Just a 318i with almost half a million KM's

[Ashiel]

Hi Guys,

Just here to give my car some praise. I have a 2004 N46 e46 318i individual. I bought it in 2006 with 27k km on the clock. It is now on 478k km.

Work done on the car, 2 gear boxes, a few clutches(apparently the clutch on this car is crap, replacing it about 2 times a year), lots of sensors(cam shaft sensor gave up 3 times, crank sensor), Tappet gasket cover, Vent valve, radiator, the water bottle broke 4 times(i assume its just wear and tear), Cant think of anything else other than the normal wear and tear.

I have been servicing the car myself since it came out of motorplan, it isn't a fast car so it isn't driven hard. All the mileage is long distance healthy mileage. Just here to say that i am absolutely impressed with this car.

Here are some pics.

 

[Yuben]

Nice going Bud, that's some decent mileage. Isn't urs an Exclusive and not Individual?

 

[Ashiel]

Nice going Bud, that's some decent mileage. Isn't urs an Exclusive and not Individual?

Not entirely sure bud. I thought it was exclusive but some other guys said that the exclusive has a sunroof so i don't know. How would you tell?

 

[fismail]

Individual will have the door plates on the front doors with Individual lettering.
Also exterior colour or seat interior will have alacantara or be in a non-standard colour.
You have a standard E46 Exclusive , they came with Xenons and you have the star spoke style 137 wheels , same what I have on my car.

use this VIN decoder.

http://www.bmwvin.com/

 

[KPM3_30]

The exclusive doesn't necessarily have to have a sunroof.

 

[131GAV]

Nice man.... good to see her still going strong. and looks good for that mileage...

Any major work done in the years?

 

[Ashiel]

Thanks Guys, finally know that its an exclusive.

No major work.

The compression is down now, so looking at doing rings and bearings, probably going to decat. Cats are definitely clogged now.

Do you'll know if it will throw the eml light if i do the decat?

 

[KPM3_30]

Thanks Guys, finally know that its an exclusive.

No major work.

The compression is down now, so looking at doing rings and bearings, probably going to decat. Cats are definitely clogged now.

Do you'll know if it will throw the eml light if i do the decat?

It won't throw a light. Many, many e46's have had their cats removed on both the manifold and exhaust without an error.

 

[graan13]

:clapper::clapper::clapper::clapper:

 

[Muhammede]

I had one like that. It's a pleasure to drive

Sent from my D6503 using Tapatalk

 

[Yuben]

AFAIK, the E46 will have the MTECH II front and rear bumper as well as 17" style 68 wheels. This is the exterior. Interior wise, it will have full black roof lining, ///M logo on the 3 spoke steering, gearknob and the 4 step sills. Also the sports seats. Electric seats, xenons, sunroof and PDC were optional extras.

Yours definitely has the exclusive front and rear bumper, most probably exclusive seats as well with the 4 spoke steering.

Anyone else care to add what I left out:coolShake:

 

[cad]

That's awesome, a black e46 318i is pretty rare it seems, - I hardly ever see any of them! Did you ever replace valve stem seals or the valvetronic motor?

 

[Ashiel]

That's awesome, a black e46 318i is pretty rare it seems, - I hardly ever see any of them! Did you ever replace valve stem seals or the valvetronic motor?

Thanks all. It is a rare find, i haven't seen many of them around either.

I did replace the vvt motor.

This car really is BMW's Sheer Driving pleasure.

I have to be honest here and say that it doesn't feel the same after that much mileage, there are lots of shakes and rattles, the plastic clips seem to be brittle now, the centre roll cover is almost non existant.

I need to re do the interior, Driver seat is torn, centre hand rest torn. And right back window isn't working and just last night the front left stopped. So thats on the cards for this weekend

 

[Ashiel]

Quick Update - Life happened so this M52 boost build is going to have to wait for a few more months. (Unless i can get in touvh with that guy that can do it for about 20K)

Anyways....

I have a knocking like sound under the car at 30 to 40 kph. I have checked the propshaft and that is okay so not sure what else to look at.

There is also the most irritating squeak coming from somewhere near the shocks. I have replaced the shocks, rubbers, boots. The only thing that wasnt changed is the springs. What could it be?

Will make a video this weekend of the squeak.

 

[Lizzard]

Have you checked the guildbo to see if it doesnt have cracks? Knocking noise at 30-40kph

 

[Chucky]

Wow Glad to see your car is still going strong, what is her current mileage now?

 

[Dewald Basson]

Quick Update - Life happened so this M52 boost build is going to have to wait for a few more months. (Unless i can get in touvh with that guy that can do it for about 20K)

Anyways....

I have a knocking like sound under the car at 30 to 40 kph. I have checked the propshaft and that is okay so not sure what else to look at.

There is also the most irritating squeak coming from somewhere near the shocks. I have replaced the shocks, rubbers, boots. The only thing that wasnt changed is the springs. What could it be?

Will make a video this weekend of the squeak.

Check the guibo and the diff bush for the knock.

Could be you shock mounts, mine had sqeek as well.

We need a pic of the odo

---

Quick Update - Life happened so this M52 boost build is going to have to wait for a few more months. (Unless i can get in touvh with that guy that can do it for about 20K)

Anyways....

I have a knocking like sound under the car at 30 to 40 kph. I have checked the propshaft and that is okay so not sure what else to look at.

There is also the most irritating squeak coming from somewhere near the shocks. I have replaced the shocks, rubbers, boots. The only thing that wasnt changed is the springs. What could it be?

Will make a video this weekend of the squeak.

Check the guibo and the diff bush for the knock.

Could be you shock mounts, mine had a sqeek as well.

We need a pic of the odo

 

[Ashiel]

Thanks Guys, I will check the guibo and shock mounts. The squeek is getting to me.

Its not much higher now - i stopped using her as much. Its on 480000.

Car battery is dead, but will take new pics as soon as i get a chance to work on her again.

 

[tman]

2 Clutches a year?!

You are a very patient man raise:

 

[DINODENASH]

wow that's amazing !!!!!!:clapper: