The E46 325ti Appreciation Thread

[helix402]

Excellent plan!

[s m]

PaulGT3 said:

Bought a cheap low mileage 330i auto today, going to use it for a month or two to monitor oil usage, if all is good then I shall be dropping the engine in my compact

Good luck Paul !

Here's some inspiration


http://www.bmwswap.com/index.php/en/e46-318ti-m54-...

[anonymous-user]

If integroo is about, check this out.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2018...

Looks really nice! Anyone know what those extra speakers in the door card are from? Optional stereo?

Judging by mot history, definitely needs some tlc.

[JakeT]

The 'Hi-Fi' system came with extra speakers in the doorcards front and rear. Mine has it, it sounds pretty good.

[The Brummie]

I bought an E46 318SE a couple of months ago to replace my much missed E36 318is.

Big mistake. Nowhere near as good so need to move it on but what do I get to replace it?

[anonymous-user]

JakeT said:

The 'Hi-Fi' system came with extra speakers in the doorcards front and rear. Mine has it, it sounds pretty good.

Wonder how much a retrofit will cost
May as well if I'm going to do the power fold mirrors and cd hu

[Max M4X WW]

This appeared on AT this morning, from experience the dealer is bad but the car looks good. Was £1500 first thing and has now jumped to £1995 but I'd still buy it..

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[helix402]

Needs some tlc:

(Would cost a lot to fix if not diying it)

[anonymous-user]

I wonder what it means by "drivers airbag obviously defective"?
Failed twice on that in the past, can't be hanging out can it?

ETA: that front bumper is fked.

Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 1st April 17:50

[Max M4X WW]

I did see the airbag comment, but seeing as it probably needs the recall anyway I wasn't too fussed. The rest isn't too bad either, common for most 80k E46's I;d say. The bumper could even be made better with a couple of cable ties at the rear.

Couldn't remember if I'd ever seen a Sport in that colour, hence my main interest.

[anonymous-user]

Max M4X WW said:

I did see the airbag comment, but seeing as it probably needs the recall anyway I wasn't too fussed. The rest isn't too bad either, common for most 80k E46's I;d say. The bumper could even be made better with a couple of cable ties at the rear.

Couldn't remember if I'd ever seen a Sport in that colour, hence my main interest.

The crack would need stop drilling to hopefully prevent it from going any further but it already looks big.
There's someone in this thread a while back with one the same colour.

[mwggriffiths]

PaulGT3 said:

Bought a cheap low mileage 330i auto today, going to use it for a month or two to monitor oil usage, if all is good then I shall be dropping the engine in my compact

I've just finished up my 330i-Auto-into-a-325Ti swap. I made my life harder with a set of S50B32 exhaust manifolds and an M20 Flywheel / Clutch / Starter. I'm hoping those mods will have pushed it a little over its original 230bhp/300Nm - it certainly feels MUCH stronger than my admittedly very poorly 2.5 did

[e30m3Mark]

All being well and despite the best efforts of running a ropey old E30!, I may finally be back in a Compact as my daily. Just waiting on confirmation but hope to collect next week.

If anyone has any lowered / uprated suspension they're selling please shout.

[ethomas]

e30m3Mark said:

All being well and despite the best efforts of running a ropey old E30!, I may finally be back in a Compact as my daily. Just waiting on confirmation but hope to collect next week.

If anyone has any lowered / uprated suspension they're selling please shout.

I went through a bunch of suspension on mine while I had it, and the best combination was the Bilstein B12 Pro Kit.

[e30m3Mark]

ethomas said:

e30m3Mark said:

All being well and despite the best efforts of running a ropey old E30!, I may finally be back in a Compact as my daily. Just waiting on confirmation but hope to collect next week.

If anyone has any lowered / uprated suspension they're selling please shout.

I went through a bunch of suspension on mine while I had it, and the best combination was the Bilstein B12 Pro Kit.

Thanks - will take a look once bank account recovers.

Pick this up next week for £1150.

Edited by e30m3Mark on Tuesday 3rd April 19:49

[Max M4X WW]

e30m3Mark said:

ethomas said:

e30m3Mark said:

All being well and despite the best efforts of running a ropey old E30!, I may finally be back in a Compact as my daily. Just waiting on confirmation but hope to collect next week.

If anyone has any lowered / uprated suspension they're selling please shout.

I went through a bunch of suspension on mine while I had it, and the best combination was the Bilstein B12 Pro Kit.

Thanks - will take a look once bank account recovers.

Pick this up next week for £1150.

Edited by e30m3Mark on Tuesday 3rd April 19:49

Looks clean! I think I saw it on one of the usual selling places.

If you decide you don't like the front aero kit, let me know!

[330ti]

PaulGT3 said:

Bought a cheap low mileage 330i auto today, going to use it for a month or two to monitor oil usage, if all is good then I shall be dropping the engine in my compact

Nice easy swop that's well worth doing 👍

[Faxo]

New E46 325ti owner!

Actually don’t know much about the cars, I bought it purely after reading this thread!

I’m not going into it that blind though, I’m a tech for Audi so know my way around cars a little bit, although admittedly not so much a BMW

Bought unseen, relatively cheap, although there’s some body issues that need sorting sooner rather than later!




First things first though, out with the interior and a thorough wet vac. I’ve only got a before and after of the drivers seat, but I’m sure you can imagine what the rest of the car was like!




I don’t seem to be getting any answers online on various owners forums about this, so I may as well ask here - does anyone know if the front arch liners (specifically the lower section) are the same on the Compact, as a Saloon/Coupe?

The Vanos unit - where are people getting the replacement seal kits from? The prices online seem to vary wildly, and my local factors (excellent place) have never sold such a kit. Is it worth doing this, even if the car seems to run nicely and there are no logged DTCs for camshaft etc?

Thanks

[helix402]

I think the front arch liners will be unique to the Compact, you can check on realoem website. Re Vanos if the car runs ok don’t bother changing the o rings. I had a 328 that I changed the seals on. The only symptom was after an oil change it would “hold back”/lack power just once in the first mile after the service. I used an I6 Automotive kit for the seals and instructions from Beisan Systems. If you want to change the seals I have a set of instructions printed out you can have and a spare VANOs unit if you want to make an offer. To change the unit you need a VANOs gasket and a washer or two.

[anonymous-user]

Faxo said:

New E46 325ti owner!

Congrats! Those seats came out well, wonder how my carpets and mats would fair with a wet vac?
Although my carpet seems a little thin around the gearbox tunnel area compared to the coupe, anyone else?

Looking into methods of re-dying my parcel shelf black and see autoglym offer a spray dye product although not many people have used it. Will report back when i've had a crack at it.