E90Post
 


 
BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > BMW E90/E92/E93 3-series General Forums > Photo/Video/Media Gallery > E90 330i Journal - Preserving a Single Model Year Car



Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      12-13-2023, 09:45 AM   #1
Steage
Private
19
Rep
97
Posts

Drives: 330i
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: GA

iTrader: (0)

E90 330i Journal - Preserving a Single Model Year Car

I'm back on E90Post after a 11+ year hiatus, this place has changed a lot since then! I was originally here with a brand new 2007 335 (old for sale thread here: https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=680231). Then I bought an E36 M3 (with the intent of eventually tracking it) and decided I wanted something different for the daily commute and the possible inclement weather so the 335 went.

My E36 @ Mid Ohio:


Earlier this year we moved from Ohio down to Georgia and now I have tracks (plural!) that are within easy driving distance, so I sold my truck and started looking for something fun with some practicality. My intent was to find an E46 ZHP, but I had some alerts set for E90s as I had always enjoyed the platform.

That's when I found and bought this, pictured fresh off the trailer from California:


A SGM 330i with ~56k miles and a manual transmission. It's in really good shape.

First fill up before the test drive:


I had loved my E92 335 but I wasn't all that interested in maintaining the N54 in the long term. The 330 seems to have all the upside of the chassis with the trade off of a little power. I'm really enjoying the N52. It feels pretty much as fast as my S52 E36, even revving a little freer. Plus, it's the last NA straight 6 (in the USA at least)!

The car didn't need much, but there were a few things I needed to address.

First oil change:


A bad picture just after removing the tow bar that I did not need:


New windshield trim replaced using the DIY on FCPEuro... this was a miserable job and my hands hurt for a while after getting it done:


Then, finally, new OEM blackline tail lights and a wash. In my E92 days I was always insanely jealous that the E90s got these, so of course I had to have them:


After that I've just been enjoying it. Now that I have a little bit more time during the track season winter break I think I'm going to get some M3 front control arms and see if that will stop the front tires from rubbing occasionally. If that doesn't work I'm just going to go back to the stock 8"/8.5" wheel widths... I already spend enough time dealing with aggressive tire fitment on my E36.

I'm also considering getting a 335 instrument cluster so I'm not driving around blind to temperatures. I'm a little bit hesitant to swap the cluster on a lower mileage car, I'd be interested in hearing some thoughts on that.

More to come...

(Meeting for the first time)

Last edited by Steage; 01-30-2024 at 06:57 PM..
Appreciate 4
      12-14-2023, 04:02 PM   #2
whyzee125
Brigadier General
1637
Rep
3,592
Posts

Drives: Dinan stage 2 335i
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Chattanooga Tn

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Steage View Post
I'm back on E90Post after a 11+ year hiatus, this place has changed a lot since then! I was originally here with a brand new 2007 335 (for sale thread here: https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=680231). Then I bought an E36 M3 (with the intent of eventually tracking it) and decided I wanted something different for the daily commute and the possible inclement weather so the 335 went.

My E36 @ Mid Ohio:


Earlier this year we moved from Ohio down to Georgia and now I have tracks (plural!) that are within easy driving distance, so I sold my truck and started looking for something fun with some practicality. My intent was to find an E46 ZHP, but I had some alerts set for E90s as I had always enjoyed the platform.

That's when I found and bought this, pictured fresh off the trailer from California:


A SGM 330i with ~56k miles and a manual transmission. It's in really good shape.

First fill up before the test drive:


I had loved my E92 335 but I wasn't all that interested in maintaining the N54 in the long term. The 330 seems to have all the upside of the chassis with the trade off of a little power. I'm really enjoying the N52. It feels pretty much as fast as my S52 E36, even revving a little freer. Plus, it's the last NA straight 6 (in the USA at least)!

The car didn't need much, but there were a few things I needed to address.

