E46 325Ti Compact..?
Discussion
Guys, the Mrs will soon be wanting a first car and at the mo its possibly looking like a Clio sport 197.
I had a tasty silver 325Ti M Sport pull up next to me earlier and roar off, it sounded mint! I dont know much about them, so, question is..what are they like? Size wise, seems ok for a first car (IE - not to big compared top a normal E46 Coupe).
Any info will be most helpful..cheers!
I had a tasty silver 325Ti M Sport pull up next to me earlier and roar off, it sounded mint! I dont know much about them, so, question is..what are they like? Size wise, seems ok for a first car (IE - not to big compared top a normal E46 Coupe).
Any info will be most helpful..cheers!
Nearly bought one after my 540i. Handled nicely enough, goes plenty well enough and had all the toys. Only reason I went for something bigger was I found it a bit hard going after the barge 
Later models have better looking rear lights, not the horrid Halfords look clear jobs.
Well worth a look. Hatchback is useful too!
Later models have better looking rear lights, not the horrid Halfords look clear jobs.
Well worth a look. Hatchback is useful too!
Hmmm, mixed response so far then. I did a quick search and found a few on the smaller engined 316/318 cars but none on the 6cyl 325Ti.
rb5er said:
I`d have the clio anyday. Compact BMW`s seem pointless when you can have a full size one for the same money.
I hear what you're saying about being able to get bigger brother coupe for the same money, dont forget, its a first car for the Mrs though so needs to be on the smaller size, at least for the first year of driving anyway!!Search is your friend...... About 6 months ago there was a thread on GG about why E46 Compacts were so overlooked:- it'll tell you that lots of people don't like them, based purely on their looks,but if you look for the opinions of those who have owned one you will find that those who have driven/owned the 325 do.
Yes, I'm biased. I have owned a 52 plate 325ti for 18 months and 12k miles and am as much in love with it as the day I took the test drive in it. Lovely, sweet sounding, eager 6-pot engine allied to a gearbox with comparatively low ratios, tight RWD chassis with plenty of grip all add up to make life interesting and fun, esp if the TC is off, when one wants to make progress.
Yes, it's no Ferrari Dino in the looks department and yes I've got the one with the Lexus Lights but at least try and get a drive in one. You won't regret it.
hth
Kev
Yes, I'm biased. I have owned a 52 plate 325ti for 18 months and 12k miles and am as much in love with it as the day I took the test drive in it. Lovely, sweet sounding, eager 6-pot engine allied to a gearbox with comparatively low ratios, tight RWD chassis with plenty of grip all add up to make life interesting and fun, esp if the TC is off, when one wants to make progress.
Yes, it's no Ferrari Dino in the looks department and yes I've got the one with the Lexus Lights but at least try and get a drive in one. You won't regret it.
hth
Kev
The 325Ti is the only E46 Compact worth having. I don't mind the looks and you can't see the outside of it when you're driving. The hatchback is very handy and they drive really well - unpopularity means that there are some bargains out there now. Even the last of them are cheap enough not to have any real depreciation issues.
I had a 320td compact and it was an ace little car, versatile, reliable and very overlooked, so costs less than a saloon/touring to acquire.
Biggest thing was just how quick it could go across country and what great chassis balance it had, especially after a Superchip was fitted. I had a 993C4 owner asking me 'what was in it' after I passed him on a trackday at Croft! Was gutted to tell him "2 litre diesel mate".
Sold it do my Dad (who still has it) as when he'd for a good drive in it, wouldn't let me trade it in when we decided to let it go (due to the arrival of a company car).
325 has got to be worth a punt, but they're rare and will cost quite a bit more than the smoker. You've got the classic BMW recipe, sonorous straight 6 that's lugging a relatively small car and beautiful rear drive chassis.
As already said by other previous/current owners - try one!
Looks? Who gives a flying f***, except poseurs
Biggest thing was just how quick it could go across country and what great chassis balance it had, especially after a Superchip was fitted. I had a 993C4 owner asking me 'what was in it' after I passed him on a trackday at Croft! Was gutted to tell him "2 litre diesel mate".
Sold it do my Dad (who still has it) as when he'd for a good drive in it, wouldn't let me trade it in when we decided to let it go (due to the arrival of a company car).
325 has got to be worth a punt, but they're rare and will cost quite a bit more than the smoker. You've got the classic BMW recipe, sonorous straight 6 that's lugging a relatively small car and beautiful rear drive chassis.
As already said by other previous/current owners - try one!
Looks? Who gives a flying f***, except poseurs
Personally, I think they look good.
Thinking of going to view this http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?itemId=2... at the weekend, Just the auto box putting me off, and ni plates.
Thinking of going to view this http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?itemId=2... at the weekend, Just the auto box putting me off, and ni plates.
Edited by cramman on Thursday 29th September 21:39
Just come across this thread and feel I should put in a word on behalf of my trusty 325ti (2001).
I bought the car when I worked in Germany, and planned to sell it on very quickly in UK to help convert my DM to £s. Had a top-spec TT on order to replace it a year on. By the end of the year, however, I didn't want the fwd feel and somewhat coiffured look of the TT, so cancelled the order and started looking for a suitable replacement. The 1 Series looked like an obvious candidate, but checking the spec it seemed to offer nothing more than I already had (the promised weight reduction came to nought), and I thought and think it hideous-looking (i.e. even worse than the 325ti; the latter's looks have grown on me over the years). Plus the 1-Series still has one of two significant complaints I have about the 325ti: its long wheelbase, which on tight corners makes it feel a bit bus-like; OK, it contributes to high-speed stability, but I've had a number of shorter wheelbase cars that felt stable enough to me. Ride harshness is my other gripe - the 325ti came with lowered suspension as standard, along with 55 profile tyres.
So for years I couldn't identify a clear step forward till the revised Cayman appeared in 2013(?) (couldn't bring myself to spend so much on the awful back end of the original). On paper it was all I wanted so I went along for a test drive. Drove both manual and PDK versions. Decided against it. If I drove on a track every day, or maybe in Scotland, I'd have ordered one then and there, but getting back into my 325ti and setting off on Kent's roads, I thought, "this is a great little car!". Plus the Cayman rode no better than my harsh 325ti (drove the cars back to back over the same potholed road).
The 325ti will be 14 years old this year but drives like new - better even, maybe - but might give up the ghost some foreseeable day, so in desperation I went and tried a Toyota GT86. What a hoot on the demo, but you don't drive like that every day, and in some respects (motorway cruising, refinement) it would be a backward step. So although the GT86 will likely be the replacement, but I'm not rushing out to buy one till I need to.
The question was asked about m.p.g. Well, if you really like the glorious sound of the six and rev it, I'm sure you can push the economy way down, but for my every-day runs (typically 15 miles plus on mixed motorway/country roads), I always get over 35mpg (more cold starts would really bring it down). Then again, six cylinders allow you to drive almost everywhere in 5th, and that's what I've ended up I doing! Neither shaving 30 seconds off a 15 minute journey nor losing my licence seem very attractive these days. Clearly getting old!
I bought the car when I worked in Germany, and planned to sell it on very quickly in UK to help convert my DM to £s. Had a top-spec TT on order to replace it a year on. By the end of the year, however, I didn't want the fwd feel and somewhat coiffured look of the TT, so cancelled the order and started looking for a suitable replacement. The 1 Series looked like an obvious candidate, but checking the spec it seemed to offer nothing more than I already had (the promised weight reduction came to nought), and I thought and think it hideous-looking (i.e. even worse than the 325ti; the latter's looks have grown on me over the years). Plus the 1-Series still has one of two significant complaints I have about the 325ti: its long wheelbase, which on tight corners makes it feel a bit bus-like; OK, it contributes to high-speed stability, but I've had a number of shorter wheelbase cars that felt stable enough to me. Ride harshness is my other gripe - the 325ti came with lowered suspension as standard, along with 55 profile tyres.
So for years I couldn't identify a clear step forward till the revised Cayman appeared in 2013(?) (couldn't bring myself to spend so much on the awful back end of the original). On paper it was all I wanted so I went along for a test drive. Drove both manual and PDK versions. Decided against it. If I drove on a track every day, or maybe in Scotland, I'd have ordered one then and there, but getting back into my 325ti and setting off on Kent's roads, I thought, "this is a great little car!". Plus the Cayman rode no better than my harsh 325ti (drove the cars back to back over the same potholed road).
