The E46 325ti Appreciation Thread
Discussion
I've now done 4500 miles in my compact, since buying it in the summer. I have to admit that it's taken quite a while to bond with, but now I absolutely love driving it. The way it can be thrown around corners is quite incredible – especially coming from an E30, where things get slippery quite easily.
A couple of weeks ago I put a set of 16 inch winter tyres/wheels on it, which have made a good difference to comfort and traction. I don't think i'll go back to 18 inchers, as the ride was extremely hard on anything less than perfect roads – though the 16s do look very boring.
I am now thinking about cheap-ish suspension upgrades. Does anyone have recommendations for shocks/springs or coilovers? And will any E46 set up be suitable, or does it have to be compact specific?
A couple of weeks ago I put a set of 16 inch winter tyres/wheels on it, which have made a good difference to comfort and traction. I don't think i'll go back to 18 inchers, as the ride was extremely hard on anything less than perfect roads – though the 16s do look very boring.
I am now thinking about cheap-ish suspension upgrades. Does anyone have recommendations for shocks/springs or coilovers? And will any E46 set up be suitable, or does it have to be compact specific?
MrT8064 said:
I've now done 4500 miles in my compact, since buying it in the summer. I have to admit that it's taken quite a while to bond with, but now I absolutely love driving it. The way it can be thrown around corners is quite incredible – especially coming from an E30, where things get slippery quite easily.
A couple of weeks ago I put a set of 16 inch winter tyres/wheels on it, which have made a good difference to comfort and traction. I don't think i'll go back to 18 inchers, as the ride was extremely hard on anything less than perfect roads – though the 16s do look very boring.
I am now thinking about cheap-ish suspension upgrades. Does anyone have recommendations for shocks/springs or coilovers? And will any E46 set up be suitable, or does it have to be compact specific?
You may be able to find a second hand set of bilsetins online, they are quite popular with owners.A couple of weeks ago I put a set of 16 inch winter tyres/wheels on it, which have made a good difference to comfort and traction. I don't think i'll go back to 18 inchers, as the ride was extremely hard on anything less than perfect roads – though the 16s do look very boring.
I am now thinking about cheap-ish suspension upgrades. Does anyone have recommendations for shocks/springs or coilovers? And will any E46 set up be suitable, or does it have to be compact specific?
Just clocked over 20k miles since February
Eezeh - good going on the mileage!! I'm over 15k now in a little over a year.
Suspension wise yes all have 'sports' suspension as standard, but are likely mostly on the original stuff which is going to be past it as mine was.
Koni sport kit is a good upgrade consisting of fixed rate koni shocks coupled with H&R progressive springs and is something like £400 new, by the time you buy quality standard dampers and springs you won't be far off the koni kit price so its decent value and certainly transforms the car over tired originals. The only negative is that is does lower the ride height somewhat, I much prefer how it sits but know some people like to retain original ride height.
Wheels - 17s like the sports came with are a good compromise, there really is no need for 18s. Bear in mind some E90 17's fit very nicely with OE 17" sport tyre sizes with the additional benefit of a slightly wider front wheel and lower offset which I've found has given the car much more bite at the front end whilst remaining very balanced.
Suspension wise yes all have 'sports' suspension as standard, but are likely mostly on the original stuff which is going to be past it as mine was.
Koni sport kit is a good upgrade consisting of fixed rate koni shocks coupled with H&R progressive springs and is something like £400 new, by the time you buy quality standard dampers and springs you won't be far off the koni kit price so its decent value and certainly transforms the car over tired originals. The only negative is that is does lower the ride height somewhat, I much prefer how it sits but know some people like to retain original ride height.
Wheels - 17s like the sports came with are a good compromise, there really is no need for 18s. Bear in mind some E90 17's fit very nicely with OE 17" sport tyre sizes with the additional benefit of a slightly wider front wheel and lower offset which I've found has given the car much more bite at the front end whilst remaining very balanced.
daniel-5zjw7 said:
Eezeh - good going on the mileage!! I'm over 15k now in a little over a year.
It was never my intention to rack up so many miles, it was supposed to be half that.. I guess thats just how things play out.Im set to do 26k next year but I don't think I want to put that many on the poor thing, its not cheap to fuel even though I average near 40mpg.
I suppose the sensible thing would be to trade it in for a diesel but I don't think I could part with it and I can't afford to insure 2 cars just yet.
Feel a bit bad about taking it to the SS tomorrow, haven't had a chance to wash it and in its current state its hanging.
Izzy325ti said:
Iv owned my 325ti for 6 years now, to be honest it wasn't my intention to buy one, but I'm glad I did. Really delivers the fun factor that most bmw drivers desire. If it's not what your looking for have a look any way! ????
The black on black looks nice! Must be a nightmare to keep clean though.Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 15th December 23:21
@Helix & anyone else with experience..
Going to be changing a caliper and whilst im at it doing the CDV delete (unless anyone recommends otherwise).
Ref: flushing the fluid and bleeding the brakes, a lot of conflicting info online, am I right in saying that I manually bleed brakes / clutch in following order
Rear Left, Rear Right, Clutch, Front Left, Front Right.?
