The E46 325ti Appreciation Thread

The E46 325ti Appreciation Thread

Author
Discussion

Lazzer325ti

13 posts

120 months

Sunday 23rd August 2015
quotequote all
I bought a 325ti 2 years ago for a track car. Never let me down and been alot of fun to drive.


Lazzer325ti

13 posts

120 months

Sunday 23rd August 2015
quotequote all



BigTom85

Original Poster:

1,927 posts

170 months

Monday 24th August 2015
quotequote all
Lazzer325ti said:
I bought a 325ti 2 years ago for a track car. Never let me down and been alot of fun to drive.
What mods have you done to it for track work?

It looks great in Flamenco Red for sure smile

Lazzer325ti

13 posts

120 months

Monday 24th August 2015
quotequote all
Polybushed front and rear wishbones
adjustable coilovers
Front and rear strut brace
K&N gen 2 induction kit
Stripped out all unnecessary weight
Corbeau Revenge seat
Safety Devices 4 point harness
safety Devices rear multipoint bolt in roll cage
Uprated discs and pads
Motul RBF 600 brake fluid
Oil pressure and oil temp gauge
Braided brake hoses

And swap to track tires when on a track day.

BigTom85

Original Poster:

1,927 posts

170 months

Monday 24th August 2015
quotequote all
Nice one Lazzer, sounds like a right weapon!

s m

23,164 posts

202 months

Monday 24th August 2015
quotequote all
Lazzer325ti said:
Polybushed front and rear wishbones
adjustable coilovers
Front and rear strut brace
K&N gen 2 induction kit
Stripped out all unnecessary weight
Corbeau Revenge seat
Safety Devices 4 point harness
safety Devices rear multipoint bolt in roll cage
Uprated discs and pads
Motul RBF 600 brake fluid
Oil pressure and oil temp gauge
Braided brake hoses

And swap to track tires when on a track day.
Does the induction kit make a big difference to the soundtrack? Mine has the BMWPerformance air box on from new and sounds a bit rortier than others I've heard. Getting a new filter recently was a bit of hassle though

Lazzer325ti

13 posts

120 months

Monday 24th August 2015
quotequote all
Yes, massive difference. All tunnels are now an excuse to make noice :-)

s m

23,164 posts

202 months

Tuesday 25th August 2015
quotequote all
Lazzer325ti said:
Yes, massive difference. All tunnels are now an excuse to make noice :-)
smile

Mine sounds so much better as standard than the 328/330 I've had already but I'm quite tempted by a different intake after you've said that

BigTom85

Original Poster:

1,927 posts

170 months

Tuesday 25th August 2015
quotequote all
My 325ti definitely makes more noise than my old e36 328i. smile

Mine has spat its dummy out today though, its stuck in limp mode which means idle speed only and it cuts out when you touch the throttle pedal. I've run diagnositics and its throwning throttle body fault codes. I've tracked down a 2003 Technical Service Bulletin which suggests I need a new throttle body and engine wiring harness. cry

Pretty pissed off right now. I hope a second hand throttle body and a bit of wiring loom / connector repair will cure it for not much £££.

stepmeek

164 posts

112 months

Wednesday 26th August 2015
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I am going to view one of these on Friday and was wondering what I should be looking out for? I have heard of rear wiper not working but anything less obvious and expensive items likely to fail on these. Its a 2003 model with low miles so hoping that helps. Any info would be appreciated

BigTom85

Original Poster:

1,927 posts

170 months

Wednesday 26th August 2015
quotequote all
stepmeek said:
I am going to view one of these on Friday and was wondering what I should be looking out for? I have heard of rear wiper not working but anything less obvious and expensive items likely to fail on these. Its a 2003 model with low miles so hoping that helps. Any info would be appreciated
Receipts for recent radiator and water pump is a bonus, if none then budget for replacement in the near future.
Knocking suspension bushes.
Check the electric windows go up and down.
Check for rattling from the dual mass flywheel - will present itself as a knocking under hard acceleration particularly in the mid range, also check for a rattle at idle with the clutch pedal up, down and at the biting point.
Rear wipers both the wiper and the washer can fail.
Tail gate struts get weak and proper ones aren't cheap.
Check the remote boot release work as the wiring looms can fail.

