BMW 'Spec E46' 330ci - (Track) One Take

Filmed at the #GRIDLIFE Motorsports and Music Festival, Gingerman Raceway, South Haven, MI, June 2017. For information about upcoming #GRIDLIFE events visit: www.grid.life
This BMW 330ci has been turned into a competitive Spec E46 race car, in accordance with their rules by weekend racer Bill Griffin using parts from Turner Motorsport and others, and running a Turner tribute livery.
Full Build List:
Engine:Stock M54 motor (maximum 225hp)E36 headers and spec Magnaflow exhaust system, Epic Motorsports tune, VAC Motrosports oil pan baffle and oil pump shaft upgrade. JB Racing light weight flywheel and Sachs clutch.
Suspension:MCS single adjustable non remote shocks with Hyperco springs, Turner swaybars, lower control arms, shocks mounts and chamber plates.
Chassis: AKG Motorsport engine, tranny and diff mounts along with subframe reinforcing kit and AKG shifter.
Brakes: are stock clalipers and rotors (per spec rules) solid brass caliper bushings, stainless steel lines and Hawk DTC 60 pads.
Driveline:3J Driveline clutch type LSD. Apex 17x9 wheels and Toyo RR 255/40 for dry and RA1 235/40 for wet.
Interior:Custom built roll cage, VAC Motorsports seat mounts and Sparco seat. TRS harness. Momo steering wheel. AiM solo DL.
Link to build thread:
forum.e46fanati...

[@WOOWOW96]

Why don't more youtubers do grip driving/spec racing instead of drifting? This was great.

[@seanpetersen5553]

WOOWOW96 most aren't nearly as qualified or as capable a driver as Matt.

[@dhendry71]

because little kids prefer to watch 2jz 350z drift build by tj hunt and watch his 5 drift videos....its just more appealing to the mass while more true enthusiast would probably appreciate this.

[@Prime.Era.]

WOOWOW96 check out dannydc2 for that stuff

[@WOOWOW96]

TheHK2127 I'm a long-time subscriber

[@nikonordman7624]

WOOWOW96 agree

[@Bimmerman97]

The 330ci is amazing car, I don't think I'll ever get rid of mine.

[@TenzaMotorsports]

Amen

[@sirlaxalotNJ]

@@TenzaMotorsports ayyy tenza love ur vids

[@TenzaMotorsports]

ZHP Specific thanks!

[@sirlaxalotNJ]

@@TenzaMotorsports hell yeah brother, I subscribed like a week ago!

[@sirlaxalotNJ]

@@TenzaMotorsports subscribe to me too if you dont mind haha. I just started e46 content 😄

[@infidel900rr]

This video is a great portrayal of why so many people love their BMWs (myself included).

[@Alexandrepenim]

E46 is exactly that progressive and forgiving yet not boring or slow. I drive one on city everyday and at night it drifts beautifully.

[@rubenmartinez5732]

I do the same thing, my new daily and when I get out of work late I just floor it through some back roads and let her slide a bit. Nothing beats that

[@S3v3n13tt3r5]

Video doesn't do justice how fun it would be to do that.

[@AceOfSpaces17]

Legend says that to this day Matt Farah is still taking that corner like a bitch

[@OscarMaris]

he moved on that corner like a bitch

[@jjh2923]

All we know is: hes not the stig.

[@C.Sivo55]

6 years later, still ongoing

[@ags920]

I love the brutal honesty that Matt shows "I really took that corner like a bitch".

[@ManeleNation]

E46 is love..e46 is life

[@RJ4evr]

Manele Nation indeed :D

[@BuiltForRedline]

Knew this was coming because of E46fanatics!

[@RJ4evr]

Manele Nation lol small world

[@RJ4evr]

ekdromoi actually they are not lots are still owned by enthusiasts as second cars....I still have my 330ci ijs

[@peteb1854]

+RJ4evr I absolutely second that. I have an E46 as a third car. Can't buy a decent E46 M3 in New Zealand for love nor money so the 330 is a fun option instead. Must admit the VF stage 1 super kit is becoming very very tempting and I like that it's pretty reversible. Have you seen Matt's review of a supercharged 330? It's really cool.

