My BMW 325ti

[stepmeek]

Recently decided I wanted a cheap weekend car, I have a family car and a van I drive regularly so all I was after was something fun, reasonably cheap to run and cheap to buy. I initially looked at EP3 type r's and clio 182's but the clio didn't really do it for me and as much as I like the type R it was difficult to find a good one for under 4-5 grand.

Came across the 325 compact on here and after reading into them it seemed to fit the bill. I had been looking online for a while and had went and looked at one which turned out to be a bit of a mess. After posting on the 325ti thread on here I was contacted by another member (thanks Ken) who knew someone who was thinking of selling. The car was only 40 mins from me so I went and had a look and liked it, it does need a fair bit of tidying up and the service history isn't what I would usually go for in a car but the mileage is low and the seller seemed honest, he carried out a lot of servicing himself so hopefully the car proves to be reliable. Spec wise its an M sport model with a 5 speed manual gearbox. It has cruise control, xenons, heated seats, sunroof, leather interior, parking sensors and auto dimming mirror, not a bad spec list for a car that cost me just over 2 grand. The interior is in good condition and the car drives well, the engine is a peach.

Things I plan to do: paint the front bumper, new licence plates, new badges, new tyres and wheel refurb, vanos kit replacement, fit updated rear lights, have a look at parking sensor fault (beep constantly when in reverse), new stereo (current one has a terrible radio signal). Here's some pictures, will update as I get things done but progress will be slow!

[bmthnick1981]

Nice low mileage example, I like these had a black 325ti Sport some time ago.

[stepmeek]

Thanks. They seem t be flavour of the month on here at the minute, just noticed the top three of four threads are 325ti's!

[hamish88]

Hi Stephen glad you're liking the car.
Just looked around and I think you got a real bargain , people are selling 318compacts for 2 grand .
I'm sure once you sort out all the wee bits you wanted to do you'll have a great car.
My mates glad it went to someone who'll relish it rather than a wee boy racer .
Take good care of it.
Ken

[stepmeek]

Hi Ken, yes to be fair I have got a bit of a bargain, they are hard to come by especially with that mileage. Already spent a few hundred today booked into the bodyshop and updated rear lights picked up. Tell him thanks again, its a great car and I will look after it. He can have a look on here in a few months and see how its getting on.

Cheers

[s m]

stepmeek said:

Spec wise its an M sport model with a 5 speed manual gearbox. It has cruise control, xenons, heated seats, sunroof, leather interior, parking sensors and auto dimming mirror, not a bad spec list for a car that cost me just over 2 grand. The interior is in good condition and the car drives well, the engine is a peach.

Nice colour - I do like the red

Interior is similar to mine - I have a 6-speeder with TPMS and factory nav/TV

[Evangelion]

I had one of these a few years back in the same colour except mine was a 318 with the 2-litre 4. Absolutely loved it.

[Mr Tidy]

SNAP!





You have impeccable taste, Sir!

Mine doesn't have heated seats or Xenons sadly, but has a CD Changer and power-fold mirrors! I bought mine last November; while it was a bit cheaper it has done more miles, but I am really pleased with it.

On the subject of radio reception I believe the aerial is built into the rear screen - all I get is loads of crackling if I use the heated screen so it may just be an aerial problem.

Enjoy!

[stepmeek]

Very nice mate, I have never liked red cars but it suits the shape of the compact I think. Thanks for the info, I'll have a look at the aerial. Got a few things I want to work through anyway, it seems to judder in lower gears which may be the vanos from what I have read. Going to order a repair kit and will be my first job when I return from work.

[PaulGT3]

Nice I've got a 325ti Sport pre-facelift in imola red too. I bought mine in April for £2k with 95k miles on and without xenons, leather, heated seats or sunroof so I think you got a bargain. First thing I did was fit facelift rear lights though!

Also does yours have some extra sound system fitted? Mine hasn't got those triangular shaped speaker grills in the door card.

[stepmeek]

I'm really not sure to be honest. it does say "business" on the stereo, is yours the same? Not quite got my head round the auto dimming mirror either. Does anyone know how to check the spec/history of your car through BMW? I am sure I have seen a link before that gave you details of who built it, exact spec etc?

[PaulGT3]

Yes my head unit is identical and I have a cd-changer in the boot also but no triangular speakers in the door card.

You can enter your reg here and get your VIN number: https://www.bmw-warranty.co.uk/Login/Index

Enter the VIN number here: http://www.etk.cc/ and get your spec list.

[stepmeek]

that's exactly what I was after, thanks

[MondeoMan1981]

Lovely car. Still have a s soft spot for these.

The radio - I had this issue with my E46 and a new rear window under warranty solved it - that's where the aerial is apparently.

Sensors - should be a duff sensor.

Enjoy!

[Mr Tidy]

Yes OP, it looks like you have another choice option on yours - mine doesn't have those speakers either!

If my Z4 is anything to go by they use the same Business head unit but add more/better speakers and amps. The Professional Hi-Fi Speaker System in my Z has 10 speakers and 430W!

Try cranking it up a bit - I think my Z4 one could make my ears bleed!

[hamish88]

No wonder I always though it sounded much better than my coupe.
I also noticed there are a small speaker above the rear arm rests on each side and I wondered if they were standard.

[stepmeek]

The only extra I can see is "S676 HiFi speaker system" I assume its some sort of speaker upgrade as mentioned before. Will get out and test it with a CD when I am home, but it definitely seems like the original owner didn't hold back with the upgrades

[BigTom85]

Great looking car, nice spec too.

Keep us updated as you do things.

Imola really looks the business on the Sport models, looking forward to seeing it after its had some tlc.

[Mr Tidy]

stepmeek said:

The only extra I can see is "S676 HiFi speaker system" I assume its some sort of speaker upgrade as mentioned before. Will get out and test it with a CD when I am home, but it definitely seems like the original owner didn't hold back with the upgrades

BM 2004 brochure says "S676 HiFi loudspeaker system for enhanced sound reproduction, with a total amplifier output of 280W and 10 speakers" so the same idea as what's in my Z4 - seems odd neither it or yours has the CD changer. I have a 2004 price list for 320tds, and it was a cheaper option at £470. The sunroof was £895 and heated seats £320. Xenons were £770 and Montana leather was £1,200.

If I had paid for the upgraded speaker system I would have chosen the CD changer as well, but mine was a pre-reg so the spec wasn't chosen by an owner!

Edited by Mr Tidy on Saturday 5th September 22:00

[The Nur]

PaulGT3 said:

Yes my head unit is identical and I have a cd-changer in the boot also but no triangular speakers in the door card.

You can enter your reg here and get your VIN number: https://www.bmw-warranty.co.uk/Login/Index

Enter the VIN number here: http://www.etk.cc/ and get your spec list.

Also, if you're lucky, you could look under your rear bench and the spec list might be there