2003 BMW 325ti SE
Discussion
gregs656 said:
Thanks for the comments.
Yes lumbar adjust! Keen eyes - not played with it yet.
Regarding the Sport thing. I have been looking for one of these since last June and I didn't find it straight forward to find many cars that I was interested in within my budget. In the end something had to give, given that it already has the sport suspension, it's really only a couple of bumpers and a bit of trim, and the sport bumpers make such a difference. I am patient and will wait for a good deal.
I'm warming to the wood, it's not so offensive when you are sat in the car as it looks in the pictures.
Waiting on the double din panel so I can install the Parrot, looking forward to that as I bought it for the car in April
Well exactly - unlike the Coupes all the 325tis get Sport seats, and yours already has upgraded wheels so the differences are cosmetic.Yes lumbar adjust! Keen eyes - not played with it yet.
Regarding the Sport thing. I have been looking for one of these since last June and I didn't find it straight forward to find many cars that I was interested in within my budget. In the end something had to give, given that it already has the sport suspension, it's really only a couple of bumpers and a bit of trim, and the sport bumpers make such a difference. I am patient and will wait for a good deal.
I'm warming to the wood, it's not so offensive when you are sat in the car as it looks in the pictures.
Waiting on the double din panel so I can install the Parrot, looking forward to that as I bought it for the car in April
Edited by gregs656 on Monday 5th October 22:48
Glad I managed to find a Sport (especially in Imola Red), but sadly it's a pre-LCI so only a 5 speed and it isn't as loaded as yours seems to be.
I keep hoping though, so I've left the alert on A/T!
Managed to tick a few jobs off the list yesteday evening and this morning. Firstly I fitted the Parrot Asteroid Smart system I bought for the car back in April.
Because the Parrot is a shallow depth unit, it doesn't require any modification of the dash to fit. You do need to modify the original single din bracket, but that is easily reversible and much less intrusive than cutting up the venting system.
Still took a couple of hours. When I bought the system it came with the 'unika' steering wheel interface, but that looks a bit of a fiddle so I have bought a different cable for the steering wheel controls and will sell the unika interface, I have also ordered some 90 degree USB adapters to fit the GPS antenna, and a matte anti glare screen protector.
A couple of these brackets hold it all in place:
In the car:
I haven't got the proper heater relocation panel yet (£60) hense the gap below the panel at the minute.
I also did the rear discs, the ones that I removed are ruined:
£65 later and the pagid set turned up
Much, much better
Because the Parrot is a shallow depth unit, it doesn't require any modification of the dash to fit. You do need to modify the original single din bracket, but that is easily reversible and much less intrusive than cutting up the venting system.
Still took a couple of hours. When I bought the system it came with the 'unika' steering wheel interface, but that looks a bit of a fiddle so I have bought a different cable for the steering wheel controls and will sell the unika interface, I have also ordered some 90 degree USB adapters to fit the GPS antenna, and a matte anti glare screen protector.
A couple of these brackets hold it all in place:
In the car:
I haven't got the proper heater relocation panel yet (£60) hense the gap below the panel at the minute.
I also did the rear discs, the ones that I removed are ruined:
£65 later and the pagid set turned up
Much, much better
gregs656 said:
Managed to tick a few jobs off the list yesteday evening and this morning. Firstly I fitted the Parrot Asteroid Smart system I bought for the car back in April.
Because the Parrot is a shallow depth unit, it doesn't require any modification of the dash to fit. You do need to modify the original single din bracket, but that is easily reversible and much less intrusive than cutting up the venting system.
Still took a couple of hours. When I bought the system it came with the 'unika' steering wheel interface, but that looks a bit of a fiddle so I have bought a different cable for the steering wheel controls and will sell the unika interface, I have also ordered some 90 degree USB adapters to fit the GPS antenna, and a matte anti glare screen protector.
A couple of these brackets hold it all in place:
In the car:
I haven't got the proper heater relocation panel yet (£60) hense the gap below the panel at the minute.
I also did the rear discs, the ones that I removed are ruined:
£65 later and the pagid set turned up
Much, much better
Very nice Greg Because the Parrot is a shallow depth unit, it doesn't require any modification of the dash to fit. You do need to modify the original single din bracket, but that is easily reversible and much less intrusive than cutting up the venting system.
Still took a couple of hours. When I bought the system it came with the 'unika' steering wheel interface, but that looks a bit of a fiddle so I have bought a different cable for the steering wheel controls and will sell the unika interface, I have also ordered some 90 degree USB adapters to fit the GPS antenna, and a matte anti glare screen protector.
A couple of these brackets hold it all in place:
In the car:
I haven't got the proper heater relocation panel yet (£60) hense the gap below the panel at the minute.
I also did the rear discs, the ones that I removed are ruined:
£65 later and the pagid set turned up
Much, much better
Coming up to scratch well
Just off to google what the Parrot system cam do!
It's a bit old now but I wanted the basics like the sat nav, bluetooth hands free and music streaming, internet radio and stuff like that.
The big name alternative is the Alpine ILX-700 which I don't think had been released when I bought the Parrot, I don't know much about it but it looks great and Alpine are usually good.
Alternatives to them are the chinese units, which I avoided as I think they are expensive and not very reliable.
I'd keep an eye on eBay as they do pop up.
The big name alternative is the Alpine ILX-700 which I don't think had been released when I bought the Parrot, I don't know much about it but it looks great and Alpine are usually good.
Alternatives to them are the chinese units, which I avoided as I think they are expensive and not very reliable.
I'd keep an eye on eBay as they do pop up.
gregs656 said:
It's a bit old now but I wanted the basics like the sat nav, bluetooth hands free and music streaming, internet radio and stuff like that.
The big name alternative is the Alpine ILX-700 which I don't think had been released when I bought the Parrot, I don't know much about it but it looks great and Alpine are usually good.
Alternatives to them are the chinese units, which I avoided as I think they are expensive and not very reliable.
I'd keep an eye on eBay as they do pop up.
I have the factory nav, phone interface, Tv etc in double din linked to Alpine MP3 Cd changer on mine but internet radio sounds good.The big name alternative is the Alpine ILX-700 which I don't think had been released when I bought the Parrot, I don't know much about it but it looks great and Alpine are usually good.
Alternatives to them are the chinese units, which I avoided as I think they are expensive and not very reliable.
I'd keep an eye on eBay as they do pop up.
I shall have a look at the Alpine though
A small update:
I fitted the GPS antenna and steering wheel control adapter for the head unit. Both working well, steering wheel controls don't always connect for some reason. Software problem. Waiting on a new clip for the microphone so that can be fitted and then the head unit install will be complete.
I clayed the car last weekend, not something I had done before but the car did benefit from it
What it really needs is a good machine polish.
At the same time I cleaned and treated the front seats with a good quality leather treatment, they both needed it. I picked up a Stressless leather care kit for home furniture, worked well on the seats and kept the finish matte and not at all slippery. I paid £1 for the kit at a car boot, bargain.
This morning I dyed the rear parcel shelf back to black as it had gone purple, unfortunately the sun has washed out the before and after pictures so you can't really tell! However in person it is a real improvement. I used Autoglym spray on black dye, straight forward and not expensive. Hopefully it will last.
I have been averaging just under 30mpg over about 1000 miles since I picked up the car. Mixed driving. Happy enough with that.
Still need to get the A/C looked at.
I fitted the GPS antenna and steering wheel control adapter for the head unit. Both working well, steering wheel controls don't always connect for some reason. Software problem. Waiting on a new clip for the microphone so that can be fitted and then the head unit install will be complete.
I clayed the car last weekend, not something I had done before but the car did benefit from it
What it really needs is a good machine polish.
At the same time I cleaned and treated the front seats with a good quality leather treatment, they both needed it. I picked up a Stressless leather care kit for home furniture, worked well on the seats and kept the finish matte and not at all slippery. I paid £1 for the kit at a car boot, bargain.
This morning I dyed the rear parcel shelf back to black as it had gone purple, unfortunately the sun has washed out the before and after pictures so you can't really tell! However in person it is a real improvement. I used Autoglym spray on black dye, straight forward and not expensive. Hopefully it will last.
I have been averaging just under 30mpg over about 1000 miles since I picked up the car. Mixed driving. Happy enough with that.
Still need to get the A/C looked at.
Edited by gregs656 on Wednesday 28th October 13:50
Since my last post I have mostly been enjoying owning the car. The only real job done was replacing the front brake pads and wear sensor. I also had a side light blow so these have been replaced with LED ones to better match the colour of the Xenons.
I thought I had a squeaking idler bearing, but after going to fit it today it turns out my car doesn't have one. Apparently not all of them do. A spin of the tensioner pulley shows that to be the issue so a replacement has been ordered which will be fitted next week.
With the run up to Christmas and the tax bill I haven't given much thought to some of the more cosmetic jobs I'd like done with the car, a plan is in place but things need to fall right for it to happen.
Still returning 30mpg on mixed driving and MUST get the air con looked at.
I thought I had a squeaking idler bearing, but after going to fit it today it turns out my car doesn't have one. Apparently not all of them do. A spin of the tensioner pulley shows that to be the issue so a replacement has been ordered which will be fitted next week.
With the run up to Christmas and the tax bill I haven't given much thought to some of the more cosmetic jobs I'd like done with the car, a plan is in place but things need to fall right for it to happen.
Still returning 30mpg on mixed driving and MUST get the air con looked at.
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