E46 330CI Individual 2005 / car prepping for smart repair #143

Hello!

I have been searching good condition E46 for 2 years now.
It is impossible to find rust free cars from Finland where i live.
This car was found from Netherland. Owner was nice guy, BMW enthuasist.
It was obvious from the start when we discussed about this car that car is almost perfect condition.
3 owners, 2 first owners in west part of Germany, and then this guy from Netherlands owned this car almost 5 years. There is no winter driving after 2013. And Germany winter is not that kind of winter we have in Finland.
This car will go garage after i have Finnish registration completed.
I measured paintwork with paint thickness gauge. All metal panels are in factory paint. No repainted panels.. So this car is really undamaged.

This will be only in summer use in my ownership.

Comments and ideas are welcome!

Mileage, 135.000kilometres / 84000miles

Prod. Date 2004-11-22
Type 330CI (EUR)
Series E46 (3 Series)
Body Type COUPE
Steering LHD
Engine M54
Displacement 3.00
Power 170kw / 231hp
Drive HECK
Transmission Automatic
Colour BLACK SAPPHIRE METALLIC (475)
Upholstery SONDERPOLSTERUNG (Z1XX)
Options
S167A EU4 Exhaust Emissions Standard
S205A Automatic Transmission
S226A Sports Suspension Settings
S249A Multifunction F Steering Wheel
S302A Alarm System
S313A Foldin Outside Mirror
S320A Deleted Model Lettering
S338A M Sports Package II
S354A Green Windscreen Green Shade Band
S403A Glass Roof Electrical
S423A Floor Mats Velours
S428A Warning Triangle And First Aid Kit
S431A Interior Mirror With Automaticdip
S459A Seat Adjuster Electric With Memory
S481A Sports Seat
S494A Seat Heating Driverpassenger
S495A 3point Belt And Headrest Center Rear
S502A Headlight Cleaning System
S508A Park Distance Control PDC
S521A Rain Sensor
S522A Xenon Light
S534A Automatic Air Conditioning
S609A Navigation System Professional
S710A M Leather Steering Wheel
S716A Aerodynamics Package
S760A High Gloss Shadow Line
S772A Interior Moldings Alu Black Cube
S775A Headlining Anthracite
S788A BMW LA Wheel Individual
L801A National Version Germany
S863A Retailer Directory Europe
S879A Onboard Vehicle Literature German
S8SPA Control Unit COP
S915A DummySALAPA
S940A Special Equipment BMW Individual
P972A Comfort Package
Standard Equipment
S210A Dynamic Stability Control
S251A Runflat Indicator
S473A Armrest Front
S520A Fog Lights
S548A Kilometercalibrated Speedometer
S550A Onboard Computer
S785A White Direction Indicator Lights
S832A Battery In Luggage Compartment
S851A Language Version German
Individual
- Sign BMW Individual
- Z1XX Upholstery
- Full Leather In Nappa Gold Brown Nb 8 022 721
- Sewing Thread Nb 8 022 052 And Quilting Yarn Nb 8 022 051
- In Gold Brown Color Code 1313 B
- Remainder Of Spec As Standard Leather Montana Black Code N6SW
- 0940 Sonderwunschausstattung
- Wood Trim Birch Anthracite Nb 0690 Content As Option 438
- Additional Handbrake Grip
- Decorcover Of Steering Wheel With Option 255 In Softpaint Black

Lord... that interior tho. Awesome car sir!

Originally Posted by tuscan1205

Lord... that interior tho. Awesome car sir!

This. Love it!

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Stunning car. The list of options is impressive, not to mention the individual options. Obviously well-cared for in the past. Drivers seat looks great for approaching 100k miles which is often the first tell-tale of a higher mileage E46 with leather.

That's just an amazing interior and overall conditioning. Glad it's going to someone who'll appreciate it.

Thank you for your comments.
Yes this car has been at least 2 enthuasist before me (i am 4. owner).

Yesterday i took this car for goverment inspection. It passed without any faults.
Now i am waiting import tax bill from goverment. After i pay import tax, i can have Finnish registration plates for this car. Import tax will be approx 1700-2200$ in US Dollars.





Yesterday i installed DISA repair kit, from X8R / UK.

Replaced main belt tensioner & guide pulley + both belts.

Man y'all are very thorough when buying cars over there. In the USA we kick the tires and smell for coolant.

I removed side skirts, cleaned all dust off. I will wax sheetmetal and new fixings..

OMG that interior.....

Parts shipment #1 arrived

I choose not to buy cheap parts, but only quality brands which i know from my years of experience with different E46 cars.

Inspection 1 parts:
-Air filter (Mahle/Hengst)
-Cabin filter (BOSCH)
-Oil filter (Mahle)

And some extra stuff
- Wiper blades (BOSCH)
- AC belt tensioner (INA)
- Gasoline filter (MANN)
- Front stabilizer links (TRW)
- Beisan vanos seals
- Valve cover gasket + vanos gasket (ELRING)
- 1 used PDC sensor (Genuine BMW).
- Vanos piston bolts, intake manifold caps, vanos oil pipe washer (Genuine BMW).

