BMW 330ci

Brad Smith · May 27, 2016

Budgie said:
That looks awesome. Love it.

Philip. said:
Such a good looking car. :up:

Thanks both, really impressed how it looks and drives with the coilovers really happy

leeds2592 · May 27, 2016

As others have said, raise the back a touch to get a bit more rake and that'll look spot on.

Fantom · May 30, 2016

Very nice car!

We have a 318i sport touring in the same colour. I'm pretty sure I'm going to sell my Civic Type R and get a 330 instead as the driving position is so much better. Was thinking about getting a convertible but not sure if it's worth it for the few warm weeks we have every year. I guess I could use a hard top the rest of the time.

Off to search auto trader again!

Brad Smith · May 31, 2016

Fantom said:
Very nice car!

We have a 318i sport touring in the same colour. I'm pretty sure I'm going to sell my Civic Type R and get a 330 instead as the driving position is so much better. Was thinking about getting a convertible but not sure if it's worth it for the few warm weeks we have every year. I guess I could use a hard top the rest of the time.

Off to search auto trader again!

Thank you mate !

Good look with you search

Brad Smith · Jun 2, 2016

Alignment all done

Grier · Jun 2, 2016

that looks lovely mate, hats off to you

Brad Smith · Jun 2, 2016

Grier93 said:
that looks lovely mate, hats off to you

Thank you mate

Brad Smith · Jun 7, 2016

Thoughts on piano black grills and diffuser ? Or should I just do diffuser ?

BIFCAIDS · Jun 9, 2016

I wouldn't bother with either bud, put the money into something else. I know that's rich coming from someone with black kidney's but it looks good as it is.

Brad Smith · Jun 9, 2016

Wet and dried the headlights yesterday as they were looking a bit tired. Sealed them aswell.

Before

After

Also gave it a really good clean yesterday, clay bar, machine polish and put AG wax on. Machine polish is no where near 100% as I'm still learning, but still come out looking really good. However soon as I'd finished it absolutely pissed it down !! Typical. But still looked good today so took a few pics I know in the boring usual place, I need to find a more interesting place. Anyway pics....

yeecup · Jun 9, 2016

Looks fantastic. Want to do my headlights too. What grit did you use and what process?

yeecup · Jun 9, 2016

Think I've asked before but what make wheels are they?

Brad Smith · Jun 9, 2016

yeecup said:
Looks fantastic. Want to do my headlights too. What grit did you use and what process?

I used 1500,2000,2500 then polish.

yeecup said:
Think I've asked before but what make wheels are they?

I got them off cmwheels mate.

Craig · Jun 9, 2016

That looks cracking mate. :up:

Brad Smith · Jun 9, 2016

Craig said:
That looks cracking mate. :up:

Thanks mate

Brad Smith · Jul 19, 2016

So this happened today...

Budgie · Jul 19, 2016

You ran out of screenwash?

Saner · Jul 19, 2016

Just an aside, but I do find it amusing how expectations change. The carthrottle video on the 330Ci, mentions how the engines are bulletproof and go on for miles. As though the one he is testing on 90k is high mileage.

Can't remember when I bought a car with less than 100k on it and I have never had a problem due to mileage. 200,000+ is high imo.

roberto. · Jul 20, 2016

Brad Smith said:
So this happened today...

Strange, the exact same thing happened to me yesterday!

I turned the traction on and off and it hasn't came up again since. Most people say it's the wheel speed sensors getting dirty.

yeecup · Jul 23, 2016

How did u find fitting the Simota ? Instructions aren't great just pictures and I've no idea where the little breather filter is meant to go? Really want to fit it myself but don't want to make an arse of it

Brad Smith · Jul 23, 2016

It was simple enough just take the old airbox off then put the hose onto where the old airbox comes old then my Simota come with a clip that you screw to make tighter then just attach the Simota. Bit fiddly getting it to sit right so it's not resting on the front headlight. It is really easy TBH.

yeecup · Jul 23, 2016

Did u use the little breather filter ?

