The E46 325ti Appreciation Thread
Discussion
s m said:
venskip said:
Technical question!
My central locking only works off the key. I have been through all the usual suspects and have new batteries in both the keys and a working GM5 module taken from a car with known working central locking. I have narrowed it down from endless Googling to be potentially the "diversity amplifier" that is supposedly in the "rear C pillar trim" (well, it appears to be on saloon E46s). I have currently got the entire boot stripped out and I cannot find it at all! Can anyone offer any guidance??
Thanks
Have you you looked at the trim panel on the actual boot lid?My central locking only works off the key. I have been through all the usual suspects and have new batteries in both the keys and a working GM5 module taken from a car with known working central locking. I have narrowed it down from endless Googling to be potentially the "diversity amplifier" that is supposedly in the "rear C pillar trim" (well, it appears to be on saloon E46s). I have currently got the entire boot stripped out and I cannot find it at all! Can anyone offer any guidance??
Thanks
Just to update this - I bought a new amplifier from eBay and it now works perfectly - hopefully for good!
I just picked my car up from ETA Motorsport near Sevenoaks, it's had some work done 
First thing is I noticed what looked like a crack on the boot floor near the subframe. I figured it was best to get this sorted properly, and ETA have a really good reputation for repairing and reinforcing this area. Secondly while the subframe was off, it seemed like a good time to install the M3 rear end that has been cluttering up my shed for the past couple of months, so I now have (deep breath):
M3 rear subframe with poly bushes
M3 rear trailing arms
M3 rear brakes (with new discs and 4 pot calipers from a Boxster because why not)
New suspension bushes and bearings everywhere (including rear wheel bearings)
The 3.64 ratio LSD from an M3 and the matching prop and drive shafts, and new OEM diff bushes
New parking brake cables
Everything was stripped, cleaned, and powder coated so it all looks lovely (hidden under the car). It drives very well, the higher ratio diff effectively makes the 6th gear about the same as 5th gear, so the gearbox feels like it has closer ratios. Second gear kicks a little harder but runs out of puff around 48mph, and 70mph in 6th is about 3k rpm which is fine.
I have not had a chance to make the diff do its thing yet, but I am looking forward to a track day when I get back from holiday in a couple of weeks!
First thing is I noticed what looked like a crack on the boot floor near the subframe. I figured it was best to get this sorted properly, and ETA have a really good reputation for repairing and reinforcing this area. Secondly while the subframe was off, it seemed like a good time to install the M3 rear end that has been cluttering up my shed for the past couple of months, so I now have (deep breath):
M3 rear subframe with poly bushes
M3 rear trailing arms
M3 rear brakes (with new discs and 4 pot calipers from a Boxster because why not)
New suspension bushes and bearings everywhere (including rear wheel bearings)
The 3.64 ratio LSD from an M3 and the matching prop and drive shafts, and new OEM diff bushes
New parking brake cables
Everything was stripped, cleaned, and powder coated so it all looks lovely (hidden under the car
). It drives very well, the higher ratio diff effectively makes the 6th gear about the same as 5th gear, so the gearbox feels like it has closer ratios. Second gear kicks a little harder but runs out of puff around 48mph, and 70mph in 6th is about 3k rpm which is fine.I have not had a chance to make the diff do its thing yet, but I am looking forward to a track day when I get back from holiday in a couple of weeks!
dirtychinchilla said:
Thanks it has cream leather interior, unfortunately with walnut, which I'll probably be removing.
Sadly it's already had one issue - driver side rear shock absorber failed 2 weeks in!
Sorry to hear about the shock absorber, but once you get driving it I am sure you will forgive it! it has cream leather interior, unfortunately with walnut, which I'll probably be removing.Sadly it's already had one issue - driver side rear shock absorber failed 2 weeks in!
Sport and sunroof - nice combination (even if the wood isn't so great)! Is it a facelift (i.e. a 6-speed)? That would be my ideal combination!
Hope it behaves better for you in future!
Just took delivery of and fitted a clubsport weighted gear knob, makes more of a (positive) difference than I was expecting!
