RE: Shed Of The Week: BMW 325i (E46)

[Captaincheese]

Top Shedding.
I run a slightly newer 330i with a similar mileage. The last year and 16,000 miles have cost a very manageable £400 in maintenance (other than tyres). These E46 BMW's are fine old things - but do watch out for rust, as there are some super rough ones out there.
This one looks like a good un.

[Mr Tidy]

What a bargain - looks really good for the money!

I bought a 325ti a couple of years ago - the 2.5 litre M54 engine is great. Maybe a little short of torque, but get it revving a bit and you can't help keeping your foot planted!

I've already had the cooling system refresh done and a PAS pipe replaced plus advisories for rear brake pipes - I painted the pipes with Hammerite when I took the winters off last month!

But it's 14 years old so issues are to be expected.

If I needed a cheap saloon I'd be all over that one!

[2 GKC]

Spannerski said:

I had one of these.

Looks nice drove nice, but
Ridiculously small boot given the size of the car.
Very lardy so needs a big engine to get moving.
And the most un-comfortable seats ever.

Ridiculously small boot? Most uncomfortable seats ever? Very lardy? Given to exaggeration?

[helix402]

J4CKO said:

Amazing how a car like that can look so fresh and so many others look like old nails, could turn up anywhere in that, good colour combo, nice wheels, good condition and absolutely no Barrification to be seen.

Seems a disservice to call it a shed, wouldn't have looked much different at a year old really, hopefully some drift monkey doesn't get their hands on it and ruin it, serious value for a £1000, someone get it bought and look after it, look how E30s have dissapeared and got expensive.

Also, cant you do something with intakes off a 328i to release a bit more power ? I think the manual is probably a better option on a lower powered six like this as otherwise they can feel a bit gutless and lazy so would expect it gives it a bit more of a sporty feel and a few more bhp would help, think the intake stuff can add as much as 25 bhp based on a quick google.

The M54 already has the "release the power manifold". If you have a 328i E46 you can fit a 330 manifold to get more power, I did it. Sure it'll work on a 323 with a 325 manifold. Google was telling you lies!

[PetrolAholic]

My Mum drove away from a BMW dealer in one of these, 325, in that colour, with them wheels except it was a touring. Got it brand new.

And I hated it.

[sanmiguel69]

Shame on the Vehicle MOT History site it says it has 152,339 miles not 109000

[njw1]

I had an e46 for a while but just couldn't gel with it despite it being a very good car, I think the problem was simply down to the fact that I had had two e39's before it and kept comparing it to them (and one of them was an M5).
This weeks shed does look a good one though, it ticks many boxes; six cylinders, manual gearbox, rear wheel drive, nice seats (if it's got sport seats it probably means it has the 'sport pack' so will likely have sport suspension too) and the biggie on an e46; rust free arches! What's not to like?

[njw1]

BFleming said:

The factory spec of this week's shed:
Vehicle information
Type code AV32
Type 325I (EUR)
E series E46 (4)
Series 3
Type LIM
Steering RL
Doors 4
Engine M54
Displacement 2.50
Power 141
Drive HECK
Transmission MECH
Colour STAHLBLAU METALLIC (372)
Upholstery STANDARDLEDER/SCHWARZ (N6SW)
Prod.date 2001-03-22
Vehicle options
S210 Dynamic stability control
S249 Multifunction f steering wheel
S255 Sports leather steering wheel
S279 BMW light-alloy wheel star spokes 45
S302 Alarm system
S411 Window lifts,electric,front/rear
S428 Warning triangle and first aid kit
S431 Interior mirror with automatic-dip
S438 Fine wood trim
S441 Smoker package
S470 Isofix-System
S473 Armrest front
S481 Sports seat
S508 Park Distance Control (PDC)
S534 Automatic air conditioning
Vehicle options
S661 Radio BMW Business (C43)
S692 Preparation, BMW 6-CD changer I-bus
S785 White direction indicator lights
L812 National version Great Britain
S850 Dummy-SALAPA
S863 Retailer Directory Europe
S877 Delete cross-pattern operation
S880 On-board vehicle literature English
Vehicle options
S520 Fog lights
S550 On-board computer
S832 Battery in luggage compartment
S853 Language version English

Edited by BFleming on Friday 12th May 11:43

No sport suspension as I suspected in my previous post, never mind, coilovers for these are cheap enough.......

[Blackpuddin]

sanmiguel69 said:

Shame on the Vehicle MOT History site it says it has 152,339 miles not 109000

You must be looking at a different site to me.

[jsims1]

shed said:

But apart from some very light kerbing on those classy 8-spoke wheels, that's about it on the externals.

Didn't realise it came with a second set of wheels, look like 7 spokes to me!

[Drive Blind]

two friends had E46's, both needed an expensive front suspension refresh at just over 100K miles.

Not sure if "they all do that, sir" or just unlucky.

[lord trumpton]

I used to run one years ago - lovely sounding and smooth engine but rather thirsty for the average performance.

[sparks_E39]

Drive Blind said:

two friends had E46's, both needed an expensive front suspension refresh at just over 100K miles.

Not sure if "they all do that, sir" or just unlucky.

I would forgive it at 100k. Not really BMW's fault.

[Gribs]

njw1 said:

No sport suspension as I suspected in my previous post, never mind, coilovers for these are cheap enough.......

Why would you want to ruin it? SE suspension works very well on British roads, even in it's likely very tired state it'll still be better than most aftermarket coilovers on the road.

[njw1]

^^I quite agree, tongue was firmly in cheek when I made that comment.

[ArmaghMan]

Gribs said:

njw1 said:

No sport suspension as I suspected in my previous post, never mind, coilovers for these are cheap enough.......

Why would you want to ruin it? SE suspension works very well on British roads, even in it's likely very tired state it'll still be better than most aftermarket coilovers on the road.

This 100%
I bought mine a V Reg 328i SE from my mechanic for the princely sum of £800.
It has rust on every single panel, looks grotty when dirty, but absolutely dreadful when washed ( so much easier to see all the rust).
Its my daily hack at 28.8 mpg (glad someone else is paying for the petrol), but I have no worries about where I park. Spend a lot of my working at on building sites/ demolition sites and don't give a hoot about the car when parking.
But my mechanic ditched the standard suspension and replaced it with some sort of lowered/stiffened monstrosity. Off went the nice understated rims and on went some kind of nightmarish black wheels which may or may not be genuine wolfrace alloys.
My gut feeling is that under all the "upgrades" there is a really nice car trying to peek out.
Still 9 months and 18000 miles later, with no bills other than a £110 service I cant really complain.

[to3m]

Shed said:

classy 8-spoke wheels

I used to have an E46 with those wheels. Gave one of my friends a lift in it not long after buying it. His first comment? "Your new car's got some st wheels."

[anonymous-user]

njw1 said:

No sport suspension as I suspected in my previous post, never mind, coilovers for these are cheap enough.......

At this age all suspension is tired anyway.

[tomic]

As someone who has a 325i as my daily and a 325i for my weekend car I'd take this over a new 3 or 4 cylinder BMW without hesitation.

[alfabeat]

I had an E46 328 Touring and didn't get on with it at all. A very accomplished car, but very dull. It was pretty reliable (apart from rear subframe issue). In the end gave to my wife when I got an Alfa 156 GTA Sportwagon. Night and day. That's what a 6 cylinder engine should sound like.