[HKEuroN00b]

Hi new to the forum and done a tiny bit of research prior, here's my little contribution below



picked her up a couple of months back and just settling/getting use to her, beginning to get itchy feet with regards just wanting to get that little bit extra as i was debating the 330d, but couldn't warrant the extra insurance, tax etc cost.

from what i've from doing a VIN check my car's running the M47 engine with swirl flaps, however couldn't find anything with regards to if it has the DPF...?

proposed plans are basically to get it to Alpina D3 speed and a slight bastardised version of the M Performance kit which they offer, so options open to...

service items;
EGR clean
Crankcase rebreather replacement
swirl flap removal
thermostat replacement

performance panel filter/induction kit?
330d intercooler and 330d cooling fan (understanding this is bigger volume?)
dpf bypass pipe (if found to have a dpf)
full exhaust system
DMS remap

possible 330d turbo, although not entirely too sure on intake sizes and exhaust sizes for piping purposes?

just aiming for around 200bhp mark for everyday useability and accessible performance as i use it as my daily commuting mule 300 miles a week.

also any issues with regards or known about auto gearboxes limited to 400nm, timing chain problems and cooling problems related to thermostats engaging below optimum temperature resulting in reduced economy.

many thanks and regards

PS please note, most the parts bar services items etc with be ebay, gumtree, forum jobbies and most work also will be done myself bar the DMS remap

[Icekube]

you wont have any timing chain issues on the M47, that only affects the later N47 engines.

swirl flaps, i removed mine, they did have a fair bit of play in them when removed, so glad i did. while your in at the swirl flaps, it would make sense to throw a set of glow plugs at it (i didnt, and now have to re-do all that dismantling work...) for all a set of glow plugs cost.

if your exhaust is pointing downwards, you wont have a DPF, if its a straight pipe it will have a DPF. however even if you dont have a DPF, you will have a CAT, so a decat/dpf delete either way. (in addition to a de-cat, i also had the exhaust shop fit a full 330D exhaust, a bit larger bore, should free up a bit more ponies if i change the turbo.)

the 330D intercooler is a good shout, its the same used by Alpina on the D3, not sure i would bother changing the cooling fan though.

330D turbo is too large, and would increase the boost threshold many hundreds of RPMs up the rev range (it will be laggy as hell)
Alpina made a custom garrett unit for the D3, which is a GTA1756K (compared to the GT1749 that is stock) so same size exhaust housing with a larger compressor side. from experience with golfs (1.9L engine but same principle) you dont want to be going to a 20/22 frame turbo on a daily driver (the 330D varies from GT2056, GT2256 and GT2260).

after all that, if your only looking for 200hp, the decat+exhaust and intercooler will be more than enough mods with a remap. you only want to be changing the turbo if your going for 220+

"performance" filters are a waste of time, the filter is there to FILTER air, the only thing a performance filter does, is filter the air less.... Keep the stock filter.

[corasdad]

you should get 200bhp with just a remap, becarefull with decatting it as its now part of mot as of march from what i was told but i could be wrong

[Ajs_435d]

Dpf removal, will fail an mot.

I had my dpf removed and on my 335d it yielded 20 bhp and 25 ish lb ft torque I suspect it will be even less on a 320d dare I say only 10 bhp

Speak to ecotune they did the remap and dpf delete pipe, my car made 372bhp but I don't think the pipe is the same on a 320d.

[Leah1]

Interested in the 330d intercooler upgrade here too so keep us Informed!

[Digitalize]

Tbh, remap, intercooler and you'll be seeing 200bhp.

[Mr Rauf]

Many people have said to stay away with a remap if you have an automatic gearbox?

[Jase 320d]

You may not have a dpf (most likely you wont)


Does your exhaust look crap and point to the floor? If so no dpf


Do you have a nice twin exit? Then you have a dpf


I have read conflicting storys about the 330d intercooler

A lot of places quote the same part number for the 320/330d intercooler.



Some nice mods would be


330d injectors
330d intercooler
Alpina d3 turbo (available from Essex turbo's) havent found another supplier for this at all
Custom remap


Should see around 230/240bhp with that id say

[Jase 320d]

And a few tips

When changing thermostats (one on egr cooler and the main one) use genuine bmw only! Aftermarket ones are completely crud! Buy cheap buy twice and all that (i made that mistake)



Also you'll probably find depending on the year you will have the vortex oil breather installed anyways.

People seem to go all crazy and believe these need replaced every so often. I took mines off for a clean at 80k and it was still pretty much perfect.
Slight clean out and it is back on.


