The E46 325ti Appreciation Thread
Discussion
OK. Riddle time.
Cha gong anything headlightish on these is not a fast job. Struggle to see how you'd change bulbs without taking the bumper off. Anyway...
Old owner (gregs656) assured me it had a faulty ignitor. To remedy this I bought a working used unit from a BMW breaker. I fitted it and still no xenon.
Next bit was to swap bulbs, perhaps one was dead? Same scenario. Driver side worked, only main beam (h7 bulb) on passenger side. As far as I can see, the new unit came with the ballast and the ignitor installed.
What else can I do on my own before calling an auto electrician?
Kind thanks,
F.
Cha gong anything headlightish on these is not a fast job. Struggle to see how you'd change bulbs without taking the bumper off. Anyway...
Old owner (gregs656) assured me it had a faulty ignitor. To remedy this I bought a working used unit from a BMW breaker. I fitted it and still no xenon.
Next bit was to swap bulbs, perhaps one was dead? Same scenario. Driver side worked, only main beam (h7 bulb) on passenger side. As far as I can see, the new unit came with the ballast and the ignitor installed.
What else can I do on my own before calling an auto electrician?
Kind thanks,
F.
Right...
The three parts are 1-bulb, 2- igniter, 3- ballast. I have changed bulbs left to right. Have 3 bulbs that all work in D/S headlamp, none work in nearside; not a bulb problem.
The replacement unit I have bought was working when removed (if Mr ebay is to be believed). This includes ballast and ignitor. The headlight (just the xenon unit) still doesn't work on nearside, even though everything else does.
This leads me to believe 1) a duff unit from the breaker or 2) a wiring/earth fault further back.
Do I return the ebay unit (seller will take back) and try another or do I begin taking things apart and buying new ignitors and ballasts in an attempt to fix things?
The alternative is an auto electrician who could probably tell me exactly what is wrong without the £300+ outlay of New ballast and new ignitor.
I suppose this is my very convoluted way of asking for advice; what would you do?
Ps for added spice, it has mot due on 19th this month and I am away all of next week... Tick tock!
The three parts are 1-bulb, 2- igniter, 3- ballast. I have changed bulbs left to right. Have 3 bulbs that all work in D/S headlamp, none work in nearside; not a bulb problem.
The replacement unit I have bought was working when removed (if Mr ebay is to be believed). This includes ballast and ignitor. The headlight (just the xenon unit) still doesn't work on nearside, even though everything else does.
This leads me to believe 1) a duff unit from the breaker or 2) a wiring/earth fault further back.
Do I return the ebay unit (seller will take back) and try another or do I begin taking things apart and buying new ignitors and ballasts in an attempt to fix things?
The alternative is an auto electrician who could probably tell me exactly what is wrong without the £300+ outlay of New ballast and new ignitor.
I suppose this is my very convoluted way of asking for advice; what would you do?
Ps for added spice, it has mot due on 19th this month and I am away all of next week... Tick tock!
Foeux said:
Right...
The three parts are 1-bulb, 2- igniter, 3- ballast. I have changed bulbs left to right. Have 3 bulbs that all work in D/S headlamp, none work in nearside; not a bulb problem.
The replacement unit I have bought was working when removed (if Mr ebay is to be believed). This includes ballast and ignitor. The headlight (just the xenon unit) still doesn't work on nearside, even though everything else does.
This leads me to believe 1) a duff unit from the breaker or 2) a wiring/earth fault further back.
Do I return the ebay unit (seller will take back) and try another or do I begin taking things apart and buying new ignitors and ballasts in an attempt to fix things?
The alternative is an auto electrician who could probably tell me exactly what is wrong without the £300+ outlay of New ballast and new ignitor.
I suppose this is my very convoluted way of asking for advice; what would you do?
Ps for added spice, it has mot due on 19th this month and I am away all of next week... Tick tock!
take both headlights out of the car and plug the working side into the non working side and this will rule out a wiring fault.The three parts are 1-bulb, 2- igniter, 3- ballast. I have changed bulbs left to right. Have 3 bulbs that all work in D/S headlamp, none work in nearside; not a bulb problem.
The replacement unit I have bought was working when removed (if Mr ebay is to be believed). This includes ballast and ignitor. The headlight (just the xenon unit) still doesn't work on nearside, even though everything else does.
This leads me to believe 1) a duff unit from the breaker or 2) a wiring/earth fault further back.
Do I return the ebay unit (seller will take back) and try another or do I begin taking things apart and buying new ignitors and ballasts in an attempt to fix things?
The alternative is an auto electrician who could probably tell me exactly what is wrong without the £300+ outlay of New ballast and new ignitor.
I suppose this is my very convoluted way of asking for advice; what would you do?
Ps for added spice, it has mot due on 19th this month and I am away all of next week... Tick tock!
the front bumper is so easy to remove, i think it was 2 x T45 bolts going from fog light area up into the crashbar, few screws underneath and they pop out of the clips into the wing.
I know the wrong thread, but thought this might interest someone. Spotted this underpriced 130i...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2018...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2018...
Yes!
It works and this is because it needed a ballast.
Lights are bright as you like now.
Next task is getting the blighter to pass an MOT.
Drove to and from Manchester this weekend and it was comfy and wafty and not completely terrible on fuel. (460mi before I got scared and filled up) 35.6mpg is I think.
Bad news is that the missus has begun to drive and like it. Am I to be left with her soulless new diesel golf? Good news is that my little son adores it. Mimics the noise it makes and presses all the buttons when I get home...
It works and this is because it needed a ballast.
Lights are bright as you like now.
Next task is getting the blighter to pass an MOT.
Drove to and from Manchester this weekend and it was comfy and wafty and not completely terrible on fuel. (460mi before I got scared and filled up) 35.6mpg is I think.
Bad news is that the missus has begun to drive and like it. Am I to be left with her soulless new diesel golf? Good news is that my little son adores it. Mimics the noise it makes and presses all the buttons when I get home...
Bit of an interesting one for you lot to figure out. I've started encountering interference / static through the stereo when the phone is plugged into aux & into the 12v plug. Static frequency is dependant on engine RPM. this screams to me as alternator problems but could it be a bad ground?
Anyone had experience with this?
Anyone had experience with this?
Managed to find some good quality interior led bulbs to swap out the standard incandescent bulbs.
The same bulbs as a rather popular led bulb supplier on m3cutters but a fair bit cheaper!
Bit of a trial and error at the moment as all of the lights work great! Only problem is the festoons are a little too short, hopefully will resolve the problem.
If anyone is interested I could possibly work with the seller to create a bulb kit for the compact instead of b
dising a coupe set. 
2018-09-12_08-57-46 by ee zeh, on Flickr
The same bulbs as a rather popular led bulb supplier on m3cutters but a fair bit cheaper!
Bit of a trial and error at the moment as all of the lights work great! Only problem is the festoons are a little too short, hopefully will resolve the problem.
If anyone is interested I could possibly work with the seller to create a bulb kit for the compact instead of b
dising a coupe set. 2018-09-12_08-57-46 by ee zeh, on Flickr
eezeh said:
Bit of an interesting one for you lot to figure out. I've started encountering interference / static through the stereo when the phone is plugged into aux & into the 12v plug. Static frequency is dependant on engine RPM. this screams to me as alternator problems but could it be a bad ground?
Anyone had experience with this?
Interesting I've heard of this before and the solution has been a ground loop as per Helix response, however what I want to understand is how it can be fine for a period, then happen and then need a ground loop to fix! I've also heard of the AUX option dissapearing from the head unit when people have been using the 12v to charge phones. Touch wood I've not had either of these issues yet..Anyone had experience with this?
daniel-5zjw7 said:
Interesting I've heard of this before and the solution has been a ground loop as per Helix response, however what I want to understand is how it can be fine for a period, then happen and then need a ground loop to fix! I've also heard of the AUX option dissapearing from the head unit when people have been using the 12v to charge phones. Touch wood I've not had either of these issues yet..
I managed to fix it by replacing the Aux cable between the head unit cable and my phone 
Hello all,
Been lurking on this thread for quite some time and eventually bought a car from Mr Tidy. Has provided good service so far but looks like I have an issue with the exhaust - am I correct in assuming the car has 4 cats ? A pair on the manifold and a pair on the front silencer ? Went to my local exhaust place and they said their local suppliers list this part as NLA - I think it's part number 18107504168 - can see a few listed on ebay ? Anyone bought one of these ? I am thinking that this might do the job:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BM91427H-Catalytic-Conv...
Cheers.
Been lurking on this thread for quite some time and eventually bought a car from Mr Tidy. Has provided good service so far but looks like I have an issue with the exhaust - am I correct in assuming the car has 4 cats ? A pair on the manifold and a pair on the front silencer ? Went to my local exhaust place and they said their local suppliers list this part as NLA - I think it's part number 18107504168 - can see a few listed on ebay ? Anyone bought one of these ? I am thinking that this might do the job:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BM91427H-Catalytic-Conv...
Cheers.
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff