Reintroduction

[Ben M]

At Daz's request to 'post more' :P I am reintroducing myself.

When I first joined up on here I had a e46 320d. Was doing a 40 mile round trip motorway commute so the car was perfect.

Got a job 4 miles from my house and instantly wanted to change the car. Was getting really bored of the diesel anyway and the first thing that sprung to my head when I was even thinking I might be getting offered the new job was petrol! :D

So I sold the 320d on a kind of spare of the moment thing. I put it up for sale to think over my options and look for cars but people were literally biting my hand off for it! It ended up selling within about 24 hours, possibly even less!

I then had the cash from that but all the 330's which were around when I had been looking through for sale adds wishing I could sell mine had typically gone. There was one suitable near me which I went to test drive but the rear diff mounts were knocking really badly and I didn't risk buying it. Still slightly regret that decision.

I was then in a situation where I needed a car pretty desperately, didn't have any additional funds to put into the pot to increase my search so I came across one I quite liked, although it was auto. Had all the other optional extra's so took a go with the auto.

She has character by the bucket load but not without her problems. Luckily nothing major though. If anyone is a member on e46zone they may have seen some of my posts. I knew the thermostat needed changing when I brought the car so had that done at the garage, I do most work myself but had no spare time and that looked like a PITA job which I would rather just pay to have done! :lol: couple of days after that the expansion tank blew, guessing the raised pressure in the system caused it to go. Replaced that one myself. Replaced the MAF and had to recalibrate the steering angle sensor. I replaced the lower intake boot yesterday, thought mine might have had a split in it which it didnt but for the sake of a 10er I just refitted the new one instead of the old one. Had a massively electrical short up by the roof motor which caused untold problems, almost all sorted out now though luckily. Think thats everything, nothing major just felt like one thing after another. Oh there is the fact im not sure the torque converter is 100%...

I am now in a situation where I don't know whether to sell or keep her. I actually enjoy the auto but I am missing a manual. Between me and a friend I might look at a manual conversation but then I kind of think is it worth it. I am more looking at doing it for the fun of the job just as much as the end result. A bit stuck in limbo really. Going to do a few things, trying to swap my interior for alcantara as I am not a fan of leather really and I think the darker interior will look much better on the silver car. Plus I already have the dark head lining :) so I will see after I have done a few things how I feel and go from there. Body work isn't perfect and wheels are in need of a refurb but here are the pictures, after my life story and ownership story up until now :lol: oh and I added a photo of what happened to my wiring loom!!

[Guest DazH]

Spectacular motor mate! love it

Auto to Manual conversion = No. Don't do such a thing. The amount of work required is ridiculous and you will have to change parts that you would not think you would! believe me..

As for the interior... mehh, i'm not a massive fan of leather really. I much pretty a really good quality cloth interior :)

Daz

[Ben M]

Thanks Daz. I do like it, albeit with the problems I have had but they seem to have smoothed over now. I think my wanting of a manual might be because of not having one if you know what I mean, although I do think the torque converter isn't 100% which could be contributing to my dislike.

Im not a massive fan of leather either, some of the expensive colour coded napa leather interiors do look good but I am quite liking the idea of the alcantara, think the dark interior with the silver car will look good. Do you know if it is possible to dye the dash faux leather? Mine is grey and would like to get it back to match the rest of the interior if I manage to change it.

Been looking into refurbing the wheels myself as well but would need a cheap, spare set to use in the mean time. The wheels are one of the things I really like, I think the ACS type III look great!

[Guest DazH]

I agree :)

You can't dye the dash, no.. BUT you can replace it. BIG job though bud. Not like seat swapping. You can ask Gav, the E46 dash is a nightmare. Unlike my E28 which is like.... 4 Philips head screws for it to hit the floor haha! :lol:

Don't refurb um yourself. You can get them re-coned for like... 40 bob a wheel in some places. Drive it in, drive ti out again the same afternoon. Some geezas even come to your home and do it in a specialist pikey van. Looks great after

Daz

[Ben M]

Damn thats a shame. Think it will end up looking really odd if I get the alcantara seats, door cards etc and still have the grey dash... Was looking at it and can see just how hard it would be!

Thats not so bad then, I was imagining paying for the refurb would cost a lot more per corner! Mine really need it! You can't tell from the pictures but they are destroyed! lol. Dunno what the previous owners did to them...

[Snypa-D]

Welcome to BMWOC :)

[Superman001]

Welcome, nice E46.

[mickl3008]

Nice car mate. I love leather and automatics, my first since my 2.8i Granada in the late 80s

[Ben M]

Thanks for the comment's, gave her a good clean tonight. Silver is actually a really nice colour once its all cleaned up. Sprayed my kidney grill's black as well which I think looks great on a silver car. Although wondering if I should have kept the slats silver. Want to do the lower grill black now as well