First oil change:


A bad picture just after removing the tow bar that I did not need:


New windshield trim replaced using the DIY on FCPEuro... this was a miserable job and my hands hurt for a while after getting it done:


Then, finally, new OEM blackline tail lights and a wash. In my E92 days I was always insanely jealous that the E90s got these, so of course I had to have them:


After that I've just been enjoying it. Now that I have a little bit more time during the track season winter break I think I'm going to get some M3 front control arms and see if that will stop the front tires from rubbing occasionally. If that doesn't work I'm just going to go back to the stock 8"/8.5" wheel widths... I already spend enough time dealing with aggressive tire fitment on my E36.

I'm also considering getting a 335 instrument cluster so I'm not driving around blind to temperatures. I'm a little bit hesitant to swap the cluster on a lower mileage car, I'd be interested in hearing some thoughts on that.

More to come...

(Meeting for the first time)
Nice car and welcome back! Looking forward to seeing updates. I would say go for it on the cluster--cluster swaps are common enough on this platform you can get it done right. Document the swap if you'd like the peace of mind for the sake of resale but I can't imagine it making much of a difference with carfax and all that.
Appreciate 0
      01-30-2024, 07:01 PM   #3
Steage
Private
19
Rep
97
Posts

Drives: 330i
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: GA

iTrader: (0)

Spent an hour this evening on starting to get it apart to replace the starter.

Battery is newish and it sits on a Battery Tender when it sits for a while, so I'm guessing the starter is the source of the slow cranking.

Now that I have some things cleared out I'm seeing that the oil filter housing is leaking. Guess I'll be replacing that next time I change the oil.

Appreciate 2
      01-30-2024, 08:45 PM   #4
StradaRedlands
Colonel
StradaRedlands's Avatar
United_States
4760
Rep
2,873
Posts

Drives: 2006 BMW 330i MT
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: SoCal

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
2006 BMW 330i  [8.21]
2009 BMW 328i Touri ...  [7.90]
2013 BMW X5 35i  [7.63]
2011 BMW 528i  [8.75]
2006 Mazda3  [5.50]
Consider getting an oil cooler/heat exchanger added when you do the OFHG.
Maybe a Euro airbox to open up the intake a little (plus sounds better).
Jealous of the low miles!
Appreciate 0
      01-31-2024, 08:13 AM   #5
Fireball5657
German Car Caregiver
32
Rep
28
Posts

Drives: 2014 BMW 535i M-Sport
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: Choctaw, Oklahoma

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Congratulations on the beautiful 330i! Those blacklines look great, and Sparkling Graphite always looked better than Space Grey, imo .

If you're interested in a 335i cluster, check out clustersandcoding on eBay. It's a little pricy, but they sell "virginized" clusters, which mean their odometers have been zeroed out and will show whatever your DME has stored with no errors or tamper dots. They do stock replacements, you can also go with the M3 cluster, or you could even go with a custom design.

Anyways, I always loved the 2006 330i, it was the only year we got a fully unleashed N52 3-series here in the states. It was also pretty cool to have at least one year of E90 where the N52 wasn't just the "base model motor" lol. I occasionally consider trading in my F10 for a 330i, I think I'll always be an E90 N52 guy at heart.
__________________
2014 BMW F10 535i - Glacier Silver, Black Dakota; M-Sport Line, M-Sport Susp 704, Sport 8AT, Comfort Seats, Prem, HUD, PDC, Adaptive LED's, CA, Alarm, Soft-Close, Ceramic Controls, Style 351M
2011 BMW E90 328i - Space Grey, Saddle Dakota; Prem, Nav, Style 285 - Sold
2012 BMW E92 328i xDrive - Jet Black, Black Dakota; Prem, CA, Alarm, Style 338 - Totalled

Last edited by Fireball5657; 01-31-2024 at 08:22 AM..
Appreciate 0
      01-31-2024, 09:11 AM   #6
Steage
Private
19
Rep
97
Posts

Drives: 330i
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: GA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by StradaRedlands View Post
Consider getting an oil cooler/heat exchanger added when you do the OFHG.
Maybe a Euro airbox to open up the intake a little (plus sounds better).
Jealous of the low miles!
I saw your oil cooler DIY recently and it intrigued me. I am surprised by the oil temps on this car, especially in normal driving during Georgia fall/winter. My old N54 surprised me but I assumed that was because of the rotary oil heaters. I guess it's just how these newer engines run.

