that_guy_Ettiene
///Member
car is looking very very good buds.
-
Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
Riaad's 330d
- Thread starter Riaad
- Start date
Vaai turn salt bto....
Masha Allah looks good
Sent from my SM-G998B using Tapatalk
Masha Allah looks good
Sent from my SM-G998B using Tapatalk
Riaad
Events Organiser
Quick Update...1 month later, I finally got a chance to fit the CF splitter.
Took about 2.5 hours and couple cuts and bruises...Definitely not the smartest idea to try installing without removing the wheels 🙃
Anyway, the splitter is one full piece, opted to bolt the far ends to the bumper, cable tie and 3M VHB tape...Hopefully this one doesn't decide to fly off in Mexico.
Some quick pics after the install (still need to get some proper pics taken)
Forgot how good a splitter complements the F30, and in Carbon Fiber
Things get Extremely close to driveways, so lowering doesn't seem like a viable option for now.
Happy with Front end for now...will turn my attention to the rear next
Took about 2.5 hours and couple cuts and bruises...Definitely not the smartest idea to try installing without removing the wheels 🙃
Anyway, the splitter is one full piece, opted to bolt the far ends to the bumper, cable tie and 3M VHB tape...Hopefully this one doesn't decide to fly off in Mexico.
Some quick pics after the install (still need to get some proper pics taken)
Forgot how good a splitter complements the F30, and in Carbon Fiber
Things get Extremely close to driveways, so lowering doesn't seem like a viable option for now.
Happy with Front end for now...will turn my attention to the rear next
///M Individual
Well-known member
Stunning bud! Rare seeing the CF splitters.
Pity about the driveway clearance as the front wheel gap is glaring at these angles.
Pity about the driveway clearance as the front wheel gap is glaring at these angles.
Kyle
///Member
Pics are very deceiving, looks like a different car in person.... Just perfect.
///M Individual
Well-known member
Makes sense, think it's just the angle of the pic....Maybe I will get to see it in person at the KZN event @Riaad is currently planning
Riaad
Events Organiser
yeah, likely cause of the price variance between plastic and CF...most places dont even stock the CF splitter.
The wheel gap isnt so bad
...not ideal, but not terrible.If it was unbearable, I would have opted to lower and not put a splitter on.
Camiel Singh
Member
Bud your car looking amazing.
Can I ask how much work the retro fitting of the LCI Tail lights required and what it entailed?
Can I ask how much work the retro fitting of the LCI Tail lights required and what it entailed?
Camiel Singh
Member
Riaad
Events Organiser
Thanks bud...I posted a detailed DIY a while back.
https://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/threads/f30-lci-tail-light-retrofit-oem.96360/
you can pm me if you have any further questions.
Riaad
Events Organiser
Looks like I missed the annual post for 2023 , Just ticked past 3 years of ownership...so its prudent to post an update on how things have been going.
I'll start by saying the parts collection has grown, but 'mostly' haven't been fitted
Since the last post in 2022, She has been moving along nicely and attended what must be the last BMWfanatics KZN event
Can't not post a pic of a M4 CSL
Over the December (2022) holidays, I took the time to pull off the intake (as my new job was a mere 3kms journey, and although I drove around aimlessly most days to get in a decent heat cycle, on occasion this was not possible). Too my surprise, the intake had minimal soot, which was cleaned off and refitted.
As Christmas gift to myself, I managed to find a set of ACS springs - Not many people have these locally given the price point vs H&R or Eibach alternatives. From my reviews, the ACS springs offer the smallest drop vs the alternatives, but in return they don't compromise comfort and shock deterioration whilst significantly improving the handling over stock.
2023 left zero time for anything car related, SO had taken up a job in JHB, and with my project commitments, resulted in a lot of travel between DBN/JHB. Her job also came along with a Car Allowance/Benefit, which meant the 330d and X1 lived in Durban, and the X1 becoming my daily commuter.
Feeling like the 330d wasn't getting the love it deserved, I sourced a Carbon Fiber Mperformance diffuser, but unfortunitely I could not get it to fit, and did not want to risk breaking it, so I opted to swap that out for a plastic 'more aggressive' mperformance style diffuser and side sills...The Carbon did look great - a mod I may go back to at some point.
Closing out 2023, we moved up full time to JHB, which meant the 330d made the trip up in December, and the X1 was left behind in DBN (taken over by my Dad).
On to 2024...A random issue that was present at time of purchase was starting to bug me, and that was the AC shutting down when the car was stationary. The codes suggested that the refrigerant was either low or over filled. Had the AC regassed at BMW, however the issue persisted. Fortunately this 'issue' did not give any issues in performance, or cooling of the engine whilst in Durban. However given that JHB is prone to far worse traffic and higher ambient temperatures, I could not run the risk of running into any over heating issues. It was therefore a top priority of mine, I started off by replacing the electric fan relay - a relatively inexpensive exercise which took a few mins to swap in, however no success - this left me with no choice but to replace the electric fan itself ...a relatively expensive exercise. Fortunately this has remedied the issue and Aircon works as it should ...which was much needed with the heat JHB experienced earlier this year.
Random Pic alongside the newly acquired F10 from a fellow fanatic (will hopefully get down to creating a new thread for this)...
And now...the highlight...
After having the ACS springs boxed for well over a year, I finally got down to getting them installed!
