The E46 325ti Appreciation Thread

[iSore]

All's fair in love and war. I will only give 300 quid for it (£370 with fees) and to be fair, it will probably go for 4-500 quid. I already have a track car but for 370 quid plus fixing costs this would make an okay winter beater. Not bovvered.

We'll see!

[Cheapstraitsix]

If the impact had enough force to break the wheel or tyre, I expect many a bent suspension part.

[Sardonicus]

Still a bargain for that money iSore dont seem a stranger to the spanners anyway

[iSore]

Cheapstraitsix said:

If the impact had enough force to break the wheel or tyre, I expect many a bent suspension part.

£20 wishbone. Deal breaker imo.

[JakeT]

I have 2 E46s. I really don't need another!

Saying that, I do like the blue colour.

[Mr Tidy]

JakeT said:

Saying that, I do like the blue colour.

So do I - but I already have 2 cars and only 2 parking spaces.

It would make a good track car at that price though - I hope iSore gets it!

Then we'll find out what happens to it.

[JakeT]

I've got the storage, but having gone back to finish my degree, and work, I don't have the time! I've gone from at least 500 miles per week down to about 50

My 325ti is laid up in the garage, so it doesn't have the nasty city miles I do now put on it.

[Mr Tidy]

My 325ti is a Sport so has the 17 inch 97M wheels - but I may be able to get a set of MV2s.

I'm just wondering if anyone has fitted them to a Compact, and how did they rate them? Input from others is also welcome!

I think the idea was planted when my nephew got a 325i Sport Touring with MV2s - a bit of wheel envy.

Compact and Touring together (we like Imola Red):-

[helix402]

Afraid the MV2s are heavy and weak, prone to cracks and buckling. My recommendation is Style 68s. Light and strong. (Not biased at all):

[Mr Tidy]

helix402 said:

Afraid the MV2s are heavy and weak, prone to cracks and buckling. My recommendation is Style 68s. Light and strong. (Not biased at all):

Thanks, so you aren't a big fan of MV2s then.

I really don't like the looks of the 68s (seem a bit E36 M3 wannabe to me), but I got a set of 32s last week so I'll see how they work out.

[FredClogs]

Mr Tidy said:

I really don't like the looks of the 68s (seem a bit E36 M3 wannabe to me).

That's the best thing about them

[s m]

Mr Tidy said:

Thanks, so you aren't a big fan of MV2s then.

I really don't like the looks of the 68s (seem a bit E36 M3 wannabe to me), but I got a set of 32s last week so I'll see how they work out.

They did do a bespoke set of Style 68s for the E46 M3 ( different offsets for the M car ) but I don't remember ever seeing them as OEM on E36 Ms.
Interested to hear they're regarded as a light wheel - I had a set of 68s on my E36 328i but they were about 10% heavier compared to a set of same size Style 29s ( the BBS split rims off the 328 Sport ) which I put on after

[helix402]

Just remembered realoem has wheel weights:

[JakeT]

All of this is overshadowed by how awesome the MV1s look. I joke, they are heavy. Mine was best on 16 inch wheels. Very progressive. Shame they look crap.

[helix402]

They do look good, I even considered a set. However at the time I was working fixing BMWs and was put off by the frequency of damaged MV1/2/3s on customers cars. I even had one customer who bought a refurbed set of MV1s, a month later one of the “new” ones was bent.

[s m]

helix402 said:

Just remembered realoem has wheel weights:

The Split rim BBS Style 29s are quite dear these days for a nice set ( but you WILL get your money back if you seel them separately - I made money on any sets I bought ) weigh approx 8.4 kg for a 7.5x17 and 8.9 kg for a 8.5 x 17

[Sardonicus]

helix402 said:

Afraid the MV2s are heavy and weak, prone to cracks and buckling. My recommendation is Style 68s. Light and strong. (Not biased at all):

That looks good on those alloys however I am biased and yes my N/S/F MV1 as a slight flat on the inner edge (been since purchase) the others have survived but at 160k its been fortunate
.............

[iSore]

The velvet blue one went for £390 in the end.

[Sardonicus]

iSore said:

The velvet blue one went for £390 in the end.

Bargain IMO the manual parts to turn an auto into manual will get you nearly all that and thats if you broke it probably worth keeping complete however

[petrolinveins]

Well a month into ownership and finally feeling like part of the E46 family, what with coolant leaks and a non blowing blower fan. Anyone replaced the heater final stage resistor? Will one of the £15 eBay jobbies suffice or do I need to go oem? Noticed there's a few for 35/40 that aren't oem but supposedly good quality.