The E46 325ti Appreciation Thread

[dirtychinchilla]

My friends have actually found that there's more space behind the passenger seat than the driver's seat, and I'm 6ft, so I think you should be OK!

I've never really driven a BMW before I got my 325Ti, but I've found that you really have to sit close to the wheel, unless you just want the top of your head poking out over the steering wheel...which some people seem to.

[s m]

Captain Answer said:

Been bouncing the idea of getting a 325ti around in my head for a little while now and selling up my saabs to get one, but just wondering if someone could let me know about the practicality side...

Back seat - whats the leg room like? I've got a 5&6 year old so they would probably have to go in the back at some point

Boot space - looks ok for size of car from pics, does that ring true?

My aim would be to have at least one other car so it doesnt have to do everything, I've got a cactus for a day to day hack and my mrs takes her test soon so no doubt will end up getting her something small to run about in as well like a fiesta/jaz

I've got a 13yo and 11yo and we've been to the Italian Lakes a few times in ours. I'm 5'11" and can sit behind my seat when it's set normally ( not something I could do in the same length GT86 and it was too marginal in the Toyota for my sons too, especially on a long trip - shame as I would have liked one ) . It's pretty much as roomy as the saloon/coupes - the length is lost on the overhangs rather than the passenger space. Mine's a 6-speed which means relaxed cruising down the autoroutes and is more fun to steer than my old 330i/E36 328i on the Alpine bits. We've been for summer hols so have managed to get enough clothes for all 4 of us in the boot.

Have also got a half width roofbox which we use when we go surfing down Cornwall. Used to use that when I had saloons anyway as it keeps sandy wetsuits out the car boot and need the roof bars for the boards anyway. Depends on how much luggage/clothes you need to take but have never had to take the roof box abroad for a fortnight beach hols

[craiginuk]

Hi. Pretty new to the 325ti but loving it! Iam currently looking to fit coilovers to my E46 325ti compact (2001 model) that I am using as a road registered track car. Does not see any other road use besides driving to track.

I am considering BC-Racing BR coilovers or the HSD Mono tube coilovers. Does anyone have any experience with these or others?

Car currently has a fast road setup - Bilstein B12 with Eibach Pro kit springs but suffers a huge amount of body roll on track. I'd be very interested to know what other people have installed and what spring rates to go for.

Craig

[ethomas]

craiginuk said:

Hi. Pretty new to the 325ti but loving it! Iam currently looking to fit coilovers to my E46 325ti compact (2001 model) that I am using as a road registered track car. Does not see any other road use besides driving to track.

I am considering BC-Racing BR coilovers or the HSD Mono tube coilovers. Does anyone have any experience with these or others?

Car currently has a fast road setup - Bilstein B12 with Eibach Pro kit springs but suffers a huge amount of body roll on track. I'd be very interested to know what other people have installed and what spring rates to go for.

Craig

I can't help you on spring rates, but I would be looking at some better quality coilovers second hand. M3 ones will fit if you change your top mounts, you will get a nice dollop more camber too which should be perfect for a track only car.

Currently for sale on M3Cutters:
KW v3 730 quid: http://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/showthread.php?t=156...
Nitron R1 1000 quid: http://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/showthread.php?t=155...
Bilstein PSS10 850 quid: http://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/showthread.php?t=154...

Any of these will be a good upgrade on monopros, and should be easier to resell in future. Perhaps make a cheeky offer?

[sleithykeithy]

Long time lurker on here, but here is a link to a build thread on mine and my mates 325ti. Great little cars!

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[sleithykeithy]

We have HSD's fitted to ours, and I must say on track they were excellent. Donington GP evening a couple of weeks ago, to give the car a shakedown.

[craiginuk]

That looks amazing! Are thise the standard springs or stiffer track ones?

[sleithykeithy]

They are the springs that HSD supplied. Not sure what weight springs they are to be honest, but I could find out. It's pretty firm on the road, but not unbearable. Comes alive on the track though!

[craiginuk]

Yes please. Would really appreciate that. Pic shows the body roll i get on the bilstein B12 kit..

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd479/craiginu...

