RE: Shed of the Week: BMW 325ti Compact

[greenarrow]

Its heartening to see the quality of cars you can buy for under £1500 these days. Think back to the 90s and early 00s and the rubbish that was cheap banger money then, there is no comparison.

This is a really good shed. Golf GTI MK5 performance and RWD, plus of course a fab straight six for about a third to half the cash of a cheap one of those. Perfect antidote to modern over-complicated cars.

[Rumblestripe]

Good shed. But my word its looks haven't grown on me over the years.

Fugly.

(Don't like the colour neither)

[bodhi]

aston addict said:

Great shed spiel this week!

One thing about the xenons though, don’t think they are factory fit as there’s no washer function, IIRC they are mandatory in the UK if xenons are fitted.

Also they were a very expensive option in the day (I know this as I shelled out for them on a 330ci sport,) and I think that they necessitated a few more changes than just a different bulb holder, I think the battery had to be higher spec etc to power them.

Not that this matters of course on a shed....

Washers and self levellers only have to work if they are fitted, if not fitted they aren't tested.

This one may fall fowl of the new rules however - if they have upgraded the light clusters to work with HID lights (which it looks like they have) then it should pass. I know if you go on BabyBMW, most of the people there have Depos with HID Kits, and there is a lack of "Oh Christ I've failed my MOT" posts.

Except from me, as my MOT tester failed my HID Kit - so now I'm back to Halogens (in units designed for HID's) until I can find a tester with a slightly different interpretation of the new rules.

Great shed though, always wanted one of these as I'm a massive fan of big engines in small cars (like my current 125i). Add in RWD and that Straight 6, it's everything I'd need in a daily driver.

[Lotusgone]

The biggest downer when these were new, is that it was the sort of car a well-off bloke would buy for his daughter. No questioning its pedigree though, and it's better looking than the stunted hearse 1-series.

[Nigel_O]

Not the prettiest of cars, never mind prettiest of Sheds - looks like a normal 3-series that's been rear-ended by a truck....

That said, I understand they're actually a very decent drive, so good Shedding as long as you're on the inside looking out, rather than t'other way round

PS - has anyone noticed that we're 5 Sheds into 2019 and there's only been one four-pot Shed so far? Two straight sixes and two V sixes - nice trend!

[teleostbat]

smellypoo said:

"...on through the 1982 E30 to the 1990 E36, which was the basis of the 1993-on 3 Series Compact, a final-year example of which you are now looking at."

"...the Compact achieved strong sales. It went on for over a decade from 1993 to 2004 and survived a whole platform change in 2001, when the E36 became the E46."

Hmm... I'm pretty sure this one is an E46.

I love these things, excellent little cars.

Yeah, e46 this one is based on. Pistonheads are the experts

[ti325]

Feels like a special engine, certainly for the price. I love mine.

[Blackpuddin]

teleostbat said:

smellypoo said:

"...on through the 1982 E30 to the 1990 E36, which was the basis of the 1993-on 3 Series Compact, a final-year example of which you are now looking at."

"...the Compact achieved strong sales. It went on for over a decade from 1993 to 2004 and survived a whole platform change in 2001, when the E36 became the E46."

Hmm... I'm pretty sure this one is an E46.

I love these things, excellent little cars.

Yeah, e46 this one is based on. Pistonheads are the experts

I took that to mean that it was taken along with the platform change, not that it was left behind as an E36.

[mooseracer]

Blackpuddin said:

I took that to mean that it was taken along with the platform change, not that it was left behind as an E36.

They had the e36 rear suspension did they not? Or did that change when the "real" 3 did?

[daveco]

ti325 said:

Feels like a special engine, certainly for the price. I love mine.

Here's a nerdy (boring) fact for you.


The style 68 alloy wheels you have fitted are the lightest alloy wheel BMW do outside of the clubsport 18'' alloy. They are lighter than most 16 inch alloy wheels BMW do as well.

[ti325]

daveco said:

Here's a nerdy (boring) fact for you.


The style 68 alloy wheels you have fitted are the lightest alloy wheel BMW do outside of the clubsport 18'' alloy. They are lighter than most 16 inch alloy wheels BMW do as well.

Top fact, like it

[s m]

Nigel_O said:

PS - has anyone noticed that we're 5 Sheds into 2019 and there's only been one four-pot Shed so far? Two straight sixes and two V sixes - nice trend!

Winning formula it seems

Hence the sawnoff with a six this week

[8IKERDAVE]

Great shed! I think these have aged really well, in fact better than the E46 standard 3 (other than the M of course!) As a big fanboy of these engines I imagine it will suit the smaller body really well.

[Rumblestripe]

daveco said:

Here's a nerdy (boring) fact for you.

The style 68 alloy wheels you have fitted are the lightest alloy wheel BMW do outside of the clubsport 18'' alloy. They are lighter than most 16 inch alloy wheels BMW do as well.

My word top nerding!

• Rises to applaud*

Well played sir!

[derin100]

Rumblestripe said:

daveco said:

Here's a nerdy (boring) fact for you.

The style 68 alloy wheels you have fitted are the lightest alloy wheel BMW do outside of the clubsport 18'' alloy. They are lighter than most 16 inch alloy wheels BMW do as well.

My word top nerding!

• Rises to applaud*

Well played sir!

That would be a good category to have in Top Trumps! 'Lightest Wheels' That way you could win your opponents Bugatti or Konigsegg with a 325i Compact!

[Ocsltd]

ti325 said:

Feels like a special engine, certainly for the price. I love mine.

That looks exceptionally clean!! I think those wheels really suit the compact. Like the spoilers, one if the nicest compact's I've seen....

[Halmyre]

I have heard that ownership of these did wonders for sharpening up your reverse parking skills.

[daveco]

derin100 said:

Rumblestripe said:

daveco said:

Here's a nerdy (boring) fact for you.

The style 68 alloy wheels you have fitted are the lightest alloy wheel BMW do outside of the clubsport 18'' alloy. They are lighter than most 16 inch alloy wheels BMW do as well.

My word top nerding!

• Rises to applaud*

Well played sir!

That would be a good category to have in Top Trumps! 'Lightest Wheels' That way you could win your opponents Bugatti or Konigsegg with a 325i Compact!

Don't get me started on alloys! Style 37s are still top dog

[greyarea]

mooseracer said:

Blackpuddin said:

I took that to mean that it was taken along with the platform change, not that it was left behind as an E36.

They had the e36 rear suspension did they not? Or did that change when the "real" 3 did?

I thought this too. When the e46 came out didn't they just reskin the Compact and update the powertrain or did it go deeper than that?

[JakeT]

greyarea said:

mooseracer said:

Blackpuddin said:

I took that to mean that it was taken along with the platform change, not that it was left behind as an E36.

They had the e36 rear suspension did they not? Or did that change when the "real" 3 did?

I thought this too. When the e46 came out didn't they just reskin the Compact and update the powertrain or did it go deeper than that?

They went deeper. The running gear is all E46. The 325ti has a completely bespoke suspension setup too. Difference wishbones, dampers, springs, ARB's and was the car that introduced the E46 quick rack.