The E46 325ti Appreciation Thread

[helix402]

Non genuine ones are cheaper but don’t last as long. As with all parts it’s your call based on a cost/lifespan balance.

[JZZ30]

iSore said:

One of these going through Copart York on the 29th.

2003 325Ti in Velvet blue (individual), 100'000 miles, MOT until June next year. It's a cat C but damage looks light - wing, bumper and a wheel if it's not in the boot. Probably £150-200 repair with luck. £20 for a wing, 40 quid for a bumper, £100 to paint both.

It's a 5 speed with cloth trim.

I've got my 300 quid bid in already.

Now breaking on ebay (or buy it whole for £900)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E46-325Ti-COMPACT-VE...

[iSore]

Another one bites the dust!

[Mr Tidy]

iSore said:

Another one bites the dust!

I hope it gets saved, but £900 seems excessive in it's current condition!

[aka_kerrly]

JZZ30 said:

Now breaking on ebay (or buy it whole for £900)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E46-325Ti-COMPACT-VE...

"i bought this to make a track car but no longer have the time an inclination" as opposed to bought for £300 an hope to make a few quid;)

[JakeT]

Means it was worse than thought though. I reckon front subframe and control arm bush mounts are ruined to do that to it. Hopefully it can keep ours on the roads longer though!

[HugoFastmann]

Or they just didn't have the energy to try put it back on the road - besides, there's more money in breaking cars than owning cars...

[Mr Tidy]

HugoFastmann said:

Or they just didn't have the energy to try put it back on the road - besides, there's more money in breaking cars than owning cars...

Shame really - it's a bit different so it would have been good to see it saved, but I can't see it being worth £900 with damage.

Mind you someone put a 52 plate 325ti SE on A/T today for £1,895 with 98.5K miles which cheered me up!

Still I'm not sure how the damaged one is a 2004 (03)?

Going by the rear lights it's a pre-facelift so can't be a 2004 surely? My nephew had an 03 plate facelift (until his daughter arrived, now it's a 325i Touring for him)!

[anonymous-user]

I might be looking at buying a 325ti M sport over the coming months. Is there anything that I should look put for?
For those interested id like a white one, no sunroof and red leather interior.
A silver / steel grey may be considered w/ black leather however
Thanks

[Max M4X WW]

Condition, Cooling System (all of it), Usual stuff really (unless anyone can be more useful!)

I'd be less picky on colour and more picky with the above and possibly if you want a facelift/pre-facelift and sport/se.

[anonymous-user]

Max M4X WW said:

Condition, Cooling System (all of it), Usual stuff really (unless anyone can be more useful!)

I'd be less picky on colour and more picky with the above and possibly if you want a facelift/pre-facelift and sport/se.

Did the compact receive a facelift? Didn't think it did?

[s m]

eezeh said:

Max M4X WW said:

Condition, Cooling System (all of it), Usual stuff really (unless anyone can be more useful!)

I'd be less picky on colour and more picky with the above and possibly if you want a facelift/pre-facelift and sport/se.

Did the compact receive a facelift? Didn't think it did?

More of a 'tail lift'

[PaulGT3]

Just got back from a road trip in my 325ti. Did over 3000 miles to south of france, pyranees, andorra, north spain etc including a rather silly 750 mile return journey in one go and the car performed a treat, was comfy (16" wheels), averaged 34 mpg and was just about big enough for us and all our crap for 16 days. Great cars, had it 2.5 years and over 40k miles and probably no point selling it for what its worth.

The car managed to sneak in to a few of my holiday photos...













The roads in the pyranees were amazing, stunning scenery, great road surfaces and zero traffic. Didn't get many pics as I was too busy enjoying the drive!

Edited by PaulGT3 on Saturday 7th October 13:17

[s m]

PaulGT3 said:

Just got back from a road trip in my 325ti. Did over 3000 miles to south of france, pyranees, andorra, north spain etc including a rather silly 750 mile return journey in one go and the car performed a treat, was comfy (16" wheels), averaged 34 mpg and was just about big enough for us and all our crap for 16 days. Great cars, had it 2.5 years and over 40k miles and probably no point selling it for what its worth.

The car managed to sneak in to a few of my holiday photos...













The roads in the pyranees were amazing, stunning scenery, great road surfaces and zero traffic. Didn't get many pics as I was too busy enjoying the drive!

Edited by PaulGT3 on Saturday 7th October 13:17

Great pics Paul.

