2003 BMW 325ti Sport

[ethomas]

After much internal debate, and far too long checking classifieds and looking at everything from a 500 quid Ford Puma, to an 8k Brera, I picked up a 2003 325ti last week with 135k on the clock for a little over shed money. Of course, in a spectacular display of ineptness I chose to pick it up on the last day of the month, so I lost a month of tax before I even turned the key

The car was cheap as chips, but the service history is pretty lax. I know this should be a danger sign, but the engine is smooth as butter, the leather interior is superb, and there is not a jot of rust that I can see. It is off for a thorough check up and service this week, will update with more information after I hear the bad news. The things I knew about the car when I bought it are:

• Rear wiper not working
• Passenger door not unlocking with the remote or the lock button (locking works)
• One parking sensor is not working
• Alloys are kerbed to buggery
• Driver window switch is missing (switch still works if you stick a finger in it)
• Very small dent in NS rear quarter
• Two small patches of damaged lacquer (bonnet and OS front quarter)

I already contacted a local body repair shop for a quote on fixing the lacquer and rear quarter, if it is less than a couple of hundred I will get it done. The passenger door lock is probably a solenoid or a relay, I can handle a soldering iron so this should not be too difficult to repair. Alloys will be fixed when I next replace the tyres (not too distant future I think), and I have a replacement window switch and parking sensor on the way already. The rear wiper I will probably remove and bung up the hole, put some water repellent on the rear window and be done with it.

In the drive from around Luton to around Stansted, I was relieved to find that the car handled very nicely given its age. However, a few new things came up on the drive home:

• Knocking sound from nearside rear suspension on low speed bumps
• Handbrake is iffy about engaging sometimes (reels like the cam slips off the teeth if it is not perfectly centred)
• Steering is a little jumpy on some road surfaces

Hopefully the knocking is something as simple as a bush or a suspension link and can be easily sorted. The handbrake is considered a weak point on these cars, I have ordered a replacement lever unit for a tenner from ebay that should fix this problem. The jumpy steering might just be me being unused to 18/225 rubber on the front and stiffish suspension.

Anyway, I will keep this thread updated as things progress, and more pictures when I get around to it.

[em177]

Looks a nice little car, much under appreciated these things.

[Sp00ks]

Fantastic cars these. Was my first BMW and I loved it. Had a decent amount of poke, sounded good and handled fantastically well. Alot of people dislike the looks but I really like them. I sold mine fault free, with 110k for 1k. Really regret it as I should have tracked it.

Anyway mate, enjoy it.

[ethomas]

Thanks for the replies. I really get the impression that these cars are something of a hidden gem, the little (uglier?) sister of the E46 coupe that never gets asked to the dance

I took some pictures of the body damage and got a quote from a very well regarded local bodyshop. It seems it will be the cost of the car again to fix it! I will keep an eye out for a less expensive option, eBay search alerts have been setup etc. If anyone knows of a cheaper way to fix peeled lacquer then please let me know!





(perhaps the quarter panel could be smart repaired...)

Cheers,
Edward

[s m]

ethomas said:

After much internal debate, and far too long checking classifieds and looking at everything from a 500 quid Ford Puma, to an 8k Brera, I picked up a 2003 325ti last week with 135k on the clock for a little over shed money. Of course, in a spectacular display of ineptness I chose to pick it up on the last day of the month, so I lost a month of tax before I even turned the key

The car was cheap as chips, but the service history is pretty lax. I know this should be a danger sign, but the engine is smooth as butter, the leather interior is superb, and there is not a jot of rust that I can see. It is off for a thorough check up and service this week, will update with more information after I hear the bad news. The things I knew about the car when I bought it are:

• Rear wiper not working
• Passenger door not unlocking with the remote or the lock button (locking works)
• One parking sensor is not working
• Alloys are kerbed to buggery
• Driver window switch is missing (switch still works if you stick a finger in it)
• Very small dent in NS rear quarter
• Two small patches of damaged lacquer (bonnet and OS front quarter)

I already contacted a local body repair shop for a quote on fixing the lacquer and rear quarter, if it is less than a couple of hundred I will get it done. The passenger door lock is probably a solenoid or a relay, I can handle a soldering iron so this should not be too difficult to repair. Alloys will be fixed when I next replace the tyres (not too distant future I think), and I have a replacement window switch and parking sensor on the way already. The rear wiper I will probably remove and bung up the hole, put some water repellent on the rear window and be done with it.