Edited by craiginuk on Saturday 16th July 07:16

[JakeT]

s m said:

Captain Answer said:

Been bouncing the idea of getting a 325ti around in my head for a little while now and selling up my saabs to get one, but just wondering if someone could let me know about the practicality side...

Back seat - whats the leg room like? I've got a 5&6 year old so they would probably have to go in the back at some point

Boot space - looks ok for size of car from pics, does that ring true?

My aim would be to have at least one other car so it doesnt have to do everything, I've got a cactus for a day to day hack and my mrs takes her test soon so no doubt will end up getting her something small to run about in as well like a fiesta/jaz

I've got a 13yo and 11yo and we've been to the Italian Lakes a few times in ours. I'm 5'11" and can sit behind my seat when it's set normally ( not something I could do in the same length GT86 and it was too marginal in the Toyota for my sons too, especially on a long trip - shame as I would have liked one ) . It's pretty much as roomy as the saloon/coupes - the length is lost on the overhangs rather than the passenger space. Mine's a 6-speed which means relaxed cruising down the autoroutes and is more fun to steer than my old 330i/E36 328i on the Alpine bits. We've been for summer hols so have managed to get enough clothes for all 4 of us in the boot.

Have also got a half width roofbox which we use when we go surfing down Cornwall. Used to use that when I had saloons anyway as it keeps sandy wetsuits out the car boot and need the roof bars for the boards anyway. Depends on how much luggage/clothes you need to take but have never had to take the roof box abroad for a fortnight beach hols

I would second that they're not all that bad. Certainly no worse than a regular E46 for the rear legroom. My parents ran a 330i touring when I was younger and it was fine for me and my brother and I've now got one. I can sit just about okay behind where my seat is and I'm 6'2. Even done a three hour journey in the back of a mates 320td! Boot space is also alright. You do lose some as its RWD, but still perfectly acceptable. I've done luggage for four in mine with two girls who pack rather heavy and camping gear, so you'll be okay. And SM said a roof box is always useful.

On another note, I got myself a set of the self opening boot struts the other day. I didn't know what I was missing until I had them. Excellent things! Really like being able to push the button on the key and have the boot open for me. Even more handy that I can now open the boot of the car from my desk at work

[s m]

JakeT said:

s m said:

Captain Answer said:

Been bouncing the idea of getting a 325ti around in my head for a little while now and selling up my saabs to get one, but just wondering if someone could let me know about the practicality side...

Back seat - whats the leg room like? I've got a 5&6 year old so they would probably have to go in the back at some point

Boot space - looks ok for size of car from pics, does that ring true?

My aim would be to have at least one other car so it doesnt have to do everything, I've got a cactus for a day to day hack and my mrs takes her test soon so no doubt will end up getting her something small to run about in as well like a fiesta/jaz

I've got a 13yo and 11yo and we've been to the Italian Lakes a few times in ours. I'm 5'11" and can sit behind my seat when it's set normally ( not something I could do in the same length GT86 and it was too marginal in the Toyota for my sons too, especially on a long trip - shame as I would have liked one ) . It's pretty much as roomy as the saloon/coupes - the length is lost on the overhangs rather than the passenger space. Mine's a 6-speed which means relaxed cruising down the autoroutes and is more fun to steer than my old 330i/E36 328i on the Alpine bits. We've been for summer hols so have managed to get enough clothes for all 4 of us in the boot.

Have also got a half width roofbox which we use when we go surfing down Cornwall. Used to use that when I had saloons anyway as it keeps sandy wetsuits out the car boot and need the roof bars for the boards anyway. Depends on how much luggage/clothes you need to take but have never had to take the roof box abroad for a fortnight beach hols

I would second that they're not all that bad. Certainly no worse than a regular E46 for the rear legroom. My parents ran a 330i touring when I was younger and it was fine for me and my brother and I've now got one. I can sit just about okay behind where my seat is and I'm 6'2. Even done a three hour journey in the back of a mates 320td! Boot space is also alright. You do lose some as its RWD, but still perfectly acceptable. I've done luggage for four in mine with two girls who pack rather heavy and camping gear, so you'll be okay. And SM said a roof box is always useful.