Did a similar distance a few weeks ago Paul.....but I turned the other direction at the bottom of France! Did the Alps and then into Italy to the Italian Lakes. Some great roads as well down that direction

















Mine also went very well, no problems, had it over 4 years now, the gearing is just spot on in the mountains with the short ratios. Does the motorway loping pretty well too as its a 6-speeder

[JakeT]

Both look fab, and I think the wheels work well on yours, Paul. Are they off of an F20?

I think I may get a set of staggered style 68s for mine over the winter. Now having used my 328ci as a daily, the 18 inch wheels make it just a little too harsh I find.

[PaulGT3]

Nice s m, stunning photos of yours, I think I will be doing a similar trip to that next year but yes a 6th cog would have been nice for the 750 mile journey yesterday. Not sure how you managed to keep your car looking so clean during the trip though, mine looks a right state - will be spending tomorrow cleaning it inside and out. Also, the pyranees seem to have prematurely worn my front brakes out!

Jake, they are off an F20 yes. They are cheap, light and readily available in as new condition so I thought I'd give them a try. I admit they don't look as good as the standard staggered 17" wheels but function over form for me!

[iSore]

Mr Tidy said:

Shame really - it's a bit different so it would have been good to see it saved, but I can't see it being worth £900 with damage.

Mind you someone put a 52 plate 325ti SE on A/T today for £1,895 with 98.5K miles which cheered me up!

Still I'm not sure how the damaged one is a 2004 (03)?

Going by the rear lights it's a pre-facelift so can't be a 2004 surely? My nephew had an 03 plate facelift (until his daughter arrived, now it's a 325i Touring for him)!

I managed to get the VIN for the purple one and it was built in late 2001 but registered new by Rolls Royce PLC via BMW in 2003.I guess it had been stood around for a bit? Compacts had new tail lights in mid 2003 so you can find 03 and 53 cars with the horrid Lexus ones.

Cheap ones are being snapped up to build 325Ti race cars from. £900 was never going to happen though - £700 maybe.

[s m]

PaulGT3 said:

Nice s m, stunning photos of yours, I think I will be doing a similar trip to that next year but yes a 6th cog would have been nice for the 750 mile journey yesterday. Not sure how you managed to keep your car looking so clean during the trip though, mine looks a right state - will be spending tomorrow cleaning it inside and out. Also, the pyranees seem to have prematurely worn my front brakes out!

Not sure it was that clean! A good coat of wax and Alloy wheel protector certainly helped as well as the fact I don't think I got any rain all the way down there. The front wheels were dusting up a bit though.

Plus I always take the pics from a distance!

The 6th gear does keep the revs down - think it's about 27mph per 1k rpm rather than around 23mph per 1k rpm in 5th. Basically sat around 3k at French autoroute limit

PaulGT3 said:

Jake, they are off an F20 yes. They are cheap, light and readily available in as new condition so I thought I'd give them a try. I admit they don't look as good as the standard staggered 17" wheels but function over form for me!

I like those alloys - 16s are probably the best size IMO but my 16s were down on tread and knowing I'd be doing a few thousand miles I put the 17s on as they had lots of life left

[Cheapstraitsix]

eezeh said:

I might be looking at buying a 325ti M sport over the coming months. Is there anything that I should look put for?
For those interested id like a white one, no sunroof and red leather interior.
A silver / steel grey may be considered w/ black leather however
Thanks

Good luck... no white ones have come up in the last 12 months, apart from mine but I withdrew it from sale due to idiots.
High chance the spec you want wont even exist.

Edited by Cheapstraitsix on Saturday 7th October 22:00

[Mr Tidy]

PaulGT3 said:

Just got back from a road trip in my 325ti. Did over 3000 miles to south of france, pyranees, andorra, north spain etc including a rather silly 750 mile return journey in one go and the car performed a treat, was comfy (16" wheels), averaged 34 mpg and was just about big enough for us and all our crap for 16 days. Great cars, had it 2.5 years and over 40k miles and probably no point selling it for what its worth.

The car managed to sneak in to a few of my holiday photos...

The roads in the pyranees were amazing, stunning scenery, great road surfaces and zero traffic. Didn't get many pics as I was too busy enjoying the drive!

Edited by PaulGT3 on Saturday 7th October 13:17

Fantastic photos Paul - it sounds like you had a great time!

Got to love a 52 plate Imola Red Sport - that's what mine is too!