[Clammy]

Originally Posted by autoAER

Whoa, that sounds like an incredible build! Mine is relatively tame compared to your build Feel free to share a pic or two, would love to see her! Cheers on the awesome choice! P.S. 3.64 diff is a riot on this car! and you can't go wrong with BMW's own performance SSK kit!

I'm looking forward to the 3.64 diff. Never even thought about a short shift kit, but now I'll look into it. (Thanks for spending more of my money, hahaha!! )

Here are a few pics. Mostly "Before/after" ones. Oh, and please forgive the filthiness, hahah! I couldn't get a good shot of the headers installed, but that's what they look like out of the box.

Cheers!

[autoAER]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

330i MT owner, checking in! I love this car, and hope to keep it a long time! MUCH higher miles on mine, but so far, so good!

Do you know any of the history from before you owned it? How did it come up on your radar?

I'm hoping to get to your mileage, and much beyond! I'm willing to bet at 200k+ it drives even better than mine!

I had been looking for a 6MT 330i for a while, I hadn't owned a 6MT 330i before, but I love the E90 chassis and I had an automatic 330i before which was extremely reliable. After owning both an N54 and N55 335i, reliability was at the top of my list for owning any car Unfortunately, 6MT 330i's are incredibly difficult to find and the few examples I found were absolutely trashed. I had just been randomly looking around on craigslist to see what was available in the area, and as soon as I saw this ad, I set up a meeting and drove there within the hour. Pretty much what happened was after MotorTrend owned it, an older gentleman bought it for his grandson, and fortunately for me, his grandson preferred cash over the car and thats how a random Craigslist search on a random day ended with me buying by far the best car I have ever owned!

[autoAER]

Originally Posted by Clammy

I'm looking forward to the 3.64 diff. Never even thought about a short shift kit, but now I'll look into it. (Thanks for spending more of my money, hahaha!! )

Here are a few pics. Mostly "Before/after" ones. Oh, and please forgive the filthiness, hahah! I couldn't get a good shot of the headers installed, but that's what they look like out of the box.

Cheers!

EPIC BUILD!! I'll bet she rips with the headers and diff when she's all put together! She is stunning! I wish I could get headers on mine but California smog regulations are no joke Trust me you will love the short shift kit! (thats an awesome shift knob by the way!)

[whyzee125]

Wow that's awesome. Nice find!

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by autoAER

I'm hoping to get to your mileage, and much beyond! I'm willing to bet at 200k+ it drives even better than mine!

I had been looking for a 6MT 330i for a while, I hadn't owned a 6MT 330i before, but I love the E90 chassis and I had an automatic 330i before which was extremely reliable. After owning both an N54 and N55 335i, reliability was at the top of my list for owning any car Unfortunately, 6MT 330i's are incredibly difficult to find and the few examples I found were absolutely trashed. I had just been randomly looking around on craigslist to see what was available in the area, and as soon as I saw this ad, I set up a meeting and drove there within the hour. Pretty much what happened was after MotorTrend owned it, an older gentleman bought it for his grandson, and fortunately for me, his grandson preferred cash over the car and thats how a random Craigslist search on a random day ended with me buying by far the best car I have ever owned!

Perfect, glad you ended up with it! The 330i is an absolute joy to drive. Every day I just love it! I haven't had mine for terribly long, but it has been in the family for a while, so I know the car pretty well.

[2one3E90]

Does anyone have this issue and what part do i need it part number. I have 210k on me 330i and scared water my hurt the car if it goes in like this

[autoAER]

Originally Posted by 2one3E90

Does anyone have this issue and what part do i need it part number. I have 210k on me 330i and scared water my hurt the car if it goes in like this

Looks like your windshield cowl, part number 51717180743. It’s around $300 from FCP Euro

[ogad1984]

Nice. I love mine. Disa valve just failed however

[lowrydr310]

Originally Posted by Clammy

I'm looking forward to the 3.64 diff. Never even thought about a short shift kit, but now I'll look into it. (Thanks for spending more of my money, hahaha!! )

Here are a few pics. Mostly "Before/after" ones. Oh, and please forgive the filthiness, hahah! I couldn't get a good shot of the headers installed, but that's what they look like out of the box.

Cheers!

I want the blacklines tail lights for my 330i now, along with a temperature gauge - preferably a euro cluster with km/h only since it's less cluttered and I only look at the digital speed.

I haven't looked into the 3.64 differential much. My diff is slightly noisy and the local junk yard is FULL of automatic E90s so I might just pick one up and get it rebuilt, maybe even go limited slip. My only concern with a lower ratio is the effect on highway fuel economy. That and the fact that first gear already seems absurdly low.

[autoAER]

Just an update to an old thread! I have been busy with residency applications and I haven’t been able to update the thread like I wanted to.

Car has been sitting for about a year now, I drive it occasionally when I need a spirited drive in the hills but I picked up a CPO F30 in the interim for daily driving purposes, 40+ mpg highway! Not a great drivers car unfortunately, as many of you may be aware, but apple carplay, heated steering wheel, reliability, and exceedingly comfortable drive sold me.

I will be restoring the E90 to as close to new as I can get it once I can spend more than 48 hours in one location since the last post I’ve preemptively replaced the water pump, all cooling system components, refinished both the hood and front bumper, and I’ve just sent off the 225m set to get refinished, but seeing 162’s on the car again is It’s sitting right under 96,000 miles right now, and I’ve no doubt that I could jump in and drive it cross country without issue. What a machine!

The picture of the car on 162’s is the most recent update for the car. I will be updating this thread as I progress cheers guys!

[Efthreeoh]

Once the refurb is complete, you should write the story about the car after Motor Trend owned it and see if the magazine will publish "the rest of the story". That would be a neat read for MT subscribers.

[lordnikon]

Sweet car especially the MY2006.

I can't help notice the position of 330i badge is a little high up the trunk.

[autoAER]

Pulled “Big Blue” out from storage today for a wash and wellness check since being out in storage a few months ago. Mystic blue is such a unique shade of blue! See how the color changes from Motortrends rolling shot versus how she sits in my driveway today: