Just bought my 2nd 330i manual (e90 this time)

[Mando330]

Going in for a full service, never trust a car selling dealer!

 

Garage has said gearbox on 57 reg is lifetime/sealed, is that even true. Can it not be oil serviced somehow anyway?

Theres a touch of hesitation/flat spot at 2500rpm before it flies up fine to redline? 

 

Any ideas, so I can tell garage to sort that too. 

Vanos has already been done. 

 

Cheers

 

And glad to be back in a 330i again.

 

[Greydog]

Hi Mandip

Welcome to the Forum

Tasty motor, quite right,Dealer Speak "We gave it a full service" translation "we changed the oil but probably not the filter 🤣

BMW still tell people the box is sealed for life though ZF who make the Box recommend a fluid change at 80 to 100 k/km depending on climate and use. So BMW's "Sealed for life" is basically end of warranty. 

Hesitation, I would check the usual suspects all the Vac lines, plugs, coil packs and loom to coil packs.

Enjoy your Beemer

Dave

 

[Mando330]

Wow, super fast reply thanks!

Yep, in fact the dealer said the service prep- wasnt done yet- ready in 3 days. So I just told them knock some money off I'll take it now and sort it myself!

Not bad for piece of mind!

 

118k on mine

So for gearbox then, I'll ask my mechanic again!

Brake and coolant fluids will be done too for same reason- and the mileage on car.

 

Do timing chains need to be dealt too on these. I was thinking to hold out on major job like that until water pump needed doing. 

 

[Greydog]

Morning Mando

I don't know if you are aware of www.realoem.com its a BMW online parts list put the last 7 digits of your Vin into the search box it will bring up your model. Then just search the sections to find what you need, there are small exploded drawings that will help show where bits fit and if you need parts you have the right part number.

Timing chain, 2 years ago a friend of one of our one of our sons brought an N52 engine (same as in your car I believe) to put into a Drift car he was building, it came from a car that had covered just short of 200k. I stripped and rebuilt it for him, he had the head re-worked I fitted a new hi volume oil pump but timing chain and oil pump drive chains were fine and reused with a new tensioner. He has since ragged the life out of it virtually every weekend for 2 years.

So if your motor has a reasonable service history and is running quietly at cold start in particular, ie; no chain slap at start. I would get your mechanic (if you aren't a DIYer) to change the tensioner. A fiddly rather than difficult job, I do my V8 tensioner every 40k.

Gearbox, BMW sealed for life? Yet ZF build it with drain and fill plugs 😂 and BMW now sell top up fluid (wonder how they top up a sealed box) 🤣 If buying fluid a ZF specialist will be cheaper than BMW or online search will bring up offers.

BMW straight 6 is one of the worlds great engines

Dave

 

[Mando330]

Dave,

Thanks for the reply. Really put me at ease with timing chain! I'll try listen out for that chain noise. 

History wise was good running back on all mots, service naturally has the stamps but not much more than ticks for info as usual.

Has it all serviced all fluids, mechanics well happy with this one!

 

I think I want more of the 'subtle' thrum type sound out of the exhaust. What's good? I dont want neighbour nightmare exhaust sound!  Sports cat option? Or does that just make it noisy with silly pops and bangs...

 

[Mando330]

Valet done

[Greydog]

Morning Mando 

Looking really good 

Exhaust check realoem E46 and E90 M3 which should be a possible swap from the Cat's back if it looks possible then start looking for either second hand or aftermarket

Dave

[Mando330]

Another query!

When you top up a bit of engine oil- is there a system reset procedure? Or does the oil sensor just adjust the dash reading by itself? 

 

[Greydog]

Morning Mando

On the brother inlaws 535d touring the onboard system adjusts it's self so you should be fine, always check with the dipstick though

Dave

[Mando330]

I dont think theres a dipstick in the car! Shocking. 

Will have another look.

We did work out on the service that my engine needs 1/4 litre more than the manufacturers fill level of oil to make the max mark. 

Do some BMW's have both?! Electronic and dipstick..

[Greydog]

Morning Mando

Yes I thought there was a dipstick on your model not obvious hidden down the side of the engine. I just don't understand why manufacturers are so hell bent on making everything sensor driven when we know they will degrade/suffer/break given time while a dipstick ???

Hey Ho

Dave

[Mando330]

Will 19x9.5 with an et20 fit on my e90 saloon?

Loving the m167 (m6) alloys

I think I've seen the car is et35 somewhere

Would that in lay mans terms mean a 15mm spacer and bolts to match? Or is that just wishfully easy thinking?!😆

[Greydog]

Morning Mando

Check real oem I think you will find that different wheel sets have varying off set values. Spacers will help fill the arch if that is what you want.

Dave