E91 330i the company car that never was
Discussion
Moving on from my E82 125i that I have thoroughly enjoyed over the past 3 years. It took me on my first driving trips and has been the first car that I have truly made my own. A bit of a sorry tale involving getting my first company car that I never received due to covid and the war in Ukraine, I cancelled out of frustration and rising costs and took an allowance. At this point I can't really justify a second decent car and the car allowance 'guidelines' meant that I couldn't just run the 125 and pocket the cash. However what I can do is buy something older with a bigger engine and not have to worry about BIK or keeping it standard. It just needs to look the part and be reliable, so no Rocket Bunny body kits or homebrew turbo conversions.
I will miss the 125 a lot.
Requirements for the new car were interesting petrol engine, estate to fit my greyhound in, auto for nice lazy commutes. I've got a dodgy left ankle so motorway traffic jams are an absolute nightmare in a manual.
Knowing and loving the N52 in the 125 I quickly settled on an E91 330i.
While searching for the right car I set about ordering parts for it. New bilstein dampers, eibach springs with a slight drop, both M3 control arms for the front, and an Andream screen as I can't live without Android Auto on a daily.
The box of of parts from Autodoc was substantial.
After viewing a few and being given the run around by some other sellers I settled on another Titan Silver car with black leather. I really wanted Le Mans Blue but they are uncommon and all either had done big miles or were in terrible condition asking strong money. I'm a bit fed up with monochrome cars but the condition and mileage sold this one. With the 125 having done 210,000 miles this one feels relatively fresh with only 80,000 on the clock.
Sellers pic.
I pick it up Saturday.
I had already decided on CSL reps for it so the day after putting a deposit down I ordered some. I've got a few other things in the pipeline but I'll post about them as and when they happen.
There is a bit of a rush to get all the work done to it that I want as I have a very busy May. I need to get it sorted as in 4 weeks I am doing the NC500 for my brothers Stag. It should be a great way to bond with the car.
I will miss the 125 a lot.
Requirements for the new car were interesting petrol engine, estate to fit my greyhound in, auto for nice lazy commutes. I've got a dodgy left ankle so motorway traffic jams are an absolute nightmare in a manual.
Knowing and loving the N52 in the 125 I quickly settled on an E91 330i.
While searching for the right car I set about ordering parts for it. New bilstein dampers, eibach springs with a slight drop, both M3 control arms for the front, and an Andream screen as I can't live without Android Auto on a daily.
The box of of parts from Autodoc was substantial.
After viewing a few and being given the run around by some other sellers I settled on another Titan Silver car with black leather. I really wanted Le Mans Blue but they are uncommon and all either had done big miles or were in terrible condition asking strong money. I'm a bit fed up with monochrome cars but the condition and mileage sold this one. With the 125 having done 210,000 miles this one feels relatively fresh with only 80,000 on the clock.
Sellers pic.
I pick it up Saturday.
I had already decided on CSL reps for it so the day after putting a deposit down I ordered some. I've got a few other things in the pipeline but I'll post about them as and when they happen.
There is a bit of a rush to get all the work done to it that I want as I have a very busy May. I need to get it sorted as in 4 weeks I am doing the NC500 for my brothers Stag. It should be a great way to bond with the car.
Bookmarked!
I'll follow this closely as now I'm in my new 'job' after working for me for the last 12 years and working from home with set hours (not able to just drop out & do stuff when I wanted); I'm seriously considering selling my F01 730D and looking at an E91 touring
I've my eye on a few Jap import E91s TBH (albeit they're high priced), but there's a lot of temptation!
That Autodoc box must have been like Christmas
I'll follow this closely as now I'm in my new 'job' after working for me for the last 12 years and working from home with set hours (not able to just drop out & do stuff when I wanted); I'm seriously considering selling my F01 730D and looking at an E91 touring
I've my eye on a few Jap import E91s TBH (albeit they're high priced), but there's a lot of temptation!
That Autodoc box must have been like Christmas
A great choice, and well done for finding one!
The N52 engine is great - I had a couple of Z4s with them so when I was looking for a manual E91 in 2018 I wanted one with an N52.
But I struggled to find any 330is so I settled on a 325i, but it was a bit underwhelming performance-wise so I tried again in 2019 and had the same problem - so I compromised in a different way and bought an E90 330i.
