AshG108
///Member
Pleasure bro!
-
Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
My Alpine White E90 330d Exclusive
- Thread starter KPM3_30
- Start date
Already been more than a year and I've covered over 10k with the daily in this time, it exceeds my expectations as a daily driver. Not much has been done in the way of updates, save for a lot of maintenance and a little bit of spice (more on this later)..
After getting my 330d, I was invited for a breakfast run with the 30d club and thought it would be a great way to meet some of the guys and it was an excuse to give the car a bit of a leg stretch over a long drive. I just didn't know that long drive would be be THAT long, we covered almost 300km on a very round about route and it was great fun. The 30d saw speeds it shouldn't have, some of the route had impeccable driver's roads (IYKYK)!
Soon after the car was booked in for a short service oil change at 255k. The reason for this was self imposed - I wanted to do a tune and with the stock oil cooler being 20 years and 250k old, it was a niggle at the back of my mind. I have heard of these failing and the subsequent maintenance to remedy isn't something I had an appetite to take a chance with. Booked the car in @Clint@MMS AUTO and dropped off for some TLC in September last year. I also asked Clint to give the car a thorough once over because it was soon going to be a little faster..
Oil cooler and transmission mounts were done with the oil service and a coolant flush - more on this here -->
Next it was time for that spice I mentioned earlier.. Off I went to @Xcede Performance, the need for a remap was two fold, I had the EGR and swirl flaps physically deleted so it needed to be updated on the file and I also felt a little bit of extra oomph would be nice.
I always opt for a milder file as a personal choice and I told Juvan I would be happy with a stage 1.5.. I set out with an expectation/assumption of 180wkw and 500wnm after the tune, what I got was something else entirely. I actually considered revising the file backward but enjoyed it too much, I couldn't go back.. Interestingly, Juvan said I can probably get another approx 10-20wkw and 80-100wnm if we tweak the file but that is not on the cards.
After getting my 330d, I was invited for a breakfast run with the 30d club and thought it would be a great way to meet some of the guys and it was an excuse to give the car a bit of a leg stretch over a long drive. I just didn't know that long drive would be be THAT long, we covered almost 300km on a very round about route and it was great fun. The 30d saw speeds it shouldn't have, some of the route had impeccable driver's roads (IYKYK)!
Soon after the car was booked in for a short service oil change at 255k. The reason for this was self imposed - I wanted to do a tune and with the stock oil cooler being 20 years and 250k old, it was a niggle at the back of my mind. I have heard of these failing and the subsequent maintenance to remedy isn't something I had an appetite to take a chance with. Booked the car in @Clint@MMS AUTO and dropped off for some TLC in September last year. I also asked Clint to give the car a thorough once over because it was soon going to be a little faster..
Oil cooler and transmission mounts were done with the oil service and a coolant flush - more on this here -->
Next it was time for that spice I mentioned earlier.. Off I went to @Xcede Performance, the need for a remap was two fold, I had the EGR and swirl flaps physically deleted so it needed to be updated on the file and I also felt a little bit of extra oomph would be nice.
I always opt for a milder file as a personal choice and I told Juvan I would be happy with a stage 1.5.. I set out with an expectation/assumption of 180wkw and 500wnm after the tune, what I got was something else entirely. I actually considered revising the file backward but enjoyed it too much, I couldn't go back.. Interestingly, Juvan said I can probably get another approx 10-20wkw and 80-100wnm if we tweak the file but that is not on the cards.
With some free time on my hands over the December break, I did some very light DIY and installed a new start button and fitted new clips to my wood trim that had started popping off. Such a difference with the new unblemished button, small mod, big impact IMO.
Enjoyed the new found power for 4 solid months, before my first hiccup.. The car developed a terrible chatter at idle, that also seemed to increase for a bit when applying throttle and then disappeared completely, it got worse over the course of a few weeks. I pegged it down to the flywheel slowly giving up the ghost as it was still on the original one, prior, prior owner had only the clutch changed at 170k. I got a few other opinions and everyone was certain it was the flywheel. Clint also told me at the last check that the propshaft couplings would need to be done in the next few thousand km, figured I would have these done at the same time. The parts list was quite considerable at this point:
- Clutch
- Flywheel
- Pilot bearing
- Rear main oil seal
- Front and Rear Couplings
Whilst getting all the parts, the 30d was rendered stationary as I was paranoid about the flywheel failing in catastrophic fashion (silly me). Fitted a set of red air scoops for a splash of colour, while I had it in the garage.
