The E46 325ti Appreciation Thread

[Mgd_uk]

ethomas said:

The BMW dealer software can do this, there are diys online that I will dig out when I am at a computer.

Be good to see the links to the diy's :-)

[ethomas]

There is a pretty brief DIY here: http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?p=1399...

I have not found anything more detailed, but perhaps read through that thread a bit and you will find some more information. The basic steps are:

1: Find the last seven digits of a 330i/330ci ECU serial number
2: Put those into WinKFP to find the appropriate software image
3: Get the car on a battery charger and flash the ECU with that image, using the OBD2 port

Simples

[Riknos]

Slightly off topic - but are high milers to be avoided? I've seen a couple in the 140k+ range and just wondering if they will be a money pit or not? I know about looking for suspension arm, bushes etc replaced by then and also springs, radiator, expansion tank etc. I imagine at that mileage it will drink a bit of oil too - worth a punt? Or to be avoided?

[Mgd_uk]

ethomas said:

There is a pretty brief DIY here: http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?p=1399...

I have not found anything more detailed, but perhaps read through that thread a bit and you will find some more information. The basic steps are:

1: Find the last seven digits of a 330i/330ci ECU serial number
2: Put those into WinKFP to find the appropriate software image
3: Get the car on a battery charger and flash the ECU with that image, using the OBD2 port

Simples

Thanks!

I will get a look at that when I get around to that stage in the upgrade

[JakeT]

Riknos said:

Slightly off topic - but are high milers to be avoided? I've seen a couple in the 140k+ range and just wondering if they will be a money pit or not? I know about looking for suspension arm, bushes etc replaced by then and also springs, radiator, expansion tank etc. I imagine at that mileage it will drink a bit of oil too - worth a punt? Or to be avoided?

Honestly, as long as they have been maintained they will be no issue at all. Look earlier in the thread and there's a good list of things to check for. Oil consumption is really a by car thing, and not mileage dependent. My parents have had 2 M54s from new, and one in an X5 they still have. After a valve cover gasket and PCV valve change at 190,000 miles it uses none now. Good going for a car with 197,000 miles on it.

[Mgd_uk]

Thought I would document this a little better than a few pics here and there

So last week I ended up with my brothers old 316Ti after the head gasket went and he left it lying at his house for a while with nothing to do with it, and I was talking to a mate who was breaking a 3.0 Z4 and decided that I would buy the car from my Brother and buy some parts from the Z4 and give this conversion a crack. I always liked my brothers car but the lack of power ruined the car and I was always on at him to get a 325Ti or convert it, but he needed the car for work so couldn't take the time/effort to do it.

This is by no means a restoration project, I fancy something for a bit of fun and the odd track day whilst I wait on my new wagon arriving and it keeps me occupied doing things like this.






So last Saturday I set about removing the old engine and bolting the new on in its place whilst my mate was on holiday allowing me access to a load of tools and ramp that I didnt need to tidy up each night and have the car moved into the corner ready for work Monday morning.

Old 4 Cyl engine.


No Engine


New 6 Cyl bolted in place ( I love the new airfilter )



That was pretty much me done for the day, I stripped the ancillaries from the old engine and got it taken away for scrap.

Whilst fitting the new engine I ran into a few teething problems, Prop's from Z4 are shorter, gear selector is totally wrong, no power steering pump as the Z4 has an EPAS rack in it, fuel lines on the Z4 too short and completely the wrong shape, ARB's wrong shape, brake servo pipe wrong shape, coolant pipes completely different loads of fiddly little things that I had to work around.

So I set about gathering a list of parts during last week and at the weekend I got the suspension back into it,steering rack bolted in place, exhaust modified, 6 speed prop and gear selector and rear diff fitted, new water pump, new Aux belt, oil and filter changed whilst I was at it.







3.07 diff fitted ( have also purchased myself a 3.38 diff from a 330 Auto to give it a go see how it works out)


[B]Exhaust modified from Z4
[/B]
[/URL]

[B]Wiring tidied up
[/B]


Rad back in place temporary to make sure all the pipes lined up ok for the coolant system.


And how it sits just now, bumper is not bolted in place just yet as I may have to pull the front end from it again once my new power steering pipe arrives the one I have on at the moment is a bit on the long side and after a disapointed day at kirkiston before with powersteering failure in the clio I want to avoid any chance of a load of ATF down the track and me going home early.



It is currently not starting, I have an immobiliser stopping it firing, so its been posted away to have the DME (Engine ECU) Virginised so I can code the EWS module in the car to the virginised ECU and hopefully it will start.



I connected in my BMW coding tool and have the option to sync the ECU and EWS, but this will only work once I get the DME returned to me with the VIN updated and the existing EWS coded out allowing me to re-sync with the EWS in my car.



So hopefully this weekend I will have the ECU back and it will fire up and fix any of the issues that occur on first running. I need to fill it with fluids and get the brakes blead maybe during the week if I can get a few hours after work some night, if not I will get them done at the weekend also.

[ethomas]

Mgd_uk said:

Thought I would document this a little better than a few pics here and there

Great work, particularly getting everything from the Z to fit! If you are after a 325ti front ARB let me know, I am taking mine out in a couple of days to replace it with something in a fetching shade of powder blue, so it will be looking for a new home.

[Mgd_uk]

ethomas said:

Great work, particularly getting everything from the Z to fit! If you are after a 325ti front ARB let me know, I am taking mine out in a couple of days to replace it with something in a fetching shade of powder blue, so it will be looking for a new home.

