My Portuguese daily - E46 320d M Sport

[EATYOURVITAMIN5]

Hey all!

Long time lurker, first time poster.

Two years ago I moved to Madeira, Portugal. I decided very quickly that I needed a car as public transport was not up to scratch. Not too long after, I found my pride & joy - This is my 2003 E46 320d M Sport 6MT

 

[KPM3_30]

Beautiful car, love it! We never got a diesel touring here..

 

[EATYOURVITAMIN5]

First order of business - take off those offensive black grilles. This is something that 16 year old me would've gone crazy for, but I am a grown man. I dug up original chrome grilles and fitted them immediately.

 

[EATYOURVITAMIN5]

After some time, flooring it in the rain with traction control switched off to make me feel like I was driving a 500kw machine took its toll on my rear tires which were at this point, showing belt. oops.


So, after my tax return, I decided to get this thing only the best.

 

[EATYOURVITAMIN5]

The included (fake) shifter [appearing to be from the e8x 1 series] was not that well off for wear and obviously very fake. Not doing it for me.



Me being the excessive person that I am - I ordered an original 6 speed ZCP shift knob for a whopping €120 (R2300!!) but being an original part was well worth it purely based on the weight of it and the quality.

 

[EATYOURVITAMIN5]

The halos on the car looked nice, I won't lie. However, I wanted something.. more.. specifically more OEM. Thus begins my long, grueling journey to source some Bosch/AL (not ZKW) xenons. Lots and lots of research, learning how to code using a K+DCAN cable and lots of fighting online with bidding (and a slight scam from Poland) my lights had arrived from Germany.

Life can be so beautiful sometimes. Never kill yourself.

 

[EATYOURVITAMIN5]

 

[EATYOURVITAMIN5]

Taking the best part of both lights to make the ultimate headlight. (Lenses, trim and such)


Fitment went well. There were a lot of issues, including blown ballast on the (SA) driver side. But after a fat bill for 2x xenon globes and a ballast later.

 

[modocrat]

You sir, have an absolute beauty!!

 

[EATYOURVITAMIN5]

And the final result. What a stunning car. I cannot believe this is from 2003.

 

[EATYOURVITAMIN5]

Beautiful car, love it! We never got a diesel touring here..

Thank you man! This is actually my first diesel.. logical given that I am in EU but I get the hype now.

You sir, have an absolute beauty!!

Thank you! Much appreciated.

 

[EATYOURVITAMIN5]

Thus, comes to the end of my journey with this car. As I am coming back to South Africa, I have already bought a new car that side (LCI E92 335i) I will be making another post when I land at the beginning of March.

This car will always hold a special place in my heart.

 

[Sabretooth tiger]

What a beauty. Congratulations

 

[modocrat]

Thus, comes to the end of my journey with this car. As I am coming back to South Africa, I have already bought a new car that side (LCI E92 335i) I will be making another post when I land at the beginning of March.

This car will always hold a special place in my heart.

Bring it back with you 💔

 

[EATYOURVITAMIN5]

Bring it back with you 💔

Would be lekker but bringing it would be an expensive logistical nightmare.. and still having to drive on the wrong side with the incorrect headlight beam pattern for SA streets. Would be great on fuel though. I get about 5.2L/100km with this thing.

 

[VinceM]

What a car, I am enjoying this thread, Keep it going please.

I think e46 platform is one of the best BMW designs, (says me who owned 4 of them).

Touring makes a great daily too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[EATYOURVITAMIN5]

What a car, I am enjoying this thread, Keep it going please.

I think e46 platform is one of the best BMW designs, (says me who owned 4 of them).

Touring makes a great daily too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I would love to - but I am leaving Madeira and moving back to SA at the end of the month. So, unfortunately our story ends here.

 

[Benji]

Ahhh yes, some E46 touring content...lovely 😎 unfortunate that you have to end your journey with the touring so soon...

How is Madeira? Its basically in Africa anyway!

 

[Kishore]

Hey all!

Long time lurker, first time poster.

Two years ago I moved to Madeira, Portugal. I decided very quickly that I needed a car as public transport was not up to scratch. Not too long after, I found my pride & joy - This is my 2003 E46 320d M Sport 6MT

Beautiful bud.

 

[EATYOURVITAMIN5]

Ahhh yes, some E46 touring content...lovely 😎 unfortunate that you have to end your journey with the touring so soon...

How is Madeira? Its basically in Africa anyway!

I have quite the history with wagons - I am a bit obsessed so it's logical that I ended up with another. Madeira is an amazing place but at the end of the day there really isn't a place like South Africa, home.

A few months ago - I was really trying to make a push on an E91 335d (!!!!) However, EU hates fun and any vehicle that causes the slightest bit of pollution gets heavily taxed (R20 000 equivalent yearly license disc) and re-registering the car in Portugal AND purchase price made it literally impossible for me

Oh well