Off to Clint it went for what I thought would solve my noisy woes (hindsight is always 20/20).. More on this here -->
Collected the car and proceeded to do a trip for a work conference. Given it was a new clutch, I took it very easy on the trip and actually stuck to the limit for the first time ever.
On the way home, guess what noise was back... I was both surprised and annoyed, in a bid to test the noise returning, I drove a little harder and found another hiccup, there was a vibration under WOT in higher gears that presented for a short while, under very specific conditions and then disappeared after a certain RPM.
Called up Clint and back it went.. Turns out the noise was the vibration dampener, which when inspected a few months prior had no visible cracks or play.. Being the original part that came from factory, I was not surprised it failed and it was on the cards for imminent replacement. With the time line moving up, I ordered the parts from BMW and also got a centre support bearing in a bid to curb the vibration.
Upon unboxing, the BMW dampener had damage and my luck, it was the only one in the country.. With a timeline of 3 weeks for delivery ex-Germany, I tried around for other options and brands but wasn't happy. Clint advised I get the BBR from Goldwagen that was readily available and used before by many of his clients. Having fitted BBR parts before,. I decided to give it a try and so far so good after 3k, I am still disappointed I couldn't do OEM but let's put BBR to the test -->
Noise solved but unfortunately the vibration is still there post the CSB being changed. My next step in troubleshooting is to have the propshaft balanced and actual couplings inspected at a specialist, since this only started after the couplings were replaced. I also noticed the other day that the hoodlining will soon need a bit of attention, so that is on the cards as well.
The joys of an old BMW, not that I would have it any other way.. Having invested a pretty penny on maintenance over the past few months, it made sense for me as I have no intention of selling. The daily serves its purpose rather well, it continues to humble cars many times it's price range and the cherry on top, the E90 is still such a looker IMO.
Enjoyed the new found power for 4 solid months, before my first hiccup.. The car developed a terrible chatter at idle, that also seemed to increase for a bit when applying throttle and then disappeared completely, it got worse over the course of a few weeks. I pegged it down to the flywheel slowly giving up the ghost as it was still on the original one, prior, prior owner had only the clutch changed at 170k. I got a few other opinions and everyone was certain it was the flywheel. Clint also told me at the last check that the propshaft couplings would need to be done in the next few thousand km, figured I would have these done at the same time. The parts list was quite considerable at this point:
- Clutch
- Flywheel
- Pilot bearing
- Rear main oil seal
- Front and Rear Couplings
Whilst getting all the parts, the 30d was rendered stationary as I was paranoid about the flywheel failing in catastrophic fashion (silly me). Fitted a set of red air scoops for a splash of colour, while I had it in the garage.
Off to Clint it went for what I thought would solve my noisy woes (hindsight is always 20/20).. More on this here -->
Collected the car and proceeded to do a trip for a work conference. Given it was a new clutch, I took it very easy on the trip and actually stuck to the limit for the first time ever.
On the way home, guess what noise was back... I was both surprised and annoyed, in a bid to test the noise returning, I drove a little harder and found another hiccup, there was a vibration under WOT in higher gears that presented for a short while, under very specific conditions and then disappeared after a certain RPM.
Called up Clint and back it went.. Turns out the noise was the vibration dampener, which when inspected a few months prior had no visible cracks or play.. Being the original part that came from factory, I was not surprised it failed and it was on the cards for imminent replacement. With the time line moving up, I ordered the parts from BMW and also got a centre support bearing in a bid to curb the vibration.
Upon unboxing, the BMW dampener had damage and my luck, it was the only one in the country.. With a timeline of 3 weeks for delivery ex-Germany, I tried around for other options and brands but wasn't happy. Clint advised I get the BBR from Goldwagen that was readily available and used before by many of his clients. Having fitted BBR parts before,. I decided to give it a try and so far so good after 3k, I am still disappointed I couldn't do OEM but let's put BBR to the test -->
Noise solved but unfortunately the vibration is still there post the CSB being changed. My next step in troubleshooting is to have the propshaft balanced and actual couplings inspected at a specialist, since this only started after the couplings were replaced. I also noticed the other day that the hoodlining will soon need a bit of attention, so that is on the cards as well.
The joys of an old BMW, not that I would have it any other way.. Having invested a pretty penny on maintenance over the past few months, it made sense for me as I have no intention of selling. The daily serves its purpose rather well, it continues to humble cars many times it's price range and the cherry on top, the E90 is still such a looker IMO.
Thanks again for your continued support over the years Kev. This car is super clean for its age. Glad to hear it's running well.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Very rare to see E90 being taken care of to this extent...
Well done Kev
Sent from my MBH-N49 using Tapatalk
Well done Kev
Sent from my MBH-N49 using Tapatalk
