The E46 325ti Appreciation Thread

[gregs656]

Touring International.

Apparently we didn't get the boot catch in the UK as standard.

[helix402]

Week done, there's no prize, TI stands for Turismo Internazionale. BMW were inspired by Alfa Romeo and their sporting vehicles so used their model designation on cars such as the 2002ti, then got carried away and introduced a 2002tii.

[gregs656]

Ya know, scroll up a bit on this section and people are talking about 7-8k on 330cis

It is - amazing - what a different set of headlight and 25 instead of a 30 can do to a value of a car.

[Mr Tidy]

gregs656 said:

Ya know, scroll up a bit on this section and people are talking about 7-8k on 330cis

It is - amazing - what a different set of headlight and 25 instead of a 30 can do to a value of a car.

Yeah, and the same people who say the 325ti is bouncy and crashy want their 330Ci in Sport flavour, with the same suspension set-up as the 325ti and rubber-band tyres.......

But they pay about twice as much for them!

[dhutch]

Aka this, which if it stops at just under £1500 is a bargin.


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252173257288?_trksid=p20...


Daniel

Edited by dhutch on Friday 27th November 00:30

[Mr Tidy]

Not a bargain any more - it's at £1,450 now!

[drophead]

Black Betty got a quick winter clean and a little dose of under-seal on the arches, along with some grease on a few bolts too. MV1's really make the car look awesome. She looks pretty damn good for 119k miles!

Also got rid of all the leaves stuck down all the nooks and crannies in the engine bay!

I'll be starting a new job soon where I'll be travelling roughly 70 miles each day so thinking of chopping this in for a 120d or similar.

I'll miss the sound.

Edited by drophead on Thursday 26th November 18:10

[gregs656]

Looking smart.

I had the jet wash out today blowing leaves out of the trap around the hinges - only went out to check the oil and spent about an hour cleaning! Coming from a silver car it is annoying how readily the blue shows the dirt.

[gizlaroc]

325ti will do around 34mpg on a run, the 120d will do around 38mpg on a run (calculated not OBC) so think long and hard before swapping for a 120d.

[Mr Tidy]

gizlaroc said:

325ti will do around 34mpg on a run, the 120d will do around 38mpg on a run (calculated not OBC) so think long and hard before swapping for a 120d.

Would agree with the advice about thinking long and hard before changing to a diesel (I had a 123d for 6+ years before my 325ti) but I think the difference in economy is much greater than that to be fair.

Over 80,000+ miles my 123d averaged a shade over 48 mpg, my 325ti so far (7,000 miles on) is averaging 31 mpg with the same mix of usage (calculated figures, not OBC).

My concern with a 120d if post-facelift would be the N47 cam-chain issues - that's one of the reasons I sold mine. If pre-facelift I think it's just a swirl-flap issue.

Maybe another option would be a 320td Compact - that's what I had for 3 years prior to the 123d. Economy much the same, but with the 63 litre tank I could get more than 600 miles on one tank (1 series only has a 55 litre tank). But they also need the swirl-flaps dealt with.

[gizlaroc]

Mr Tidy said:

Would agree with the advice about thinking long and hard before changing to a diesel (I had a 123d for 6+ years before my 325ti) but I think the difference in economy is much greater than that to be fair.

Over 80,000+ miles my 123d averaged a shade over 48 mpg, my 325ti so far (7,000 miles on) is averaging 31 mpg with the same mix of usage (calculated figures, not OBC).

My 123d used to always end up saying 47mpg on the OBC, however, it always returned 410-480 miles between fill ups, which averaged 38mpg in reality.

Same with my X3, it says 46mpg on the OBC, but calculated is 37mpg.


However, my 335i said 27mpg, calculated was 28mpg, 530i said 26mpg, calculated was 27mpg, 318ti said 34mpg, calculated was....34mpg.

The diesels just lie!!

[gizlaroc]

Mr Tidy said:

Maybe another option would be a 320td Compact - that's what I had for 3 years prior to the 123d. Economy much the same, but with the 63 litre tank I could get more than 600 miles on one tank (1 series only has a 55 litre tank). But they also need the swirl-flaps dealt with.

You do realise 600 miles from 63 litres is only 43mpg?

[Rob325]

There is an emergency release in the boot to open the lid.

The release is hidden behind a little plastic bit which you need to take off to see the release. Its located where the catch is.I can't remember how you operate the release but it didn't need any fancy tool think i used the flathead screwdriver that i took the plastic cover off with.

[Mr Tidy]

gizlaroc said:

You do realise 600 miles from 63 litres is only 43mpg?

Yes, that's why I said "more than 600 miles"........!

[gregs656]

Rob325 said:

There is an emergency release in the boot to open the lid.

The release is hidden behind a little plastic bit which you need to take off to see the release. Its located where the catch is.I can't remember how you operate the release but it didn't need any fancy tool think i used the flathead screwdriver that i took the plastic cover off with.

Good to know. I was thinking of the release button that should be next to the bonnet release lever. Would be handy to have, but I'm not sure if the UK cars are wired for it or not. The space is there.

[venskip]

Yes found it today - no cap on mine so the red plastic lever thing was in plain sight when looking from the folded down rear seat - easy enough to reach too so no worries now if I get a puncture I can at least access the boot!

Changed the battery in the key today and still I am unable to program either of them to the car - did some reading online and found this...

http://www.e46zone.com/forum/topic/35201-remote-ce...

Need to investigate further...

[Mr Tidy]

gizlaroc said:

The diesels just lie!!

Maybe they use similar software to VAG!

[Mr Tidy]

gregs656 said:

Good to know. I was thinking of the release button that should be next to the bonnet release lever. Would be handy to have, but I'm not sure if the UK cars are wired for it or not. The space is there.

That would be a handy feature - my Z4 Coupe has it, but my 1 Series didn't. It seems to be a bit random!

[ethomas]

Picked up a lovely pair of M3 front seats for my car last night. Gave them a clean when I got home and they came up lovely, passenger seat is mint, driver seat will be after a little dye. Unfortunately I checked the wiring and the plank at the breaker sold me unheated seats ("are these definitely heated", "yes mate"), and refuses to refund (but that is another story).

I really really want heated seats (I have the wiring and panel ready to install), so would anyone like to take these off my hands? They are in beautiful black nappa leather, if you currently have manual seats then wiring is a doddle, they only require two (passenger) or three (driver) wires each side and they are good to go. If you already have powered seats then these are a drop in replacement, and get you electric lumbar support and powered bolsters!

Sorry for the advert but I am gutted to be dicked around by the seller like this, and they really are lovely seats so deserve a good home! PM for pictures if you are interested.

[e21Mark]

Where abouts are you? I might be up for swapping.

Really enjoying mine although it's getting a hard life hauling my dogs around in the back and my mountain bike, on a tailgate rack. In fact, the 18 month old Audi A3 we have is going back, as my 14 year old Compact is a way better car.