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E46 316i 1.8 M-Sport 1 winterbeater. Sold..

44K views 208 replies 25 participants last post by  Antti 
#1 · (Edited)
Hello again everyone! My name is Antti and i am writing from the country where weather is crap all around year (Finland)

For that reason, many of us have different cars for wintertime to take all the salt, snow etc. Some of you may remember me i had E46 325i M-Sport 2 with same colour.
https://aor.kuvat.fi/kuvat/BMW+E46+325i+M-Sport+II/20160423_160028.jpg/medium


I sold it because volkswagen which i didnt like and i sold it too. Now i have opportunity to drive with this old N46 based E46. I am not fan of this engine, but at least one winter it should be ok.
2 things which i dont like, steering wheel and seats. I am trying to find cheap as possible M-Steering wheel and front sport seats with heating in good condition.

Now for this car, it has quite nice history:

  • 1 original owner 2005-2017.
  • 253000km
  • Good service history, 90% stamps from local BMW.
  • Some extra mainentance done (Vanos wheels, valvecover gasket, timing chain tensioner, valvetronic motor, oil filter housing gasket, crank timing sensor, fuel pump, expansion tank, waterpump/thermosthat, rear springs, front TCA´s, front & rear discs+pads.
  • New hood and 2 doors because seam rusts in anti-corrosion warranty
  • New headlight lenses, front bumper repainted.
  • Never crashed or damaged.
  • Completely original car
  • No smoking, animals or anything which ruins interior.

This summer plans to do:

  • Inspection 2 service
  • Front TCA rear bush replacement
  • Full machine polishing
  • Interior wash with kärcher machine
  • Sport seats, M-Sport steering wheel
  • New powersteering fluids
  • Brake fluid replacement

Factory specifications

Type code EY31
Type 316I (EUR)
E series E46 (4FL)
Series 3
Type LIM
Steering LL
Doors 4
Engine N46
Displacement 1.80
Power 85
Drive HECK
Transmission MECH
Colour MYSTICBLAU METALLIC (A07)
Upholstery STOFF JACQUARD/ANTHRAZIT (H9AT)
Prod.date 2004-05-17
Vehicle upgrades
Spare/replacement key fob Read more
Vehicle options
S1CA Selection of COP relevant vehicles
S226 Sports suspension settings
S255 Sports leather steering wheel
S320 Deleted, model lettering
S434 Interior trim finishers
S441 Smoker package
S494 Seat heating driver/passenger
S495 3-point belt and headrest, center rear
S502 Headlight cleaning system
S520 Fog lights
S650 CD player
S661 Radio BMW Business (C43)
S715 M Aerodynamics package
S785 White direction indicator lights
S818 Battery master switch
Vehicle options
S832 Battery in luggage compartment
S842 Cold-climate version
S863 Retailer Directory Europe
S885 On-board vehicle literature Swedish
S896 Daytime driving light switch
S8SP Control unit COP
S925 Dummy-SALAPA
Vehicle options
S210 Dynamic stability control
S530 Air conditioning
S548 Kilometer-calibrated speedometer
S851 Language version German



Some pics for start, much more later when work goes on..













 
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#144 · (Edited)
Hello again from north.

I am back from USA. I spent one week in NYC.
Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn etc. It was my best holiday so far.
Some pictures, check it out: https://aor.kuvat.fi/kuvat/Travel/New+York+8_2018/

Okay, lets talk more about this BMW
There was lot of searching for another good E46 325i/330i, but no.. most of the cars are so rusty and bad condition, no sense to buy.
I have to drive this car next winter.

Swiss clock failed :D
One evening i found out that drive shaft seal from rear diff was leaking.

Now it is repaired. First diff was removed.

- Drive shaft seals replaced with genuine parts
- Rear plate was removed and re-installed with sealant
- New diff oil (TEBOIL)
- New gearbox oil (TEBOIL)

Now it is fine, again.. :clap:
I have to say gearbox oil replacement was important. Old oil was like black waste oil you drain from old truck engine. "lifetime oil no change".. yep.
Gear change is now pretty smooth. I dont know if you have teboil oils there, but those are basically -50% of castrol price. Also fully synthetic oils.







 
#145 · (Edited)
Hello again

I have to replace left front fender (rust).
Yesterday i took old fender off, and i bought new genuine front fender from Lithuania BMW shop.
There is also new E46 videos in my youtube channel, feel free to subscribe. Maybe next videos would be in english?

https://www.youtube.com/user/Supervisor00/videos




 
#147 ·
Little update

I removed right front fender, i took it for sandblasting.
I tought it has to be fixed in time before rust bubbles will appear in right side..
Inside part is sandblasted, and painted with tar epoxy protector.



Cleaned sill end plate with drill+wire brush. Today second layer of paint.
Tomorrow i will put body seamer for that seam. (sikaflex black).

 
#150 · (Edited)
Yep, i agree. worth to check this place.
This morning it was -4celsius.. brrr winter is coming!
I hope this car will be ready next week, i want to put my summer car in storage and take BMW out from garage.

-Brake caliber painting complete


-Side sill end plates sealed with sikaflex 527 sealant.
Result is not professional..


-Right fender protected with sikaflex 527 sealant
 
#163 · (Edited)
Okay, no problem.

1. Snow-foam with foam lance.
2. I wait couple of minutes, then i go with detail brush and i clean all plastic parts and suspension towers etc with brush.
3. I take garden hose , i rinse with warm water.
4. Then i dry most of the water with drying towel
5. Start car and check everything is working ok
6. I apply small amount of plastic dressing with towels.
7. I apply quickdetailer for metal parts like for example suspension towers.

Here is some pics from my previous E46 325i:



 
#166 · (Edited)
Finally we saw sun yesterday after 4 weeks of grey and darkness.

Saturday i used Rupes LHR 15MK2 polisher for left front fender & left front door.
Those parts was repainted in october. I applied ceramic coating, and left car for warm garage for 12 hours.
When i took car out from garage, it was really nice weather and -5celsius + sunshine!





 
#168 ·
Just read the full thread, I love your dedication, and the paint finish is amazing! I was a bit shocked to see the rot on the sills with the rest of the bodywork looking so clean. I'd probably keep mine in the same condition if I had a garage! As it is it stands outside all year round getting frozen in the winter and baked in the summer.

One thing I've found useful as a rust repellent (I have a Classic Mini which rust as soon as it rains!) is a product called ACF50, It's from the States, all the bikers use it here in the UK. It's like an oily substance that soaks in to everything. It was developed for aircraft and it has worked wonders on both the Mini and the BMW. Come spring, just wash the oily residue off and re-apply next winter.
 
#169 · (Edited)
Hello
Yes, i was quite amazed when i took sill plastics off.
My father, first owner drove lot in gravel roads.
He was working in forest industry. Maybe pick up would be better car for him..
There was no mud flaps installed never. I think because of that, there was lot of dirt, sand and small rocks inside sill plastics. With moisture that sand / dirt caused corrosion problems.
Car was washed, maybe 6-7 times/year, not so often in wintertime. when it was my father ownership.
It was regular daily driver. Car was parked outside 2005-2017.

I do not drive gravel roads at all. I dont have to.
I will check under sill plastics every summer how things are going there.
Salt is now the worst enemy for this car, i try to avoid driving in highways if there is wet weather in wintertime.
I wash once/week with hot water.

Today is time to change manual gearbox oil, lets hope cold stifness is sorted with genuine oil:

 
#174 ·
I know that feeling with cars.
This 316 1.8i has been so reliable, i dont have any hesitation for driving. It is nice to start in the morning, i use 230 VAC preheaters in engine + interior.
Nice warm start. Coolant is approx +30celsius and cabin +40celsius.
My car has DEFA pre-heating kit installed. Total power is 2300W including engine block heater + interior heater.

Beautiful "beater" :thumbup:
Thank you :)
 
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