BMW 325ti (E46) | PH Fleet
A recall, a skid pan, and a check engine light - another busy month for the BMW...
Obviously, cars aren’t sentient, but the coincidences of ownership really are remarkable sometimes. No sooner had I publicly expressed a desire to swap UGB for something newer, faster and less ugly did the problems start. And they remain ongoing. Why does it always happen this way?
The first wasn’t an issue specific to this car, in fairness. The Compact was recalled as part of the Takata airbag issue that’s affecting so many right now. The passenger airbag needed to be replaced, and everything from BMW Hungerford was tickety-boo, the service friendly and the job completed in exactly the time they estimated. The trouble was in the additional inspection they performed; an engine oil leak was highlighted as a warning, which I knew about - it’s an old BMW, after all - but an oil leak from the differential I wasn’t aware of. And that’s far harder to keep an eye on than checking the dipstick.
However, rather than spend £180 with BMW for further investigation, I took the car to 3D Transmissions in Tilehurst - mostly because their inspection was going to be about a third of that. And as it turns out, all is well: the diff isn’t bone dry, but neither is it gushing out fluid either. The level of oil is fine, and they deemed no further action necessary. Phew. I’d already been fretting about what even a reconditioned diff might cost, so it was nice to avoid that. Even if some kind of locking diff sounded fun, after the ti floundered somewhat at the Thruxton skid pan. Still, a scrappy kind of sideways was better than none.
And the old Bimmer wasn’t done yet. On the journey back from 3D, it threw up an engine warning light, the first time it’s done so in my ownership. A diagnostics check has thrown up fuel trim codes, which the garage thinks a new oxygen sensor should fix. And would explain why it’s been smelling a bit fuelly of late. Still, should be a cheaper fix than the new diff I was worried about.
That work is booked in for January, with a service and MOT to follow soon after. I can’t foresee any problems there, but that also tends to be exactly when issues arise - let’s see. If nothing else, it’s more invoices for a huge history file that I’ve contributed a tiny amount to. While I’m totally hopeless on the spanners, it always feels good to have issues tended to and problems fixed; it must be hugely satisfying to be able to do that with your own hands. A 2026 resolution, perhaps…
With those bits and bobs sorted, and perhaps a wheel refurb if I’m feeling flush, it’ll be spring. In April, I make my final student loan repayment, and that’ll make a real difference to the car fund. The question then will be whether it goes into this car, or something else. Our day-to-day shooting the 1M and M2 CS recently, when the Compact took Stephen and me to Farnborough and back, was a great reminder of how likeable small(ish), odd-looking, straight six BMWs are at all sorts of price points. But there are so many interesting cars out there; I don’t want to be in this forever. No doubt the silly old thing will read my mind either way, and behave accordingly…
FACT SHEET
Car: 2003 BMW 325ti Compact
Run by: Matt Bird
On fleet since: July 2024
Bought for: £2,999
Mileage: 161,466
Last month at a glance: Not the most wonderful time of the year
Previous reports
- Fortune favours the brave, doesn’t it?
- 1,000 miles driven, £1,000 spent
- MOT AOK
- Classic Compact charmer clutch change
- Lord of the ‘ring
- 3 is the magic number
Astounding.
10 years ago we bought a 10 year old Z4M, went for a service and the dealer quoted us thousands to replace the discs AND CALIPERS. A panicked and careful trip around the corner to an indy who checked the calipers and said "they're not leaking, they're wet". We did the discs a couple of years ago.
Thinking of selling they throw up an issue, you rectify or pay to rectify the issue, you are then invested in the car again, cue sentiments and emotions, you keep the car and enjoy, then as your enthusiasm wanes the car throws up something else, you fix to sell but again sentiments, fun, finances etc mean you keep it. Repeat.......
I much prefer my old classic cars and the passion to keep them performing.,,,,swopping it for 'something faster' doesn't always equal more 'enjoyment'.
Thinking of selling they throw up an issue, you rectify or pay to rectify the issue, you are then invested in the car again, cue sentiments and emotions, you keep the car and enjoy, then as your enthusiasm wanes the car throws up something else, you fix to sell but again sentiments, fun, finances etc mean you keep it. Repeat.......
I much prefer my old classic cars and the passion to keep them performing.,,,,swopping it for 'something faster' doesn't always equal more 'enjoyment'.
I can relate to this comment having a 30 year old car
I also rather have a older car with more simple parts/sensors etc, were you can do a lot yourself.
my present car is from 1999 so 26+ years young/old now, they call it a youngtimer.
my next car I hope could be 40+ or even 60+ years old, but than with modern better parts on them.
or... it also can be much younger, but then as a Wiesmann MF3 or Donkervoort D8 GTO-RS
at least if time is good for me
Keep the old girl. You’ll be kicking yourself later if you don’t! What would you gain? Car play? Worse fit and finish? Timing chains that won’t last 100k or are burried between engine and gearbox?
Astounding.
I took my 13 year old 325ti to Sytner for the passenger airbag recall, then went back 2 years later for the driver airbag and never got other work suggested.
Cars like this were pretty rare in the early 2000s but are non-existent now so I'd try to keep it - I often wish I still had mine!
It looks pretty tidy and has a lot of history to support its miles, whatever used car you buy you could have issues with, better the devil you know, keep this running, I can’t imagine it’ll be worth a great deal, surely worth more to you as a fun interesting drive than its small financial offering if sold.
But you wouldn’t be a car geek if you didn’t always fancy trying something else, so I get it, though you have the best of both worlds being able to drive press cars.
Astounding.
10 years ago we bought a 10 year old Z4M, went for a service and the dealer quoted us thousands to replace the discs AND CALIPERS. A panicked and careful trip around the corner to an indy who checked the calipers and said "they're not leaking, they're wet". We did the discs a couple of years ago.
As for what to replace it with - you may well find nothing else is as much fun. I'd rather spend a grand on a limited slip diff and some preventative maintenance than triple that on depreciation.
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