Always worth checking though that you do have the vortex breather just for peace of mind as the old 'loo roll' type were pretty bad for clogging up

[Icekube]

Originally Posted by Jase 320d

330d injectors

320D and 330D use the same injectors, so its not an upgrade

if you want upgraded injectors you need to go for 535D ones (Again, the ones Alpina used in the D3) Bosch part number 0445110219 (compared to 0445110216 for 320/330D)

[HKEuroN00b]

Originally Posted by rauf

Many people have said to stay away with a remap if you have an automatic gearbox?

read throughout various posts and forums beforehand BMW work to the maximum load on the gearbox for the 320d of 400nm, BMW performance kit they offer provides 390nm, however people have gone 400nm+ but individual to the car and needs, i shouldn't be too far off give +/- 10% tbh to not effect the longevity of the car, just needs to be effective and accessible power, anything else is over the top and excessive and into the realms of 'might aswell get a 330d' whereby investing into uprated clutch and torque converter etc, which is what i'm trying to avoid.

[Jase 320d]

Originally Posted by Icekube

320D and 330D use the same injectors, so its not an upgrade

if you want upgraded injectors you need to go for 535D ones (Again, the ones Alpina used in the D3) Bosch part number 0445110219 (compared to 0445110216 for 320/330D)

Ah right i see

[HKEuroN00b]

anybody know the volume of the e46 330d intercooler vs the e90 320d intercooler?

[borinous]

Holy thread revival batman.....but can anyone confirm if the 330d intercooler is bigger than the 320d.

[Jase 320d]

Yes 325/330/335d use the bigger intercooler

320d intercooler

Length 510mm width 100mm depth 85mm


325/330/335d intercooler

Length 510mm width 100mm depth 100mm



So its 15mm deeper. Dont know what percentage that is though

[Jase 320d]

Bit of maths i get its 17% larger but then again i am bad at maths

[Ben1987]

I can shed a bit of light on this I recently upgraded my standard 320d intercooler to a lci 325d intercooler. The inlet for the intercooler is larger on the 325 one however the outlet is the same so you can use the original outlet pipe work however on the inlet I didn't want to go to aftermarket pipe work because I purchased a new genuine pipe from Bmw last year for nearly £170 so I cut the inlet off the old intercooler which fits snugly inside the new intercooler inlet I used polyurethane windscreen adhesive to bond the old inlet into the new intercooler (for anyone who has never used windscreen adhesive it is unbelievably strong it will never come off) it took 24 hours to cure fully and I can report a month on there is no boost leaks and holding pressure well.

[Ben1987]

On the remap side of things I was having the same dilemma 163 320d with the auto box, I read the same things about the torque limit of the box. During my research I never read of one that had actually failed and there must be a lot of these cars remapped. So Ive been testing the water with a DTUK tuning box these boxes are supposed to increase bhp to nearly 200bhp and 430nm don't quote me on that tho as I haven't checked! So far all is good I've done about 6000 miles and the auto box is still smooth no clunking into gears and has made a real change to how the car drives. So I think I'm going to get s proper map done this summer. I'm sure there a people who are running these 320d autos remapped but I gave up googling as it was getting stress full hope this helps a bit

[borinous]

thanks for the clarification on the intercooler. already remapped but as far as im aware i have a standard intercooler. ill keep an eye out for one to help it all breath alittle easier and hopefully help performance and efficiency during the summer

[Jase 320d]

Originally Posted by Ben1987

I can shed a bit of light on this I recently upgraded my standard 320d intercooler to a lci 325d intercooler. The inlet for the intercooler is larger on the 325 one however the outlet is the same so you can use the original outlet pipe work however on the inlet I didn't want to go to aftermarket pipe work because I purchased a new genuine pipe from Bmw last year for nearly £170 so I cut the inlet off the old intercooler which fits snugly inside the new intercooler inlet I used polyurethane windscreen adhesive to bond the old inlet into the new intercooler (for anyone who has never used windscreen adhesive it is unbelievably strong it will never come off) it took 24 hours to cure fully and I can report a month on there is no boost leaks and holding pressure well.

Cheers for this info i didn't know that

I thought they would be interchangeable with no mods. Still sounds relatively straight forward

The 320d imo must run hot as it gives off some serious black reek even in stock form.

Im running a tuning box and its like a coal mine out the back (i know a tuning box only increases fuelling)

[Ben1987]

I've always noticed the exhaust being sootey especially after changing from the original downturned pipe to a twin pipe I seem to be forever washing it lol however it has been better since putting the intercooler on I put it down to no longer having a boost leak so helped with the over fueling

[Jase 320d]

/\ mines is the same! Constantly covered in soot