I know what you mean about monochrome colours as both of mine were Sparkling Graphite!
Anyway I'll be looking out for updates so good luck with your fettling.
The N52 engine is great - I had a couple of Z4s with them so when I was looking for a manual E91 in 2018 I wanted one with an N52.
But I struggled to find any 330is so I settled on a 325i, but it was a bit underwhelming performance-wise so I tried again in 2019 and had the same problem - so I compromised in a different way and bought an E90 330i.
I know what you mean about monochrome colours as both of mine were Sparkling Graphite!
Anyway I'll be looking out for updates so good luck with your fettling.
Lovely bud.
On the screen can I ask how you find it? Is it nice and quick/smooth and does the DAB etc work well? I' talking to SM Retrofit UK about an Andream system and the going rate seems to be about £400. Look forward to more updates, I love the E91, it really is a sweet spot in the BMW line up across any generation.
On the screen can I ask how you find it? Is it nice and quick/smooth and does the DAB etc work well? I' talking to SM Retrofit UK about an Andream system and the going rate seems to be about £400. Look forward to more updates, I love the E91, it really is a sweet spot in the BMW line up across any generation.
The screen works great. Fitting wasn't too challenging but if you're not used to fiddling then I can understand getting somebody to do it for you.
The one I bought didn't have a DAB option which so far is the only negative. In terms of needing DAB I only listen to Absolute so have the app and it runs fine through that.
https://www.andream-eu.com/product/andream-8-8-wir...
The one I bought didn't have a DAB option which so far is the only negative. In terms of needing DAB I only listen to Absolute so have the app and it runs fine through that.
https://www.andream-eu.com/product/andream-8-8-wir...
New wheels have just gone on and I think I'm in love. BMW centre caps are at home and will be fitted tonight, ///M badges for the wheels are in the post.
Tonight I start on the suspension. Hopefully the rusty bolt fairies will be on my side when it comes to removing the front control arms.
Tonight I start on the suspension. Hopefully the rusty bolt fairies will be on my side when it comes to removing the front control arms.
IAche said:
New wheels have just gone on and I think I'm in love. BMW centre caps are at home and will be fitted tonight, ///M badges for the wheels are in the post.
Tonight I start on the suspension. Hopefully the rusty bolt fairies will be on my side when it comes to removing the front control arms.
That sits really well Tonight I start on the suspension. Hopefully the rusty bolt fairies will be on my side when it comes to removing the front control arms.
If not already; I'd highly recommend having a can or 2 of Wurth Rost Off Ice in your arsenal
IAche said:
Cheers. I'm picking up some plus gas as I've heard good things about it and some toothbrush sized wire brushes. Hopefully that will help matters.
If not then the grinder is coming out quite early on. Hate messing about with rusted bolts and the inevitable broken tool.
I think you'll be fine... Give the bolts a good soaking and you should do alright...If not then the grinder is coming out quite early on. Hate messing about with rusted bolts and the inevitable broken tool.
You'll not have the usual galvanic corrosion like you get on the E46s and E39s! They can be a nightmare, more so if they're a UK car!
The Wurth Cost Off Ice is belting thigh; it really works well
Had quite a bit of time and plenty of miles to get used to the car now. I managed to get all of the below done in the first 3 weeks of ownership. All pretty quickly after my last update.
Bilstein B4 dampers
Eibach lowering springs
M3 front control arms
M3 full geometry
Engine remap
Gearbox remap
Armaspeed carbon intake
I've put about 4000 miles on it now including the NC500 for my brother's Stag. I find the Uniroyal tyres don't have much lateral grip, they are fine accelerating and braking, but going around corners they are terrible. In the dry the front struggles the most and understeers. In the wet it's all about oversteer. Earlier today I had a massive moment at a pretty average speed. I'm way too tight to throw away tyres with this much tread so the replacement PS5s, and hopeful better handling, will have to wait.
Yes I know the rest of the engine bay needs a clean.
The intake sounds absolutely amazing. I am now in two minds as to do anything with the exhaust, I don't want to drown out the intake howl.
