2003 BMW 325ti Sport

Author
Discussion

mark.c

1,090 posts

179 months

Saturday 15th August 2015
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Another big fan of these cars here, I've a late imola six speeder which I bought as a daily to take the load of a CSL etc.
In a nutshell it's brilliant smile. I've had it just over a year and it's been everything I wanted it to be, nippy, great noise, playfull and as with you guys not a hint of rust.


s m

23,164 posts

202 months

Saturday 15th August 2015
quotequote all
mark.c said:
Another big fan of these cars here, I've a late imola six speeder which I bought as a daily to take the load of a CSL etc.
In a nutshell it's brilliant smile. I've had it just over a year and it's been everything I wanted it to be, nippy, great noise, playfull and as with you guys not a hint of rust.

That's a great colour mark.c thumbup

I really like the Imola

Mine's a facelift 6-speeder with sunroof, satnav and a couple of BMWPERF extras that the original owner added at order ( clearly money wasn't an issue! )
I bought mine a few years ago when they were rock-bottom cuz of the looks/image.

I've had E46 330/320, E36 328, E30 and E21 and this has to be the best/most fun since my old E21 323i

I was lucky that the original owner also ticked the no-rust option smile

Plus no boot floor issues on the Compact



It's a great car for the little tight roads in the Alps - room for the kids and stuff as well

ethomas

Original Poster:

315 posts

229 months

Sunday 16th August 2015
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Mr Tidy said:
Only possible replacement would be a 130i - would it be hard to fit a 3 litre N52 in a Compact?idea
Not hard at all, the 330i had the same block and heads, you just need the crank, pistons, one of the cams, and a remap (if internet lore is correct). I believe that an M3 engine is also a possibility, Quarry Motors sell conversion kits for 3-4k (depending on the vintage of M3 you would like) containing all the gear you need. A 325ti with 320 bhp of M3 power would be something special!

Btw, I tested the tint on my front windows, and it was blocking something like 80% of available light! The legal limit is 30% I believe, so that is gone now (leaving a mess of sticky stuff that doesn't come off too easily). Off to the Netherlands tomorrow via Harwich to pack up the last few things in my old place, so I get to try driving on the right for the first time smile

stevep360

25 posts

148 months

Sunday 16th August 2015
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Damn, stop posting about 325ti's, or the secret will be out...! I'm looking at of these for my next car... late spec 6 speed with the later rear lights (not all that easy to find).

BigTom85

1,927 posts

170 months

Sunday 16th August 2015
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I've been looking for a while now.

Coming round to the idea of an earlier 5 speed car, maybe even an SE.

mark.c

1,090 posts

179 months

Monday 17th August 2015
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Dont give up hope chaps, I looked for a very long time wanting the same as you and began to down-spec as it were just to get one, then one popped up that fitted the bill, took about six months mind.

mark.c

1,090 posts

179 months

Monday 17th August 2015
quotequote all
s m said:
mark.c said:
Another big fan of these cars here, I've a late imola six speeder which I bought as a daily to take the load of a CSL etc.
In a nutshell it's brilliant smile. I've had it just over a year and it's been everything I wanted it to be, nippy, great noise, playfull and as with you guys not a hint of rust.

That's a great colour mark.c thumbup

I really like the Imola

Mine's a facelift 6-speeder with sunroof, satnav and a couple of BMWPERF extras that the original owner added at order ( clearly money wasn't an issue! )
I bought mine a few years ago when they were rock-bottom cuz of the looks/image.

I've had E46 330/320, E36 328, E30 and E21 and this has to be the best/most fun since my old E21 323i

I was lucky that the original owner also ticked the no-rust option smile

Plus no boot floor issues on the Compact



It's a great car for the little tight roads in the Alps - room for the kids and stuff as well
Thanks SM, I must admit I wanted a black one, thought it would make a great pairing with the CSL, sadly I couldnt find one that was good enough. Eventually found the Imola one and the colour has really grown on me. For me the car just keeps getting better and better, last week the family wagon was off the road with a gearbox issue and SWMBO borrowed the Compact for the week, it coped with her daily commute and transporting the little'un around (three doors not ideal obviously with a ten month old!) but did everything she asked of it. An added bonus is she actually likes driving it unlike anything else I have!

The lack of rust, no boot floor issues and its quirky looks all add to the appeal for me smile

stepmeek

164 posts

112 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
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Actively looking for one of these now, has to be a manual. So if anyone here is interested in selling let me know. Cheers

Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
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I set up an alert on AutoTrader - went to work one Saturday, logged onto E-mail about 10.30 and there it was, no photos but it said 325ti Sport and red so I made a call and arranged to see it a3 3.30 (I finished at 3 pm).

Less than 10 miles away and the trader only took it in as a P/ex that morning - slapped a deposit on it straight away! Dealer not happy, seller told him it had MOT but didn't say only for 2 days!laugh

Dealer had to get handbrake fixed for MOT, told me rear wiper didn't work but he couldn't afford to fix it so I could have deposit back if I wanted - I declined because it was cheap anyway and I could see him re-advertising it for more!