In the drive from around Luton to around Stansted, I was relieved to find that the car handled very nicely given its age. However, a few new things came up on the drive home:

• Knocking sound from nearside rear suspension on low speed bumps
• Handbrake is iffy about engaging sometimes (reels like the cam slips off the teeth if it is not perfectly centred)
• Steering is a little jumpy on some road surfaces

Hopefully the knocking is something as simple as a bush or a suspension link and can be easily sorted. The handbrake is considered a weak point on these cars, I have ordered a replacement lever unit for a tenner from ebay that should fix this problem. The jumpy steering might just be me being unused to 18/225 rubber on the front and stiffish suspension.

Anyway, I will keep this thread updated as things progress, and more pictures when I get around to it.

Looks decent for the money - I've had mine a few years and like it a lot more than the 330i or old E36 328 saloons I had. Plus they're cheap compared to some of the seriously hammered 330s up for sale at present

You're right though, they don't seem to rust like the E46 saloons/coupes do. A friend with a Gt86 is quite impressed with it - he owned a 320i coupe before the Toyota and reckons this feels a lot wieldier than his old coupe.

Lack of overhangs ( same WB ) , stiffer rear ARB and suspension settings than the saloon or coupe plus the quick rack ( that the later saloons/coupes/estates got but that ALL Compacts have as they introduced it into the range ) all help. Plus the shorter final drive that means you need two changes to 60. It's down about 10mph top end on a 330 saloon but the lighter weight and shorter gearing means it's as quick in gear at road speeds. Plus the exhaust seems to have a sportier tone than a 330 - no vacuum flap on one pipe on the Ti and it has a shorter run than the saloon

Check the rad isn't bowed at the bottom if they haven't checked for you - if so, time for a new rad, expansion tank, hoses, pump and stat.

Wonder if you've got a rear damper top mount going as per the knocking sound - I'm sure the check over will point it out for you.
Personally I found mine feels nicest to drive on a square set of 205/50 17s like the 1-coupe 125i had - or 225/45 17s ( currently I'm on the 205/55 16s like the non Sport press cars had as you can have a bit of fun with the Systems switched off when no one's about )

Mine has been pretty reliable, I did the cooling items mentioned, the intake boot from the MAF, plugs, air filter ( that was a bit of a faff on mine as it's the curved BMW PERFORMANCE one so hard to source rather than the usual flat panel one ) and a couple of drop links

Hope you enjoy yours

[ethomas]

First of all, thanks for your informative and enthusiastic post sm. With everything I read about this car I become happier that I made the right choice.

Just got a call back from the garage, the major problems are a broken rear spring (down about 10mm on the off side, this will be the banging noise), a knackered exaust mount, and badly worn front flexi brake hoses. Not too bad considering. One rear tyre is down to 2mm, and the rest are all about 3mm, so I will get new boots and a wheel refurb at Lepsons ASAP, with perhaps an interior detailing across the road at KDS done at the same time. With luck this should be all the expensive things done until I get around to sorting the paint and the dent.

Other news:

• Salvaged handbrake lever arrived yesterday
• New parking sensor should arrive today (found one in the correct colour on Ebay for £17)
• Colin at gm5Info helped me diagnose the locking problem, new actuator will be ordered today

Pictures of the refurbed wheels will, of course, be forthcoming

[ethomas]

Picked the car up from the garage post-service, it is definitely a huge improvement, and the security of having it looked over is great. There is still a bit of knocking from the rear end, the garage mentioned that the rear trailing arm bushes are nearing the end of their life, so that looks like the next major job. I hope I will be able to DIY it if I can get hold of the appropriate tool to remove the old bush.

The valet guy just finished cleaning the interior, he said it was full of grime and "gack" as he put it. Definitely a much nicer place to be now.

