330i gets some love

[equ]

I've just done six months and 3800 miles in my second zhp (28k miles). Early on I had had the DME updated for the 4000rpm dip :thumbup:, tuner replaced (stereo/mono fade out bug) and mirror replaced (for reverse tilt fix, important in the city!). I had some more issues recently. It took two dealers but things were finally resolved. The major complaints were:

1. Slight knocking sound from gearbox/clutch area in neutral (went away with pressing the clutch). Definitely not normal, once or twice during little stints of rough running (this could be normal on a cammed bmw or any bmw), it almost sounded like a jar of marbles in the gearbox. First dealer (also where I bought it) found nothing wrong (even with technician with me on test drive), second dealer replaced clutch without explanation. :dunno: I'm still curious as to what it was. Throwout bearing? Flywheel? Perhaps some mechanically minded 'mudgeons can venture guesses. It's nice to have a new clutch, even though the first one was not seemingly worn. Downside is I lost my cdv mod.

2. The alcantara steering wheel was badly worn. The jerky selling dealer considered it normal wear and wouldn't even budge. My first zhp never got to close to that kind of wear so I persisted before I gave up and "shaved". 2nd dealer gave me a new one, woohoo! This feels good.

3. First dealer ignored my cold start belt squeal. 2nd dealer gave me new belts.

4. Few minor things (sunroof shade, xenon bulb intermittency)...

Kudos to Essex BMW! They really came through in a way I didn't expect (slightly ghetto area, not the best communication etc). Selling dealership is rather well-regarded in sales and service but they're losing me as a customer.

Car feels like new again, down to the steering ;) and, well, the cdv :?

To do my part, I burned the v27 nav software and booted up. A few scary moments as the first CD didn't work and plunged me into limboland (no radio display, no backup boot, nothing... just a dead screen). Little more fiddling and now I have perspective, better colors (?), yards instead of feet (better for me as I think in meters) and no accept screen! I'll keep euro mode as long as I can.

[ff]

Sounds like your BMW experience matches mine. Plenty of trips to the dealership to fix stuff.

[equ]

To be fair my first bmw ('04 330 zhp coupe bought new) had exactly one problem in two years. (Door deemed itself open so the coupe window lowered a bit then went up then lowered... unless I left it a crack open. However this also caused the alarm to go off).

Perhaps I'll be more wary of used cars (this one seemed like a very clean example at 24,000 miles when I got it). None of its problems were debilitating but annoying for a top-dollar, under warranty used car. I think I have it near perfect now. Let's see how long it lasts, hope I don't jinx myself.

It is sad that it takes multiple dealers and lots of hassle to get anything but the glaringly obvious done. Then again, I feel like I've cost bmwna (and all bmw buyers indirectly) a whole bunch by complaining about these seemingly little things.

[Eric Giles]

The sound you had with the transmission-actually, it can be a very normal sound on a BMW after some mileage. A lightweight flywheel (which the 330i with performance package has) tends to exaggerate this noise. The noise generally comes from wear on the layshaft bearings in the transmission. Sometimes moving to a heavier weight tranny fluid helps, and other times replacing the clutch components helps too-as you have found out. I would imagine that the new pressure plate and clutch are dampening the noise for now-but it will come back.

My '05 330i ZHP has a small amount of this noise also-I really notice it if I shut the car off without having the clutch depressed-I can hear it rattle unless I press the clutch in first.

[rumatt]

Last I heard (about a year ago?) Essex BMW had new owners and was trying to earn business the "right" way by putting the customer first to earn repeat business and new business via word of mouth.

Looks like it's working! That's great to hear.

[SCA]

Sounds like your BMW experience matches mine. Plenty of trips to the dealership to fix stuff.

:+1 E46 related (former 330Ci)

[equ]

The sound you had with the transmission-actually, it can be a very normal sound on a BMW after some mileage. A lightweight flywheel (which the 330i with performance package has) tends to exaggerate this noise. The noise generally comes from wear on the layshaft bearings in the transmission. Sometimes moving to a heavier weight tranny fluid helps, and other times replacing the clutch components helps too-as you have found out. I would imagine that the new pressure plate and clutch are dampening the noise for now-but it will come back.

My '05 330i ZHP has a small amount of this noise also-I really notice it if I shut the car off without having the clutch depressed-I can hear it rattle unless I press the clutch in first.

I think you are dead on. That is the exact description of the sound and there's a bit of the "death rattle" as well. Didn't know the zhp had a lighter flywheel, really?

I was thinking about a transmission fluid change. What would you recommend? 1/2 oem, 1/2 heavier (so winter doesn't get unbearable)?

[equ]

Sounds like your BMW experience matches mine. Plenty of trips to the dealership to fix stuff.

And when I take a bath on resale the replication will be complete. :(

[Nick M3]

I think you are dead on. That is the exact description of the sound and there's a bit of the "death rattle" as well. Didn't know the zhp had a lighter flywheel, really?

I was thinking about a transmission fluid change. What would you recommend? 1/2 oem, 1/2 heavier (so winter doesn't get unbearable)?
Put in MTF-LT2. If it's an '04 or earlier, it probably has LT1 in it.