Following on from the brake flush and bleed I use the single person INPA procedure to flush the ABS/DSC module?
(Activate procedure, release bleed nipple, follow procedure, close nipple)
Is this correct?
Going to be changing a caliper and whilst im at it doing the CDV delete (unless anyone recommends otherwise).
Ref: flushing the fluid and bleeding the brakes, a lot of conflicting info online, am I right in saying that I manually bleed brakes / clutch in following order
Rear Left, Rear Right, Clutch, Front Left, Front Right.?
Following on from the brake flush and bleed I use the single person INPA procedure to flush the ABS/DSC module?
(Activate procedure, release bleed nipple, follow procedure, close nipple)
Is this correct?
Honestly, if you're just bleeding the brakes I've just let one gravity bleed for 10 minutes and then closed the bleeder. Pedal was just as good as before on the car. I think I've changed about 15 calipers on E46s. Friends and I have a few of them. I think I can do it in 15 mins wheels up to wheels down again.
I haven't really used INPA to do the DSC unit either. I know you should really. I know the Bentley manual states to use that order, but I just use a pressure bleeder and do the fronts and then the rears. I find they work so much better than pumping the pedal. As for the clutch, I believe you can do the same too, as it works off of the same reservoir as the brakes. There's a standard bleeder to crack open under the car.
I haven't really used INPA to do the DSC unit either. I know you should really. I know the Bentley manual states to use that order, but I just use a pressure bleeder and do the fronts and then the rears. I find they work so much better than pumping the pedal. As for the clutch, I believe you can do the same too, as it works off of the same reservoir as the brakes. There's a standard bleeder to crack open under the car.
JakeT said:
Honestly, if you're just bleeding the brakes I've just let one gravity bleed for 10 minutes and then closed the bleeder. Pedal was just as good as before on the car. I think I've changed about 15 calipers on E46s. Friends and I have a few of them. I think I can do it in 15 mins wheels up to wheels down again.
I haven't really used INPA to do the DSC unit either. I know you should really. I know the Bentley manual states to use that order, but I just use a pressure bleeder and do the fronts and then the rears. I find they work so much better than pumping the pedal. As for the clutch, I believe you can do the same too, as it works off of the same reservoir as the brakes. There's a standard bleeder to crack open under the car.
Cheers, I am considering doing a track day or two next year at some point so just figured now would be the most convenient time to change the fluid. I haven't really used INPA to do the DSC unit either. I know you should really. I know the Bentley manual states to use that order, but I just use a pressure bleeder and do the fronts and then the rears. I find they work so much better than pumping the pedal. As for the clutch, I believe you can do the same too, as it works off of the same reservoir as the brakes. There's a standard bleeder to crack open under the car.
eezeh said:
@Helix & anyone else with experience..
Going to be changing a caliper and whilst im at it doing the CDV delete (unless anyone recommends otherwise).
Ref: flushing the fluid and bleeding the brakes, a lot of conflicting info online, am I right in saying that I manually bleed brakes / clutch in following order
Rear Left, Rear Right, Clutch, Front Left, Front Right.?
Following on from the brake flush and bleed I use the single person INPA procedure to flush the ABS/DSC module?
(Activate procedure, release bleed nipple, follow procedure, close nipple)
Is this correct?
Pretty much. The idea is to start with the caliper furthest from the master cylinder and end up at the caliper closest. I’d normally do all the brakes then the clutch separately. Going to be changing a caliper and whilst im at it doing the CDV delete (unless anyone recommends otherwise).
Ref: flushing the fluid and bleeding the brakes, a lot of conflicting info online, am I right in saying that I manually bleed brakes / clutch in following order
Rear Left, Rear Right, Clutch, Front Left, Front Right.?
Following on from the brake flush and bleed I use the single person INPA procedure to flush the ABS/DSC module?
(Activate procedure, release bleed nipple, follow procedure, close nipple)
Is this correct?
helix402 said:
Pretty much. The idea is to start with the caliper furthest from the master cylinder and end up at the caliper closest. I’d normally do all the brakes then the clutch separately.
Great, thanks, I am correct about the inpa process too? Do that once everything else has been done?eezeh said:
Well that's thrown a spanner in the works. The caliper looks fairly new, no corrosion on the piston, has had recent brake lines yet it sticks somewhat?
Any ideas helix? No point in fitting the new caliper I just bought..
Have you removed the piston from the suspected faulty caliper? The corrosion is normally hidden where it sits in the bore of the caliper. Any ideas helix? No point in fitting the new caliper I just bought..
helix402 said:
eezeh said:
Well that's thrown a spanner in the works. The caliper looks fairly new, no corrosion on the piston, has had recent brake lines yet it sticks somewhat?
Any ideas helix? No point in fitting the new caliper I just bought..
Have you removed the piston from the suspected faulty caliper? The corrosion is normally hidden where it sits in the bore of the caliper. Any ideas helix? No point in fitting the new caliper I just bought..
One thing I have noticed comparing new and "old" is the inboard pads don't sit on the caliper. Looks like someone's taken a file to it to alleviate sticking?
The left hand isn't as drastic as the right hand.
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff