ruaangrobler
New member
Hey guys, thanks a lot for all the help with the questions. I bought myself a 2003 330i individual 5 spd from Monaco motors in Gezina. Got 123 000kms on, sunroof, 6cd changer, bluetooth(aftermarket). Sea Blue. Will post pictures soon.
I'm absolutely LOOOOVING it. Big upgrade for me. I loved my old car, a 99 citigolf 1.3 lux(carb). She was my best friend for 7 yrs, and my dad's best friend before that. I swear I was really close to crying when giving her up (she was still in very good shape), but the moment I turned the key and heared the 3.0L straight six roar into life behind my bum I was sad no more.
This was tuesday night, I've already done almost all kinds of driving with it, including 90kms of highway back to Joburg West, many quick drives for mates and family members, heavy traffic, Very wet weather and my favourite, the 'sunroof open all the way sunny sky' driving. What a car. It also is much more frugal than I expected. I was expecting about 15L/100km with my lead foot and the heavy traffic, but I'm currently on 11ish. Damn - that's what I got from my Golf 1.3 (I drove it quite briskly though). This car weighs twice as much and is 4 times as powerful.
I do have a question or two for you guys. One or two issues.
1. I need to replace a bracket on the rear right window trim(the high gloss black bit). It's that small white plastic clip. Can those be purchased loose?
2. The car idles a bit high. When I stop and put the clutch in, it blurbs to about 1100rpm, and then settles to 1000rpm. Isn't this a bit high?
3. Also rev related. After hard(ish) driving(not breaking, just full throttle fun), I find the revs tend to 'bounce' when I put the cluth in (or in neutral) when standing still, almost like I'm gently feathering the throttle. Jumps between 1000rpm up to even 1700rpm - foot off the gass, car in neutral, standing still. This worries me a bit - doesn't seem right.
4. I know I should find this in my manual, but I'm guessing it was tuned for 98ron(in Europe) unleaded,which we don't get) - so 95 is the way to go, right?
5. I've noticed the VIN is WBA - which is Germany. Does that mean this car was built in Germany, or could it have been built here even though the vin says WBA. Just curious.
6. Will post pictures soon - I just have exams on monday - so I need to sit my ass down in front of my books - as much as I would love to spend all weekend admiring and polishing my car.
7. I know you guys have done a few threads on car care. I'm battling to find good ones on general care. You discuss black trims and sort of - specialised - items. I need some advice on the basics. What 'shampoo' do you use - do you rinse down afterwards, what mag cleaner (been using clean green for years on the golf). I've got the stuff I used to clean my golf with, but it's sort of budget conscious stuff. I want to splash out and buy the best for my BM.
And can you please cover decent hand polishing and waxing topics somewhere - in idiots' speak. From the differences in Polish and waxing, to the whole wash process - when to wax - when to polish, what works best on windows. Also what tyre care products, and leather care that doesn't make the leather look shiney - since that looks cheap(personal taste).
Maybe a step-by-step of the whole wash routine.
Feels soooo good to drive a bmw.
Ruaan
I'm absolutely LOOOOVING it. Big upgrade for me. I loved my old car, a 99 citigolf 1.3 lux(carb). She was my best friend for 7 yrs, and my dad's best friend before that. I swear I was really close to crying when giving her up (she was still in very good shape), but the moment I turned the key and heared the 3.0L straight six roar into life behind my bum I was sad no more.
This was tuesday night, I've already done almost all kinds of driving with it, including 90kms of highway back to Joburg West, many quick drives for mates and family members, heavy traffic, Very wet weather and my favourite, the 'sunroof open all the way sunny sky' driving. What a car. It also is much more frugal than I expected. I was expecting about 15L/100km with my lead foot and the heavy traffic, but I'm currently on 11ish. Damn - that's what I got from my Golf 1.3 (I drove it quite briskly though). This car weighs twice as much and is 4 times as powerful.
I do have a question or two for you guys. One or two issues.
1. I need to replace a bracket on the rear right window trim(the high gloss black bit). It's that small white plastic clip. Can those be purchased loose?
2. The car idles a bit high. When I stop and put the clutch in, it blurbs to about 1100rpm, and then settles to 1000rpm. Isn't this a bit high?
3. Also rev related. After hard(ish) driving(not breaking, just full throttle fun), I find the revs tend to 'bounce' when I put the cluth in (or in neutral) when standing still, almost like I'm gently feathering the throttle. Jumps between 1000rpm up to even 1700rpm - foot off the gass, car in neutral, standing still. This worries me a bit - doesn't seem right.
4. I know I should find this in my manual, but I'm guessing it was tuned for 98ron(in Europe) unleaded,which we don't get) - so 95 is the way to go, right?
5. I've noticed the VIN is WBA - which is Germany. Does that mean this car was built in Germany, or could it have been built here even though the vin says WBA. Just curious.
6. Will post pictures soon - I just have exams on monday - so I need to sit my ass down in front of my books - as much as I would love to spend all weekend admiring and polishing my car.
7. I know you guys have done a few threads on car care. I'm battling to find good ones on general care. You discuss black trims and sort of - specialised - items. I need some advice on the basics. What 'shampoo' do you use - do you rinse down afterwards, what mag cleaner (been using clean green for years on the golf). I've got the stuff I used to clean my golf with, but it's sort of budget conscious stuff. I want to splash out and buy the best for my BM.
And can you please cover decent hand polishing and waxing topics somewhere - in idiots' speak. From the differences in Polish and waxing, to the whole wash process - when to wax - when to polish, what works best on windows. Also what tyre care products, and leather care that doesn't make the leather look shiney - since that looks cheap(personal taste).
Maybe a step-by-step of the whole wash routine.
Feels soooo good to drive a bmw.
Ruaan
:thumbsup:
