The E46 325ti Appreciation Thread

[ethomas]

e21Mark said:

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.

I am near Stansted airport, but don't mind a bit of a drive to deliver the seats . I see you are in Kingston, which is not too far. Perhaps we can meet somewhere in the middle? I will send you an email in a couple of minutes, and some photos tonight.

Cheers,
Edward

[e21Mark]

Erm, I was in Kingston until about 18 months ago. I'm now in deepest, darkest Cornwall.

[ethomas]

If you got my email, let me know where I can send pictures. I am happy to courier the seats, it shouldn't cost too much.

[gregs656]

I assume the M3 coupe seats will tilt and lift forward in the same was as the compact ones do? Heated seats sounds good.

[e21Mark]

Sorry, but just realised your seats are most likely black, whereas mine are ox blood red?

[ethomas]

Yes, they are black, and tilt just like the compact seats. Sadly the ones I am selling are not heated, heated M3 seats in very good condition seem to be pretty rare.

[Mr_B]

One of the biggest things that annoys the hell out of me with my 325ti is the wiper on the drivers side. Sits up in view and looks wrong.
Is this correct ? I thought you may be able to adjust it as normally they are on a spline , but not this, it sits atop a hexagonal attachment.

[BigTom85]

I

Not normal.

No idea on adjustment though if it's not splined.

Edited by BigTom85 on Sunday 6th December 09:52

Edited by BigTom85 on Sunday 6th December 09:54

[s m]

BigTom85 said:

Not normal.

No idea on adjustment though if it's not splined.

Is that the pic you meant to link?

Looked at my wipers and my driver's wiper sits lower, within the black band at bottom of screen

[Mr_B]

Thanks for having a look at your cars. Wiper arms look standard on mine and don't look bent or anything amiss with the wiper linkage. Looks like I'll have to live with it.

[e21Mark]

Compact is still giving good service. So my Mrs tells me anyway, as it appears to have become 'her car' now?!

Had a full service, CCV and a used oil level sensor fitted last week. £300 inc parts.

I have been demoted to a diesel Renault Kangoo van!

[gregs656]

Mine, too, I have done about 600 miles this week which is not usual for me and I'm loving my Compact. I must get the air con looked at in the new year.

[macp]

Oh dear goes off to search the for sale ads

[e21Mark]

I've been really lucky with mine, as the rear wiper works and the AC is still icy cold.

Only disappointment is the sound quality of the stereo. Any suggestions for an upgrade?

[Fishy Dave]

Same as you, both AC and wiper is fine, oil consumption is not however (1 litre in about 200miles!). Guessing that the CCV has blocked judging by the amount of suck when releasing the oil filler cap, a job for me to do in the next week.

[s m]

e21Mark said:

I've been really lucky with mine, as the rear wiper works and the AC is still icy cold.

Only disappointment is the sound quality of the stereo. Any suggestions for an upgrade?

Yes, both mine work too

As for the stereo, mine has the factory nav and cd changer - sounds pretty good but may be upgrade speakers perhaps

[ethomas]

Fishy Dave said:

Same as you, both AC and wiper is fine, oil consumption is not however (1 litre in about 200miles!). Guessing that the CCV has blocked judging by the amount of suck when releasing the oil filler cap, a job for me to do in the next week.

That's not too far off what I get through. I changed the CCV, oil filter housing gasket, rocker cover gasket, and switched to thicker (5w-40) oil. None of it has made a huge difference, so I just bought a lot of Shell Helix Ultra 5w-40 (it was very very cheap recently at opie) and top it up whenever it needs it. It still runs beautifully, but it drinks oil, I think the piston rings have gone. Planning a swap with a low milage 330 engine if everything is still working next summer.

[s m]

ethomas said:

Fishy Dave said:

Same as you, both AC and wiper is fine, oil consumption is not however (1 litre in about 200miles!). Guessing that the CCV has blocked judging by the amount of suck when releasing the oil filler cap, a job for me to do in the next week.

That's not too far off what I get through. I changed the CCV, oil filter housing gasket, rocker cover gasket, and switched to thicker (5w-40) oil. None of it has made a huge difference, so I just bought a lot of Shell Helix Ultra 5w-40 (it was very very cheap recently at opie) and top it up whenever it needs it. It still runs beautifully, but it drinks oil, I think the piston rings have gone. Planning a swap with a low milage 330 engine if everything is still working next summer.

Blimey, what's the mileage on yours? Are the MOT readings high?

[e21Mark]

s m said:

e21Mark said:

I've been really lucky with mine, as the rear wiper works and the AC is still icy cold.

Only disappointment is the sound quality of the stereo. Any suggestions for an upgrade?

Yes, both mine work too

As for the stereo, mine has the factory nav and cd changer - sounds pretty good but may be upgrade speakers perhaps

Mine, or should I say hers!?, is the basic non satnav version but I may look at speakers first.

[s m]

e21Mark said:

Mine, or should I say hers!?, is the basic non satnav version but I may look at speakers first.

Oh dear....lost it already!

I just looked at the options on mine for ICE
S601A
S609A
S620A
S644A
S692A

No mention of uprated speakers but the sound is very good ( for me at least ) - at least on a par with a new 19k warm hatch