2001 325ti - The Pistachio Green Love Machine
Discussion
So! Early this year I had my first BMW which I loved dearly:
an e30 318is called Gunter. However after spending silly amounts on it (suspension, LSD, things going wrong, things being upgraded, HID's, chip etc etc) it got to a point it needed welding and bodywork to make as I wanted it and I couldn't be arsed! So I sold it and bought this:
The "poofty wagon" was awesome, it was economical, roof down was brilliant, I stiffened it up with under body bracing, strut braces, hard top and lowered it 30mm! We then got another dog (we've got 2 Jack Russells now) and I got my mountain bike back, and the OH bought a Smart car, so the need for a "sensible car" arose. I sold the "poofty wagon" for £200 less than I paid for it with 8k more on the clock, in the winter, bonus!
I wanted a BMW again, but needed a hatchback/estate. I occasionally have the use of a 118d which was ideal, but I wanted to put some money in the bank too, so ruled this out, and started thinking... After a month of pondering and musing I decided on a 320td, as I quite like the compacts. The hunt began, and it transpired they were/are an awful lot more to buy than 325ti's, and I've only ever had 1.8 4 pots at most, so my "man economics" kicked in (after a trip to the Nurburgring).
So I bought this:
A 325ti, within 10 miles of my house, had 81k a FBMWSH and was half the money I got for my MR2! After a trip to Sheffield it appeared to be losing water, so a poke around revealed a bowed radiator. A new one was sourced (after much monkeying around), and all was well!
I then decided the suspension needed overhauling, so my "man economics" kicked in once more and I got some coilies.
I had the suspension overhauled today, with coilovers, shorter droplinks, Meyle HD control arm bushes, Rear trailing arm bushes and front top mounts, M3 rear top mounts, and replaced the dodgy oil sensor with an OEM Hella and had a service, it's much better!
The suspension is yet to settle, but I quite like the ride height...
Next is some wheels, but I may do this in the interim:
an e30 318is called Gunter. However after spending silly amounts on it (suspension, LSD, things going wrong, things being upgraded, HID's, chip etc etc) it got to a point it needed welding and bodywork to make as I wanted it and I couldn't be arsed! So I sold it and bought this:
The "poofty wagon" was awesome, it was economical, roof down was brilliant, I stiffened it up with under body bracing, strut braces, hard top and lowered it 30mm! We then got another dog (we've got 2 Jack Russells now) and I got my mountain bike back, and the OH bought a Smart car, so the need for a "sensible car" arose. I sold the "poofty wagon" for £200 less than I paid for it with 8k more on the clock, in the winter, bonus!
I wanted a BMW again, but needed a hatchback/estate. I occasionally have the use of a 118d which was ideal, but I wanted to put some money in the bank too, so ruled this out, and started thinking... After a month of pondering and musing I decided on a 320td, as I quite like the compacts. The hunt began, and it transpired they were/are an awful lot more to buy than 325ti's, and I've only ever had 1.8 4 pots at most, so my "man economics" kicked in (after a trip to the Nurburgring).
So I bought this:
A 325ti, within 10 miles of my house, had 81k a FBMWSH and was half the money I got for my MR2! After a trip to Sheffield it appeared to be losing water, so a poke around revealed a bowed radiator. A new one was sourced (after much monkeying around), and all was well!
I then decided the suspension needed overhauling, so my "man economics" kicked in once more and I got some coilies.
I had the suspension overhauled today, with coilovers, shorter droplinks, Meyle HD control arm bushes, Rear trailing arm bushes and front top mounts, M3 rear top mounts, and replaced the dodgy oil sensor with an OEM Hella and had a service, it's much better!
The suspension is yet to settle, but I quite like the ride height...
Next is some wheels, but I may do this in the interim:
Edited by AlecG on Thursday 1st December 14:46
Jimmy No Hands said:
Think it needs some spacers, the wheels look too far into the body in my opinion and looks a bit silly. Might just be me. Always had a soft spot for these though.
Agreed! But I'm going to stash the money away instead for some new wheels... Not sure which way to go yet, but I've a few in mind!
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