I added an oil cooler to my E36 because I saw on-track oil temps during lead-follows in the heat of summer that are around where this car runs normally!
Appreciate 1
      01-31-2024, 09:14 AM   #7
Steage
Private
19
Rep
97
Posts

Drives: 330i
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: GA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fireball5657 View Post
Congratulations on the beautiful 330i! Those blacklines look great, and Sparkling Graphite always looked better than Space Grey, imo .

If you're interested in a 335i cluster, check out clustersandcoding on eBay. It's a little pricy, but they sell "virginized" clusters, which mean their odometers have been zeroed out and will show whatever your DME has stored with no errors or tamper dots. They do stock replacements, you can also go with the M3 cluster, or you could even go with a custom design.

Anyways, I always loved the 2006 330i, it was the only year we got a fully unleashed N52 3-series here in the states. It was also pretty cool to have at least one year of E90 where the N52 wasn't just the "base model motor" lol. I occasionally consider trading in my F10 for a 330i, I think I'll always be an E90 N52 guy at heart.
Thanks.

I reached out to a cluster guy on here a while ago (might be the same guy?). I'm going to do it eventually, but things keeps jumping ahead of that on the to-do list.
Appreciate 0
      01-31-2024, 08:43 PM   #8
StradaRedlands
Colonel
StradaRedlands's Avatar
United_States
4760
Rep
2,873
Posts

Drives: 2006 BMW 330i MT
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: SoCal

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
2006 BMW 330i  [8.21]
2009 BMW 328i Touri ...  [7.90]
2013 BMW X5 35i  [7.63]
2011 BMW 528i  [8.75]
2006 Mazda3  [5.50]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steage View Post
I saw your oil cooler DIY recently and it intrigued me. I am surprised by the oil temps on this car, especially in normal driving during Georgia fall/winter. My old N54 surprised me but I assumed that was because of the rotary oil heaters. I guess it's just how these newer engines run.

I added an oil cooler to my E36 because I saw on-track oil temps during lead-follows in the heat of summer that are around where this car runs normally!
It's kind of a go-to mod for me now. I've done it twice, and it's really easy, minus the coolant pipe. That can be ignored on an AT as they already have the correct pipe, but has to be done on a MT. LMK if you have any questions on it!
Appreciate 0
      02-10-2024, 10:20 AM   #9
Steage
Private
19
Rep
97
Posts

Drives: 330i
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: GA

iTrader: (0)

Car is now mostly back together and starting.

New starter installed:


Old starter + oily DISA valves:


Mostly reassembled for test fire:


This job was consistent with my experience pulling intake manifolds on other BMW straight 6s... kind of annoying but also easier once you understand how it all goes. The addition of electrical connectors to heat all of the PCV components was probably the most annoying part.

I primarily followed the FCP Euro DIY (https://blog.fcpeuro.com/starter-rep...51-n52-engines) but I did not pull the fuel manifold or fuel line, that probably would have made things a little easier. I also could not get the lower connection of the lower PCV hose to let go - spent forever fighting with it. I was replacing so I ended up cutting it off.

In the end I replaced:
  • Bosch starter
  • Aluminum starter bolts
  • Intake manifold gaskets
  • Throttle body gasket
  • PCV valve (11617531423 )
  • 4 PCV hoses (11617522933 , 11157537701, 11157567801, 11157522931)
  • DISA valves (11617579114 and 11617560538)

The upper PCV hose cracked as I was pulling it off the valve cover, but the other hoses didn't seem that bad. Still, I replaced them while I was in there...

