a little 330d advice from the oil burners.

[Nick]

Good evening ladies and gents.

My pops is looking at this 330d.
http://vehicletraders.co.za/2004-330d-(E46)-F-L-for-sale-used-165739.html

We will take our Machie down to check her out before he signs, but any other bits and bobs we should look out for while we are there would be great from the people in the know.

Im bit scared of this swirl flap thing going around.
And the life left on the turbo.

 

[Andy1GP]

Don't stress the swirl flap and turbo so much, potentially a huge issue but realistically so far not so much, statistically at least. Don't let that put you off from owning one. But condition of turbo is a big deal.

There's only one thing I'd like to check when buying from a dealer and that's KM history. Unless the car has a recent full service history to backup the mileage, it can be questionable. If you have a laptop with any BMW software on to confirm the IKE and cluster mileage at least, checking the key's mileage would be great but just those 2 would suffice.

It probably sounds overkill and fair enough it is, also realistically who does this? But from what I've seen, unless it's private and you can trust it, I won't.

Good thing you taking a mechie with. To check for usual suspects, LCA bushes, engine mount, diff bushes (on test drive) play on prop coupling etc.

Can't give much advice on the autos but they are so well suited for the car :thumbs:

 

[Nick]

awesome we will check it out nicely, but will 10 to 1 bring her home lol

 

[P1000]

I would remove the swirl flaps. The turbo is not such a big deal because if a turbo fails - is does not always take the motor out with it. If a swirl flap onlo as much as partially fail, you WILL replace/rebuild the engine, possibly the turbo and injectors as well.

On this car the gearbox is an issue, it is the gm5l40, which has quite a bunch of problems. If the gearshifts are anything but smooth as soft butter, it is on its way to trouble.

Budget to replace lower control arms, and likely also shocks.

 

[Nick]

I will check the gear change is smooth!!
What would it cost to delete the swirl flaps,a ball park figure.

 

[P1000]

Technician on the forum might be able to manufacture the blanks for you, otherwise you need to order them from ebay. I actually don't know how much it would cost. I just bought a billet aluminium for R110 and machined my own blanks and also installed them myself. I would guess ~R2k if you need to import them and pay a mechie to do the install.

 

[Nick]

Technician on the forum might be able to manufacture the blanks for you, otherwise you need to order them from ebay. I actually don't know how much it would cost. I just bought a billet aluminium for R110 and machined my own blanks and also installed them myself. I would guess ~R2k if you need to import them and pay a mechie to do the install.

"I just bought a billet aluminium for R110 and machined my own blanks and also installed them myself."


You make it sound so easy lol.

 

[frikkieh]

Rare find for a 330d with that low km's.
Try get a service history.