A common mistake when lowering springs are fitted to f3x model is that the original bump stops are retained (when paired with stock shocks), given that lowering springs are shorter than the stock springs, the bump stops are engaged at most times, therefore rendering the springs useless - this leads to complaints that the comfort is lost. A quick fix is to cut a section off the original bump stop, these bump stops are progressive by design, and given the years of wear and tear they would experience on our roads, I opted to do things the right way...which is replacing them with F8x M bump stops, these are shorter than the f3x version and work perfectly with lowering springs. At under R1k for the set, this was a no brainer imo. As seen below, the rears were is rough shape...after a mere 80k kms. Happy to report, the original shocks are still good.
...and I am rather pleased to say, that she is sitting perfectly especially with the OEM 788m wheels!
Handling has improved significantly, cornering is much more composed and 'flat', and the front end no longer gets 'loose' on harder acceleration. In terms of comfort, I'd say it feels slightly stiffer (that said, I don't normally drive on poor roads with this car), if I had to draw a comparison, the F30 with ACS springs is still more comfortable than the stock e90 msport suspension.
Some pics taken at a recent Rennzport breakfast run...Its rather difficult to walk away without turning back these days 😍
Hopefully I have some more time on my hands in the near future and can dive into my parts collections...
Things to fit: F8x steering wheel and paddles, Mperf Carbon trims, Colour matched Mperf Side Sills
Things to source: F8x M Calipers - if anyone happens to have a lead on a set of these in good condition...please drop me a PM
And that brings this update to a close...with this milestone.
, Just ticked past 3 years of ownership...so its prudent to post an update on how things have been going.I'll start by saying the parts collection has grown, but 'mostly' haven't been fitted
Since the last post in 2022, She has been moving along nicely and attended what must be the last BMWfanatics KZN event
Can't not post a pic of a M4 CSL
Over the December (2022) holidays, I took the time to pull off the intake (as my new job was a mere 3kms journey, and although I drove around aimlessly most days to get in a decent heat cycle, on occasion this was not possible). Too my surprise, the intake had minimal soot, which was cleaned off and refitted.
As Christmas gift to myself, I managed to find a set of ACS springs - Not many people have these locally given the price point vs H&R or Eibach alternatives. From my reviews, the ACS springs offer the smallest drop vs the alternatives, but in return they don't compromise comfort and shock deterioration whilst significantly improving the handling over stock.
2023 left zero time for anything car related, SO had taken up a job in JHB, and with my project commitments, resulted in a lot of travel between DBN/JHB. Her job also came along with a Car Allowance/Benefit, which meant the 330d and X1 lived in Durban, and the X1 becoming my daily commuter.
Feeling like the 330d wasn't getting the love it deserved, I sourced a Carbon Fiber Mperformance diffuser, but unfortunitely I could not get it to fit, and did not want to risk breaking it, so I opted to swap that out for a plastic 'more aggressive' mperformance style diffuser and side sills...The Carbon did look great - a mod I may go back to at some point.
Closing out 2023, we moved up full time to JHB, which meant the 330d made the trip up in December, and the X1 was left behind in DBN (taken over by my Dad).
On to 2024...A random issue that was present at time of purchase was starting to bug me, and that was the AC shutting down when the car was stationary. The codes suggested that the refrigerant was either low or over filled. Had the AC regassed at BMW, however the issue persisted. Fortunately this 'issue' did not give any issues in performance, or cooling of the engine whilst in Durban. However given that JHB is prone to far worse traffic and higher ambient temperatures, I could not run the risk of running into any over heating issues. It was therefore a top priority of mine, I started off by replacing the electric fan relay - a relatively inexpensive exercise which took a few mins to swap in, however no success - this left me with no choice but to replace the electric fan itself ...a relatively expensive exercise. Fortunately this has remedied the issue and Aircon works as it should ...which was much needed with the heat JHB experienced earlier this year.
Random Pic alongside the newly acquired F10 from a fellow fanatic (will hopefully get down to creating a new thread for this)...
And now...the highlight...
After having the ACS springs boxed for well over a year, I finally got down to getting them installed!
A common mistake when lowering springs are fitted to f3x model is that the original bump stops are retained (when paired with stock shocks), given that lowering springs are shorter than the stock springs, the bump stops are engaged at most times, therefore rendering the springs useless - this leads to complaints that the comfort is lost. A quick fix is to cut a section off the original bump stop, these bump stops are progressive by design, and given the years of wear and tear they would experience on our roads, I opted to do things the right way...which is replacing them with F8x M bump stops, these are shorter than the f3x version and work perfectly with lowering springs. At under R1k for the set, this was a no brainer imo. As seen below, the rears were is rough shape...after a mere 80k kms. Happy to report, the original shocks are still good.
...and I am rather pleased to say, that she is sitting perfectly especially with the OEM 788m wheels!
Handling has improved significantly, cornering is much more composed and 'flat', and the front end no longer gets 'loose' on harder acceleration. In terms of comfort, I'd say it feels slightly stiffer (that said, I don't normally drive on poor roads with this car), if I had to draw a comparison, the F30 with ACS springs is still more comfortable than the stock e90 msport suspension.
Some pics taken at a recent Rennzport breakfast run...Its rather difficult to walk away without turning back these days 😍
Hopefully I have some more time on my hands in the near future and can dive into my parts collections...
Things to fit: F8x steering wheel and paddles, Mperf Carbon trims, Colour matched Mperf Side Sills
Things to source: F8x M Calipers - if anyone happens to have a lead on a set of these in good condition...please drop me a PM
And that brings this update to a close...with this milestone.
///M Individual
Well-known member
Wow looks fantastic with the drop bud, just perfect!
Congrats on the move to Jhb and all the best!
Congrats on the move to Jhb and all the best!
Riaad
Events Organiser
I think you meant