[aka_kerrly]

I like that, facelift bumpers an skirts make a huge difference, is it also a 6 speed?

I keep looking at 325TI compacts an really should give one a whirl.

[ethomas]

aka_kerrly said:

I like that, facelift bumpers an skirts make a huge difference, is it also a 6 speed?

I keep looking at 325TI compacts an really should give one a whirl.

Yup, I think that all the facelifts have the six speed box. It is a great car, a little different to most of the hot hatch choices around £2k and a lovely place to sit.

[PaulGT3]

Hi mate I've got one of these too. And I'm doing my rear trailing arm bushes this weekend. I bought the tool off ebay for £30 delivered. Once I've finished with it, do you want it for say £20 delivered?

[ethomas]

PaulGT3 said:

Hi mate I've got one of these too. And I'm doing my rear trailing arm bushes this weekend. I bought the tool off ebay for £30 delivered. Once I've finished with it, do you want it for say £20 delivered?

That would be awesome, I will send you my email address in a PM. Let me know how you get on with the bushes too, are you going for OEM or poly?

[PaulGT3]

OEM lemforder bushes definitely. Once you've got the tool you might as well put OEM bushes back in. I'm really pretty sceptical about putting poly bushes in a road car.

[wjb]

Nice, I like the sport kit & colour especially.

I drive a 320td se compact, 13 years old and approaching 150k now but no rust or mechanical problems, other than the handbrake is a bit weak.

Bought it as a runaround, almost 2 years later I still have it, alongside the family X5, Very underrated cars.

[JonoG81]

Looks like quite a lot of car for not a lot of money, definately going to be keeping an eye on this one

[s m]

PaulGT3 said:

OEM lemforder bushes definitely. Once you've got the tool you might as well put OEM bushes back in. I'm really pretty sceptical about putting poly bushes in a road car.

If you want to stiffen it up a little at the back ( and make the best use of the bigger RARB ) I'd recommend the the OEM bushes with a limiter kit. Stops the sideways squish and retains the OE NVH

[ethomas]

After a little more reading it seems like OEM is definitely the way to go. Regarding limiters, did you find a decent price for these in the UK? The verschlag ones look a good bet for $55, but on this side of the pond I can only find turner or rogue, at around £90.

I am going to the USA in September so perhaps I should wait until then and bring some back with me.

[s m]

ethomas said:

After a little more reading it seems like OEM is definitely the way to go. Regarding limiters, did you find a decent price for these in the UK? The verschlag ones look a good bet for $55, but on this side of the pond I can only find turner or rogue, at around £90.

I am going to the USA in September so perhaps I should wait until then and bring some back with me.

I thought CA used to do the Rogue ones about £65? Although that's twice the price they are in US - either that or get someone to machine some up - you're just trying to stop the sideways movement of the bush in its 'cage'

[Clivey]

ethomas said:

Yup, I think that all the facelifts have the six speed box. It is a great car, a little different to most of the hot hatch choices around £2k and a lovely place to sit.

Didn't know the 325Ti got the 6-speed; thought it was only the 330i / Ci. Interesting.

As I said in the other thread, I'd definitely have another E46. My problem would be knowing where the limit was regarding spending on it.

[s m]

Clivey said:

ethomas said:

Yup, I think that all the facelifts have the six speed box. It is a great car, a little different to most of the hot hatch choices around £2k and a lovely place to sit.

Didn't know the 325Ti got the 6-speed; thought it was only the 330i / Ci. Interesting.

As I said in the other thread, I'd definitely have another E46. My problem would be knowing where the limit was regarding spending on it.

Mine's a 6-speed too. Useful to have the extra cog on the Compact as they are shorter geared ( they won't crack 60 in 2nd )

[PaulGT3]

Hi mate I've finished installing my rtab bushes, no dramas at all really just followed one of the guides on youtube and was fine. Just make sure you set the preload of the bush with a straight bar. The RTAB carrier bracket needs to be aligned 8mm above the centre of the axle line and then tightened seeing as you can't get to that bolt to tighten it when the car is under load.

If you still want that tool drop me a mail at [e-mail].