Many thanks for the offer, its very kind but I got myself one from a 330Ci and it bolted in lovely.

once the car is up and running im thinking of fitting a B12 pro-kit and new bushes that should sort the suspension out nicely

[s m]

Mgd_uk said:

ethomas said:

Great work, particularly getting everything from the Z to fit! If you are after a 325ti front ARB let me know, I am taking mine out in a couple of days to replace it with something in a fetching shade of powder blue, so it will be looking for a new home.

Many thanks for the offer, its very kind but I got myself one from a 330Ci and it bolted in lovely.

once the car is up and running im thinking of fitting a B12 pro-kit and new bushes that should sort the suspension out nicely

I'm probably telling you how to suck eggs here but you know the 330 Ci front ARB is considerably less stiff than the 325ti one?

[helix402]

I fitted a B12 kit to my E46 (saloon). The front dampers are great but I found the rears too hard, each bump was like a being punched in the back. I fitted standard Sachs to the rear, they work well.

[Mgd_uk]

s m said:

I'm probably telling you how to suck eggs here but you know the 330 Ci front ARB is considerably less stiff than the 325ti one?

To be honest I didn't know that, I know very little about the differences on these cars as I have only owned it about 2 weeks now

I figured it would be the same ARB as the 330 I may have second thoughts on acquiring the one above in that case

[Mgd_uk]

helix402 said:

I fitted a B12 kit to my E46 (saloon). The front dampers are great but I found the rears too hard, each bump was like a being punched in the back. I fitted standard Sachs to the rear, they work well.

Thanks for that, I will be mostly using it for a few track days, so being stiff might be ok, unless you have any other suggestions on a good suspension setup, non coilover setup :-)

[ethomas]

Mgd_uk said:

Thanks for that, I will be mostly using it for a few track days, so being stiff might be ok, unless you have any other suggestions on a good suspension setup, non coilover setup :-)

I have the B12 kit on my car, and it is a little stiff. I think it suits the character of the compact more than it would the saloon. I checked and the 330 front arb is either 23 or 24mm (depending if the donor car had sports suspension or not), the 325ti has 26.5mm. If you are planning to track the car, I would expect the stiffer bar to be worthwhile.

Where are you based, if you are not too far away I can show you what the B12 kit feels like. I would also love to see how the compact goes with a 330 engine in it

[Mgd_uk]

ethomas said:

I have the B12 kit on my car, and it is a little stiff. I think it suits the character of the compact more than it would the saloon. I checked and the 330 front arb is either 23 or 24mm (depending if the donor car had sports suspension or not), the 325ti has 26.5mm. If you are planning to track the car, I would expect the stiffer bar to be worthwhile.

Where are you based, if you are not too far away I can show you what the B12 kit feels like. I would also love to see how the compact goes with a 330 engine in it

I am based over the water in N.Ireland ( Belfast ) so might be a bit of a trek for you lol But if for some reason you ever end up over this direction let me know and im sure we can get you a run in it.

I will drop you a message if I can work it out on this forum, its a bit out-dated compared to a lot of other forums and the Private Messaging seems to be poor ;(

This will mostly be used on track days so the suspension could well suit

[s m]

Mgd_uk said:

s m said:

I'm probably telling you how to suck eggs here but you know the 330 Ci front ARB is considerably less stiff than the 325ti one?

To be honest I didn't know that, I know very little about the differences on these cars as I have only owned it about 2 weeks now

I figured it would be the same ARB as the 330 I may have second thoughts on acquiring the one above in that case

To be honest, most people don't know a lot about the subtle differences or the reasons they were done. It was going to be quite a hardcore little car at one stage but was 'softened off'...

It's always interesting to read what the project engineers would have liked to have done and how they get reined in.

Your spare rear diff is a good acquisition if you want to retain much of the OE 'character' though

[Mgd_uk]

s m said:

To be honest, most people don't know a lot about the subtle differences or the reasons they were done. It was going to be quite a hardcore little car at one stage but was 'softened off'...

It's always interesting to read what the project engineers would have liked to have done and how they get reined in.

Your spare rear diff is a good acquisition if you want to retain much of the OE 'character' though

Appreciate the advise, i am always willing to take feedback on board

[Mgd_uk]

Whats the difference between the B12 Pro and Sportline kit? As said this will be mostly track use

[Mr Tidy]

A bit off topic, but my Pre-facelift 325ti Sport (so 17 inch rims) has a space-saver spare.

My nephew has a face-lift 325ti SE running on 16s, but it has a full-size spare on a steel rim.

Some years ago I had a facelift 320td on 17s which also had a space-saver spare - so pre/post facelift doesn't seem to be the differentiation. Is it related to the wheel diameter?

I would like to have a "full-size" spare, and being on a steelie wouldn't bother me at all!

Enlightenment would be much appreciated! (Thanks).

[ethomas]

Mr Tidy said:

A bit off topic, but my Pre-facelift 325ti Sport (so 17 inch rims) has a space-saver spare.

My nephew has a face-lift 325ti SE running on 16s, but it has a full-size spare on a steel rim.

Some years ago I had a facelift 320td on 17s which also had a space-saver spare - so pre/post facelift doesn't seem to be the differentiation. Is it related to the wheel diameter?

I would like to have a "full-size" spare, and being on a steelie wouldn't bother me at all!

Enlightenment would be much appreciated! (Thanks).

This is very interesting, I always assumed that a space saver was the only thing that would fit in that horrible tray. My car (facelift on 18s) has a space saver which will no longer fit on my front axle (and soon will not fit on my rear). I wonder if a 17x7 alloy with a 195x50 tyre would go in the spare wheel tray, that would be a much nicer solution.

I don't suppose you know what tyre size is on the space on your nephew's car

[ethomas]

Btw, I found someone selling repainted BMW steels on eBay for 35 quid delivered:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-x-BMW-Original-17-Spar...

Not sure if it will fit over my brakes though.