The E46 325ti Appreciation Thread
Discussion
eezeh said:
Hi guys im after a couple bits and pieces, anyone know where best to buy them new or used in good nick?
2x rear shocks & springs
Rear brake hard lines
Right fuel sender
Cheers
I got 2x Bilstein B4 shocks from demontweeks on eBay, about the cheapest I could find that I knew were genuine: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1418550024212x rear shocks & springs
Rear brake hard lines
Right fuel sender
Cheers
Also got Meyle HD top mounts here, not sure how long they'll last, but it's so easy to change them I don't mind if they become an annual service item. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321731209241
Sardonicus said:
Sachs top mounts are recommended was a place in Germany off Ebay selling these for silly money a while back fitted 3 pairs inc on my own and no issues , way I see it if they produced the oem M sport dampers 
and I know Sachs as a quality brand
If anyone does want to keep original type rear damper top mounts the best original ones are E46 M3. The cheapest source for these is a Febi Bilstein, these are the same as gen BMW ones. and I know Sachs as a quality brand You also need new plates, 4 nuts to the body, 2 centre damper rod nuts and Z3 reinforcement plates if you want, mostly picture below:
Rear damper bolt torque is 100Nm and it should be tightened under load.
helix402 said:
If anyone does want to keep original type rear damper top mounts the best original ones are E46 M3. The cheapest source for these is a Febi Bilstein, these are the same as gen BMW ones.
You also need new plates, 4 nuts to the body, 2 centre damper rod nuts and Z3 reinforcement plates if you want, mostly picture below:
Rear damper bolt torque is 100Nm and it should be tightened under load.
So for a road car what would you recommend? the m3 set or the bimmertune setYou also need new plates, 4 nuts to the body, 2 centre damper rod nuts and Z3 reinforcement plates if you want, mostly picture below:
Rear damper bolt torque is 100Nm and it should be tightened under load.
eezeh said:
So for a road car what would you recommend? the m3 set or the bimmertune set
It depends how often you want to change them and how much you want to spend. I fit Bimmertune ones on my E46s because I prefer to spend a bit more and do the job once. Here’s a set I fitted:
Also had to weld a crack in the rear turret and plate it (this was a 330d with 250k miles):
If you want to go for gen BMW parts BMW do a value line top mount kit for non M3s.
Not related, but for those wanting bluetooth music on a standard stereo, I've just fitted one of these and it works a treat: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0773MX7BG/ref...
£33 now, annoyingly I bought a couple of weeks ago when it was £38. Just plugs in where the CD changer is - you'll need to remove the seatbelt cap and pull the carpet aside to get to it, but it took me about 10 minutes in all.
On the stereo it just appears as the CD player, and the usual wheel controls work etc.
To push to another topic again, any recommendations on rear subframe/diff bushes? Just wondering how firm the standard ones are and whether it's worth going to powerflex or similar poly bushes.
£33 now, annoyingly I bought a couple of weeks ago when it was £38. Just plugs in where the CD changer is - you'll need to remove the seatbelt cap and pull the carpet aside to get to it, but it took me about 10 minutes in all.
On the stereo it just appears as the CD player, and the usual wheel controls work etc.
To push to another topic again, any recommendations on rear subframe/diff bushes? Just wondering how firm the standard ones are and whether it's worth going to powerflex or similar poly bushes.
Mangohut said:
I am just about to fit a BMW E60 shifter to my 325ti, has anyone else carried out a change for the shortshifter? any problems? im going to remove the CDV while i'm under there to try and help the slightly jerky 1st and reverse
Easy but fiddly. I didn't do something right with the horrible white thing which keeps it in either as 5 minutes down the road I pulled the whole thing out!Hi Guys. I need your valued advice. I need to replace front shocks and springs and top mounts. I always wanted to go for the eibach pro springs as I heard they would improve ride slightly and handling.
I’m a bit skint at the moment, and since I have been looking I have noticed a lot of coil over kits that offer a lot, and will work out a lot cheaper. But I don’t want to ruin the car with whatever I do. I’m not and will not use it on a track.
I have already replaced the rear shocks and rear top mounts last year. I know I’ll need to do rear as well. And I’ve done all the bushes front and back.
