The E46 325ti Appreciation Thread

[BigTom85]

Mr Tidy said:

That is harsh - I bought a March 2004 registered 320td in January 2005. Kept it until January 2008 and rear washer and wiper both worked fine throughout. But then it was entirely in warranty (I extended it) Magic in action probably!

BTW I had an AutoTrader alert today for a 325ti with 122K miles for £1,500 - maybe seems pricey, but silver with red leather - lovely!

Mine works a treat too, its a 2002 with 110k on the clocks.

I'm going to take it apart and pack it with grease I think to keep it running sweet.

[TameRacingDriver]

Hi guys, read this thread with interest.

I've currently got an FN2 Civic Type-R which I really like, but having had RWD cars in the past, its not really cutting the mustard handling wise. I know I can improve it considerably for about £400 (plus another £200 - £300 for brake upgrade) but this is a waste of money considering it wont turn the car into the RWD I crave.

I've had a couple of BMWs in the past, an E36 328 Sport and an E46 328 SE. The former was better but both a little "dull".

I was looking at 130i and Z4 but it seems we're looking at a good £6K+ for a half decent example of either....

The 325Ti is intriguing though, much cheaper than the others I've looked at, and OK not as fast, but not exactly slow either, and it still has the benefit of the 6-pot sound track I love and also the RWD handling. Seems these are a bit under-appreciated.

Has anyone made a similar move? I have to say the more I read, the more I'm tempted....

[s m]

TameRacingDriver said:

Hi guys, read this thread with interest.

I've currently got an FN2 Civic Type-R which I really like, but having had RWD cars in the past, its not really cutting the mustard handling wise. I know I can improve it considerably for about £400 (plus another £200 - £300 for brake upgrade) but this is a waste of money considering it wont turn the car into the RWD I crave.

I've had a couple of BMWs in the past, an E36 328 Sport and an E46 328 SE. The former was better but both a little "dull".

I was looking at 130i and Z4 but it seems we're looking at a good £6K+ for a half decent example of either....

The 325Ti is intriguing though, much cheaper than the others I've looked at, and OK not as fast, but not exactly slow either, and it still has the benefit of the 6-pot sound track I love and also the RWD handling. Seems these are a bit under-appreciated.

Has anyone made a similar move? I have to say the more I read, the more I'm tempted....

I've had much the same cars as you in the past, Primera GT for 3 years, E36 328i SE saloon for 7 years and 100k miles.

I am enjoying my Compact more than those 2 - maybe I have a good one. Only downside is the LSD aspect is more expensive than the plug and play 328 options

[TameRacingDriver]

Thanks, the LSD is a bit of a shame, but it always seems pretty hard to find a non-M BMW equipped with one so that's not a deal breaker for me. I have to say I am very tempted because I could sell the FN2 and be able to afford the mintiest, latest model and maybe even still have a little change.

[BigTom85]

I too had an e36 328i, admittedly it wasn't as fresh as my 325ti, but I find the 'ti' much more enjoyable.

[TameRacingDriver]

Do I go the budget option with the 325ti, or just spend the extra and go for a Z4C - know where the heart lies, but I can almost imagine in some respects this being as fun (if slower and older).

[Shanemrb]

Funny that I've just come across this thread.. Im currently looking for an affordable, reliable and fun run around and thought of these today as I remembered how good to drive my facelift 320td was back in my first year of university. Would love to try a petrol engine this time round!

[gregs656]

TameRacingDriver said:

Do I go the budget option with the 325ti, or just spend the extra and go for a Z4C - know where the heart lies, but I can almost imagine in some respects this being as fun (if slower and older).

You need to test drive one really. IMO the Z4 is going to give you a better sense of occasion. The compact is an excellent drive, they are all specced well and you get a good amount of BMW for your cash.

Mine is very quiet. I can barely hear the exhaust - is this the norm? I'd like a bit more noise.

[drophead]

gregs656 said:

Mine is very quiet. I can barely hear the exhaust - is this the norm? I'd like a bit more noise.

Yeah I wanted more noise too. When I start my 325ti when it's cold, it's quite boomy and loud before it quieten downs considerably after 20 seconds or so.

I've always wondered how I can obtain that lovely cold start soundtrack all the time. The ti exhaust system doesn't have the valve that the other 6 pot beemers have so the golf tee mod doesn't work.

Aftermarket exhausts are hugely expensive for the ti for some reason. Only thing I can think of is to get a local exhaust place to fab a back box up for you.

Best noise is when the engine's hot but the exhaust has cooled down, you get a fantastic rasp all the way to the redline

Here's a crappy pic just because:



ETA: She's a b****** to keep clean! And yes, my MV1s are in dire need a refurb!

[Mr Tidy]

TameRacingDriver said:

Do I go the budget option with the 325ti, or just spend the extra and go for a Z4C - know where the heart lies, but I can almost imagine in some respects this being as fun (if slower and older).

Well I have a Z4C and a 325ti as a daily - the 325ti is a great car, but the Z4C is just so much better in every respect (except practicality)! So if you don't need practical, just go Z4C!

[Mr Tidy]

Shanemrb said:

Funny that I've just come across this thread.. Im currently looking for an affordable, reliable and fun run around and thought of these today as I remembered how good to drive my facelift 320td was back in my first year of university. Would love to try a petrol engine this time round!

I had a facelift 320td for 3 years (2005 to 2008) but last year I got a 325ti as a daily - it's a different car! Just wish I had tried one before I bought the diesel, because I would have bought the 325ti!

[wjb]

Just flicking through the manuals, has anyone got a compact in this colour?



And am I right in saying that's on 17's?

[BigTom85]

wjb said:

Just flicking through the manuals, has anyone got a compact in this colour?



And am I right in saying that's on 17's?

That's Flamenco red. I test drove one on style 68s that had been owned by a PH'er. Looks great in the flesh imho.

[gregs656]

Lazzer325ti's in in Flamenco - few photos earlier on in this thread. I don't recall seeing a Flamenco red Sport for sale.

Ambra would have been my top colour choice:

[Mr Tidy]

BigTom85 said:

Ah, the parcel shelf! Mine has this too, I was genuinely excited when I started playing with it, great feature. I've even popped an umbrella in the umbrella holder!

Definitely the best parcel shelf I have ever seen!

My nephew came over today in his - his umbrella is now in the right place!

[s m]

[ethomas]

s m said:

I disassembled mine last week to find that the drive gear was totally dead, almost all the teeth had been completely chewed up. I found a new one in Germany via eBay for about half the cost of a UK dealer (thanks in part to the weak Euro), so I bit the bullet and got a nice new motor. Not planning to fill the rear wash bottle any time soon though.

[BigTom85]

ethomas said:

I disassembled mine last week to find that the drive gear was totally dead, almost all the teeth had been completely chewed up. I found a new one in Germany via eBay for about half the cost of a UK dealer (thanks in part to the weak Euro), so I bit the bullet and got a nice new motor. Not planning to fill the rear wash bottle any time soon though.

Awesome stuff, care to share the link and price?

I'm going to pull mine apart and regrease it for now, I've not ever attempted to use the rear wash wipe though for fear of ruining the motor. Maybe the hoses could be improved in some way to prevent them causing a problem?

[Mr Tidy]

BigTom85 said:

ethomas said:

I disassembled mine last week to find that the drive gear was totally dead, almost all the teeth had been completely chewed up. I found a new one in Germany via eBay for about half the cost of a UK dealer (thanks in part to the weak Euro), so I bit the bullet and got a nice new motor. Not planning to fill the rear wash bottle any time soon though.

Awesome stuff, care to share the link and price?

I'm going to pull mine apart and regrease it for now, I've not ever attempted to use the rear wash wipe though for fear of ruining the motor. Maybe the hoses could be improved in some way to prevent them causing a problem?

Not sure on that but I think the limiting factor may be how the hoses are routed, which is going to be hard to change given the fixed location of the rear screen and the wiper arm!

[gregs656]

Given it's a well known problem, I figure if a simple solution existed then it would have been done by now. Happy to be corrected however.

I have a rattling rear window, haven't properly investigated it yet as I am working away at the moment. It's a bit annoying though.