He didn't realise it had optional full leather, CD-changer and power-fold mirrors.rofl

Surely if you do something for a living you do a bit of research? Just wish I could have got it from the guy that part-ex'd it - he must have his keks pulled down big-time!

BigTom85

1,927 posts

170 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
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I've bought this one today. Its an SE, but nice spec with xenons, folding mirrors, MV1s (factory ordered!) etc. It was a great price too.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-52-BMW-325TI-2-5-MA...

Pick it up Thursday, can't booming wait. And I also can't wait to get that god awful 'cherished' reg off either, and the tints which are not to my taste. And fit some facelift rear lights, and and and... laugh

We really should stop crashing the OP's thread, sorry mate. I'll start my own thread in due course.


Edited by BigTom85 on Tuesday 18th August 23:19


Edited by BigTom85 on Tuesday 18th August 23:20

ethomas

Original Poster:

315 posts

229 months

Wednesday 19th August 2015
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Don't worry about thread crapping, anything on these cars is welcome here smile. I am in NL until Friday, when I get home there should be a big pile of stuff waiting for me, including a complete front end suspension refresh kit, and a new steering disc.

Has anyone here replaced the rear subframe and diff bushes? I think my car will need it sooner rather than later, but it might be a stretch for my DIY skills (particularly on my own).

BigTom85

1,927 posts

170 months

Wednesday 19th August 2015
quotequote all
ethomas said:
Don't worry about thread crapping, anything on these cars is welcome here smile. I am in NL until Friday, when I get home there should be a big pile of stuff waiting for me, including a complete front end suspension refresh kit, and a new steering disc.

Has anyone here replaced the rear subframe and diff bushes? I think my car will need it sooner rather than later, but it might be a stretch for my DIY skills (particularly on my own).
What is a steering disc?

You really are going to town on this one aren't you! smile

Subframe bushes is a reasonably big job. How to guide here - http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1...

ethomas

Original Poster:

315 posts

229 months

Wednesday 19th August 2015
quotequote all
I am not sure the correct name for it, it's the joint in the steering column that is not a UJ. They are a very common source of steering wheel slack, particularly in rhd cars. The reason for the blizzard of activity is me being between jobs at the moment, after September I will have a lot less free time, so I am keen to do what I can before then. Having said that, I will probably leave the subframe bushes for the time being smile

BigTom85

1,927 posts

170 months

Wednesday 19th August 2015
quotequote all
ethomas said:
I am not sure the correct name for it, it's the joint in the steering column that is not a UJ. They are a very common source of steering wheel slack, particularly in rhd cars. The reason for the blizzard of activity is me being between jobs at the moment, after September I will have a lot less free time, so I am keen to do what I can before then. Having said that, I will probably leave the subframe bushes for the time being smile
Ah, I know the bit you mean. Its a steering coupling I think.

s m

23,164 posts

202 months

Thursday 20th August 2015
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BigTom85 said:
I've bought this one today. Its an SE, but nice spec with xenons, folding mirrors, MV1s (factory ordered!) etc. It was a great price too.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-52-BMW-325TI-2-5-MA...

Pick it up Thursday, can't booming wait. And I also can't wait to get that god awful 'cherished' reg off either, and the tints which are not to my taste. And fit some facelift rear lights, and and and... laugh
I prefer the facelift rear lights too



Looks a nice car that one Tom




BigTom85

1,927 posts

170 months

Thursday 20th August 2015
quotequote all
s m said:
Looks a nice car that one Tom
Thanks. I hope it's as nice as it looks as I bought it blind. On the bus now on my way to collect it. smile

Leins

9,422 posts

147 months

Thursday 20th August 2015
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The original indications from BMW suggested the E46 Compact was going to come with a 3.0L motor. Always thought it a pity that Alpina didn't produce a few B3-ti cars with their 3.4L engine, a bit like AMG did with the C30 & C32 SportCoupe

Anyway, some lovely examples in this thread. Great little cars, mine always put a grin on my face, and they really seem to be picking up more of a cult following as the years go by

BigTom85

1,927 posts

170 months

Friday 21st August 2015
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Picked mine up today. Its a belter! smile

Better than described if anything, the only disappointment is the mis-matched tyres (1 of them is a winter tyres, ONE!). All receipts for work done, serviced on the button, everything works etc.

I'll start my own thread I think.

Drives epic though, they make a great noise and are really playful. Its going to be fun to own for sure smile


mark.c

1,090 posts

179 months

Friday 21st August 2015
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Well done, they are cracking little cars that really get under your skin, enjoy smile

Leins

9,422 posts

147 months

Friday 21st August 2015
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Congrats Tom, that looks nice

Be careful with tyres on these as the 18" MVs sometimes don't like certain combinations f/r, so try to stick to a matched set if you can