Bilstein B4 dampers
Eibach lowering springs
M3 front control arms
M3 full geometry
Engine remap
Gearbox remap
Armaspeed carbon intake
I've put about 4000 miles on it now including the NC500 for my brother's Stag. I find the Uniroyal tyres don't have much lateral grip, they are fine accelerating and braking, but going around corners they are terrible. In the dry the front struggles the most and understeers. In the wet it's all about oversteer. Earlier today I had a massive moment at a pretty average speed. I'm way too tight to throw away tyres with this much tread so the replacement PS5s, and hopeful better handling, will have to wait.
Yes I know the rest of the engine bay needs a clean.
The intake sounds absolutely amazing. I am now in two minds as to do anything with the exhaust, I don't want to drown out the intake howl.
Finally got around to doing a bit more work on the car. Big thanks goes to a mate for donating his old DA polisher.
Since I got the car there has been a nasty little dent on the front passenger wing. I had bought a replacement but it arrived with loads of little scratches that didn't show in the pictures, not wanting to put a bad wing on it just sat in my shed.
Old wing damage.
This weekend I worked up the courage to try the DA for the first time. I was seriously impressed with how well the wing came up and that there were no scratches left over.
I also put a couple of new side repeaters on that I had in stock.
After this I turned my attention to the headlights and how horrible they were looking.
A couple of hours with a Meguiars headlight restoration kit followed by a DA polish and some wax left me with this. A stark improvement and along with the new side repeaters sees the end of nasty UV damaged yellow plastic.
Getting very, very carried away with how easily the DA seems to be massively improving things I turned my attention to the window trims.
Ratty 15 year old plastics looking almost new again.
Next on my list is to get all the gloss black upto scratch and then start on working through the whole body. I've got a couple of bits I'd like to touch up before that and hopefully be able to blend it in.
Since I got the car there has been a nasty little dent on the front passenger wing. I had bought a replacement but it arrived with loads of little scratches that didn't show in the pictures, not wanting to put a bad wing on it just sat in my shed.
Old wing damage.
This weekend I worked up the courage to try the DA for the first time. I was seriously impressed with how well the wing came up and that there were no scratches left over.
I also put a couple of new side repeaters on that I had in stock.
After this I turned my attention to the headlights and how horrible they were looking.
A couple of hours with a Meguiars headlight restoration kit followed by a DA polish and some wax left me with this. A stark improvement and along with the new side repeaters sees the end of nasty UV damaged yellow plastic.
Getting very, very carried away with how easily the DA seems to be massively improving things I turned my attention to the window trims.
Ratty 15 year old plastics looking almost new again.
Next on my list is to get all the gloss black upto scratch and then start on working through the whole body. I've got a couple of bits I'd like to touch up before that and hopefully be able to blend it in.
andy43 said:
Impressive polishing there! I had an ‘06 E91 N52 in Lemans Blue with half alcantara. I look at the modern BMWs and wonder why on earth I sold it. Great cars.
I was trying to get an LMB with panoramic sunroof and white leather but it went for more than I thought it was worth. This has half the miles but cost more. Even though I don't like silver cars or black leather I think this works nicely. Fortunately I don't have the time to be a detailing w
ker. I'll definitely take you up on the help with the rest of the car. At the very least we can do it in half the speed.
The car looks brilliant, always thought the CSL reps were the perfect wheel for the E91. It's a nice spec too, xenons are the main thing I would want (and they are frustratingly rare) and I'd probably consider the pano roof as more of a negative point given how problematic they seem to be.
I fitted one of the more basic aftermarket screens in mine that gives you the functionality of CarPlay and Android Auto, plus some basic music and video playback via SD/USB, but none of the additional features of the full Android units that yours has. It was about £220 or so and transformed the car - it automatically connects to my phone via wifi every time I start the car, and gives a nice responsive CarPlay experience using either the touchscreen or the iDrive controller. Highly recommended for those of you considering it in these older cars. I'm happy relying on my phone via CarPlay hence why I went for the cheaper unit.
I fitted one of the more basic aftermarket screens in mine that gives you the functionality of CarPlay and Android Auto, plus some basic music and video playback via SD/USB, but none of the additional features of the full Android units that yours has. It was about £220 or so and transformed the car - it automatically connects to my phone via wifi every time I start the car, and gives a nice responsive CarPlay experience using either the touchscreen or the iDrive controller. Highly recommended for those of you considering it in these older cars. I'm happy relying on my phone via CarPlay hence why I went for the cheaper unit.
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