Brad Smith · Jul 24, 2016

I don't believe mine come with one just got the main filter

Paul.M · Jul 26, 2016

Rob182. said:
Strange, the exact same thing happened to me yesterday!

I turned the traction on and off and it hasn't came up again since. Most people say it's the wheel speed sensors getting dirty.

It could also be the brake pressure sensors, this is what mine turned out to be and it cost me 20 quid each for 2 from a breakers

.

Cookson · Jul 26, 2016

I've had a wheel speed sensor go on me causing this. £12 from GSF iirc

Brad Smith · Aug 16, 2016

Had a delivery today on something that was really bugging me as they was faded really bad.

The side indicators.

Old:

New:

Will have two more parcels arriving this week

Comments as always.

Thanks.

yeecup · Aug 16, 2016

Nice. Was one of the first things I did to mine, they do tend to discolour with old age, freshens it up nicely. Still looks a bit low at the back IMO

Brad Smith · Aug 16, 2016

yeecup said:
Nice. Was one of the first things I did to mine, they do tend to discolour with old age, freshens it up nicely. Still looks a bit low at the back IMO

Yeah does look miles better, quite shocked how much it does look better! Yeah I agree, I'll raise it one day when I'm off.

Brad Smith · Aug 17, 2016

So bit of a change to the interior ! Dipped carbon fibre trims all round, seriously love them they have improved the interior so much. I think it makes it look more modern especially with the retrained steering wheel.

Old trims:

New:

l

yeecup · Aug 17, 2016

Nice, like that a lot. Mine had wood trim which I've replaced with brushed aluminium. Still not done the rears though. How did u go about them? Rear sear out?

Brad Smith · Aug 17, 2016

yeecup said:
Nice, like that a lot. Mine had wood trim which I've replaced with brushed aluminium. Still not done the rears though. How did u go about them? Rear sear out?

Need to remove the lower bench and the two side bits. Make sure you line everything up when putting back in was a bit of a nightmare TBH. Plenty of swearing involved.

Brad Smith · Aug 18, 2016

Not a major update but another clean one. New badges, both were nasty front one had discoloured. Improved the front loads I think.

Pictures:

Two new ones.

Old rear.

New.

Front old. Really discoloured.

Side by side you can see more clearly.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160818/7a858136559be6c4b742ea4eee22ad75.jpg[/IMG

[ATTACH=full]1290635[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=full]1290636[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=full]1290637[/ATTACH]

sburrell93 · Aug 18, 2016

Where did you get the badges out of interest? I need new ones for mine but I'm tempted to get a cheap set rather than pay the 60 odd quid BMW want for a new pair!

Brad Smith · Aug 18, 2016

I just got a set off eBay £6.45 wasn't paying £60 off BMW rather buy 10 sets of these. They look okay quality better than the ones I had before you had to stick them on yourself. And didn't look that great these are sound though for £6

sburrell93 · Aug 18, 2016

Good to know mate. I seen similarly priced ones to that on amazon and was tempted to buy them but wasn't sure if they'd look s**t, but they look fairly decent!

Brad Smith · Aug 18, 2016

Yeah there fairly decent the last set have lasted me a year so that's not too bad. And these ones look better quality so can't go wrong for £6

Brad Smith · Oct 14, 2016

Right got a few tasks that I need doing before the winter comes, which I know isn't far away.

Full inspection 2 service.

Vanos rebuild.

Disa valve rebuild unless everything is okay with the current one.

Replace the gaskets under the coil packs as I believe there's a small leak as I can keep smelling oil inside the car when it heats up.

That should see me through winter and get the car running perfect as im almost certain the vanos is going on me as I'm getting the symptoms so it really needs doing I'm just worried if taking everything apart.

Also I have sprayed the rear diffuser just with a bit of lacquer so it now looks nice and shiny and I much prefer it. Then gave it a clean, and a wax. Always consider selling it for something else then I clean it and fall back in love. Only thing I'd swap it for is an M3. Anyway few pictures. Comments welcome, thanks.