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Buying cheap 330ci from trade with possible rear knocking

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2K views 12 replies 9 participants last post by  Kevin Whittaker 
#1 · (Edited)
Hi there,

As mentioned in my introduction post here, I have put down a deposit on a cheap 330ci, which is just £3k as the body work needs a few quid throwing at. Otherwise it is a beatutiful car, which I have fell in love with.

However when test driving 1 thing I did notice was that when changing gear at times a deep knocking noise could slightly be heard from the rear. I also noticed this on a 4 door I test drove a few months back so thought it must have been the norm in some way. The dealer says though that it is just the suspension mount or something, is common with a car of this age, is a cheap fix and not a problem.

But reading on here I have read about this sub frame tear issue, which is a little more serious and worrying. Being as I am buying from trade and have put a deposit down I am thinking of taking the car when I pick it up to my nearby specilalist to check this for me. If it turns out to be more serious surely the garage must take it back under the sale of goods act?

(Also when changing down from 5th the stick didn't spring back to neutral below 3rd, but this seems a minor fix perhaps if you can get to the gearbox?)
 
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#5 ·
I am in the same boat at the minute mate concerned about the Sub-frame issue after reading the recent thread :eek.

My 4 door I bought couple of weeks ago sometimes makes the clunk depending on how fast I dip the clutch in relation to releasing the accelerator.

I had a friend of mine who is a mechanic check it over on the test drive and he also said that it sounds like bushes that need replacing :confused
 
#6 ·
Our E46 328 started making a knock when pulling away and as Boostist says it was the diff. Cant remember what it actually was which made the noise in the diff but it sounds like the same thing.

Also, how many miles has it on the clock, because at about 130000 the gear linkage got sloppy and you had to be careful in getting the right gear sometimes. Not an expensive fix though.

Amos
 
#7 ·
I have just emailed the dealer stating that I am buying the car as having no major faults and that it will be checked over by my specialist (Allen PMW in Pershore - bimmerlovin who do you use?). If it turns out to be something like sub frame tear then I have told the dealer that I will hand it them back as per my consumer rights. I would walk away if it was private!
 
#9 ·
The clunking noise could be a great many things - I get it on my 325ci too and have kind of got used to it.

I have read that the most likely cuplrit is the propshaft bearing - next time I get mine up on stands I might try changing this see if it helps.
 
#13 ·
Thought so. I'd only ever heard of problems with the early 328ci's.

Most of these things are abit scaremongerish. Like the M3 evo vanos issues.
Think that there is much more of an issue with the VANOS TBH....;) If I had an M3 EVO, between the VANOS, crank shells and gearboxes I would be sh***ng myself... Like driving time bomb....;)
 
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