I’m a bit skint at the moment, and since I have been looking I have noticed a lot of coil over kits that offer a lot, and will work out a lot cheaper. But I don’t want to ruin the car with whatever I do. I’m not and will not use it on a track.
I have already replaced the rear shocks and rear top mounts last year. I know I’ll need to do rear as well. And I’ve done all the bushes front and back.
Dougyd39 said:
Hi Guys. I need your valued advice. I need to replace front shocks and springs and top mounts. I always wanted to go for the eibach pro springs as I heard they would improve ride slightly and handling.
I’m a bit skint at the moment, and since I have been looking I have noticed a lot of coil over kits that offer a lot, and will work out a lot cheaper. But I don’t want to ruin the car with whatever I do. I’m not and will not use it on a track.
I have already replaced the rear shocks and rear top mounts last year. I know I’ll need to do rear as well. And I’ve done all the bushes front and back.
I have nothing to offer other than if your rear suspension is in decent nick ill take it I’m a bit skint at the moment, and since I have been looking I have noticed a lot of coil over kits that offer a lot, and will work out a lot cheaper. But I don’t want to ruin the car with whatever I do. I’m not and will not use it on a track.
I have already replaced the rear shocks and rear top mounts last year. I know I’ll need to do rear as well. And I’ve done all the bushes front and back.
Dougyd39 said:
Hi Guys. I need your valued advice. I need to replace front shocks and springs and top mounts. I always wanted to go for the eibach pro springs as I heard they would improve ride slightly and handling.
I’m a bit skint at the moment, and since I have been looking I have noticed a lot of coil over kits that offer a lot, and will work out a lot cheaper. But I don’t want to ruin the car with whatever I do. I’m not and will not use it on a track.
I have already replaced the rear shocks and rear top mounts last year. I know I’ll need to do rear as well. And I’ve done all the bushes front and back.
I have HSD Monopro on mine and the ride is fairly good on 15" road tyres but they were around £700 from memory so I'm not sure this is really any cheaper than what you will have been looking at?I’m a bit skint at the moment, and since I have been looking I have noticed a lot of coil over kits that offer a lot, and will work out a lot cheaper. But I don’t want to ruin the car with whatever I do. I’m not and will not use it on a track.
I have already replaced the rear shocks and rear top mounts last year. I know I’ll need to do rear as well. And I’ve done all the bushes front and back.
Dougyd39 said:
Hi Guys. I need your valued advice. I need to replace front shocks and springs and top mounts. I always wanted to go for the eibach pro springs as I heard they would improve ride slightly and handling.
I’m a bit skint at the moment, and since I have been looking I have noticed a lot of coil over kits that offer a lot, and will work out a lot cheaper. But I don’t want to ruin the car with whatever I do. I’m not and will not use it on a track.
I have already replaced the rear shocks and rear top mounts last year. I know I’ll need to do rear as well. And I’ve done all the bushes front and back.
Pick up the Eibach/Bilstein B12 kit (pro kit springs with B6 shocks). It is a great fast road setup out of the box, and (I suspect) nicer than cheap coilovers.I’m a bit skint at the moment, and since I have been looking I have noticed a lot of coil over kits that offer a lot, and will work out a lot cheaper. But I don’t want to ruin the car with whatever I do. I’m not and will not use it on a track.
I have already replaced the rear shocks and rear top mounts last year. I know I’ll need to do rear as well. And I’ve done all the bushes front and back.
Ok thanks, both those options look great but a bit out of my budget. I’m probably go for the below set up as I’ve already done the rear shocks.
Buy the eibach pro springs.
Go for Bilstein front shocks. But unsure what ones will go best (b4,b6,b12) as I fitted Mayle HD M Sport Mtech shocks on rear last year. If that’s doable? Or do really need matching shock?. I’m running car on 18” wheels and the roads round here are crap so dont want to make ride worse.
But I do drive like a stole it often lol
Buy the eibach pro springs.
Go for Bilstein front shocks. But unsure what ones will go best (b4,b6,b12) as I fitted Mayle HD M Sport Mtech shocks on rear last year. If that’s doable? Or do really need matching shock?. I’m running car on 18” wheels and the roads round here are crap so dont want to make ride worse.
But I do drive like a stole it often lol
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