BMW advice needed
Discussion
I'd appreciate your BMW knowledge and advice please 
I've just switched from a 1993 E36 325i to a 2000 model E46 330ci and I want to switch again.
The E36 325i was quite a good car. It did everything I wanted it to, but it was just getting on a bit and was starting to cost me money so I sold it and bought the 330. The E46 330ci is dreadful! The steering wobbles and is too light, the seating position is too high (electric seats), the brakes are overservoed, and there is a half second delay between pressing the throttle and the engine responding. Quite possibly the worst vehicle I've ever driven, let alone owned!
Right, so rant over - I'm after another BMW as I like RWD, but need something to tow my race car and take my cello and guitars. Question is - how do I avoid the horror that is my 330 and get myself back into something like my old E36?
The easy answer is 'buy an E36', but I want something as new as possible, as I intend to keep it for a long time and don't want to spend out on repair bills. My question concerns the model changes that occured between 1997 and 2000 - at what point did the steering start to wobble and become over-assisted? When did the fly-by-wire throttle come in?
Any advice greatly appreciated. thanks.
I've just switched from a 1993 E36 325i to a 2000 model E46 330ci and I want to switch again.
The E36 325i was quite a good car. It did everything I wanted it to, but it was just getting on a bit and was starting to cost me money so I sold it and bought the 330. The E46 330ci is dreadful! The steering wobbles and is too light, the seating position is too high (electric seats), the brakes are overservoed, and there is a half second delay between pressing the throttle and the engine responding. Quite possibly the worst vehicle I've ever driven, let alone owned!
Right, so rant over - I'm after another BMW as I like RWD, but need something to tow my race car and take my cello and guitars. Question is - how do I avoid the horror that is my 330 and get myself back into something like my old E36?
The easy answer is 'buy an E36', but I want something as new as possible, as I intend to keep it for a long time and don't want to spend out on repair bills. My question concerns the model changes that occured between 1997 and 2000 - at what point did the steering start to wobble and become over-assisted? When did the fly-by-wire throttle come in?
Any advice greatly appreciated. thanks.
You can read about the 'Nikasil Issue' on my website: www.bmwclassics.co.uk/articles/nikasil.html
My description relates mainly to the issue in the contexts of the V8's but there are a couple of links at the bottom which will take you further.
BTW the steering wobble you're experiencing is likely to be down to a particular problem with your car (rather than an inherent problem with E46 330Ci's)...the list of potential causes is long and exhausting.
Hope this helps.
My description relates mainly to the issue in the contexts of the V8's but there are a couple of links at the bottom which will take you further.
BTW the steering wobble you're experiencing is likely to be down to a particular problem with your car (rather than an inherent problem with E46 330Ci's)...the list of potential causes is long and exhausting.
Hope this helps.
The car's just been into BMW. It's had 16 seperate faults since I got it in May. This week it has been in to fix 9 of them. The steering wobble was second on my list, and they simply said that all 2000 model 330s do that - along with the throttle delay. It is just standard. It's not a driver's car.
RobM77 said:I had a Jan 2001` 330CI and it didn't have these faults. One of my mates is still driving it and says it's the best car he's ever owned (he's owned quite a few).
The car's just been into BMW. It's had 16 seperate faults since I got it in May. This week it has been in to fix 9 of them. The steering wobble was second on my list, and they simply said that all 2000 model 330s do that - along with the throttle delay. It is just standard. It's not a driver's car.
Not all are like yours, but that is scant consolation for you.
You shouldn't get a wheel wobble in it they don't all do that :rollseyes:
Check the front TCarm wishbone joints and TCA bushes for play, they are common faults.
Can't say I have ever noticed significant throttle delay, perhaps you are noticing the changeover point, the drive by wire throttle tends to use the idle valve up to 1700rpm[ish] at part throttle for fuel economy/emmissions etc before switching to throttle control.
Check the front TCarm wishbone joints and TCA bushes for play, they are common faults.
Can't say I have ever noticed significant throttle delay, perhaps you are noticing the changeover point, the drive by wire throttle tends to use the idle valve up to 1700rpm[ish] at part throttle for fuel economy/emmissions etc before switching to throttle control.
RobM77 said:
...I've just switched from a 1993 E36 325i to a 2000 model E46 330ci and I want to switch again...
Oddly enough I had the same thought when I went from an E36 328i to an E39 M5. E36 steering and brakes were better. Not quite the same motorway dominance, though!
>> Edited by hereward on Friday 11th November 10:36
fixedwheelnut said:
You shouldn't get a wheel wobble in it they don't all do that :rollseyes:
Check the front TCarm wishbone joints and TCA bushes for play, they are common faults.
Can't say I have ever noticed significant throttle delay, perhaps you are noticing the changeover point, the drive by wire throttle tends to use the idle valve up to 1700rpm[ish] at part throttle for fuel economy/emmissions etc before switching to throttle control.
Thanks for that detailed information. The BMW dealer that I bought the car from have inspected it and said that the wheel wobble was standard. I have done much research into the throttle delay, and apparently this is standard - maybe they fixed it for the cars you have tried, but many owners of 2000 cars have posted on here to say that their cars do it to - there are plenty of 200 model BMW's for sale with lots of owners...
To be honest, there are so many things about the car that I don't like (too much assistance on the steering and brakes, throttle delay, seating position way too high - someone else complained about this on another thread, it is the electric seats that cause the problem) I am definately changing the car anyway. There is so much inherently wrong with it as a car!
With regard to the wear and tear etc I should add that my 330 coupe has only done 28,000 miles and has a full BMW service history. BMW garages have examined it about 3 or 4 times since I bought it.
If anyone here is not bothered about the throttle delay or wobbly steering that you get with a 2000 model - feel free to make me an offer. The car will be up for sale soon (I may be changing my job, so that will decide which car I go for next, I have to wait till I change jobs before I actually sell the BMW).
If anyone here is not bothered about the throttle delay or wobbly steering that you get with a 2000 model - feel free to make me an offer. The car will be up for sale soon (I may be changing my job, so that will decide which car I go for next, I have to wait till I change jobs before I actually sell the BMW).
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