E46 325ti (contd.)

[Leins]

s m said:

That is true as long as the original purchaser ordered option S493a and the correct boot struts have been used for any replacements that may have been required/or the originals aren't too 'tired'

What's that specific option SM? Bought my first E46 Compact new and don't remember having to include it. Was is standard on GB-spec maybe?


Other thing I remember hearing about these, but thankfully never happened on any of my Compacts, is the rear window smashing due to twisting from being closed from the corner, rather than in the middle of the boot door

Although my E36's rear window got hit with a cabbage when I left it parked near Tescos once! There was a bit of a pause when I was explaining that one to the insurance company

[mark.c]

Evening chaps...I appreciate what you're saying about practicalities.. I think the main thing will be that I won't worry about the car quite so much. I've always been a f@nny with cars, you know the sort, parks a million miles away from any other car in a car park, won't take one of my cars when we go out if I can't leave it somewhere relatively safe, that kind of f@nny. I annoy myself at times!

So if I can get a car that delivers some thrills but is also practical'ish that I haven't got a huge financial and emotional investment in then I can relax about the ownership experience a bit. That's not to say I won't default to type of course but it seems a good idea in theory at the moment
I'm only even sure if that makes sense!?

[s m]

Leins said:

What's that specific option SM? Bought my first E46 Compact new and don't remember having to include it. Was is standard on GB-spec maybe?

Storage Compartment Package - Comfort opening of tailgate via the remote key, 12v socket in the boot, magazine nets on front seat backs and glasses compartment in centre console - standard on SE

Check the comfort opening works though as the struts get tired over the last 10 years and they're more than the regular gas struts

[Leins]

mark.c said:

Evening chaps...I appreciate what you're saying about practicalities.. I think the main thing will be that I won't worry about the car quite so much. I've always been a f@nny with cars, you know the sort, parks a million miles away from any other car in a car park, won't take one of my cars when we go out if I can't leave it somewhere relatively safe, that kind of f@nny. I annoy myself at times!

So if I can get a car that delivers some thrills but is also practical'ish that I haven't got a huge financial and emotional investment in then I can relax about the ownership experience a bit. That's not to say I won't default to type of course but it seems a good idea in theory at the moment
I'm only even sure if that makes sense!?

It's such a great little package, I'm pretty sure you will start caring about it. Same feckin thing happened with my E30 318iS, felt I was being cruel to it as a daily, and wouldn't drive it into supermarkets, etc.

However, there's a case for crossing that bridge when...

s m said:

Storage Compartment Package - Comfort opening of tailgate via the remote key, 12v socket in the boot, magazine nets on front seat backs and glasses compartment in centre console - standard on SE

Check the comfort opening works though as the struts get tired over the last 10 years and they're more than the regular gas struts

Aha, yes thanks! The Sport had all those too, plus a zipped/dropdown storage compartment built into the rear parcel shelf. My 316ti was an 'ES' which had all those too IIRC



Sorry, going OT here again, but regarding struts, only found out yesterday that gas bonnet struts were fitted to some E30s, although I've never seen them. Handy for stopping it falling back when outside in strong winds and stupidly decapitating one's self, which is something I very nearly did last summer with my E34

Edited by Leins on Thursday 17th April 21:36

[mark.c]

Well not a great start to the hunt for a nice 325ti, I looked at a car today that promised to be just the ticket... On initial glance it looked ideal.. A few faults that I was happy to have a bit of a haggle on.. Bowed radiator with a seep, perished tyres on the front, curbed wheels and a few scratches and scuffs here and there but on the whole an honest looking car.. Unfortunately the engine had a suspicious knock from what appeared from the bottom end.. rose and fell with a light blip of the throttle and certainly wasn't a noise I could relate to the vanos/ cam gears/ idler or anything else for that matter. Anyway it was enough to make me walk and after a 400 mile round trip, not ideal.

So the hunt continues