The E46 325ti Appreciation Thread
Discussion
s m said:
Maybe your stat has failed
Mine warms up pretty quick
Monitor the water temp with the secret function on the OBC
My mechanic reckoned it was warming up alright but I'm not so sure. To be fair, I'm comparing it to a 1.4 Panda so maybe I'm expecting too much. Mine warms up pretty quick
Monitor the water temp with the secret function on the OBC
daniel-5zjw7 said:
Tell us more 
how do you do this?
http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=31204 how do you do this?
So mine had its winter health check at BMW on Saturday, and thankfully I needn't had been as nervous as I was!
Oil leak from OFHG and rear trailing arm bushes worn was about it, both of which will be addressed (the latter with powerflex bushes) ASAP. Otherwise the alloy lower arms and purple tag rack are present and correct, and my pal remarked it appeared a good honest car.
So next jobs for me go something like;
Change OFHG
Replace rear trailing arm bushes
Remove CDV
Refurb wheels
E46 M3 strut brace
Diagnose/fix a groaning wheel bearing
I'll be taking it on a euro road trip mid next year so hope to have all the above done for then.
Oil leak from OFHG and rear trailing arm bushes worn was about it, both of which will be addressed (the latter with powerflex bushes) ASAP. Otherwise the alloy lower arms and purple tag rack are present and correct, and my pal remarked it appeared a good honest car.
So next jobs for me go something like;
Change OFHG
Replace rear trailing arm bushes
Remove CDV
Refurb wheels
E46 M3 strut brace
Diagnose/fix a groaning wheel bearing
I'll be taking it on a euro road trip mid next year so hope to have all the above done for then.
Mr Tidy said:
Yes they do - my temperature gauge gets to the centre in less than 2 miles, even this time of year!
I cannot say exactly how many minutes to top dead centre but it's the quickest warming up car I've ever owned and the needle has never moved right of 12 o'clock. I have the climate control set to 21degC and fully auto with AC on all the time. I use the pin wheel on the centre vents to fine tune the temperature. One thing I have noticed is that on hard left hand bends I get a blast of cold air come out the centre vents, reverse temperature on right ones where it's toasty blast. Possible airlock somewhere in the coolant system?Still been enjoying the car despite this weather, mostly appreciating the noise above 6k and its ability to respond from almost any speed in 5th! it seems totally happy at as low as 25mph in top and will pull cleanly from this speed, very handy on flowing roads with a variety of speed limits, no need to change gear at all!
This weeks little improvement has been to replace the M gearnob badge/emblem on top of the gear knob, not sure if they all go the same but mine was looking pretty tired and in turn making the whole gearknob look second best.
A new genuine emblem was only £7 and a doddle to fit, now looking loads better. Also interestingly on removing the old emblem I realised that it sticks to a platform in the middle of the knob with a void around it, I didn't spend too much time looking at it as wanted the new emblem on, but I'd say it would be very easy to put some lead ball weights around the void and create a weighted gearknob like the Clubsport one for a fraction of the cost.
This weeks little improvement has been to replace the M gearnob badge/emblem on top of the gear knob, not sure if they all go the same but mine was looking pretty tired and in turn making the whole gearknob look second best.
A new genuine emblem was only £7 and a doddle to fit, now looking loads better. Also interestingly on removing the old emblem I realised that it sticks to a platform in the middle of the knob with a void around it, I didn't spend too much time looking at it as wanted the new emblem on, but I'd say it would be very easy to put some lead ball weights around the void and create a weighted gearknob like the Clubsport one for a fraction of the cost.
e30m3Mark said:
I intend fitting a Storm stainless gearknob. They're incredibly tactile and great to use.
I'd wait a few months - unless you wear driving gloves! A ZHP would be my knob of choice! 
Anyway my 325ti has gone on it's winter diet - I stuck the anaemic 16" winters on today.
Another little temporary job done over the last couple of days, if anyone else has the alcantara trim they'll probably know the drivers seat bolster is commonly holed..
I've been looking for quotes locally to have mine repaired but with bugger all success so far, and worried its only going to get worse I wanted something to at least halt the wear. So I took a chance on some dark grey iron on fabric repair patches, and I have to say despite a less than perfect colour match I'm really happy with it! It's holding up fine and is much less of an eyesore than it was before.
Also found HEL do a braided clutch line so think I'll have that fitted when I have the CDV removed to get it done in one hit.
I've been looking for quotes locally to have mine repaired but with bugger all success so far, and worried its only going to get worse I wanted something to at least halt the wear. So I took a chance on some dark grey iron on fabric repair patches, and I have to say despite a less than perfect colour match I'm really happy with it! It's holding up fine and is much less of an eyesore than it was before.
Also found HEL do a braided clutch line so think I'll have that fitted when I have the CDV removed to get it done in one hit.
Hi All,
A quick question, does anyone know how the sound generator thing in these cars actually works? I get it allows some more engine noise in the cabin, but how is this achieved? Is it as simple as a pipe of some sort from the airbox to the bulkhead or is it a lot more sophisticated than that?
A quick question, does anyone know how the sound generator thing in these cars actually works? I get it allows some more engine noise in the cabin, but how is this achieved? Is it as simple as a pipe of some sort from the airbox to the bulkhead or is it a lot more sophisticated than that?
daniel-5zjw7 said:
Hi All,
A quick question, does anyone know how the sound generator thing in these cars actually works? I get it allows some more engine noise in the cabin, but how is this achieved? Is it as simple as a pipe of some sort from the airbox to the bulkhead or is it a lot more sophisticated than that?
It is that simple, there is a box which is piped off the intake tube which must amplify the sound which is then directed at or through the bulkhead.A quick question, does anyone know how the sound generator thing in these cars actually works? I get it allows some more engine noise in the cabin, but how is this achieved? Is it as simple as a pipe of some sort from the airbox to the bulkhead or is it a lot more sophisticated than that?
CaptainMorgan said:
I've finally done everything mine needed when I bought it. Discs and pads, replace the missing antiroll bars, polybush the wishbones, 4 wheel alignment & replace thermostat. Drove nice on the way back from the garage, I think I'm set for my first track session in it now.
I'm doing Donington Park with MSV on Monday 29th January (£100!) and Cadwell Park with Javelin on the Monday 26th February (£89!), and it's always interesting to compare supposedly similar cars!Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff