The E46 325ti Appreciation Thread
Discussion
The small amount I have driven it since driving it back, it is a seemingly good car.
One niggle is that one xenon is not working. Previous owner thinks it is the ignitor (could be bulb or ballast too). None of these jobs look fun or particularly cheap- fiddly, need small hands and deep pockets if ballast is gone... I'll have to DIY/get into it before 1)MOT and 2) it gets driven at night.
Aside from that, I look forward to seeing if it has a prodigious thirst for oil like many claim they do. I also look foward (is this the correct term?) to seeing how many miles I get on a full tank.
Nice place to sit; clean and comfortable. Very keen to give the tyres some stick as I've never had Toyo R1R's.
One niggle is that one xenon is not working. Previous owner thinks it is the ignitor (could be bulb or ballast too). None of these jobs look fun or particularly cheap- fiddly, need small hands and deep pockets if ballast is gone... I'll have to DIY/get into it before 1)MOT and 2) it gets driven at night.
Aside from that, I look forward to seeing if it has a prodigious thirst for oil like many claim they do. I also look foward (is this the correct term?) to seeing how many miles I get on a full tank.
Nice place to sit; clean and comfortable. Very keen to give the tyres some stick as I've never had Toyo R1R's.
Guys can anyone tell me what size the front anti roll bar is on a 325ti? Looking to put some powerflex bushes in as part of refreshing the suspension.
Also, gearing on the 5 speed 325ti, I assume the gearbox is identical to any other 5 speed e46 box and the lower gearing is down to the diff BMW chose to fit, is this combo of box & diff fitted as standard to any other E46?
Also, gearing on the 5 speed 325ti, I assume the gearbox is identical to any other 5 speed e46 box and the lower gearing is down to the diff BMW chose to fit, is this combo of box & diff fitted as standard to any other E46?
okenemem said:
what mpg you getting with the lpg, and how much you pay for the car
Driven gently on mixed roads about 24mpg. The seller's record was 31mpg over 180 miles on the motorway at 60mph. I paid £680 for the car. It's got a few niggles, some of which i've already sorted, but generally seems good.
daniel-5zjw7 said:
Also, gearing on the 5 speed 325ti, I assume the gearbox is identical to any other 5 speed e46 box and the lower gearing is down to the diff BMW chose to fit, is this combo of box & diff fitted as standard to any other E46?
I'm pretty sure it is down to the diff - I don't think BMW used that combo on any other E46. It's one of the unique features of the 325ti, but also one of the reasons I wish I had found a facelift! A relative had a facelift for a year, but had to sell it when he became a parent and although his E46 325i Sport Touring is still a 5 speed it has noticeably higher gearing. I thought about buying his facelift and selling mine, but I couldn't bear not having Imola Red - even for a 6-speed and sunroof!
Foeux said:
The small amount I have driven it since driving it back, it is a seemingly good car.
One niggle is that one xenon is not working. Previous owner thinks it is the ignitor (could be bulb or ballast too). None of these jobs look fun or particularly cheap- fiddly, need small hands and deep pockets if ballast is gone... I'll have to DIY/get into it before 1)MOT and 2) it gets driven at night
You can get a full D2S xenon kit for less than £50 last time I looked so it shouldn't be mega moneyOne niggle is that one xenon is not working. Previous owner thinks it is the ignitor (could be bulb or ballast too). None of these jobs look fun or particularly cheap- fiddly, need small hands and deep pockets if ballast is gone... I'll have to DIY/get into it before 1)MOT and 2) it gets driven at night
Failed on a split anti roll bar dust cover. Said something about the drop links so will have to do that at the weekend. 
Other than that the guys in there couldn't stop checking it out, tester wouldn't let the apprentices anywhere near it
Got a comment as he was handing the keys over complimenting it on how clean & nice it was
Other than that the guys in there couldn't stop checking it out, tester wouldn't let the apprentices anywhere near it
Got a comment as he was handing the keys over complimenting it on how clean & nice it was
eezeh said:
Failed on a split anti roll bar dust cover. Said something about the drop links so will have to do that at the weekend.
Other than that the guys in there couldn't stop checking it out, tester wouldn't let the apprentices anywhere near it
Got a comment as he was handing the keys over complimenting it on how clean & nice it was
Really easy job even with a basic tool set Other than that the guys in there couldn't stop checking it out, tester wouldn't let the apprentices anywhere near it
Got a comment as he was handing the keys over complimenting it on how clean & nice it was
eezeh said:
Sardonicus said:
Really easy job even with a basic tool set
Dont have to change a ball joint then? 
drop-links they are a ball joint but not taper type so easy enough to change with a bit of Plus-Gas etc and a wire brush to clean the threads on nut removal using a spanner behind , bloody You-Tube as the lot better still for you rather than text talking https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVxupan-lgk
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