Engine change from 3l to 2l BMW. E46?????

stodwyer

Hi all.
I currently have an e46 330d BMW with 160k miles on the clock. It's driving a dream and I cannot fault it in any way. It's a miser on diesel.
Problem is that since losing my job and getting another which involves me driving 600miles/week I feel it was time for a change as tyres under the 18" wheels were killing me and also the dreaded car tax €1293/year.
So I am wondering if it is possible to change my engine to the 320d one and also change my wheels to a more realistic 16" or 17" size.
Has anyone attempted this or is it impossible.

Sean.

Guy:Incognito

Pretty much anything is possible whether it's worth it or not is another story. How long will it take you to make back the costs ofthe work in fuel and tax savings? Would there even be any fuel savings ? If not then all your saving is 600 a year in tax.

stodwyer

Well I'll save 600 a year on tax alone and also fuel will be slightly cheaper but not by alot.

stodwyer

Yes I suppose I'm only saving 600/year but 600 is alot of money and could go towards heating the house for the year. But there will be costs In changing the engine also.

mailforkev

I would imagine that changing the engine in that manner would make your car pretty much 100% unsaleable for the future.

Just sell the 330 (priced for a sale) and buy a 320 if that's what you want.

death1234567

mailforkev wrote: »

Just sell the 330 (priced for a sale) and buy a 320 if that's what you want.

+1.

stodwyer

If the engine was changed I'm going to drive the car to the ground. Until I can afford a newer one anyways. I was even thinking of trying to swap with a 320d that is up for scrappage deal.
And I gave the car priced to sell on donedeal and it's the size of engine that's turning viewers off.
What's with the +1?

Sean.

Eoin

Check your insurance as well. It might be a smaller engine, but they might still load you as it's "modified". They can be like that!

Why not see if you can do a swap with someone? The 330d is rare enough, and you might well find someone who wants to upgrade a 320.

MetzgerMeister

stodwyer wrote: »

What's with the +1?

+1 means that the poster also agrees with the post he/she quoted

stodwyer

I am willing to swap for a mondeo passat or even a 320d. I just haveto wait and see if there are interested parties. Insurance is no problem as I'm no young man. Thank god.

Eoin

stodwyer wrote: »

I am willing to swap for a mondeo passat or even a 320d. I just haveto wait and see if there are interested parties. Insurance is no problem as I'm no young man. Thank god.

CBG now have a wanted section where you can specify the car you want to trade in, which might be helpful - and of course there's www.adverts.ie where lots of people look for part exchanges.

There's also www.carswap.ie but unfortunately it doesn't seem to have that much traffic.

cantdecide

With the mileage and age, you'll swap the engine and you can be sure of teething problems. How much will it cost to buy an engine and ECUs etc? Labour with inevitable servicing and incidentals? I think that by the time you're done, you'll be driving for 2 years before you break even. What will teh mileage on the car be then?

Personally, I wouldn't have the heart to bastardize a nice car like that either.

Gumbo

stodwyer wrote: »

I am willing to swap for a mondeo passat or even a 320d. I just haveto wait and see if there are interested parties. Insurance is no problem as I'm no young man. Thank god.

any link or photos of your car?

Looney idea to be honest, would take you 5 years to recoup the outlay for the engine change from the tax saving, total and utter false economy. You should have no bother swapping the wheels though, throw an add up on donedeal or similar.

I imagine an e46 3.0 diesel with 160,000 miles on it is worth quite small money so the cost to change to a 2.0 diesel would also be prohibitive, for the sake of a €12/week saving in roadtax I wouldn't bother. Surely there are easier ways of saving €12/week, cut down on the takeaways, few less snacks with the tea breaks etc etc

Idbatterim

Op how much would you get for your car? 02 3 series saloons start from about E5500 (on carzone atleast), thats for the 148 bhp engine.

Idbatterim

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/320-E46-/201036199454665/advert?channel=CARS

just saw the above one, leather, mfsw and climate control...

Matt Simis

eoin wrote: »

Check your insurance as well. It might be a smaller engine, but they might still load you as it's "modified". They can be like that!

Why not see if you can do a swap with someone? The 330d is rare enough, and you might well find someone who wants to upgrade a 320.

Just about to say that, must be a sizable number of 320d drivers want something bigger.

Eoin

Still - the more I think about it, the less sense it makes. Even a straight swap for something with less road tax means that you're getting a car (probably also with a lot of miles) that isn't a known quantity like your car.

Spending a load of cash just to save road tax and get cheaper tires is just like spending thousands on a piggy bank to keep your coppers in.

stodwyer

The reason I'm selling is the tyres. I have the 18" mv alloys and I travel from limerick the Kerry daily and the roads on the way have to be the worst around. Also we are expecting another child and the 3 series In my opinion will not cater for 2 baby seats.
I've pasted a link to the car. I have the cost reduced for a quick sale. It is the se model with sport kit. I bought it that way. I've done nothing to it.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1524445

I do think that If I gave up the takeaways it would be easier. Ha.

Gumbo

stodwyer wrote: »

The reason I'm selling is the tyres. I have the 18" mv alloys and I travel from limerick the Kerry daily and the roads on the way have to be the worst around. Also we are expecting another child and the 3 series In my opinion will not cater for 2 baby seats.
I've pasted a link to the car. I have the cost reduced for a quick sale. It is the se model with sport kit. I bought it that way. I've done nothing to it.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1524445

I do think that If I gave up the takeaways it would be easier. Ha.

from looking at the ad it looks like an SE with M-Sport bumpers, not a sport as you have described (seats, gear knob and steering wheel give it away), otherwise, looks like a nice car. i would keep it as the savings will be quite low imo.

2 baby seats fit very comfortably in the rear along with an average sized adult in the centre, so to me it sounds like your trying to justify a change to yourself!

if its just the tyres, try do a swap on donedeal or adverts, straight swap, your 18" for somebody elses 16" wheels, im sure you'll get lots of replies.

Gary ITR

Matt Simis wrote: »

Just about to say that, must be a sizable number of 320d drivers want something bigger.

Most BMW drivers wish they had something bigger, sure isn't that why they drive BMW's in the first place








:pac: Oh I'm gonna pay for that one

Gumbo

Onkle wrote: »

Most BMW drivers wish they had something bigger, sure isn't that why they drive BMW's in the first place








:pac: Oh I'm gonna pay for that one

ooooohhhhhhh get your coat...........

stodwyer

stodwyer wrote: »

The reason I'm selling is the tyres.

You'd get a sway easily for some 17s, so that in looney justification to change a car. Don't see how a Passat or Mondeo is any better for two child seats.

From the little that is visible that looks a lovely house

mickdw

It would possibly be cheaper to actually give your car away & buy a 320d than to swap out engine & fit new wheels. That is how silly the whole plan is. Get some new wheels & tyres via swap or buy new ones when your current tyres are worn but sticking to your 3.0 is surely the sensible option

stodwyer

House is my own design. I drew it myself. Cheers.

I am not trying to justify a change. I'm just thinking that if I sold the car I could get a younger more efficient car. Maybe i'm niave to think that. So changing the engine is my last resort in saving the expenses.

I must change that ad too on donedeal to state it's the se model.

Sean

listermint

OP, you might try over on www.bmw-driver.net

There has been people pining after 330d's in the past.

kdevitt

stodwyer wrote: »

The reason I'm selling is the tyres. I have the 18" mv alloys

You'll easily get someone to swap a set of 16's for those - the MV's are a lovely wheel imo

Eoin

kdevitt wrote: »

You'll easily get someone to swap a set of 16's for those - the MV's are a lovely wheel imo

Agreed - I always regretted not buying yours. Do you reckon someone would throw in a few extra hundred along with a set of 16"s?

kdevitt

eoin wrote: »

Agreed - I always regretted not buying yours. Do you reckon someone would throw in a few extra hundred along with a set of 16"s?

Maybe €200 or so - don't think theres a huge difference in value, unless theres
really good tyres on the 18's and rough ones in the 16's.

Actually considering the MV's for my 330i if I come across a set!

stodwyer

I don't know about a few hundred. I would like to see what they are going for first. Irelands potholes are unreal. I like the ones on the car but I'm throwing new tyres on it every 3 weeks at least.

stodwyer

Will the 16's fit the brakes on the 330d?

kdevitt

stodwyer wrote: »

Will the 16's fit the brakes on the 330d?

Hmm...they may not. Can only see 17's and 18's on the BMW parts listing.

Check your spare wheel - might be a small size.

stodwyer

I have a small spacesaver in the boot I'll check.

JJJJNR

I'd go with the smaller tire size (16) and hold on to the car put another 160k up!

unkel

If €600 extra in tax over a 320d is really too much for you, maybe you should sell the 330d and buy an old banger* for less than a grand...

*an old banger isn't what it used to be, a grand will buy you a relatively modern and safe car with a long NCT (see the bangernomics thread)