swiss E46 B3 3.3 X touring

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vblanche
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swiss E46 B3 3.3 X touring

Post by vblanche » Thu Jun 26, 2014 10:44 pm

Hello everybody,

I'm moving to Switzerland, and hopefully will get a car, and certainly a B3 3.3 x touring like this one.

I would greatly appreciate your comments, tips, advices about what to look for/inspect when I will visit and see the car.

Many thanks in advance.

vincent
2002 B3 3.3x touring No 100

simon13
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Post by simon13 » Fri Jun 27, 2014 12:45 am

thats going to be thirsty. Lots to look for, knackered torque converters, iffy strange gearbox faults. could be worse on these being 4wd. rusty front wings and arches

Plus all the usual e46 probs. They do however share a few parts with the e34 525iX for front end suspension parts!!
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vblanche
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Post by vblanche » Fri Jun 27, 2014 8:17 am

Thanks....hmmm, maybe not then
simon13 wrote: Plus all the usual e46 probs.
which are?

Thanks
2002 B3 3.3x touring No 100

AG
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Post by AG » Fri Jun 27, 2014 8:56 am

Don't discount them, Simons highlighted problems he's experienced with his, so go and buy it as a used car, no rose tinted glasses even though it is a B3 3.3.

Lovely car, when do you go over?
Former BMW CC 7 register chairman

2000 e39 B10 V8 Touring
1985 e23 B10 (sold)
1995 B3 saloon switchtronic (sold)

simon13
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Post by simon13 » Fri Jun 27, 2014 1:26 pm

vblanche wrote:Thanks....hmmm, maybe not then
simon13 wrote: Plus all the usual e46 probs.
which are?

Thanks
DSC pressure sensors broken, oil level sensors, window regulators, rusty rear brake lines, trailing arm bushes on the rear

RE the e34 Ix, the inner ball joints are the same as are the rear wishbone bushes

i LOVE my e46 b3s, i think its twice as fun to drive as my e36 B3. The chassis communicates to you in a way that makes it feel like a big e30. You always know where you are with it
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vblanche
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Post by vblanche » Fri Jun 27, 2014 3:37 pm

I will need to find a good BMW specialist garage then...any recommendation?
2002 B3 3.3x touring No 100

vblanche
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Post by vblanche » Fri Jun 27, 2014 3:37 pm

AG wrote: Lovely car, when do you go over?
end of July
2002 B3 3.3x touring No 100

vblanche
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Post by vblanche » Tue Aug 05, 2014 6:44 am

Hi, I saw a grey 2003 B3 3.3 x touring with 130,000km (80,000 miles). What kind of inspection should be done at this mileage? inspection II? Where can I find the inspections schedule? Many thanks, Vincent
2002 B3 3.3x touring No 100

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Charles
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Post by Charles » Tue Aug 05, 2014 9:20 am

vblanche wrote:Hi, I saw a grey 2003 B3 3.3 x touring with 130,000km (80,000 miles). What kind of inspection should be done at this mileage? inspection II? Where can I find the inspections schedule? Many thanks, Vincent
The E46 had service points every 14-15k miles

These cycled between Oil, Insp 1, Oil and Insp 2

However, Insp 1 and Insp 2 are essentially the same thing since ALPINA started recommending that the spark plugs are changed every major Inspection.

Therefore (in miles):

0 - delivery
1200 - ALPINA running-in check
15000 - Oil
30000 - Inspection
45000 - Oil
60000 - Inspection
75000 - Oil
90000 - Inspection

And here is the service checklist
Charles
Teacher of Chemistry and driver of ALPINAs - not necessarily in that order ;)
B3S Touring (49/116) - been to the moon and now on the way back!
Renault Grand Espace - not mine but the wife's!

simon13
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Post by simon13 » Tue Aug 05, 2014 8:38 pm

15k oil services is madness, way too long especially on that thin like piss 0-30 oil they're supposed to use.
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vblanche
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Post by vblanche » Tue Aug 05, 2014 9:23 pm

simon13 wrote:15k oil services is madness, way too long especially on that thin like piss 0-30 oil they're supposed to use.
Hi, what do you recommend? Thanks
2002 B3 3.3x touring No 100

vblanche
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Post by vblanche » Wed Aug 06, 2014 6:49 am

Charles wrote:
vblanche wrote:Hi, I saw a grey 2003 B3 3.3 x touring with 130,000km (80,000 miles). What kind of inspection should be done at this mileage? inspection II? Where can I find the inspections schedule? Many thanks, Vincent
The E46 had service points every 14-15k miles

These cycled between Oil, Insp 1, Oil and Insp 2

However, Insp 1 and Insp 2 are essentially the same thing since ALPINA started recommending that the spark plugs are changed every major Inspection.

Therefore (in miles):

0 - delivery
1200 - ALPINA running-in check
15000 - Oil
30000 - Inspection
45000 - Oil
60000 - Inspection
75000 - Oil
90000 - Inspection

And here is the service checklist
Many thanks for your post.
2002 B3 3.3x touring No 100

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Charles
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Post by Charles » Wed Aug 06, 2014 11:18 am

vblanche wrote:
simon13 wrote:15k oil services is madness, way too long especially on that thin like piss 0-30 oil they're supposed to use.
Hi, what do you recommend? Thanks
For the first 180k miles of its life, my car was serviced according to the original schedule listed above - with no apparent problems whatsoever, despite running on what Simon delicately describes as thin piss.

After the engine rebuild at 180k, I have switched to changing the oil every 7k miles or so, with a full Inspection every 4th change.
Charles
Teacher of Chemistry and driver of ALPINAs - not necessarily in that order ;)
B3S Touring (49/116) - been to the moon and now on the way back!
Renault Grand Espace - not mine but the wife's!

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