[@m0thaphucka638]

e46 330s are just wonderful cars

[@carlosbarragan1673]

I had a 330ci manual 7 years ago.. they wake up a lot..f you change to limited slip differential... they accelerate faster with that.. and only with headers catback and tune.. they become really fun... they are quick.. not super fast but enough to have fun... i did 14.3 on the quarter with those mods...

[@SenszR]

M0thaphucka I love it more than the M3

[@chriserz94]

Why do you love it more than the M3?

[@SenszR]

E246ixer unmistakable class and character

[@stektirade]

Except for the rear chassis

[@Adub31]

i have on 03 330ci as my daily and it is an absolute tank have put over 30k miles on it since i got it at 129k for $6k and i couldn't be happier with it. plan is once i get enough money is to go full spec E46, amazing video as usual Matt!

[@troyhale8532]

The owner of this car is a Great Lakes NASA celebrity, everyone loves him, great guy!

[@ayarm9]

Yup! Great guy and great instructor

[@FRob911]

I laughed so hard at "this is not how you take that corner sir"

[@ChristopherGuilday]

I've got myself a 2003 330CI convertible 5 speed. I love it. Nothing drives quite the same.

[@hovnojede010101]

I always enjoy matt's track videos , this was no expection. and that mustang peek-a-boo at the end, though.

[@BIMMERZEITT]

Very cool, would love to see more E46 and E39 videos. Older generation I grew up with that is accessible and affordable for most these days. Nice work.

[@kdoeone]

When they still showed car racing in canada. This was the car that dominated the tracks.

[@John-qc1zv]

I was thinking to buy an M2c for a new daily. After seeing this, I building a E46 project car now :D

[@dericanslum1696]

...a tuned "ultimate driving machine" is a pleasure to drive...thanks for the breaking news Matt...!!!...

[@TheMichael791]

What a awesome BMW cheers bill

[@johnnyisahermit]

I know im very late to this video but i have had my 330ci since when it came out and i got mine for DIRT cheap, very fun cars.

[@pabauza]

I want one. Pretty cool track car. I remember when these 330's were fast road cars.

[@MrDanielsahne]

With a turbo they still are

[@RumblestripDotNet]

This is the perfect car for Gingerman. I drove a widebody Hellcat around here at a school earlier this month and while fun, it was way too much for such a tight track.

[@Kultivater]

Correction: The 330Ci has roughly 230hp stock. I have one from 2001, and I can vouch for everything he's saying. The car is a dream to drive, and for what it is, it's very fast. My best 0-60 time(5 speed manual) was 5.8 seconds. Particularly 2nd gear is very torquey. I love the stock ratios. The down side is you'll play hell trying to install turbos on an e46's m54 engine. But, if you manage to get twin turbos on it, you can boost to roughly 460hp, which would make that car basically decimate everything else in its class. Even the M3, being that the 330Ci is about 100lbs lighter.

[@thapelophiri2292]

Why is it complicated to turbo the E46 M54?

[@Kultivater]

@@thapelophiri2292 Because there's very little space for it. It would take heavy modifications to fit 2 of them, and even for 1 of them you'd have to cut your exhaust manifold to fit it, and run into other space issues.

[@turbomopie]

Really enjoyable to see matt push a car a little harder and show off his skills

[@FULLTHROTTLEAUTO]

I love the track one takes. This was awesome to watch!

[@morganbagert]

These are so cheap in the UK I bought one for £2K, body work is a bit ropey, but mechanically sound and I will soon turn it into a track car.; So much car for the money.

[@ScottPC]

Morgan Bagert I've been debating what car to get next for a track car, debating between one of these or a MX5, tax is a lot on the straight 6 which puts me off for how much use it'll get!

[@ThexMJT]

Its extremely tempting to buy one and do this reckon could have it track ready for another 1k depending how much work is needed to it and what you wanted to do with it. Plus its a fine looking car.

[@youran1312]

Morgan Bagert im doing it right now

[@morganbagert]

ThatGuyNamedScott. C the tax is £300 a year not so bad imo. Mx5 is a good choice as well. I just fancied something with a little more grunt.