The 325ti will be 14 years old this year but drives like new - better even, maybe - but might give up the ghost some foreseeable day, so in desperation I went and tried a Toyota GT86. What a hoot on the demo, but you don't drive like that every day, and in some respects (motorway cruising, refinement) it would be a backward step. So although the GT86 will likely be the replacement, but I'm not rushing out to buy one till I need to.
The question was asked about m.p.g. Well, if you really like the glorious sound of the six and rev it, I'm sure you can push the economy way down, but for my every-day runs (typically 15 miles plus on mixed motorway/country roads), I always get over 35mpg (more cold starts would really bring it down). Then again, six cylinders allow you to drive almost everywhere in 5th, and that's what I've ended up I doing! Neither shaving 30 seconds off a 15 minute journey nor losing my licence seem very attractive these days. Clearly getting old!
^^^ Nice write-up. Only question I have is how did you manage to be so restrained to get 35MPG? 
Have to say I found that engine just loved to live above 4K RPM, and was never able to resist. I nearly always chose the back roads route into work rather than the motorway, having to leave considerably earlier as a result in the morning, but it was worth it
Also, whilst many decry the looks, I personally love the proportions of both generations of Compact
Have to say I found that engine just loved to live above 4K RPM, and was never able to resist. I nearly always chose the back roads route into work rather than the motorway, having to leave considerably earlier as a result in the morning, but it was worth it
Also, whilst many decry the looks, I personally love the proportions of both generations of Compact
I bought a 52 plate 325ti sport last December as a daily and love it.
It had almost 80,000 miles on it when I got it and is now nearing 83,000.
The only downside is that it had had to have the cooling system refresh that all E46's seem to need at this sort of mileage - radiator was seriously bowed at the bottom so leaking and while it was in I had the expansion tank, thermostat, etc. changed.
Still I knew it was a possibility and I bought it for a good price.
They seem to manage high miles OK - I did test drive one earlier last year that had done nearly 120,000 and it drove as good as mine.
Don't know if you have read all the threads about them, but a few things to look for are the cooling system, brake pipes corrode, rear wipers often don't work, the filter in the front washer bottler can get blocked if it is filled with plain water, and if you need a 6 speed one you need a facelift model (app. 03 onwards). They're easy to spot as they have the red rear light fittings instead of the clear ones fitted to the pre-facelifts.
Good luck!
It had almost 80,000 miles on it when I got it and is now nearing 83,000.
The only downside is that it had had to have the cooling system refresh that all E46's seem to need at this sort of mileage - radiator was seriously bowed at the bottom so leaking and while it was in I had the expansion tank, thermostat, etc. changed.
Still I knew it was a possibility and I bought it for a good price.
They seem to manage high miles OK - I did test drive one earlier last year that had done nearly 120,000 and it drove as good as mine.
Don't know if you have read all the threads about them, but a few things to look for are the cooling system, brake pipes corrode, rear wipers often don't work, the filter in the front washer bottler can get blocked if it is filled with plain water, and if you need a 6 speed one you need a facelift model (app. 03 onwards). They're easy to spot as they have the red rear light fittings instead of the clear ones fitted to the pre-facelifts.
Good luck!
BrokenSpring said:
Thats a great write up. I am also considering a 325 ti as my first rear wheel drive car.
How are the the cars on high mileage? Does the engine hold up over 130K miles?
Engine wise I think they are strong. My 325ti seems so and has just past 120k. Before that I had a E36 325 wagon with the M52 engine which is almost identical. That had 200k and in the end I gave up check oil and water levels as it simply never needed a drop of water ever and oil top ups were about every 3 months. The car was a rusty bugger and worth nothing, so I never did a thing to it and in the end was almost trying to kill it before the MOT run out and it became not worth the rust repairs that would have needed doing. That engine never missed a beat, the temp never budged summer or winter and started every time and took a lot of abuse. I could have claimed it had 50k miles and in engine terms no one would have guessed.How are the the cars on high mileage? Does the engine hold up over 130K miles?
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff