My 2003 BMW 325ti M-Sport
Discussion
Looking good! See the prev owner was also a rossi fan 
I'd suggest doing the oil filter housing gasket regardless if it hasnt been done before, Its almost certainly leaking or due to fail at least! Same goes for the coolant expansion tank, front control arm brackets, rear trailing arm bushes and ditching the CDV, all standard E46.
I've done the OFHG and front discs and pads myself so far and hopefully doing the expansion tank this weekend, all straight forward and its a nice car to work on.
If you go for a new gearnob it would be worth an upgrade to one from a 6 speed 330 clubsport, exactly the same as what you have but weighted.
No idea on the boot issue! Thats an odd one..
Ref the rear wiper its believed the rear wash kills the motor so if your wipers still working avoid using the rear wash!
After your search it sounds like you deserve a good bit of enjoyment from it which I hope you get
I'd suggest doing the oil filter housing gasket regardless if it hasnt been done before, Its almost certainly leaking or due to fail at least! Same goes for the coolant expansion tank, front control arm brackets, rear trailing arm bushes and ditching the CDV, all standard E46.
I've done the OFHG and front discs and pads myself so far and hopefully doing the expansion tank this weekend, all straight forward and its a nice car to work on.
If you go for a new gearnob it would be worth an upgrade to one from a 6 speed 330 clubsport, exactly the same as what you have but weighted.
No idea on the boot issue! Thats an odd one..
Ref the rear wiper its believed the rear wash kills the motor so if your wipers still working avoid using the rear wash!
After your search it sounds like you deserve a good bit of enjoyment from it which I hope you get
Welcome to 325ti ownership OP, and a really good write-up! 
You did really well to find a facelift Sport model! Sport ones have different bumpers and circular front fog lights (SEs have oblong ones) and the carbon look dash. I've had my pre-facelift 3 years now, but as it's Imola Red I don't mind the clear rear lights - but I would like a 6th gear!
My rear wiper has never worked (mainly because a previous owner spent quite a bit getting the rear washer working, but when you use it water gets into the wiper motor). I have got a motor that works, but haven't got around to fitting it.
Mine has done 102K miles and had a new radiator at 82K, so yours may well have had one already - the main issue is that they bow at the bottom so have a look when you get a chance.
Don't worry about the rear fog-light - they only have one, the light in the nearside rear cluster is the (single) reversing light! And try to avoid changing rear bulbs if possible - as you've got the CD-changer you will definitely get skinned knuckles!
As far as the boot opening goes, I can only think you may have pressed the "boot" button on the key - OEM spec is that pressing this results in the boot opening. But in cold weather it only half opens. Sadly mine doesn't open at all because the previous owner bought cheap struts from ECP.
But it is a really useful feature when it works - I bought a 2004 320td back in 2005 and had it for 3 years (shame I didn't test a 325ti though).
And once you get it fixed you'll love the storage compartment in the rear parcel shelf - I've never seen anything like that in any other car.
Good luck working through your list, keep us posted and most of all enjoy!
You did really well to find a facelift Sport model! Sport ones have different bumpers and circular front fog lights (SEs have oblong ones) and the carbon look dash. I've had my pre-facelift 3 years now, but as it's Imola Red I don't mind the clear rear lights - but I would like a 6th gear!
My rear wiper has never worked (mainly because a previous owner spent quite a bit getting the rear washer working, but when you use it water gets into the wiper motor). I have got a motor that works, but haven't got around to fitting it.
Mine has done 102K miles and had a new radiator at 82K, so yours may well have had one already - the main issue is that they bow at the bottom so have a look when you get a chance.
Don't worry about the rear fog-light - they only have one, the light in the nearside rear cluster is the (single) reversing light! And try to avoid changing rear bulbs if possible - as you've got the CD-changer you will definitely get skinned knuckles!
As far as the boot opening goes, I can only think you may have pressed the "boot" button on the key - OEM spec is that pressing this results in the boot opening. But in cold weather it only half opens. Sadly mine doesn't open at all because the previous owner bought cheap struts from ECP.
But it is a really useful feature when it works - I bought a 2004 320td back in 2005 and had it for 3 years (shame I didn't test a 325ti though).
And once you get it fixed you'll love the storage compartment in the rear parcel shelf - I've never seen anything like that in any other car.
Good luck working through your list, keep us posted and most of all enjoy!
Edited by Mr Tidy on Sunday 21st January 23:45
Cheers Mr Tidy, having had a quick look at the storage parcel shelf it has to be unclipped from the hatch to make any use of the extra storage? Interesting if so. Might try and whip something up to replace it instead of buying a new string & clip.
Read a quick guide on changing the oil filter housing gasket, looks like a right PITA. Will have to investigate the weeping before deciding to rip the filter housing off, might be something as simple as dip stick o-ring.
Parts & products are on order including a cool little OEM accessory you will see later, expect an update later this week
Read a quick guide on changing the oil filter housing gasket, looks like a right PITA. Will have to investigate the weeping before deciding to rip the filter housing off, might be something as simple as dip stick o-ring.
Parts & products are on order including a cool little OEM accessory you will see later, expect an update later this week
eezeh said:
Parts & products are on order including a cool little OEM accessory you will see later, expect an update later this week
Looking forward to the update eezeh! I let my nephew drive my Compact in 2015, and then I had to find him one.
Got him a Sapphire Black SE facelift with beige full leather and sun-roof, but in 2016 he became a Dad and it just didn't work - so I found him a 325i Touring.