[@morganbagert]

daniel0663 mine just had mot and service was £400 total. Only problem mine has had is the alternator failed. Which was £300 to fix.

[@ButteredUpToast]

These spec cars get ridiculously expensive to build but it looks like its worth every penny

[@foadrightnow5725]

That looks like it would be a blast! Your driving skills have improved considerably! More aggressive, yet smoother and more consistent.

[@alpinaB12coupe]

Good. Now i want E46 coupe

[@glorence330]

ill sell you mine. $4K

[@8ball1901]

I got my 328ci for $4000 3 years ago with 147k miles ...so shouldn't be too expensive

[@Packrus]

You better check the subframe before you buy one

[@m0thaphucka638]

get a 330. the differences between a 328/325 and a 330 is honestly gross lol

[@8ball1901]

M0thaphucka i agree lol i regret not waiting to save $1000 more to get a 330

[@NeverLetOff]

Dammit Matt, now I want to make one... I am going to die broke on a throne of cars..

[@jakemorrison6198]

"I'm still taking that corner like a massive pussy" 😂😂😂 love his honesty

[@saucyp123]

12:13 "my man's got an uber sticker on there!" idk why but this was the funniest thing lmao

[@literbiker]

Nice car. Good commentary as always. Great engine note. Good job Matt

[@andriyskrinnik2758]

These cars are probably the best bang for the buck right now. Ive seen them for 1k in california!

[@French20cent]

That's it, I have to buy a BMW now. Again.

[@DoctorDARKSIDE]

Awesome One Take, really enjoyed being out of the canyons for a change!

[@ayanami808]

Great video! I love watching one takes where Matt gets excited and comfortable driving

[@user-ne3rb8qo7l]

Loving the track one takes matt

[@randy438]

It would be really cool to see Matt do a build series on a car and race it. I'd like to see what his ideal car/setup would be.

[@MrDanielsahne]

The standard 330s have 231hp and with some good ecu tune, sharper camshafts and a better manifold they make easy 260+.

[@rendaddy_]

You should totally film more on these events, not just One Takes, but going around the parking lot and filiming cars.

[@xMrin10se]

He did that last year a bit

[@hubertkolka3107]

Love these one takes, definitely want to go to Gridlife next year.

[@NDakovic]

I own this car with Factory sports suspension, its awesome. Im glad you enjoyed it. I hope you get to run it in the canyons with sport suspension or good mod suspension.

[@NateZ6]

I had a go in the passenger seat at the NASA event in Autobahn Country Club last August. It almost ripped my face off with Bill behind the wheel going easy-pace on street tires. We were lapping HPDE 2 cars like they're standing still lol.

[@FalconXE302]

For my part, you seem to be taking the corners pretty good virtually every lap... granted I'm no racing driver... but that track looks quite technical with the double apexes etc... looks like fun, but potentially easy to come "undone". Well done Matt.

[@rcairforceone]

FalconXE302 It's a great track. I ran there in May on One Lap, and it was a great time. That double apex is bear to get right on the first try. And turn 1 (the one he kept saying he was taking like a punk) is deceiving. On approach, depending on your car and talent you'll be close to 80mph or more once you hit the braking zone. The turn looks sharp, so you scrub off a bunch of speed to make sure you can hold on. Once you hit the turn in, you'll feel slow as hell. Like a lot of tracks, you need balls of steel to run this hard.

[@peteb1854]

Thanks for the video Matt. I really enjoyed watching you getting into the 330. That looked like a boatload of fun. Nice job.

[@richardharrold9736]

I would so build a Spec E46 330i Touring... because fast wagons are cool!

[@gettcouped]

Salute to a Bill!

[@Dmxravin]

You can see here that the 3.0 engine revs really slowly yet it is the most desirable engine. The 2.5 is much more rev happy and more suited for track imo.

[@trevorjaster4072]

I live right down the road from the track and i saw that car today when i was watching the nasa race

[@joshriver75]

You can get a pretty decent 330 these days for good bit less than $7000 I would say.

[@rileyhughes5613]

Josh River dude 330s are worth roughly like $17.47 and a used towelette...

[@makeshiftgarage627]

Going straight to CL looking for 330's

[@jjh2923]

Currently own a E46 and its my first car. I think its a rly good car for a first car because its safe and fun at the same time. Next car will be either a E46 M3 or a newer 3 series coupe. Probably will go for the M3 if i can find a good one though because anything newer than the E46 tends to have 'modern car issues'. They just don't build them like they used to.

[@pack-a-punched2404]

I've been running e46s

[@chunkmunk9092]

Horizontal Tendencies want a cookie

[@ArekThorne]

@@chunkmunk9092He's been running e46s

[@motorvidz101]

Good stuff Mr farrah

[@scottryana]

What?!!?? No ball powder? No cheap watches?? Did I click on the wrong channel? lol

[@phillipberk5767]

scottryana I wouldn't call them cheap but compare them to my audemars I guess so haha, but they are still nice watches, and that's coming from a collector

[@DriversSide]

That was fun to watch when you were in traffic!

[@PrinceRodriguezTV]

E46's 330ci don't get the respect it deserves. Straight 6 & 225 hp stock.

[@N0TThatCrazy]

Turner Motorsports is great! Just bought csl bumper for my e46 m3 :)

[@BimmerM5e39]

I like the E46 but not that rear subframe

[@blackjacket_]

9:50 - quote of the year

[@Petrolheadd-u2u]

Just bought myself one of these i love it up till now as long as i dont put it inn a hedge😁

[@jordanrunes3792]

RIP S2000

[@KRBY555]

one of your best

[@computiNATEor]

Sounds good, too. Nice.

[@justinallison1442]

I've done this in my E46 non spec 330i with koni FSD shocks eibach Springs and eibach sway bars and it was still fun as hell around Laguna Seca. I have the video on my channel.

[@kevinragnauth9575]

5:53 Is that a VQ? Those things can sound good?!?!

[@joseverdejo9010]

Great review , I dont believe the car would really die in 5th though cause 5th is 1:1 and revs stay up there

[@jackjetpilot]

What a great video! Well done sir!

[@bboydrae]

Awesome vid, so much fun!

[@ReflexShotGamingHD]

That BMW 🔥🔥🔥

[@gavinivers8941]

Nice car , and great video

[@ItsMikeArre]

I would love to see Matt do some chum racing in some e30 or a miata

[@dericanslum1696]

Mike Arredondo ...there's a video of him doing an entire endurance race in a Miata...

[@TheSmokingTire]

Mike Arredondo I race on a team with a NC MX5 Cup in AER (there are videos of that) and I just did VIR 24 in Chump in an E30 for the NBC Sports show.

[@ItsMikeArre]

TheSmokingTire note to my self watch NBC Sports thanks Matt great stuff as always your living my dream

[@sales8026]

Mike Arredondo My dream as well do something you enjoy and make money. I've sacrificed my happiness for money 😔

[@dericanslum1696]

SubieFL ...not dead yet...

[@Colyers]

Definitely a goal of mine!

[@DBGMLV]

E46 330's are still ridiculously expensive in Germany. They start at like 5000 euro for a coupe and go up to 15k for a low mile 6 speed coupe. The one I want is a 6 speed, though I don't care about mileage or option, those are still 8k and up. So I'm probably going to get a 323, 325 or 328, whichever comes up for sub 4k in good condition and a colour I like.

[@RadioMuse1]

If you're not accounting for exchange rate (1 Euro is roughly 1.20 USD) the numbers are pretty similar. $7k is about as cheap as you'll find a 5-speed manual 330 coupe with anything less than 200k mileage. The sedans are a little cheaper, but not much. The high mileage cars (over 200k) will pretty much go for a song ($2500-5000), but almost always need a lot of work - even if you were turning them into a race car. The ZHP 6-speed coupes can still push up to about $17k USD with low mileage (under 50k) and excellent condition. My advice would be go for a 325 over the 232 or 238. The M52TU engines leave a lot of performance on the table with regards to their intake design, and they have a couple more reliability faults. The M54 is happier to rev, makes better power, and is less likely to put you into limp mode. If you're gonna spend much time over 6000 rpm (track days) make sure to secure the oil pump nut as they're known to work themselves loose on the M54. It's more of a problem on the 330s, but has been known to strike some 325s with track days on them.

