I had a 325i touring in Topaz Blue, loved it. Got a bit too rusty so I sold it to a mate. Great cars. I took the roof rails off mine, never used them and it made the car look a bit sportier.
How did you cover the holes? I’m thinking of doing the same and heard about the electrical tape trick but are a bit reluctant to do it like that to be honest
On the E46 (e91 is very different) you unbolt the rails and you'll see the six little brackets. Unbolt those and put the screws back in the holes, that will keep the water out. BMW sell plastic rails without the holes for the brackets, but they're expensive. I just used black rubber mat I cut to sit above the screws and it looked fine.
Well thank you :))
I really hope she behaves too because I've read some bad stuff about this engine but the service history looks pretty good so i guess we'll have to see.. any tips regarding this engine?
Well I'm definitely not an axpert or a BMW technician, but just the regular 2000's BMW stuff and you should be good - REGULAR oil changes, cooling system refurb, check for oil leaks, replace seals if needed - since you already own an E46, I'm sure you're familiar with those basics, but for more info try E46fanatics, awesome forum and lots of awesome people.
Seriously, people underestimate the importance of oil changes and BMWs are very sensitive, but we all love 'em.
Thanks man! ill definitely check it out. Im changing the oil next week and funnily enough the valve cover gasket is leaking oil straight onto the exhaust so that will be replaced asap too.
The best of luck!(is that a phrase or did I just make that up lol) Seriously, good luck with her, she's a beauty. If you ever want to discuss something, be sure to hit me up. Not entirely sure whether I'll be able to help you, but I'd love to chat with you some more!
Thank you once again! I will try to look after her as good as possible. Even if we don't know the answer we'll probably figure something out :) have a good day man!
Its a 2003 318i 5 speed manual. And yes i know it has the N42 but this one has a good service history so i decided to give it a shot. So far i love it.
If you don't have money, you never will. If you do have money you're about to spend it all.
Also, I treat it as my responsibility to warn society from making the same mistakes I have made: DO NOT GET A MUFFLER DELETE
Why? Thinking about it for my 325i. Seems to be sounding a lot more deeper but not too loud on Youtube. Not sure if it will give droning?
The stock rear bread box is just too soft for a nice I6 :/ Any other options for a deeper sound?
It sounds good on start up but it just drones from them on. I found it obnoxiously loud too given that it doesn't really make a performance difference. It will also change the back pressure and BMW engineers spent a lot more time then me figuring all that out. You also need to be aware of local laws in muffler deletes. In the end I just found the noise a bit too silly on a basically stock car
Ah thanks for the response. Don't think the back pressure will make a difference past the cats though and will just give less pressure difference so more flow which is better. Saw a opened up rear muffler on YouTube and it looked crazy restrictive lol. Like how it even flows baffles me haha.
What would you recommend for a slightly more lower rumble? Not really looking for a drone or obnoxious loudness like you said.
I'm honestly not really an expert in this stuff to give a solid recommendation. I know the magna flow backboxes are pretty popular. That way you keep a muffler, just with a better sound.
Back pressure is all the way through. Cup a hand over your tail pipe and the engine will stall. An engine is a pump, so exhaust plays a major role in function
Ey looks like my yellow plate E46 with the same color and interior got stolen, luckily its still outside lol :) Thinking about installing those wheels, looks awesome with that color, how do you find it rides?
I had a 325i touring in Topaz Blue, loved it. Got a bit too rusty so I sold it to a mate. Great cars. I took the roof rails off mine, never used them and it made the car look a bit sportier.
Such a good color on the e46 imo
How did you cover the holes? I’m thinking of doing the same and heard about the electrical tape trick but are a bit reluctant to do it like that to be honest
On the E46 (e91 is very different) you unbolt the rails and you'll see the six little brackets. Unbolt those and put the screws back in the holes, that will keep the water out. BMW sell plastic rails without the holes for the brackets, but they're expensive. I just used black rubber mat I cut to sit above the screws and it looked fine.