Irrelevant photo follows, just because (and we quite like red) !
eezeh said:
- AUX cable or bluetooth music streaming & handsfree w/ steering wheel controls android install. Any suggestions? OEM is not compatible with 5.4.4 android AFAIK
- Replace the business radio with business CD purely for aesthetics.
https://sftf.wordpress.com/2010/02/21/e46diyaux/ or http://e46radio.com/make-e46-aux-cable/?i=1 seem a good place to start looking.
If you want to make or receive calls I think things get much more expensive very quickly....
Edited by mwggriffiths on Tuesday 23 January 13:51
I bought the following. For £15 it's a lot but worked great and is long enough to run to the centre console.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E46-02-06-AUX-Input...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E46-02-06-AUX-Input...
JakeT said:
I bought the following. For £15 it's a lot but worked great and is long enough to run to the centre console.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E46-02-06-AUX-Input...
Liking the green cloth sport seats!https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E46-02-06-AUX-Input...
If you ever want an arm rest centre console I have a mate who will swap you one in a heartbeat 🙂.
That looks like a lovely car - I was actually eyeing up that very car on ebay as my 130i was in the garage racking up a substantial and steadily climbing bill, and I've always enjoyed driving 6 pot E46s - the steering is a lot nicer than the later 1 and 3 series. These don't seem to rust as badly as the contemporary saloon/coupe/touring models either which is a plus. In the end I decided against it, but I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
ndg said:
Liking the green cloth sport seats!
If you ever want an arm rest centre console I have a mate who will swap you one in a heartbeat ??.
There's a link to it hereIf you ever want an arm rest centre console I have a mate who will swap you one in a heartbeat ??.
. I didn't realise I was buying it from a PHer even if I commented on the thread before I did.The lack of armrest doesn't bother me too much. Was going to swap a mates in, but realised I don't miss one that much compared to my 325ti which has one. Also, yet another pic everyone has seen before of it...
Also, these cars only have one reverse light and fog.
Looking good!
I see your taking care of the 'standard' problems!
Ref the bright display, yours does look quite bright.. but you know there's a couple of orange lights up by the interior light that purposely light up the centre console right?
Ref the jacking point, do you have a plastic undertray at the front and then an ali unit behind that below the sump? This has a bump in it and I assumed you can jack the front from that so you can then use the jacking blocks for the stands.
regarding a wheel refurb.. I've had a quote for mine for a full refurb of £310 inc a loan set of wheels, so yea not cheap but mine really let the car down now so will have to be done!
Can really recommend replacing the clutch line/CDV with a uprated one btw, I fitted a HEL one this weekend and the difference is pretty mega!
Tyres.. if your looking for something decent but for sensible money I can recommend Kuhmo PS71's, put a set on mine for £300 fitted when I got it and have been very happy with them so far.
I see your taking care of the 'standard' problems!
Ref the bright display, yours does look quite bright.. but you know there's a couple of orange lights up by the interior light that purposely light up the centre console right?
Ref the jacking point, do you have a plastic undertray at the front and then an ali unit behind that below the sump? This has a bump in it and I assumed you can jack the front from that so you can then use the jacking blocks for the stands.
regarding a wheel refurb.. I've had a quote for mine for a full refurb of £310 inc a loan set of wheels, so yea not cheap but mine really let the car down now so will have to be done!
Can really recommend replacing the clutch line/CDV with a uprated one btw, I fitted a HEL one this weekend and the difference is pretty mega!
Tyres.. if your looking for something decent but for sensible money I can recommend Kuhmo PS71's, put a set on mine for £300 fitted when I got it and have been very happy with them so far.
InitialDave said:
Out of interest, are these prone to the rear floor rust the "normal" E46 gets? Or are they better because the design's different?
To be fair from what I've read boot floor problems only tend to afflict M3s, and it isn't so much rust as "tearing" - presumably the rear end of an M3 gets a lot more stress than any other E46! But the Compact doesn't seem to suffer as much with bubbling wheel-arches as any other E46 model, which is a bonus!
Mr Tidy said:
To be fair from what I've read boot floor problems only tend to afflict M3s, and it isn't so much rust as "tearing" - presumably the rear end of an M3 gets a lot more stress than any other E46!
But the Compact doesn't seem to suffer as much with bubbling wheel-arches as any other E46 model, which is a bonus!
Ah, good to know. A Compact's one of the potentials for me when I need a budget daily driver.But the Compact doesn't seem to suffer as much with bubbling wheel-arches as any other E46 model, which is a bonus!
InitialDave said:
Mr Tidy said:
To be fair from what I've read boot floor problems only tend to afflict M3s, and it isn't so much rust as "tearing" - presumably the rear end of an M3 gets a lot more stress than any other E46!
But the Compact doesn't seem to suffer as much with bubbling wheel-arches as any other E46 model, which is a bonus!
Ah, good to know. A Compact's one of the potentials for me when I need a budget daily driver.But the Compact doesn't seem to suffer as much with bubbling wheel-arches as any other E46 model, which is a bonus!
InitialDave said:
Haha, in terms of purchase price, running costs aren't something I generally worry about.
Ref the boot floors, never heard of a compact with a bad boot floor. I believe the design is unique to the compact, for some reason the the arches also do not rust as bad as the coupes/saloons/tourings for some reason? I presume they have the same arch liners and quarter panel 
That reminds me I have found what seems to be erosion of the paint / primer on the front right quarter panel in the panel gap between the panel and the bonnet. Seems to only go half way up the panel, will post a picture up later. Might need to order some mixed paint in a can and spray it on to prevent corrosion. Looks as if its been driven through a sand storm!
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 29th January 00:18
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