[@DBGMLV]

Thank you for the advice. I'll try to get a 325, but in the used car market you take what you can find. I'm looking for a mechanically sound car, with no modifications what so ever. If someone is going to f**k my car up, it's going to be me. The only option I sort can't get past is dual zone climate control, the normal AC controls just look like they belong on a mid 80's cheap pile. Everything else I can either retrofit, don't need or will be ripped out because Racecar.

[@OscarMaris]

ooh that s2000 driver probably ruined his tires. but at least he was being brave.

[@dhendry71]

i saw his rear kicking out before he went off into the grass...i was waiting for something to happen. gonna guess he needs some real tires anyway

[@zzzxxzzz4797]

Thanks for sharing 😎

[@LETerEATRenne]

I’m really curious about Matt’s thoughts on this chassis vs the hr 350z he drove at gingerman. Pretty equally stacked cars.

[@DodgerBluetC]

Hahaha that car at 10:10 was feeling the pressure. Hahaha I'd like to try lapping my car one day, just for the experience 👍

[@valterc]

The classical e46 transmission problem, just warm it up a bit and it goes away.

[@joshriver75]

Valter Costa what problem is that?

[@mariuszanfir2298]

Basically, some small bit with a springy breaks in the gearbox, which makes the lever not return to center and makes third and fifth a bit vague. Once the transmission warms up, this vagueness reduces.

[@kymmedia2]

Is that a 3.0 engine

[@marcosr666]

Yes

[@gweggorz]

I have a sudden desire for a spec E46. Big time. Good stuff, Matt. You get no shit from me about T1. You call it "being a bitch", I call it being careful with someone else's car :)

[@imSchwaggy]

330 ci's tend to sell around 2-5k

[@Knezicdex]

Nice driving! Cant say the same for that s2k tho.

[@chicanoman2999]

id love one of these, and that looks so fun, im jelly :(

[@FRob911]

I kinda miss my 95 325i now... Should've kept it for the track

[@syrgrad91]

Hey Matt, if you're interested in SpecE46, check out Kontrolle Engineering in Rancho Cordova, CA. Those guys build a ton of them and they are race winning cars (they also build top shelf SpecE30 cars as well)

[@slaWterCH]

I'd disable the GoPro's IS for onboard driving videos. It's distracting in my opinion.

[@lancedelgado7103]

Contend straight handsome glance ingredient line pleasant platform

[@FELiPES101]

How did this compare with the miata you drove at NJMP for AER?

[@Crazy.Crafting.Couple]

Isn't that the old Turner Motorsports Touring Car from what used to be the SpeedVision series?

[@SergeantMoetz]

E46 330's are so ridiculously expensive here (Austria), examples with reasonable mileage are almost not available and when they are people will charge easily over 10k and more.

[@deathcab4booty]

Do they have Spec Yugo racing? I would love to see/participate in that

[@Soulvex]

I used to have a Yugo, fun little car.

[@ebigford34]

Matt, driven the extended thunderhill course? I have yet to do that myself but it looks fun. I have driven the original layout at least. You should totally build a track toy E36 or E46. Look at some of the VAC motorsports prepped cars. Well, same as Epic motorsports too which you mentioned above.

[@TheSmokingTire]

ebigford34 I haven't done the 5 mile combined one. The original big course is awesome thpugh

[@maczanescorpious]

Did he warm the climate even more there?

[@PrinceRodriguezTV]

I hope this is good. I have a 330ci

[@JDsHouseofHobbies]

I see Turner on the car. Did they do the set up for it. I know they've had great success with BMW in different forms of motor sport.

[@rileygriffin4977]

WikdSeafood they helped out on parts, me and my dad did all the setup, you can check out his build on e46 fanatics

[@DPisawesome12]

Am I the only one that wishes the image stabilization is off? You kind of lose a sense of speed and when the car slips into oversteer.

[@ep3137]

I always get so dizzy when the camera circles around the car like that...

[@DarsanJKumar-kq5sp]

I thought it'd be Zac's car. When's that one take coming out?