Have a week off coming up soon and will be replacing the two aux belts, as they are showing a lot of wear and cracking. My question is would people recommend changing the tensioners and pulleys at the same time, or is this overkill?
Have a week off coming up soon and will be replacing the two aux belts, as they are showing a lot of wear and cracking. My question is would people recommend changing the tensioners and pulleys at the same time, or is this overkill?
Been out in the car most of the day, still grinning from ear to ear... Certainly gets the kids thumbs up too :-)
Its still a bit hesitant to pick up from low down the revs in 2nd and 3rd, I think a full service, plugs and maybe a foam air filter are in order.
The only niggle is the drivers seat belt, you need to wiggle it a bit to get it to catch, is this a common e46 thing?
Its still a bit hesitant to pick up from low down the revs in 2nd and 3rd, I think a full service, plugs and maybe a foam air filter are in order.
The only niggle is the drivers seat belt, you need to wiggle it a bit to get it to catch, is this a common e46 thing?
JakeT said:
The first question is does the engine have a lot of noise coming from the front end when running? Failing that I'd say take the belts off and give them a spin by hand. If they're noisy replace them.
No noise from the front, so I will just check them when the belts are off as you suggest.FredClogs said:
Its still a bit hesitant to pick up from low down the revs in 2nd and 3rd, I think a full service, plugs and maybe a foam air filter are in order.
Also worth checking for a vaccum leak as mine was lacking low end power when the intake boot was torn. VANOS seal issue also can cause hesitation at low rpm as far as I am aware.Andrew Kettle said:
JakeT said:
The first question is does the engine have a lot of noise coming from the front end when running? Failing that I'd say take the belts off and give them a spin by hand. If they're noisy replace them.
No noise from the front, so I will just check them when the belts are off as you suggest.I had a cooling system refresh last year at a bit over 80K miles, and had seen cracking in the auxiliary belt so got my local BMW indy to change it. He didn't change the tensioners or suggest it so if they seem OK I would probably leave the originals.
JakeT said:
FredClogs said:
The only niggle is the drivers seat belt, you need to wiggle it a bit to get it to catch, is this a common e46 thing?
Mine seems to be the same. Need a good push to engage. Once you've had it a while(and know the quirk) it'll go straight in and not pop out at all.The missus has very much taken a liking to this car, she's off on a seaside cruise with the eldest whilst I've been left doing the run around jobs and barbecue prep today!
Well, my first full working week in the 325 ti, nearly 500 miles of commuting, what a pleasure, I'll be sad to get back into the Tdi next week but at more than half the MPG I think the 325 is going to be kept for the sunny days and short runs.
I polished it before it went into the garage and visited a local trimmer to get the seat bolster stitched back up today (one of the few faults in the car as far as I can tell)
I'm reluctant to say this but its not like me to spend 2 hours with the polish and wax and chuck money at minor interior defects... It must be love...
I polished it before it went into the garage and visited a local trimmer to get the seat bolster stitched back up today (one of the few faults in the car as far as I can tell)
I'm reluctant to say this but its not like me to spend 2 hours with the polish and wax and chuck money at minor interior defects... It must be love...
FredClogs said:
Well, my first full working week in the 325 ti, nearly 500 miles of commuting, what a pleasure, I'll be sad to get back into the Tdi next week but at more than half the MPG I think the 325 is going to be kept for the sunny days and short runs.
I polished it before it went into the garage and visited a local trimmer to get the seat bolster stitched back up today (one of the few faults in the car as far as I can tell)
I'm reluctant to say this but its not like me to spend 2 hours with the polish and wax and chuck money at minor interior defects... It must be love...
Sounds like you're enjoying it.I polished it before it went into the garage and visited a local trimmer to get the seat bolster stitched back up today (one of the few faults in the car as far as I can tell)
I'm reluctant to say this but its not like me to spend 2 hours with the polish and wax and chuck money at minor interior defects... It must be love...
I used the Dodo juice Supernatural cleaner to smarten up the leather on mine - worked well.
Must get the on-board telly recommissioned as well
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