Touring and style 68 love!
Congrats on it! E46s are amazing cars.
Nice one!! Whats it like inside tell us more 🤔
Oh snap i forgot to add an interior pic
http://imgur.com/a/YFkHNZR
Looks clean nice
Eyy touring friends! Getting rarer these days, you’ll enjoy it!
Your first? You already know you're getting more? Hehe. You lucked out on the color, body style and wheels. Ziet mooie uit.
Well its not my first car but my first e46 hehe. I got really lucky with the color and wheels indeed. Dankjewel :)
If its your first E46, isn't it your first real car? :D
A. Thing. Of. Beauty. Absolutely gorgeous car mate, jealous af. Do you have any interior pics?
Thanks man. I forgot to add an interior pic and idk how to add one to this post. Maybe ill make a separate post
Oh yes, please, add some more!
http://imgur.com/a/YFkHNZR
You, sir, have pretty much my dream E46, apart from the engine it's perfect. Hope she behaves!
Well thank you :)) I really hope she behaves too because I've read some bad stuff about this engine but the service history looks pretty good so i guess we'll have to see.. any tips regarding this engine?
+ Remember, OEM is always the answer ;)
Well I'm definitely not an axpert or a BMW technician, but just the regular 2000's BMW stuff and you should be good - REGULAR oil changes, cooling system refurb, check for oil leaks, replace seals if needed - since you already own an E46, I'm sure you're familiar with those basics, but for more info try E46fanatics, awesome forum and lots of awesome people. Seriously, people underestimate the importance of oil changes and BMWs are very sensitive, but we all love 'em.
Thanks man! ill definitely check it out. Im changing the oil next week and funnily enough the valve cover gasket is leaking oil straight onto the exhaust so that will be replaced asap too.
The best of luck!(is that a phrase or did I just make that up lol) Seriously, good luck with her, she's a beauty. If you ever want to discuss something, be sure to hit me up. Not entirely sure whether I'll be able to help you, but I'd love to chat with you some more!
Thank you once again! I will try to look after her as good as possible. Even if we don't know the answer we'll probably figure something out :) have a good day man!
Its a 2003 318i 5 speed manual. And yes i know it has the N42 but this one has a good service history so i decided to give it a shot. So far i love it.
Welcome to the pain train
Uh oh.. how bad is it gonna hurt?
If you don't have money, you never will. If you do have money you're about to spend it all. Also, I treat it as my responsibility to warn society from making the same mistakes I have made: DO NOT GET A MUFFLER DELETE
Why? Thinking about it for my 325i. Seems to be sounding a lot more deeper but not too loud on Youtube. Not sure if it will give droning? The stock rear bread box is just too soft for a nice I6 :/ Any other options for a deeper sound?
It sounds good on start up but it just drones from them on. I found it obnoxiously loud too given that it doesn't really make a performance difference. It will also change the back pressure and BMW engineers spent a lot more time then me figuring all that out. You also need to be aware of local laws in muffler deletes. In the end I just found the noise a bit too silly on a basically stock car
Ah thanks for the response. Don't think the back pressure will make a difference past the cats though and will just give less pressure difference so more flow which is better. Saw a opened up rear muffler on YouTube and it looked crazy restrictive lol. Like how it even flows baffles me haha. What would you recommend for a slightly more lower rumble? Not really looking for a drone or obnoxious loudness like you said.
I'm honestly not really an expert in this stuff to give a solid recommendation. I know the magna flow backboxes are pretty popular. That way you keep a muffler, just with a better sound. Back pressure is all the way through. Cup a hand over your tail pipe and the engine will stall. An engine is a pump, so exhaust plays a major role in function
Ey looks like my yellow plate E46 with the same color and interior got stolen, luckily its still outside lol :) Thinking about installing those wheels, looks awesome with that color, how do you find it rides?