I would also recommend sourcing a hose clamp for the brake booster hose (11151726339 for the OEM replacement). If I took these apart on a regular basis I could probably do it without mangling it...
Appreciate 0
      02-11-2024, 12:12 AM   #10
Kevin_The_Clean1
Brigadier General
Kevin_The_Clean1's Avatar
United_States
3124
Rep
3,805
Posts

Drives: 2020 X3 MC
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Campbell, CA

iTrader: (11)

Pretty cool build man. Someday a E90 M3 strut tower brace would be a fun kit. I have it on my 2011 335i & like it a lot.
__________________
1998 E36 M3 - Totaled
2003 E39 M5 - Gone but not forgotten
2011 E90 335i M-Sport - Daily Driver
2017 F87 M2 - Sold & missed
2020 F97 X3 M Competition - Finally arrived ///
Appreciate 0
      03-25-2024, 05:52 PM   #11
Steage
Private
19
Rep
97
Posts

Drives: 330i
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: GA

iTrader: (0)

When I bought the car it came with the BMW performance short shifter kit in the trunk. I'm generally skeptical of just throwing in a shorter lever, but I did feel like I was punching the dashboard on the 1/3/5 shift. The taller ZHP knob that the car came with probably doesn't help there. For $0.00 I figured it was worth a try.

Part number is 25110430357 which gets you the shorter lever, new bushing+circlip, and the alcantara boot and knob. My kit didn't have the knob and I wasn't planing on using it or the new boot anyway.

I followed the DIY here: https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=781525

Didn't take me more than an hour or so. The most difficult part is removing/reinstalling the circlip. Despite all my best efforts the old circlip shot under the car somewhere. While installing the new circlip I did tie some fishing line around it so I didn't lose it - worked really well.

I did this in a fit of productivity and forgot to take pictures of the progress, but here is the final result. I was worried about it looking too stubby, but I don't think that's the case:


Time will tell how I feel about it.

This is also the debut of the Dynavin headunit that came with the car. I have mixed feelings about it. It's a really nice piece of hardware that updates the car usefully - bluetooth+rearview camera. If it were up to me I think I'd retrofit iDrive though... or just find a car with iDrive already. But, it's there and it's working really well so I'm not planning on changing it anytime soon.

I also just ordered a set of M3 front control arms, although I have a lot of other projects lined up on other cars and around the house before I get around to installing those....
Appreciate 0
      03-25-2024, 06:36 PM   #12
M-technik-3
Major
2008
Rep
1,445
Posts

Drives: E30 M3, E36 M3, 328iT, 335i
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: western Ma

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
1995 M3  [9.00]
2007 E91  [7.25]
1988 M3  [9.50]
Nice E36, love mine they are a great track car for cheap money. Sparkling Grey is a nice color, my 335i is Space Grey but as an 11 Sparkling was not a choice and mine was used,

330i is a great car like the ZHP.
Appreciate 0
      03-26-2024, 07:25 AM   #13
Steage
Private
19
Rep
97
Posts

Drives: 330i
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: GA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by M-technik-3 View Post
330i is a great car like the ZHP.
After decades of wanting one I think I may have missed my chance to get an E46. I see a ZHP sold for ~$25k on BaT recently. I remember when I thought that was too much for a E46 M3...
Appreciate 0
      03-26-2024, 06:02 PM   #14
M-technik-3
Major
2008
Rep
1,445
Posts

Drives: E30 M3, E36 M3, 328iT, 335i
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: western Ma

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
1995 M3  [9.00]
2007 E91  [7.25]
1988 M3  [9.50]
I dug the ZHP but these days a N52 seems to have been able to stand up better to time than the M54
Appreciate 0
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:34 PM.




e90post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST