The E46 325ti Appreciation Thread

[Mr Tidy]

I paid £1,995 for my 80K mile manual 5 speed one in December 2014, and sold it for £1,450 in March 2019.

Seeing what they fetch now I should probably have kept it!

[Toltec]

Mr Tidy said:

I paid £1,995 for my 80K mile manual 5 speed one in December 2014, and sold it for £1,450 in March 2019.

Seeing what they fetch now I should probably have kept it!

Must admit I'm thinking about keeping it and tidying it up a bit, problem is it is an auto so unlikely to be as popular as a manual.

[Hippea]

Anyone’s on here?

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/16734296

[Max M4X WW]

I think the owner posted on here and we exchanged a few emails, I was tempted.

[Hippea]

Looks incredibly clean considering the mileage

[jonindorset]

Yes, it's mine. It's led a cherished life and the drive totally belies the mileage. Not a single creak or rattle and I highly recommend the Bilstein B12 Prokit. The Kenwood Android Auto headunit also makes it very everyday usable.

[danp]

Don’t think I saw this mentioned on here, a good review, bargains at 5/6k!

https://youtu.be/HM4htPgKLsk?si=p56tkhja-L61mj19

[helix402]

jonindorset said:

Yes, it's mine. It's led a cherished life and the drive totally belies the mileage. Not a single creak or rattle and I highly recommend the Bilstein B12 Prokit. The Kenwood Android Auto headunit also makes it very everyday usable.

The B12 kit is great on the E46.

[Thoglan]

I have the B12 kit on my compact as well. No complaints at all. They sell a 325ti specific set of springs and shocks.

330Ti is the perfect daily driver

[SimonK2486]

dubster2007 said:

What type have you got? self opening (lifts tailgate unaided) or standard lift version?

I know from experience the self opening version can be a pain especially on colder days, so i've gone to taking them off in the winter and putting on some standard versions which i picked up cheap from eurocarparts, to be honest i didn't even know they did different lengths, weaker or stronger versions, ecp ones just said fitment e46 compact.

Going back to the gas struts… mine also has the self lift (or did have as they no longer work).

Do you know what length the cheaper non lift versions are? I’ve looked on ECP and they are 627mm, whereas from my reading the self lift ones are 597mm? I don’t want to go ordering a set and then find that they won’t work. My car is a 2001.

[Mr Tidy]

SimonK2486 said:

Going back to the gas struts… mine also has the self lift (or did have as they no longer work).

Do you know what length the cheaper non lift versions are? I’ve looked on ECP and they are 627mm, whereas from my reading the self lift ones are 597mm? I don’t want to go ordering a set and then find that they won’t work. My car is a 2001.

I may have got them the wrong way round but I seem to recall my pre-facelift having the shorter struts and my nephews' facelift having the longer ones. If they had been the same I was going to swap them when he sold his!

They both had the self-lift feature with the storage parcel-shelf so I think it's a pre-/post-facelift difference.

[jonindorset]

Hippea said:

Anyone’s on here?

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/16734296

What does the group think is a fair price for this car?

[easy_]

jonindorset said:

What does the group think is a fair price for this car?

Its a non sport but has some desirable upgrades and looks exceptionally tidy, i'd say in the region of 2500-3000.

[RSTurboPaul]

easy_ said:

jonindorset said:

What does the group think is a fair price for this car?

Its a non sport but has some desirable upgrades and looks exceptionally tidy, i'd say in the region of 2500-3000.

With apologies for what is likely a daft question, what differences does the Sport version bring?

[FNG]

Both SE and Sport had the same sport-biased suspension and bolstered seats etc.

Far as I know, Sport just has different bumpers, skirts and tailgate lip spoiler, and bigger wheels. And a black headliner I think.

[RSTurboPaul]

FNG said:

Both SE and Sport had the same sport-biased suspension and bolstered seats etc.

Far as I know, Sport just has different bumpers, skirts and tailgate lip spoiler, and bigger wheels. And a black headliner I think.

Ace, thank you

[Max M4X WW]

Did anyone buy the red car? Looks to have sold.

[jonindorset]

It's still available, just need to renew the ad. I'm loathe to sell it at this price but as a forth car and giving the miles I'm doing it no longer makes sense to keep it. Given how together it is, my loss is someone else's gain.

[Hippea]

I think people are (wrongly) put off by the mileage. Hopefully it will find a good home

[Sardonicus]

Nothing wrong with a bit of mileage 200k plus and maintained should be a breeze with the M54 running gear , mileage does not always impact body and interior trim if looked after