New (to me) BMW 325ti compact - what next

[timetothink]

hamish88 said:

Do you mind saying roughly how much you paid for it, I got tasked with selling my mates imola red 325ti sport its only done 50k so I'm trying to do a bit of research on paid prices , not prices that are advertised for. Can pm me if you like to keep it private . Many thanks

Right place, right time for me I think. The dealer had lit just taken it in for a px the week prior and it was being used to ferry clients for a week or two before being prepped to sell, we saw them on a Sunday (they don't usually open) and had cash. It hadn't been serviced or had a valet and was out of tax the next day so we were in a strong position to drive a great deal.

If I was selling mine now with 92k on the clock I would ask min £3.5k for it. But I'm in no rush so would hold out for it.

That may be too much in most peeps minds but it's the right car for someone and they would pay it if they wanted it as it's in super condition. We are only the second owners.

With 50k on the clock your mate has got a little gem there so if he is not in a rush advertise everywhere and hold out for what he wants.

Cheers
Matt

[hamish88]

Thanks for that . A bit more than he was expecting so he'll be happy with that but his car is pretty well spec'ed for a ti though.
If he didn't need the extra space he wouldn't even think of selling as its his p&j and having driven it a few times it is a good steer.
Thanks again

[hamish88]

Thanks for that . A bit more than he was expecting so he'll be happy with that but his car is pretty well spec'ed for a ti though.
If he didn't need the extra space he wouldn't even think of selling as its his p&j and having driven it a few times it is a good steer.
Thanks again

[timetothink]

So just over 300 miles covered. Mainly motorway and a return of 31.7mpg

[Mr Tidy]

Well here we go, another 325 Ti Compact fan!
Picked mine up on Saturday (well my mate did with trade plates) so I didn't tax it until today so really looking forward to first drive tomorrow.
I managed to find a red Sport model with the staggered 18 inch wheels, full black leather and a CD changer. I think it looks great!
A couple of the usual niggles I will have to sort like non-working boot release and rear wiper but the dealer wouldn't fix them as he reckoned he was selling it too cheap. I know that's his fault for posting it before he checked, but I really liked it so took the plunge. I bought it the day he took it in as a part/ex thanks to an AutoTrader alert - brilliant feature!
Like the OP I think they are a great car! Reminds me a bit of my Capri Injection but updated.

[Leins]

^^^ Congrats, good choice! Did you go for a pre- or post-facelift car?

[Mr Tidy]

I got a pre-facelift - there don't seem to be many post LCI's about.
Had my first proper drive in it today and it lived up to all my expectations.
Just need to scour some forums for clues to sort out the non-working features.
Not sure which to try first - E46 Zone, bimmerforums or are there others?

[s m]

Mr Tidy said:

I got a pre-facelift - there don't seem to be many post LCI's about.
Had my first proper drive in it today and it lived up to all my expectations.
Just need to scour some forums for clues to sort out the non-working features.
Not sure which to try first - E46 Zone, bimmerforums or are there others?

There's also some FB ( if you use it ) groups where you can get questions answered
The rear wipe can be fixed if you're good at DIY and it hasn't corroded too badly...... Otherwise new motor.
What's the issue with boot release? Not working off remote or microswitch or some other problem?

[Mr Tidy]

It sounds like it wants to work but it doesn't lift.
Then I read the invoices I got with it and it had new gas struts a few years ago that were cheapies from Euro Car Parts.
Having done a bit more research on forums it seems that you have to pay more for struts strong enough to lift so I think I probably just need to source the right struts.
It also had new wiper blades a while back and was fitted with a 60cm blade on the driver's side which is nearly 24 inches. As they should have a 23 inch blade that might explain why the two blades collided when it rained.
Still wipers still work so I just need to replace it with the right size.
Why are some garages so inept?

[s m]

Mr Tidy said:

It sounds like it wants to work but it doesn't lift.
Then I read the invoices I got with it and it had new gas struts a few years ago that were cheapies from Euro Car Parts.
Having done a bit more research on forums it seems that you have to pay more for struts strong enough to lift so I think I probably just need to source the right struts.
It also had new wiper blades a while back and was fitted with a 60cm blade on the driver's side which is nearly 24 inches. As they should have a 23 inch blade that might explain why the two blades collided when it rained.
Still wipers still work so I just need to replace it with the right size.
Why are some garages so inept?

You need 2 off 51247069907 ( or similar strength gas struts if you don't want to pay BMW OE prices )
Those will be enough to utilise the S493A option

The wipers situation confirms why I do stuff myself

[Mr Tidy]

Thanks for that - I will probably just buy OEM as I don't have too much confidence in getting the right part from anyone else.
You are right about doing stuff yourself - the place that fitted the wrong length wiper blade also put the last few stamps in the service booklet - makes me wonder what else they f****d up!
Still it didn't do many miles during that time so I will probably go to a specialist for the next one as I can't do too much myself in my current workshop - it's an (allegedly) allocated parking space!

[s m]

Mr Tidy said:

Thanks for that - I will probably just buy OEM as I don't have too much confidence in getting the right part from anyone else.

You'll be looking at around £130 for a pair of OEM self-lifting struts by the way - hence why so many get replaced with less powerful/EBay ones.

[drophead]

Apologies for reviving an old thread but you Compact beards seem to know your stuff...

After suffering with Nankangs on the front for the past year, they have finally worn down enough for my tight ae brain to let me have new tyres.

I am currently running the staggered MV1 set up of 225/35/18 (Nankang NS-2) front, 255/35/18 (Maxxis MA-Z1 - now discontinued) rear.

My question is whether I should keep the fronts on 225/35 or whether I should be 225/40?

I have read on E46zone that some owners have a slightly higher profile front tyre and that this is the correct spec.

My car has been tramlining quite a bit and I've always put it down to the fronts been ditchfinders but I am now thinking that it could be because the profile is too low on the front!

Can anyone enlighten me?

[s m]

drophead said:

Apologies for reviving an old thread but you Compact beards seem to know your stuff...

After suffering with Nankangs on the front for the past year, they have finally worn down enough for my tight ae brain to let me have new tyres.

I am currently running the staggered MV1 set up of 225/35/18 (Nankang NS-2) front, 255/35/18 (Maxxis MA-Z1 - now discontinued) rear.

My question is whether I should keep the fronts on 225/35 or whether I should be 225/40?

I have read on E46zone that some owners have a slightly higher profile front tyre and that this is the correct spec.

My car has been tramlining quite a bit and I've always put it down to the fronts been ditchfinders but I am now thinking that it could be because the profile is too low on the front!

Can anyone enlighten me?

Here's what your door jamb sticker should say chap - correct front is a 40 profile - 225/40xZR18




However, a few things may exacerbate tramling or the desire for the front wheels to follow cambers/longitudinal ridges

1/ very worn tyres

2/ wide tyres

3/ tread pattern

4/ tyre mismatch in makes front to rear

5/ worn bushes

I'm running on a 'square set' of 205 Contis at present and it's much nicer to drive than on a staggered wider set.
However, a different tread pattern/new tyres may improve your current situation

[Sticks.]

On a 330ci, also with 18s, the tramlining was cured when we put Bridgestones on the front to match the rear, as advised by the service rep at the dealer.

Edited by Sticks. on Monday 9th February 17:09

[drophead]

Thank-you to both of you.

Great, all I need to do is get two Maxxis MA-Z1's... which have now been discontinued

The Maxxis VS-01 is the replacement apparently but the tread is completely different. Atleast they're cheap

In the future, I'm definitely looking to go onto a square set-up with style 68's. Mainly for comfort and more oversteereyness, but also because it's cheaper!

---

ETA: Found some MA-Z1's!

Edited by drophead on Monday 9th February 12:38

[Leins]

Sticks. said:

On a 330ci, also with 18s, the tramlining was cured when we put Bridgestone's on the front to match the rear, as advised by the service rep at the dealer.

Yep, same thing but with Dunlop SP9000s on my old 325ti with MV2s. Matching fronts (40 profile) & rears (35 profile) again made all the difference, and the car was back to its best

[s m]

Worth doing a spanner check on front bushes/joints and RTABs as well if it's still bad after

[drophead]

s m said:

Worth doing a spanner check on front bushes/joints and RTABs as well if it's still bad after

That's next on the list after the cooling system is replaced this weekend. Been a rather expensive start to the year!