[ahmedb]

REGRETTABLY, THE CAR HAS NOW BEEN SOLD SINCE JULY 2016.

So... I have been a member of this forum for some time now and since the start of the year, I've owned an E90 LCI 320d, a pre-lci 335d and now my lovely Metallic Bluewater 330d. It's the lci 245bhp variant and it's a rare manual too. I've never started a build thread before or gone into too much detail about my cars but what better time to start than now.

I spent a while searching for the right example within my budget. Ideally, I was after a 2010+ auto with folding rear seats but I soon realised that I'd be waiting forever to find the right car so I ended up compromising. In the end, I found this beast which is an absolute gem.

The spec really persuaded me that this was the right car, a few features to note:

- individual sound system (amazing compared to bog standard)
- servotronic steering (maybe standard on 330d lci?)
- 335d brake setup (standard?)
- comfort access/keyless go
- electric folding and reverse dipping mirrors
- full grey Dakota leather and heated seats
- bi-xenon adaptive headlights with high beam assist
- LUX led angel eye bults with adjustable colours
- front/rear pdc
- hill assist
- pro wide screen navigation with latest maps and 7 digit postcode search
- TV / BMW connected drive (can't do web browsing though)
- USB/Aux with hard drive internal storage
- partial electric front seats
- DAB radio
- 2010 LCI layout, heated seat buttons further up and changing levels of auto
- split sliding front armrest
- rear armrest with twin cupholders
- 2x 12V ports in the rear
- BMW light package with full LED replacement
- M3 front control arms and wishbones
- M3 rear arms
- powerflex rear subframe bushes
- Full alignment to m3 spec (rear camber is looking more aggressive)
- F10 M5 gearknob
- Tri stitch steering wheel (like the M3)
- burr walnut wood trim (would prefer piano black but better than the aluminium in my opinion)
- M3 rear boot lip spoiler
- split folding rear seats

I could go on... the car also has a laser jammer fitted to it which I've managed to source now and I will look to remove it when I get the chance.

Since purchasing the car, I've changed the front grills to the performance style with M stripes, changed to pressed metal plates with number plate surrounds and I've opted for non-runflat Goodyear Eagle F1's with ferric grey MV3's (thanks Matt).

Future plans include a remap from TC Performance in Walsall (when I can find the 5/6 hours required), brake callipers in gloss black and potentially some front spoilers.

Pics below are phone quality so far from professional.

[JM85]

Nice car, I am a fan of the colour however not so keen on the wood

Looking forward to seeing what you do with it

[ahmedb]

Originally Posted by JM85

Nice car, I am a fan of the colour however not so keen on the wood

Looking forward to seeing what you do with it

Thanks, I'm not a huge fan of the wood either but each to their own

[ahmedb]

The car was also treated to some G1 Gtechniq by the last owner.

I can't recommend the stuff highly enough. It lasts between 20k-30k/2 years. Driving in wet conditions is far easier now. I barely need to use my wipers and when I do, it's 1 nice clean sweep with no noise and all the standing water just disappears.

http://vid1125.photobucket.com/album...psaliqc6ev.mp4

[JM85]

Originally Posted by ahmedb

Thanks, I'm not a huge fan of the wood either but each to their own

Easy fix, there are tons of sets of Silver trims on eBay, the gloss Black might look nice with your interior

[ahmedb]

Originally Posted by JM85

Easy fix, there are tons of sets of Silver trims on eBay, the gloss Black might look nice with your interior

I've had a quick look but I couldn't find anything.

I thought it might be difficult to find trim for a manual with the cic nav controller.

I suppose there's always the wrapping route which I could consider

[dy63]

nice car and a good spec, IMO I wouldn't bother wrapping the interior trims as I don't know what will actually look good with the grey leather / carpets which I think is the only let down

seems like an actual m3 steering wheel aswell as it has the trim also?

what do you think of manual? surprised you chose it over auto seeing as you've had 335d

[ahmedb]

That's a fair point but gloss black tends to go with almost anything. It's the hassle of getting sorted that's putting me off as I'm not much of a DIY person and I just don't get the time nowadays either.

Yeah the steering wheel is the same as on the E92 M3's.

I love the manual box, it feels a lot smoother than the manual I had in the 320d (perhaps as the car is lower mileage). The 335d was what made me want an automatic and that was my first choice but I came across this one and having owned all manual cars (bar the 335d) for 8 years, I was more inclined to stick to it rather than coming from years of auto driving to a manual.