I washed wheel wells and replaced stabilizer drop links

Amazing interior. Pretty piece, good luck and hope you will keep us informed about the maintenance. It is funny about these cars that no matter how enthusiastic the owner is and how much money and effort do we put in our E46s, there is still something to invest to. You said that two previous owners were enthusiasts and you have to do sway bar links, PDC sensor, VANOS, Valve cover gasket, DISA. I brought mine from Germany too, previous owners were diligent too, one of them flush 4600€ in it in one and a half year according to bills just before selling it and I keep spending more and more. As it was written somewhere here, maintaining this car is like keeping supermodel happy.

Beautiful car, looks like you did well in the purchase. Very clean for any car but exceptional considering it was in the snowy areas. That interior, well there's just not enough words!

Originally Posted by leonidas

Amazing interior. Pretty piece, good luck and hope you will keep us informed about the maintenance. It is funny about these cars that no matter how enthusiastic the owner is and how much money and effort do we put in our E46s, there is still something to invest to. You said that two previous owners were enthusiasts and you have to do sway bar links, PDC sensor, VANOS, Valve cover gasket, DISA. I brought mine from Germany too, previous owners were diligent too, one of them flush 4600€ in it in one and a half year according to bills just before selling it and I keep spending more and more. As it was written somewhere here, maintaining this car is like keeping supermodel happy.

This car was so expensive i really dont have plans to rebuild it totally, just the most important things. Now i have bought most of the parts, first package from autodoc and second arrived yesterday from autohaus Pielmeier (Germany).
I have to consider later next year if i replace expansion tank just to be safe.
I know these cars will be expensive to keep top condition. Just 2 first weeks in this car ownership and i have over 1000eur spent in parts and different things.
Before i put this car for insurance next year i have to buy front tyres.
Little more money will be thrown..

Originally Posted by Max'd out

Beautiful car, looks like you did well in the purchase. Very clean for any car but exceptional considering it was in the snowy areas. That interior, well there's just not enough words!

Thanks! It took 2 years to find rustfree and good E46 from Europe.
I really dont know how much this car was driven in wintertime in Germany.
3rd owner (the guy from Holland) said that car was not driven in wintertime 2013-2018. It was waxed and stored in heated garage.
I am sure he was car enthuasist, but maybe we are in different level. I agree that PDC sensor should be fixed, but for example he did not know what is DISA or Vanos. Most important thing for me was that the car was unmodified and really good condition from inside and paintwork too. He told me that he only drove approx 3000-4000kilometres / year 2013-2018. After summer, car was washed, waxed and stored in heated garage.

Car has been in Germany 2005-2013, and i dont know how much car was used in wintertime.
Winter in Germany is not so difficult for cars if you compare for example michigan state in us or Finland.
In my country (Finland), you can see in wintertime how salt is eating cars alive.

Yesterday arrived second parcel from Germany, genuine BMW parts from autohaus Pielmeier.

-New front kidneys (originals were broken, almost fell off when i open bonnet).
-New side repeaters LED model original
-Gas tank cap
-Bumper grill
-All new fixings for side sill trims
-New trunk BMW logo

I really like your thread. We are in similar situation and we both think the same. It took me some time to find a good E46 as well. I had to go to Germany for mine too this summer and I did so because of minimum rust on cars from over there. Seller had even sent me pictures of undercarriage so I knew there were only few rust spots on rear trailer arms, carrier frame, and sway bars. In my country they love to salt roads abundantly and it takes usually just one winter to eat the car from the bottom, one can hear it chews. I have already treated rear fenders against rust as you can see in my thread:

https://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=1240081

Next week I plan to address these few rust spots and apply Fluid Film on whole undercarriage. Have you heard of it? Have a look on YouTube, there are some impressive reviews. I think it looks promising. I have also already bought a new expansion tank with radiator and water pump for peace of mind. As you can see we have a lot in common. One question, why are you replacing gas tank cap?

Originally Posted by leonidas

I really like your thread. We are in similar situation and we both think the same. It took me some time to find a good E46 as well. I had to go to Germany for mine too this summer and I did so because of minimum rust on cars from over there. Seller had even sent me pictures of undercarriage so I knew there were only few rust spots on rear trailer arms, carrier frame, and sway bars. In my country they love to salt roads abundantly and it takes usually just one winter to eat the car from the bottom, one can hear it chews. I have already treated rear fenders against rust as you can see in my thread:

https://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=1240081

Next week I plan to address these few rust spots and apply Fluid Film on whole undercarriage. Have you heard of it? Have a look on YouTube, there are some impressive reviews. I think it looks promising. I have also already bought a new expansion tank with radiator and water pump for peace of mind. As you can see we have a lot in common. One question, why are you replacing gas tank cap?

Yep i have been reading your progress and updates, thanks for posting nice story about your car
I am not so worried about rust because i think car is mostly rust free, and i have no plans to drive in winter. I will take coupe out from garage maybe late april or beginning of may 2019.
I have that 316i 1.8 2005 sedan for winter driving.
I am not familiar with fluid film, i have to read about it.
I replaced gas cap because that strap which is holding it was snapped.

Rear bumper removed, 1 PDC sensor replaced with genuine sensor.

PDC Sensor replacement completed

There is quite lot of swirl marks in rear bumper as you can see. I have to do full machine polishing for this car, including rear bumper.
I removed rear BMW Badge, i have new genuine replacement. But that will be the last touch before car is completed.

Wow...this is a true gem. Please keep it as clean as possible and keep us posted!