The Mean Greenie - 330d

[Waseem 333i]

That rattle sounds completely different to the other video. This second video is dmf. Don't worry about it yet unless you getting shudder or slippage. I replaced my one earlier this year. Parts were R10k (dmf and clutch kit). If the motor feels smooth on idle and revving don't worry. If you feel the motor vibrating then I would advise replacing it after confirming engine mounts are fine.

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[Luigi_S]

Called BMW about clutch kit and DMF just to check on pricing:

Clutch Kit - R 7090.00
DMF - R 19450.00

I still asked the guy if he didn't mean 9450 and he said no, 19....... Really????

As you say, both items are around the price you mentioned from GW.

Where can I get a solenoid for my starter? Seems Bosch have given me two different prices, one low and one high for supposedly the same thing, but they do not have any stock of Bosch items.

 

[Luigi_S]

Had a chance to do some more testing this afternoon regarding the noise. I've narrowed it down to the tensioner that is making the noise. I am quite confident that replacing that will sort that noise, leaving me only with the flywheel noise.

Something else I picked up this afternoon with the smoking when cold, it really stinks and is really stifling. It's like it's running very very rich. Is there anything I can change or set to alleviate this?

I am going to have to remove the starter to see what brand it is. Apparently it could be Bosch, Delphi or another brand I can't recall right now. It seems, you can only replace the solenoid on the Bosch, while the other two brands need a new starter. Was hoping to have it sorted this weekend.

 

[Waseem 333i]

It's possible it can be the tensioner or the damper pulley that's causing the tensioner to make the noise. Where about are you? I have a damaged damper pulley which doesn't make noise. We could fit that and see if the noise is still there. That cold start smell is hectic. I suppose if you make adjustments to have it run leaner it will take a very long time to warm up which will cause more engine wear. I had my starter removed and refurbished and refitted for R1800 sometime late last year. I tried removing it myself but I didn't have that flexible head spanner and I couldn't find one locally. I ended up stripping one bolt head and because I hate working under the car I sent it to the mechanic. He had a refurbished unit in stock so just swapped it out for me.

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[Luigi_S]

I am in Randburg. Thanks for the offer, but going to replace both the tensioner and damper pulley. Will pick them both up tomorrow and put them in, if all goes well, should be able to report positively tomorrow evening.

Sheesh, for 1800 buckaroos, that is cheap.

 

[Waseem 333i]

It's really easy to replace that damper. It's a 30 minute job on a manual car. Also you don't need to fight it because the bolts are not as tight as the single nut type. It's said to replace the bolts but they were about R80 each. I didn't replace and it's still fine and that's with taking out and putting back about 4 times.

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[Luigi_S]

Took a drive to roadworthy this morning before heading out to Goldwagen Delarey. Got quite a list of parts:

Thermostat
Handbrake Shoes
Belt Tensioner
Deflection Pulley

and a few other odds and sods.

Did the check on the test menu to see the temps and in general driving it stayed around the 70C mark. Coming back from GW, down the hill from Gordon to Beyers on the N1 it went down to as low as 63. So definitely think the thermostat is fubar.

Will be cleaning the rear end today, replacing the handbrake shoes and then might attempt the RTAB's.

 

[Waseem 333i]

Please be sure to check the thermostat. There are two different ones for this car. Use Vin number. I've blocked of the thermostat for the egr. I was thinking this morning about the smoke on cold start. Perhaps the egr delete has something to do with it. I'd rather live with the smoke than to have the motor breathing it's own shit. I gotta do oil cooler on my one. Hopefully I can sort it out this weekend.

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[Luigi_S]

Never got round to even getting close to the RTAB's. Discovered one of my bowden cables had broken so chased around looking for a set. Figured if one was broken, might as well replace both. Seems like somebody tried a repair on the broken cable which failed.

Heck of a job replacing these things. Will finish up in the morning.

 

[Luigi_S]

Got quite a bit done today. Replaced the belt tensioner and deflection pulley today along with the thermostat. Noise is still there. Can only think it is the actual tensioner that the belt tensioner mounts into, that's definitely where the noise emanates from.

Spot the difference:

Seems like the thermostat that was in there wasn't doing anything at all, the plastic tabs holding it in place had broken off, wonder where they got to?

Cleaned parts from under the car while doing the handbrake cables:

Also noticed that the 3 diff bushes have seen better days. Will need to drop the diff and replace them, sounds like fun:

The rear bush

Here are some pics of the new handbrake shoes in place:

Once again, took the opportunity to clean things up while there.

On another point, noticed this on the passenger side:

Why would anyone do that, what is the reason for all the silicone.

I dropped the drivers side Trailing arm to change the RTAB only to discover that they are perfect, no movement, nothing. They seem fine. Why would the car feel unstable on the motorway?

 

[osiris]

Looks like it maybe ripped and was making a noise? so they pumped it full of silicone to try stop the noise :roflol: Gotta love the bull shit some of these guys do to there cars. Kills my soul!

I mean look what I had to find on my Z4 35i.......This is the xenon headlight auto adjuster. The reason why the xenons were facing the ground!

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I dropped the drivers side Trailing arm to change the RTAB only to discover that they are perfect, no movement, nothing. They seem fine. Why would the car feel unstable on the motorway?

It's funny you say that because my 330d also felt very funky on the motorway, as if I was driving through hurricane winds, it happened when I put a set of new tires on....Have you taken it for wheel alignment at all?

 

[Luigi_S]

Shocking that, and all for a few bob for a new mounting bracket............ I'm sure you got that sorted quick. I believe they sell a repair kit for the 330d for that particular area so will get that done.

Will be taking it for wheel alignment tomorrow once I have replaced the tensioner, it's embarrassing to drive a car with the noise this one makes at idle. It's a very odd sensation and one I haven't experienced with a BMW before. They normally feel ultra planted.

I will also try and get the starter removed this week, really not looking forward to it. Going to get the solenoid replaced and the whole starter rebuilt with new brushes, etc. for R1300. Worthwhile I reckon.

 

[osiris]

Yea I phoned bmw for the sensor and the sensor itself was just over 6k and the arm was I think around R800. I phoned a place I found on gumtree that was stripping 2 x z4 and I managed to get a second hand one and fitted it myself. got the full thing, sensor and arm for around R600 iirc.

It definitely sounds like the problem I was having with my 330d, soon as I started getting up to highway speed the car would feel like it was swimming all over the place. come to think of it my 330i did it as well when I first bought it, I took it to gizmo and he took it for a spin on the highway and said it felt very strange and made him feel uneasy. Problem went away when I put new tires and had wheel alignment done and new control arm bushes fitted.

 

[Luigi_S]

Ok, so that's all tensioners and idlers replaced and I still have the noise. Still sounds like it's coming from the belt tensioner.

The noise is only there is there is a load like when the aircon compressor kicks in, or when you pull away and the revs drop slightly from idle, whether the aircon compressor is on or not.

The damper pulley looks and feels solid, still not convinced it's that, but what else could there be other than the water pump? Don't want to have to spend 3.5k on the damper pulley just to find that it's not that.

Really annoyed now, just left the car and walked away. Any suggestions?

 

[osiris]

Hmmm I am not sure what it could be, maybe drive the car to a mechanic or BMW and have them have a quick look at it and they might know the particular problem well and tell you what it is?

 

[Luigi_S]

I guess that's going to be my best option. Any recommendations in the West Rand?

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Meant to add that the car went for wheel alignment, bit of a rip off at R150 and it was pretty much spot on, only the left rear had a slight and I mean slight adjustment.

I think I may have found part of the issue though, reading online it seems to be common that the steering doesn't self centre. Looks like I need to replace item 2 in this link:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=AV53-USA---E46-BMW-330i&diagId=32_0942

 

[Blueskys]

Sorry to hear the issue isn't solved, horrible when you work your ass off replacing and troubleshooting and nothing helps, expensive and time consuming. I'd vote for having someone that knows this particular model to have a look at it, the time is right.

Also glad to see I'm not the only person that goes through this process!!

I drove myself up the wall the last time I got a new 2hnd car, then once you solve the big stuff and get used to the niggles it's back to smiles again. Either way I promised myself never to get a fixer-upper again, it's just not worth the amount to of time and money. Though it is relative but I'm properly wary of that scenario now.

 

[Luigi_S]

Thanks, I do this all the time though, and never learn.:hammerhead:

After all is said and done, I know this car will be spot on when I'm done and I do really enjoy driving it. In fact, I think my Jeep has been sat since last Thursday.............and that is one vehicle I do love to drive around.

Next stop is the starter motor, it's getting real bad now to the point I must have tried over 10 times to get it to start leaving the office today.

 

[greenluigi]

I can't view most of the photos.

 

[Luigi_S]

I can't view most of the photos.

Sorry man, can't go back to change the links. Greenluigi???? Interesting name, lol.