Coupled with the suspension mods and f10 gear knob, it feels like a proper drivers car. Maybe I will change my mind in the winter when the traffic gets worse and my commute becomes more stop/start than it is now

[Iyrix]

Nice to see another manual owner, to me... it's miles better than the Auto.

The new DCT however, different ball game.

[Wayne-G]

Looks tidy! I nearly bought an LCI Blue water E91, don't see many on the road really!
Such a nice colour, looks good with the ferric grey wheels.

Not a massive fan of the wood trim, spec is very good though!

Theres a Le mans 320D being broken for spares atm with gloss black trim, was debating on messaging him to see how much but I dare bet its a silly price.

[ahmedb]

Originally Posted by Wayne-G

Looks tidy! I nearly bought an LCI Blue water E91, don't see many on the road really!
Such a nice colour, looks good with the ferric grey wheels.

Not a massive fan of the wood trim, spec is very good though!

Theres a Le mans 320D being broken for spares atm with gloss black trim, was debating on messaging him to see how much but I dare bet its a silly price.

Thanks, I have sent a msg to see what he says

[Len_Beach]

Looks very tidy and a great spec; I love mine especially now it's remapped!

How does this compare to your 335d in terms of performance?

[ahmedb]

Originally Posted by Len_Beach

Looks very tidy and a great spec; I love mine especially now it's remapped!

How does this compare to your 335d in terms of performance?

The 335d was a pre-lci but it had been remapped with the dpf removed so it would be a bit of an unfair comparison

I'll get slated for this but honestly speaking, I can't notice that much difference when I downshift for the power. The main difference with the auto was that the power was more readily available in all gears which I suppose is much more beneficial for every day driving but for that, you pay the price with fuel economy.

There's a little more lag in the 330d if I'm doing 70 in 6th gear and I want to accelerate hard but I tend to downshift to 5th or 4th (depending on how ambitious I'm feeling) and then it's fine.

I will reconsider my opinion post remap when I get round to it but there's next to nothing in it with 0-60 times (manual 330d is 5.9s on Parkers and the 335d is 5.8) and although it's a 245bhp engine, it feels more like 265-270ish.

I get 45-46mpg in the 330d whereas it was 30-35mpg in the 335d.

[drobbie]

Originally Posted by ahmedb

Erm, what's this switch for??

[ahmedb]

Originally Posted by drobbie

Erm, what's this switch for??

Just updated my laser jammer thread a short while ago.

It's the master switch to toggle on/off the laser jammer. It basically jams anything that uses a laser so when cops use laser guns, they can't read your speed.

I know it's illegal in this country and I don't need the attention from police so I'm looking into removing it.

[holmefield]

Manual 330D's are spot on, mines Pre-lci but Dpf deleted and stage 2 Mapped & was running 285bhp and 710 lbs whatever on the rollers but we had to detune it slightly to 276bhp and 670lbs...

My mapper told me thats the only down side of the manual box as it doesnt handle high Nm well certainly not as well as the auto's.

My mates got exactly the same state of tune as me from the same place but his is an Auto and its @ 291bhp but weirdly 650nm???

Mine feels so rapid thou takin the Dpf out makes a big difference to daily driving experience and like u say Mpg is better

[ahmedb]

It's been a while since I updated this although not too much has changed. She has some new shoes, now sat on 313's, and the brake calipers have been refinished in gloss black with M decals.

BMW have told me they think the car has already been remapped so I need to book a slot in on a dyno and see what she is running. It feels like it's around the 300 mark and pulls amazingly well.

[S4DNX]

313's look much on the LCI's I think.

[Calluhan]

Looking good Ahmed. Love the 313 are they oem?

[JM85]

313's look great, I think they really suit the colour aswell

[RajB]

313's probably one of the best OE rims (but suppose I'm biased lol).

[ahmedb]

Originally Posted by RajB

313's probably one of the best OE rims (but suppose I'm biased lol).

Biased or not, I agree

Originally Posted by JM85

313's look great, I think they really suit the colour aswell

Thanks, I love the 313s and they ride surprisingly well

Originally Posted by S4DNX

313's look much on the LCI's I think.

Thanks I agree

Originally Posted by Calluhan

Looking good Ahmed. Love the 313 are they oem?

Yep these are OEM and My setup is 225/255 Yokohama Advan Sports.