E46 BMW 320 Ci - his name is Rex

[Noxvayl]

So far I have done:
Alpine Sterio
Alpine replacement speakers
LED Interior lights
Michelin CrossClimate rear tires

Plan to do:
ECU adjustment (improve efficiency)
Catback exhaust
Seats
LED visibility lights
Xenon bulb upgrade
Rear LED lights
Steering wheel
Suspension (adjustable so I can take him off roading)


I might consider some engine modifications in the future, like an LPG mod. I plan to build myself a composting vessel that will produce methane (FYI studied Environmental Management at Level 7, composting sounds like a good business to get into) so would be awesome to have a car powered by the gas I produce and sell.

Anyone else enjoy their BMW and have some suggested alterations I should be making?

[GoNz0]

Looks nice.

I would be checking the wheel arches as they rot on the E46, if they are sound get the inner arches sealed to keep it looking nice on the outside.

Cross climates on the back? how are you planning to stop once the rears get you going


Maybe add a blackline kit to replace the chrome if it starts looking tatty?

[Jonj1611]

Yeah my E46 was rotten in the rear arches and the jacking point!

[Noxvayl]

I would be checking the wheel arches as they rot on the E46, if they are sound get the inner arches sealed to keep it looking nice on the outside.

Cross climates on the back? how are you planning to stop once the rears get you going

Cheers... I'll look into lining the arches with something to prevent rot. At the moment everything is good

Had a puncture on my rear nearside wheel so replaced both and got myself a spare. Will be replacing the fronts when required, probably got 10k left to go on them though.

[GoNz0]

I would consider taking the cross climates off in spring and putting some sticky rubber on the back, it may only be a 320 but those cross climates are only an ok tyre imo, I stuck a pair on the front of the wife's mini and I give them a solid "meh" for summer use, seem to be doing ok in the winter weather despite no frikkin snow to test them

[virtuo]

Had an e36 (328is) and 2 e46s (330d and M3) and the arches were rotten on all 3 of them, around the boot lock is notorious as well.

Still think the e46 is the best driving car I've owned, and the engines are bulletproof.

you should get some nice M wheels next

[Jonatron]

I used to have an E46 323ci! Loved that car. Shame people kept crashing into it .

Probably a good call on the tyres. Whatever tyres I had were a bit hopeless below 5-10 degrees.

All I did was hack in an aux input, and fit rear parking sensors. The aux input was awesome. The rear sensors was not worth it, I was fine sticking my head out the window.

I found I didn't need to do much other than save up to pay for the ridiculous fuel consumption, it was enjoyable without mods!

[GoNz0]

I have given up on the MPG on my 97 328 sport, far more fun abusing it now. one rear arch is finally rotting after all these years!
Sits on an angle due to the yard sloping so that is why the passenger sides been good
Seems a shame to get rid as I only pop into town and the odd potter about to screwfix with my lad, I take the Mrs's Mini out if she is in as it is double the MPG!
Lovely cruising cars though, I still do the annual run to Cornwall in it

[Noxvayl]

Yeah, agreed with the CrossClimates for summer use... will be getting summer tyres for the front.

Rears do very little when it comes to serious breaking, and also very little for traction in the snow. So best of both worlds with good all round performance and grip on the back and good summer tyres on the front.

Pity that the Pilot Sport 4S from Michelin don't have my wheel size Might consider new wheels just to get them for the summer.

[GoNz0]

Pity that the Pilot Sport 4S from Michelin don't have my wheel size Might consider new wheels just to get them for the summer.

Why not just buy the pilot sport 4 instead?

No disrespect but it is a 320 not an m3

I see the 4s has dual compound, my local fitter told me this 4 was more a grand tourer so a little more life expected over the PS3 I have on now but I do wonder if the 4s like the supersport has less tread?

Either way if you get new wheels a set of 245 (or 255's) on the back with 225's on the front if you go for staggered wheels and I would like to see you light up those rears unless you just dumped the clutch at full RPM to do it on purpose

My 328 on 245 PS3's will do a 5k clutch dump from the lights and take off! got to love RWD.

Oh and spend the money on a hunter 4 wheel alignment so the camber can be adjusted, the typical "4" wheel alignment you get cannot do this. Nothing better than a proper alignment to make it grip well

[Xlucine]

Nokian line on all four corners, forget about tyres for next 25k miles

[Noxvayl]

Yeah, Nokian tyres are awesome... but not for the UK as far as I can tell. Our weather is weird like that.

I've got a few years to decide on tyres, the Dunlops present on the front are really good (forgot what they are now).

Oh and I have the laid back Automatic transmission... It was the best 3 series available at the time and I had time constraints on the purchase.

If I do get new wheels I'm likely to put the CrossClimates on this set of wheels and some proper summer tyres on for the other set.

[jimborae]

Regret selling my E46 330ci, was an absolute low mileage minter with a bullet proof engine and build quality...........Shame I cant say the same about my E91 335i, much faster but build quality is not in the same league. The E46 was definitely the last of the great 3 series.

[TeePee]

I wouldn't recommend staggered wheels, it will understeer.

[GoNz0]

I wouldn't recommend staggered wheels, it will understeer.

I don't have that issue, the car is designed round a staggered setup from the M3, my 328 rolled off the production line with a staggered setup. it is an amazingly balanced car, one of the few 50/50 split weight distribution so I assume it followed to the E46. Of course you so have to have the correct suspension setup and tracking (Camber changes on the staggered setup)

So long as Noxvay isn't going to stick new wheels on without the suspension being upped to cope and tracked to the new specs.

This isn't one of your American straight line cars

[Noxvayl]

lol Gonzo...

Lets not get too far ahead with the plans... I need simpler upgrades, for now at least.

I'm looking into getting an under-seal for the car, to ensure I don't break it using it as my daily driver. Don't want that salt, or mud/sand/other nonsense, getting in where it shouldn't while I ponder my next purchase.

The handling, so far, is amazing. I learnt to drive in some nice cars and have taken my Dad's CLS for a spin more than once. I'm loving the way this car behaves, even without the power it can handle. So for now, safe wet/winter tyres will do and my sound system encourages me to use the car more than I really should...