The E46 325ti Appreciation Thread
Discussion
The Don of Croy said:
Best feature (other than engine and drivetrain) was the 'load-through' parcel shelf, which had a compartment in it and hooks for hanging shopping bags. Such overkill.
Nice looking car 
Ah, the parcel shelf! Mine has this too, I was genuinely excited when I started playing with it, great feature. I've even popped an umbrella in the umbrella holder!
Picked one of these up today. Initial impressions are that it is all about that engine, it will happily sit in 5th gear around town but then drop into third and it loves to rev, and what a noise!
The car itself needs a bit of work, bodywork is badly neglected with the front bumper needing repainted. The remote key doesn't work and the wheels need refurbed.
Spec wise it's an m sport model with sunroof, xenon lights, heated seats, and cruise control. Best of all it has only 56000 miles with the last owner only using it 1000 miles per year. I will upload more pictures when it's had a good clean.
The car itself needs a bit of work, bodywork is badly neglected with the front bumper needing repainted. The remote key doesn't work and the wheels need refurbed.
Spec wise it's an m sport model with sunroof, xenon lights, heated seats, and cruise control. Best of all it has only 56000 miles with the last owner only using it 1000 miles per year. I will upload more pictures when it's had a good clean.
As you can see in the picture the front bumper is faded, also a bad scratch on it. I would like to get it to a bodyshop tomorrow for a quote. It also needs new plates and new BMW badges, does anyone know if the standard E46 badges fit the compact?
I got the car for £2200, bit of a bargain with that mileage and spec but at the same time the car needs at least a few hundred pounds spent on it and the service history is poor, its a gamble I was willing to take having driven the car and the seller was a genuine guy and had carried out maintenance on his own.
For this money I honestly can't think of a more fun and better specced car, I looked at a 330ci and type r's but for a decent one I think you would be looking at another 2k at least.
I got the car for £2200, bit of a bargain with that mileage and spec but at the same time the car needs at least a few hundred pounds spent on it and the service history is poor, its a gamble I was willing to take having driven the car and the seller was a genuine guy and had carried out maintenance on his own.
For this money I honestly can't think of a more fun and better specced car, I looked at a 330ci and type r's but for a decent one I think you would be looking at another 2k at least.
Looks great from where I'm sitting. It does look like a pretty good deal. Get it looking right and keep on top of maintenance and I doubt you'll ever lose a penny
The boot lid badge is the specific to the compact and seemingly all E39s. The bonnet badge is the same as almost every BMW ever made .
The boot lid badge is the specific to the compact and seemingly all E39s. The bonnet badge is the same as almost every BMW ever made
.I just blitzed all the usual bits on my car -bought and fitted the ccv assembly, Hd wishbone rear bushes, hd rta bushes and the upper hub bushes. Then replaced the cooling system,, radiator, expansion tank, waterpump and thermostat - had to source some O rings for the radiator hoses.
I found the car stalled very easily - worse in the morning, so bought a Vanos repair kit along with a new cam cover gasket, which kept me busy for a few hours
I found the car stalled very easily - worse in the morning, so bought a Vanos repair kit along with a new cam cover gasket, which kept me busy for a few hours
Rally Ax said:
I just blitzed all the usual bits on my car -bought and fitted the ccv assembly, Hd wishbone rear bushes, hd rta bushes and the upper hub bushes. Then replaced the cooling system,, radiator, expansion tank, waterpump and thermostat - had to source some O rings for the radiator hoses.
I found the car stalled very easily - worse in the morning, so bought a Vanos repair kit along with a new cam cover gasket, which kept me busy for a few hours
Blimey, thats an epic amount of work!I found the car stalled very easily - worse in the morning, so bought a Vanos repair kit along with a new cam cover gasket, which kept me busy for a few hours
I've got a few bits to fit to mine next weekend, heater resistor (fan is pulsing at the moment), and full "cold climate" CCV kit.
Leins said:
As an aside, does anyone remember the TV advert for the E46 Compact, with the car being driven up a windy road to a large modern house on a hill? Inside, a dog (red setter IIRC) runs through the house to greet its approaching owner, sliding about and knocking things over
Can't remember their message to be conveyed, but I'm wondering now if they were trying to say that the previous shape was an uncontrollable dog
(I loved my old E36 Compact too btw)
Yes indeed Leins Can't remember their message to be conveyed, but I'm wondering now if they were trying to say that the previous shape was an uncontrollable dog
(I loved my old E36 Compact too btw)Remember the ad well!
Plus the Berger F1 one
http://youtu.be/1YpkqFKByzg
Edited by s m on Wednesday 2nd September 11:09
s m said:
I hadn't seen that one before, thanks SM!BTW, have you still got that Marc Gene review?
stepmeek, that was a steal! as yours is on an 03 plate is it a facelift with the 6-speed box (if so I am even more jealous)!
I thought my 52 plate Imola Red Sport with full leather was a bargain (fiver change from £2K with 80K miles from a dealer).
Rally Ax, the throttle delay may have needed no more than a reset - mine seems to need one every couple of weeks. You know, ignition on for 10+ seconds, off with key in for 10+ seconds, on again for 10+ secs then start it - always drives much better afterwards!
Not surprised they are so highly-regarded, just surprised they were largely ignored for so long! Nearest successor must be the 130i, but they cost 3 or 4 times the money - while they are doubtless quicker I can't believe they are 3 or 4 times as good!
325ti rules!
Bump, back to the top!
I thought my 52 plate Imola Red Sport with full leather was a bargain (fiver change from £2K with 80K miles from a dealer).
Rally Ax, the throttle delay may have needed no more than a reset - mine seems to need one every couple of weeks. You know, ignition on for 10+ seconds, off with key in for 10+ seconds, on again for 10+ secs then start it - always drives much better afterwards!
Not surprised they are so highly-regarded, just surprised they were largely ignored for so long! Nearest successor must be the 130i, but they cost 3 or 4 times the money - while they are doubtless quicker I can't believe they are 3 or 4 times as good!
325ti rules!
Bump, back to the top!
Edited by Mr Tidy on Thursday 3rd September 00:17
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