E46 diesel questions

[hagu13]

HI All

Looking to buy my first BMW but have some questions. I want an E46 320d or 330d with an auto box. Budget is sub R100k so I reckon I'm looking at 04ish 320d or 02ish 330d.

My questions:
I see some cars have a T shaped steering wheel centre and others a square one. Both seem to have all the buttons and I can't see a pattern between year or engine size. What gives?

Some 02 models have CD frontloader and others tape deck. When did this change, and is it possible (and at what price) to retrofit a CD to a model with tape?

I've read that the auto box in the 330d increases fuel consumption by 25%. I don't believe it, but should I? Also, are all models 5 speed?

What are the differences in trim between the 320 and 330? Seems like they all have leather, the 330 has electric seats, but what else? Also exterior- can I recognise the diff without seeing the badges?

I'm intending to remove all the stuff the greenies wanted- cats, EGR, flaps. Can this be done without issue on all models?

Any major differences in running costs between the models? Both seem very economical and easy to work on. I do all my own maintenance and know what I'm doing.

Anything else I shoud know?

Thanks
Rob

 

[Sankekur]

Welcome to the forum :wave:

Then I would rather recommend going for the 330d, as it seems to much more reliable than the 320d.

In terms of the auto-box, you seem pretty set on it, if not though, I would rather recommend going for that. If you get an auto make sure to budget around R20k for a rebuild for when the box goes.

The steering wheel depends on the spec level of the car, I know the individuals came with the 3 spoke ones, not sure which others. The square four-spoke one is the standard one.

Not sure when the radio changed to having cd front loader, or if it was year dependant, and yes you can retrofit it, If I am not mistaken it is a straight swap from the one to the other.

Yup they all had leather, I think electric seats was an extra on all models. The 330d came with stuff as standard though that the 320d did not, arm rest, rear blind, bigger wheels.

 

[hagu13]

Thanks for clearing those things up.

Re: the autobox- I understand that BMW says you never change the oil on it, which is no doubt ok in rich countries where they throw their cars away after 5 years but not ok for us. Not to mention the effect of our climate on oil temperatures.
So I intend to do an oil change (2 actually to make sure it's proplerly flushed) which should extend its life. I know the BMW spec ZF boxes in Land Rover Discoveries last forever if you keep them in fresh oil.

Re: electric seats: I've not seen a 320 with them, and not seen a 330 without them so I think that's what we got.

 

[P1000]

Oil change will not help on that box - the problem originates in a too soft alloy for the valve body which leads to low pressures and ultimately destroys everything in the box. If it has less than 150kkm on, you can do an oil change, if not, leave it and make sure you have R22k in the bank for when it leaves you stranded. (It is a GM box, like in the landrover diesels, not a ZF like you would think - the GM was the only box with the correct ratios and number of gears at the time they made the car)

All autos are 5 speed. The car you are looking for is a 6 speed manual 2004+ 330d, it has the updated motor with the same turbo as the E90, and some more ponies (and a lot of tuning capacity). You should be able to find one for R100-110k, I know of one that took 9 months to sell at R110k...

 

[Sankekur]

Maybe it is different on the diesels, but my 330i has manual seats.

 

[hagu13]

Ok thanks everyone.

That GM box- does it just fail catastrophically or does it show signs of wearing out? Would hate to buy a time bomb, or drive a cheap fix into an expensive one...

Unfortunately, I need the car to be an auto, so perhaps a 320d auto is a better bet. Really not worried about power and tuning capacity. It's for the wife, mostly.

Is the 320d box ok? And what to watch for on those, besides the flaps?

 

[P1000]

320d has the same box, same problems and then some more. It usually shows no signs, sometimes, if you know how it is supposed to shift, it gets harsher when nearing the end, especially on torque converter lockup (torque converter clutch goes first, since it is the channel most affected by the flaw.). Another mode of failure is no reverse, which is also due to the TCC lockup regulator valve being worn out.

I would seriously avoid a 320d like the plague, those turbos work all the time, where the 330d does not. My 530d is on 280kkm on the original turbo...

If you have to get an auto, try to find one manufactured from 2003, preferably 2004. It should be possible with your budget, just look around, and be weary of clocked cars, it is actually almost impossible to find one of these on a showroom floor with untampered clocks...

 

[Lequdo]

Take your time, there are a lot of 320d & 330d out there, if you want auto, stick to the 330d, just works better, and feels much smother, well in the ones I have driven at least, and the eco is a slight bit better in the 330d than the 320d, again, might just be the way i drive. Good luck