E46 325ti compact buying advice / tips / tricks/ general tat
Discussion
Hi BMW chaps,
This is my first step into possible BMW ownership. Quite some time ago I owned a fairly fast Rover 420 GSi turbo - I left the UK in 2008 and since have had boring cars. A good old friend of mine back home has a lovely purple 325ti and I do rather fancy one too.
I live in The Netherlands and road tax here is very expensive compared to the UK and is based on 'empty weight'. The 3er Compact meets quite a few of my picky criteria so I've started researching them. There isn't much choice in NL so it's difficult to get a good hold of what's what.
That's why I'm posting here - if you guys have experience of these cars can you post here important info. Any weak points? Rust points? Leaks/smoke/drips/creaks/squeaks/groans/whines/screams? Should I be put off my high miles? Optional extras which back in the day were tip top but are now more hassle than they're worth? Options back in the day which are worth a lot now?
So far I have figured out:
- M kitted ones look nicer; no black rubbing strips
- Black/silver/blue don't float my boat. Red/purple/yellowey/other are much more interesting
- Not interested in the 4 cylinder 316/318. Gotta be a 325.
As for price, it's kinda difficult to ask as I know most of you are UK based and prices there are so much lower. From what I've seen so far, a good one is going to be around €5000.
Over to you chaps, gimme all you've got
This is my first step into possible BMW ownership. Quite some time ago I owned a fairly fast Rover 420 GSi turbo - I left the UK in 2008 and since have had boring cars. A good old friend of mine back home has a lovely purple 325ti and I do rather fancy one too.
I live in The Netherlands and road tax here is very expensive compared to the UK and is based on 'empty weight'. The 3er Compact meets quite a few of my picky criteria so I've started researching them. There isn't much choice in NL so it's difficult to get a good hold of what's what.
That's why I'm posting here - if you guys have experience of these cars can you post here important info. Any weak points? Rust points? Leaks/smoke/drips/creaks/squeaks/groans/whines/screams? Should I be put off my high miles? Optional extras which back in the day were tip top but are now more hassle than they're worth? Options back in the day which are worth a lot now?
So far I have figured out:
- M kitted ones look nicer; no black rubbing strips
- Black/silver/blue don't float my boat. Red/purple/yellowey/other are much more interesting
- Not interested in the 4 cylinder 316/318. Gotta be a 325.
As for price, it's kinda difficult to ask as I know most of you are UK based and prices there are so much lower. From what I've seen so far, a good one is going to be around €5000.
Over to you chaps, gimme all you've got
Mmm, thanks. How long did you have yours? How many miles? Options you liked or thought were pointless?
FWIW - this one has piqued my interest because of the colour and interior. High KM's though, too much I think.
http://link.marktplaats.nl/m870619042
FWIW - this one has piqued my interest because of the colour and interior. High KM's though, too much I think.
http://link.marktplaats.nl/m870619042
Thanks to you all for your suggestions etc., I'm taking it all on board and will keep looking. There isn't a wide range of 325ti's for sale here so it might be a slow hunt. There are loads in Germany but the hassle associated with importing makes it easier to search locally. I'll keep you updated as to what I end up doing, in the mean time please keep posting here if you think of more important tips etc.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Finally a new contender just arrived. First new one on there since I started looking!
Plus points:
- low mileage
- looks very tidy
- dealer maintained (debatable if that's good or not!?)
Bad points:
- Silver
- no climate control
Something tells me this will be snapped up pretty quick, I don't have time over the festive period to go to look it over etc. Lack of climate and the silver bodywork both put me off...
http://link.marktplaats.nl/m881746452
Plus points:
- low mileage
- looks very tidy
- dealer maintained (debatable if that's good or not!?)
Bad points:
- Silver
- no climate control
Something tells me this will be snapped up pretty quick, I don't have time over the festive period to go to look it over etc. Lack of climate and the silver bodywork both put me off...
http://link.marktplaats.nl/m881746452
You are very lucky over there. On the flipside, cars hold their value much better on this side of the water so even though the cost to buy is high, you don't lose out (much) over time.
Had a lot going on (redecorating) at home in January so didn't do much Ti searching. There aren't many on the market at the moment, these two look nice for different reasons. Blue one looks good on the outside but that blue interior is not to my taste at all. The black one looks good overall but I don't want a black car
http://link.marktplaats.nl/m896032560
http://link.marktplaats.nl/m891292640
Had a lot going on (redecorating) at home in January so didn't do much Ti searching. There aren't many on the market at the moment, these two look nice for different reasons. Blue one looks good on the outside but that blue interior is not to my taste at all. The black one looks good overall but I don't want a black car
http://link.marktplaats.nl/m896032560
http://link.marktplaats.nl/m891292640
Apologies for dragging this thread back up again. Your author hopes there will eventually be a happy, 6 cylindered RWD ending to it, at some point.
If you would be so kind, please take a look at this advert. I'm attracted to this example mainly because it is fairly close and will be easy to get to and take a look at.
I wouldn't be posting this if it were a 'normal' example but it has some weird thing going on in the gearbox area. The ad says (and the pictures clearly show) "F1" style paddles behind the steering wheel and what looks to me like a later 3er shifter. Surely this has been fitted by a PO? Did he fit the paddles too, or were these factory on some models? Is it a normal torque converter auto or SMG?
Link to ad:
http://link.marktplaats.nl/m917120784
Paddles visible behind wheel (plus carbon effect thingy)
Newer model shifter:
Couple overall pics of the car. I like this colour, most I see for sale here are either black, grey, silver or blue. While the blue is not bad, they all have that mental blue interior!?
So, what do you guys reckon?
If you would be so kind, please take a look at this advert. I'm attracted to this example mainly because it is fairly close and will be easy to get to and take a look at.
I wouldn't be posting this if it were a 'normal' example but it has some weird thing going on in the gearbox area. The ad says (and the pictures clearly show) "F1" style paddles behind the steering wheel and what looks to me like a later 3er shifter. Surely this has been fitted by a PO? Did he fit the paddles too, or were these factory on some models? Is it a normal torque converter auto or SMG?
Link to ad:
http://link.marktplaats.nl/m917120784
Paddles visible behind wheel (plus carbon effect thingy)
Newer model shifter:
Couple overall pics of the car. I like this colour, most I see for sale here are either black, grey, silver or blue. While the blue is not bad, they all have that mental blue interior!?
So, what do you guys reckon?
Edited by LeoZwalf on Wednesday 15th April 20:26
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