On another note, I got myself a set of the self opening boot struts the other day. I didn't know what I was missing until I had them. Excellent things! Really like being able to push the button on the key and have the boot open for me. Even more handy that I can now open the boot of the car from my desk at work

The self opening struts are handy when it's raining and you're in a rush - make sure you don't lock your keys in boot if using the boot open option off the BMW key though!

Way I looked at it with the boot option is that it was easier to use a roof box for that one trip a year you need the space and enjoy the drive the other 99.9% of the year when you're not on hols.

The ability to fit a washing machine/bikes/other bulky item etc in the back with the seats down outweighs the downsides for me ( of course, if you can find a nice 330 touring for a couple of thousand that might suit you better if you're regularly shifting loads of stuff )

[JakeT]

Funnily enough my friend with the 320td did exactly that! He doesn't have a spare too... And managed to snap the key in the ignition barrel.

If I'll be honest I wanted a clean 330i touring but nothing came up with the spec and condition during my search. There's a nice looking 6 speed on AT at the moment but the compact won't ruin a boot floor or rust like the regular ones. I also find that estates tend to be more 'used'. My dad's one was bought brand new and went off to the scrapyard in the sky in 11 years and 152,000 miles. A failed autobox, rusty brake lines and other bits meant it was no more. Sad, we loved that car.

[Mr Tidy]

s m said:

The self opening struts are handy when it's raining and you're in a rush - make sure you don't lock your keys in boot if using the boot open option off the BMW key though!

Way I looked at it with the boot option is that it was easier to use a roof box for that one trip a year you need the space and enjoy the drive the other 99.9% of the year when you're not on hols.

The ability to fit a washing machine/bikes/other bulky item etc in the back with the seats down outweighs the downsides for me ( of course, if you can find a nice 330 touring for a couple of thousand that might suit you better if you're regularly shifting loads of stuff )

Maybe, but TBH you won't find a nice 330 touring for a couple of thousand - at that price they tend to be sh*gged and/or ch*vved! Double the budget and a nice one may be an option, but all you really get for the extra is back doors and rust!

[ethomas]

JakeT said:

Funnily enough my friend with the 320td did exactly that! He doesn't have a spare too... And managed to snap the key in the ignition barrel.

If I'll be honest I wanted a clean 330i touring but nothing came up with the spec and condition during my search. There's a nice looking 6 speed on AT at the moment but the compact won't ruin a boot floor or rust like the regular ones. I also find that estates tend to be more 'used'. My dad's one was bought brand new and went off to the scrapyard in the sky in 11 years and 152,000 miles. A failed autobox, rusty brake lines and other bits meant it was no more. Sad, we loved that car.

If you are referring to boot floor cracks, then the compact is just as prone to this as the rest of the E46 range. I had mine reinforced at ETA motorsport (near Brand's Hatch) recently, they found a 7cm crack at one of the subframe mounting points.

[JakeT]

Well I've been proved wrong! I was always under the impression that the boot floor was much less prone to cracking than the other cars, but that's me educated. What's the difference been like before and after the repair?

[s m]

Mr Tidy said:

Maybe, but TBH you won't find a nice 330 touring for a couple of thousand - at that price they tend to be sh*gged and/or ch*vved! Double the budget and a nice one may be an option, but all you really get for the extra is back doors and rust!

Exactly, all the nice ones seem to be lots of money now

[ethomas]

JakeT said:

Well I've been proved wrong! I was always under the impression that the boot floor was much less prone to cracking than the other cars, but that's me educated. What's the difference been like before and after the repair?

The rear end of the car felt a lot more planted and stable after the repair, but I would hesitate to attribute that to the crack repair. At the same time I did the following:

Fitted M3 subframe & diff
Polybushed rear subframe
New control arm bushes and ball joints
Replaced camber arm bushes with ball joints (M3 style)
New diff bushes
Replaced standard rear brakes with Porsche calipers

So yeah, feels more planted now

[CX53]

Just checking in to the thread in case anyone is selling a sorted facelift 325ti. Thought this would be a good place for a wanted post as forum members will likely have done the usual cooling system refresh already etc.

Cheers

[dirtychinchilla]

sleithykeithy said:

Long time lurker on here, but here is a link to a build thread on mine and my mates 325ti. Great little cars!

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Are 325Tis not all Msport??

[Fishy Dave]

No, most are SE's