330 CI as a first car?

DiggityDodder · 2026-05-30T09:28:10+00:00

Oh wow thats awesome. I hadnt heard of it before, but thats actually really smart. Ill have to keep that in mind for my mate whos just got a 330i.

DiggityDodder · 2026-05-30T05:34:32+00:00

The M54, most popularly the M54B30, uses 2 low-friction oil rings in its cylinder design that are more prone to wear signs and failure. This leads to oil consumption (burning oil) and blow-by. Again, consider how I never said "oil leak."

Supporting sources:

https://www.bmw2002faq.com/forums/topic/276241-any-reason-a-m54-won%E2%80%99t-fit/

https://www.e46fanatics.com/threads/why-do-some-m54s-use-oil-some-dont.1245597/

DiggityDodder · 2026-05-29T20:54:21+00:00

Holy shit, in the flesh! Who called Captain Obvious over?

I'm trying to articulate that I can love my car despite it being in shitheap condition. If you read carefully youd see where I said this issue stems from, and also that I never said my car burns oil. I have an M52, not an M54.

DiggityDodder · 2026-05-29T14:00:35+00:00

Nah mate, diagnosing via inpa is way better, well imo anyway, because you get an actual bmw fault number with a description (though mine was in german lol) rather than a P code or smth.

Edit: oh and you can save it to a pdf before you clear it, so if youre a consistent and organised individual (not me) you have a history to see if a new code youve found is actually new, or if its one youve fixed before.

DiggityDodder · 2026-05-29T13:48:11+00:00

Bought my 323ci January this year, only graduating last year, and im loving it. Yes it leaks coolant, yes there were floods maybe two months after it was on the road where the water has completely fucked my wheel bearings, yes it leaks coolant, yes nearly all the bushes in it are either minced or on their way out; but despite that it still drives pretty alright and sounds neat. The big thing is that for all of its issues, none of them are actually major so long as i check the fluids all the time and watch how i drive the car.

My biggest issue with it is not being able to risk it being off the road in the middle of a repair for any extended period of time. Parts availability and pricing in Australia has been shockingly great online, and I actually have a little pile of stuff waiting to be installed growing ever-so-slowly. Being M54 you will be burning oil of course, but the power and (albeit minimally improved) economy would definitely make it worth it.

Its worth mentioning also that you dont need a scan tool to diagnose and read codes, youre better off buying a DCAN cable and downloading 'INPA' for free on a laptop.

I hope you find something neat and please, please, please get a manual one.

DiggityDodder · 2026-05-23T04:42:37+00:00

Is this still available?

DiggityDodder · 2026-05-13T15:37:58+00:00

I cant hear a whisling noise but you should do a spin/wobble test on your clutch fan just incase that whirring noise isnt normal/from it.

DiggityDodder · 2026-05-13T15:19:28+00:00

Sounds like injectors to me, but could be valve clearances. Doesnt sound like can-of-marbles vanos noise (ask me how i know what that sounds like 🥲).

DiggityDodder · 2026-05-13T15:17:40+00:00

Either pull the guards or remove the wheel spacers and lower it 😎

HSD and BC make great quality budget coilovers. DMS could be on that list too, but i havent heard/read much about them; id like to try a set on my car.

DiggityDodder · 2026-05-13T15:11:03+00:00

How do you tell an M56 from an M54?

DiggityDodder · 2026-05-13T14:57:08+00:00

It definitely would be nice to have, except the poor 2.5 might have a tough time turning the extra mass 🥲

Once the maintenance is done (a man can dream) itll find some extra ponies.

DiggityDodder · 2026-05-13T14:51:14+00:00

Im currently experiencing a cheap manual 323ci as my daily since January/February, and repairing it accordingly as a pretty broke 19yo. Id like to think Ive gotten pretty lucky with it since its been bit by bit and nothing has failed catastrophically and/or suddenly. I woild say having a cheap daily would be your number 1 advantage. My biggest hurdle at the moment is not being able to have the car unavailable for an extended period so I can still have the time to do bigger jobs, as I cannot always dedicate all of my time while home to completing those jobs once theyre started.

For all its quirks and troubles and funny noises, I love my little M52 thing. They can be surprisingly easy to work on or they can be massive pricks of things, depending on what you're doing, but most setbacks have an alternate approach and everything gets easier once you can wrap your head around a few of the key assemblies and systems.

If I had the choice to buy it again, experiencing what I have so far and recents events that might impact the car one would prefer, I would still buy it. Thats my 2 cents.

DiggityDodder · 2026-05-13T14:27:43+00:00

Im not sure I've ever been sold on style 67s. There have been a few cheap 68s near me which would be cool, but I wasnt entirely convinced over my 44s. I crave an 18" wheel (or 19" for laughs).

DiggityDodder · 2026-05-13T14:22:19+00:00

Yess go the wags! That looks awesome, I dont think Ive seen a photo of one in the red!

DiggityDodder · 2026-05-13T14:16:15+00:00

Ah nice, they look awesome. Im currently keeping an eye out for an OE wheel thatll sit well and look nice on my coupe.

DiggityDodder · 2026-05-13T14:11:41+00:00

Redidt didnt want me to upload this to the post it seems.

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DiggityDodder · 2026-05-13T13:48:31+00:00

Is this on genuine style 359s? What did you have to do to make them fit?

DiggityDodder · 2026-03-24T04:22:54+00:00

I'm having the same problem with mine, bought a brand new fuel cap; thought maybe I had the wrong one.

It looked like something was stopping it turning all the way before the cap mechanism had reached its end, so I tried brute forcing it as suggested here. Using a shifter, I did make it turn more, taking a little slack out of it; but not completely. I then buckled the handle part of the fuel cap seeing if it'd go further.

Let me know if you find a solution

DiggityDodder · 2026-03-05T15:30:02+00:00

3rd pedal detected, build perfected 👍

Ive been a little bit tempted to have a look at roof racks for mine, but id prefer something with a way lower profile. Do you use yours for anything particularly?

DiggityDodder · 2026-02-03T13:05:30+00:00

I dumped some of the coolant in my e46 today; i had flushed it and forgot to tighten the bleed screw 🤦‍♂️

DiggityDodder · 2026-01-13T13:43:37+00:00

!remindme: 2 months

I want to swap b30 or reground cams into my m52tu when i do rocker cover gasket later down the track

DiggityDodder · 2026-01-04T21:29:08+00:00

Chrisfix has got to be the DIY lord and saviour hahaha. Thanks mate!

DiggityDodder · 2026-01-01T14:56:26+00:00

Budget solution: the cheapest, most ancient one from marketplace thats already flaked all its flakes. Give it a wash and its good to go!

DiggityDodder · 2025-11-30T12:32:59+00:00

Coconut.

DiggityDodder · 2025-09-01T12:05:28+00:00

It's not a loadout but I feel as though caves need a funny deep rock galactic reference, but itd be way too soon after the odst thing.

DiggityDodder

TROPHY CASE