Buy on condition, good service history is a must.

Think thats about it on top of the usual car buying stuff. smile


stepmeek

164 posts

112 months

Wednesday 26th August 2015
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That's great, thanks for the info

Lazzer325ti

13 posts

120 months

Wednesday 26th August 2015
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Only thing to add would be to check the lower intake boot as they're prone to split. Not an overly difficult job to replace.




BigTom85

Original Poster:

1,927 posts

170 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
Lazzer325ti said:
Only thing to add would be to check the lower intake boot as they're prone to split. Not an overly difficult job to replace.
Good shout. I've interrogated RealOEM and can't find the bloody thing though. The top boot is on the page with the MAF, but I'm buggered if I can find the bottom one.

As it happens I fixed my throttle body issue tonight by replacing the connector. A fiddly job but its back to driving how it was. I bought a top boot as I assumed it would be knackered but they both look very recent, so I'll be taking it back tomorrow.

I also realise the 325ti has a 'sound generator' as part of the air box which pumps a bit of engine noise into the cabin on WOT. Apparently the only other BMW of the era with a similar setup is the 3.0 Z4. smile

Rally Ax

43 posts

200 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
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I'm another 325ti convert/fan,, absolutely love it!
Has anyone had success with a remap? I'm not expecting it to be like a 3.0 but something to sharpen her up a bit would be nice.

BigTom85

Original Poster:

1,927 posts

170 months

Friday 28th August 2015
quotequote all
Rally Ax said:
I'm another 325ti convert/fan,, absolutely love it!
Has anyone had success with a remap? I'm not expecting it to be like a 3.0 but something to sharpen her up a bit would be nice.
Pictures are mandatory wink

Not tried a remap yet, Superchips reckon on +12bhp and +18nm. http://www.superchips.co.uk/search?make=3&fuel...

Rally Ax

43 posts

200 months

Friday 28th August 2015
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Lol,,post pictures!? - too technical for an old fella like me!

Oi_Oi_Savaloy

2,313 posts

259 months

Friday 28th August 2015
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Chaps; what's the appeal of them? Are they quick? Are they a bit like a modern mark 2 escort or e30 or something? I've always felt they were a bit fugly but I'm thinking about a pocket rocket and if they've been overlooked..... Could well be put back on the list....

Leins

9,416 posts

147 months

Friday 28th August 2015
quotequote all
Oi_Oi_Savaloy said:
Chaps; what's the appeal of them? Are they quick? Are they a bit like a modern mark 2 escort or e30 or something? I've always felt they were a bit fugly but I'm thinking about a pocket rocket and if they've been overlooked..... Could well be put back on the list....
They're probably the most fun E46 to drive (I'll include the M3 & CSL in that), just something about the combination of that drivetrain, chassis and smaller body makes them a hoot to punt down your favourite road. There is definitely something of the spirit of the E30 in them too, although they're not as lively at the back and obviously a little bit more refined

There are quicker hot hatches out there, but the howl from that straight-6 above 4k RPM makes up for it IMO. And whilst I'll admit that the front could have been designed in a more appealing way, I love the proportions (of both generations) of the Compact

Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Friday 28th August 2015
quotequote all
Not really like a modern MkII Escort - my MkII RS2000 was so small and light by comparison, but most of the time it wouldn't see which way the 325ti went!

I replaced the RS2000 with a Capri 2.8i and I tend to think of the 325ti as a more modern version of that - 6 cylinder RWD hatch! And not only is the 325ti significantly quicker, it is also better built in every way.

Didn't know the 325ti had a sound generator, I thought the only difference from other E46's was it doesn't have the flap in the exhaust (see E46 Golf tee mod).

Will investigate tomorrow - my toy is a Z4C that does have one and I need to check if it still has foam in it, so will look at the 325ti as well! Just love an N/A Straight6.cloud9