proper enjoyment. 

[Split_Pin]

4 minutes ago, Schaefft said:

It might be cheaper to find a silver replacement bonnet as these should be fairly standard facelift E46 coupe in a common color. Much higher quality paint and will automatically take care of the dodgy bmw badge on yours.

I'll take a look. I think pre and post facelift M Sport bumpers are the same, can anyone confirm?

[NorthernMonkey]

39 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Went to the shops in it, I think I've killed the dodgy aftermarket head unit. I managed to turn it off completely yesterday and now it has either died or blown the fuse.

I want to see if I can get a cheap standard unit.

Take fuse 7 out for five minutes, replace it and it’ll work. It used to do it on me every week or two…it’s actually not a bad head unit when it’s working but I reckon it’d benefit from an update.

I was originally told it had a fault that caused a battery drain over a few days and the way around it was to pull fuse 7…pulling the fuse did indeed cure the draining battery but I’m not convinced it isn’t something else on the same circuit that’s draining the battery such as the heated rear window or mirrors. The head unit always seemed to power down ok.

[NorthernMonkey]

6 minutes ago, Schaefft said:

It might be cheaper to find a silver replacement bonnet as these should be fairly standard facelift E46 coupe in a common color. Much higher quality paint and will automatically take care of the dodgy bmw badge on yours.

This was certainly one of my plans but given the bumper needs paint too, it may well work out better value to have them both painted together. My trade paint man was going to charge me £200 but he’s got around eight weeks waiting at the minute and I sold it before it got to the top of his list.

[NorthernMonkey]

15 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Great actually, it's very firm with only a wee bit of scuttle shake. I couldn't remember how my pals almost identical 323 drove when it was new as it was 2001 but I was expecting it to be a bit of a quickish wafter like my Saab was. But its actually quite 'sporty' and therefore completely different to anything else on my fleet. I think if it had a better brand of tyre on it, it would be a flier.

It’s a world apart from Saabs and Volvos when it comes to scuttle shake…I never really felt it despite pushing on through the twisties on a regular basis.

As a side note, the removal of the second exhaust flap made very little difference to the overall exhaust note in my opinion. Maybe a little throatier at higher revs but still several shades quieter than my decatted MX5

[Split_Pin]

3 minutes ago, NorthernMonkey said:

pulling the fuse did indeed cure the draining battery

Cheers Neil, I'll pull the fuse for the time being. I've no idea how I'd find a battery drain tbh!

[IronStar]

Speaking of head units, it's that age of a car where standard head unit has nothing you expect of a modern head unit, but new enough to have a large screen head unit, so Android replacement looks right, fits right, and gets you all the creature comforts you expect. Friend's 330CI had whatever premium BMW head unit was originally in there, but it benefited massively from a modern unit that does Bluetooth music, navigation, and all other modern things. It made it a much nicer place to be in.  

I really rate these highly, and I usually don't like BMWs. 

[Split_Pin]

4 minutes ago, NorthernMonkey said:

£200

That's an excellent price!

[Jazoli]

3 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Cheers Neil, I'll pull the fuse for the time being. I've no idea how I'd find a battery drain tbh!

It’s probably a faulty amplifier which is behind the trim to the right of the cd multichanger in the boot. 

fuse 7 isn’t shared with anything else.

[NorthernMonkey]

Just now, Split_Pin said:

Cheers Neil, I'll pull the fuse for the time being. I've no idea how I'd find a battery drain tbh!

You’ll know if you leave it parked up for more than three days and it won’t start!!

One thing that would be worth doing in my opinion is disconnecting the heated rear window wiring on the screen itself if possible then see if it’ll still start after a few days.

Regarding the head unit though, you can pick up a later Android head unit running a newer operating system for not too much money and although some don’t rate them, I find them ok

 

[NorthernMonkey]

4 minutes ago, Jazoli said:

It’s probably a faulty amplifier which is behind the trim to the right of the cd multichanger in the boot. 

fuse 7 isn’t shared with anything else.

Fair enough, I just seem to remember seeing the HRW symbol on the fuse card in the glovebox with number 7 but that could well be for a different model 👍

[Split_Pin]

I found that card tonight, 7 says navigation and telephone but I didn't look very hard as the car was hot inside after putting the roof up and I had a beer cooling 😂

The FB pages all say it's the heater resistor but the blowers are not in the slightest bit senile and turn off when the ignition is off. Although I have small hands, I'll avoid that job unless I really have to....

It isn't a non driving issue anyway and the car sounds bloody nice with the radio off!

[NorthernMonkey]

It’s definitely related to fuse 7 as I could leave it sat for a few weeks with that out and it would always fire straight up. Could be the amp as @Jazolisuggests?

[NorthernMonkey]

The only reason I let this go was the A4 convertible does roof down as well as being bloody cheap to run at 45mpg on the motorway.

However, I’m hopefully collecting a gearbox for my classic Saab 900 convertible in the next few weeks and I’ve just got a cheapy Ceed diesel in px that’s £35 a year to tax and according to the specs can do 70mpg extra urban so something else will be making an appearance in the sale section soon, either a 2008 S line diesel A4 cabby in full ‘nuns and kittens’ spec or a cosmetically challenged 2012 Kia!

[Split_Pin]

I was out in the A4 Cab today and the difference between the two is stark. I guess the B6/7 is much more modern. Mine feels solid, barely any scuttle shake. Not sure about yours but mine pulls exceptionally well, really fun.

It's my wife's assigned vehicle and as she does a lot of running about and also doesn't hang about (a fact she staunchly denies 😂) like yourself, the 45mpg sits really well with me.  It's therefore just as well she doesnt like the e46.

I've also just realised I've got 2 cars on fleet that you used to own and also the red Saab!

[NorthernMonkey]

Ours is a run out B7 with one of DaveQs special maps on it and it’s a proper fun thing. The way it pulls through the gears when the turbo cuts in at 1500rpm is fierce!!

If you think that’s bad, a few weeks ago I counted 5 ex-HMC vehicles in my barn, not including one or two that I’ve already parted with!! 

[Split_Pin]

22 minutes ago, NorthernMonkey said:

DaveQs special maps on it and it’s a proper fun thing. 

Same here!

[Split_Pin]

Oil and filter change today, exactly the same as the 5er. This car has a higher frontal area so it was a doddle to get under, very easy.

That's that for another 6 months.

[Peter C]

Good work there.

I'm bookmarking this page and look forward to further progress.

Last weekend I upgraded the DISA valve flap on my E46 325Ci. Worth doing if not already done on yours.

[Split_Pin]

Just been looking at fuse 7, it does indeed co trol the heated rear window together with the head unit. It should be 5 amp but a 15 was in there. Pulled it, replaced with a 5 amp, no dice,  will keep trying.

[JakeT]

If you want a head unit, I think I have a couple of BMW original ones. I think for even more weirdness points it’s an MD unit, too. It’s AUX compatible and I ran it in my 328ci and 330d. It’s just been gathering dust in my garage, so I don’t want much for it.

[Split_Pin]

14 minutes ago, JakeT said:

If you want a head unit, I think I have a couple of BMW original ones. I think for even more weirdness points it’s an MD unit, too. It’s AUX compatible and I ran it in my 328ci and 330d. It’s just been gathering dust in my garage, so I don’t want much for it.

Thanks man, I'll PM you!

[SiC]

57 minutes ago, Peter C said:

Good work there.

I'm bookmarking this page and look forward to further progress.

Last weekend I upgraded the DISA valve flap on my E46 325Ci. Worth doing if not already done on yours.

This is a 2004 date coded DISA from my Z4 has almost certainly likely 178k miles on it. Hold a vacuum perfectly fine and the flap rod + flap are absolutely perfect. The original O-ring is holding up absolutely perfectly in a smoke test too. 

While earlier version may fail, I'm not entirely convinced all these parts that are often said to be replaced/upgraded actually really need to be. Especially if there aren't any issues.

By all means people should potentially pull the DISA to check as it's easy to get to, however it's very likely to be absolutely fine at this age. 

Like my CCV that was almost certainly 178k miles old was absolutely fine internally too. Another part that often gets told it should be replaced as a "maintenance" item. 

[Split_Pin]

Car runs perfectly so I'll replace parts as they are needed.

[Jazoli]

2 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

Just been looking at fuse 7, it does indeed co trol the heated rear window together with the head unit. It should be 5 amp but a 15 was in there. Pulled it, replaced with a 5 amp, no dice,  will keep trying.

Pull fuse 41 and see if that changes anything.