The E46 325ti Appreciation Thread

[Krikkit]

Just wanted to point out that I said euro 4 while having a brain fart, think they're all euro 3 aren't they?

Sounds like it's quite straight forward, didn't realise they could be reflashed.

[mwggriffiths]

PaulGT3 said:

For any of you guys that have done the 3.0 swap into a compact, to put the 3.0 map on the 325ti ecu do I just flash the m54b30 EU RHD map from this page? https://www.ms4x.net/index.php?title=Original_File...

If your exhaust is standard this should work fine.

I went with SA 3.0 map on mine because I'd de-primary-cat'd and didn't have the 2nd pair of lambdas fitted.

[JakeT]

Mine went through it's MOT dead fine yesterday. Covering 2,188 miles since the last one I should hope so. After 2 years of worn rear tyres new ones on the rear too. Contis this time.

[Imolasaurusrex]

Hi All,

I've never joined a forum before, but have read this thread with enjoyment for a while, thought I'd say hi.

I am lightly restoring a 325ti Sport, and wondered if anyone has tried to rectify the dropped front bumper issue they seem to suffer with?

[gizlaroc]

Can't answer your question, but welcome!

[Toltec]

It let me down today, the window switch cap broke and left me with an open drivers window on a rainy day. Fortunately I was on the way home and a large polythene bag over the top of the door kept the rain out for the rest of the day until I could sort it this evening. Having previously swapped the rear window cap to the front after it happened last time I've had to order some new caps. Three quid for two, the repair costs for this car are really starting to stack up, its only been four years since I had to spend £15 for a new hedgehog.

[Sardonicus]

You could of used the alarm full closure to wind the winder up then just unlocked as normal ya missed a trick there

[Toltec]

Sardonicus said:

You could of used the alarm full closure to wind the winder up then just unlocked as normal ya missed a trick there

I thought you could do that, but didn't have time to dig the manual out and read it.

[chillbill]

Hi all. Managed to acquire this prefacelift titansilber 325ti out here on the continent (brother's pic):



Has this spec. Incl. original Motorola V50 complete with cradle, charger and leather belt pouch . Pic from the internet of the same:



It also has an OEM tapedeck navi, like this one:



The buttons illuminate but the unit won't turn on. Any tips for this, check wiring and/or fuses?

In all other respects, it's in pretty good shape and everything else works (incl. leccy sunroof). This despite it having done ~300k km-s (~190k miles) in southern Germany from where it was imported. Seems to be dealership serviced up to at least 2017.

Edited by chillbill on Wednesday 8th January 13:41

[Krikkit]

Looks like a great purchase, congrats!

Can anyone tell me why there isn't a cost effective ATB LSD for the E46? £1100 for a quaife is lunacy... It's incredible that the most cost effective way is swapping the whole rear end from a different car.

[Stuart-b7jrq]

I’m also new to the forum but have just purchased a 325ti sport 2003. Little niggly things that need sorting like smoking (CCV) oil usage also. Leaking rocker cover. But gonna do this when I do the Vanos seals. As other new member asked does anybody know the cure for dropped front bumper as mine doesn’t have the adjust brackets like normal E46s.btw I love the car it’s cracking and wish I’d bought one sooner!

[anonymous-user]

Cars been kicking up the ASC/DSC/EML lights for a while now and running rough when letting off the throttle, presumed it was a split intake boot but today it kicked off and threw a check engine light for error code 211 mechanical fault or something and error code 8 mass air flow or something along those lines.

Going to change the intake boots, re build the DISA valve as im afraid the seals gone and its rattling and clean the ICV. Anything else I should replace whilst im in there?

Note: intake boot for a compact.. only order from bmw! I have a spare new febi boot for a coupe / saloon if its of any use to anyone!

[dhutch]

Krikkit said:

B4 are perfect for a road car imo, and cope well with light amounts of lowering too.

My car is a 330ci SE rather than a ti, but I have have B4 dampers all round, bought with the Ebach springs from TDC automotive around a year ago and I have been very happy with them for normal oem feel fast road and commuting. The dust shields failed on the rear dampers within weeks and I never fitted the identical replacements I got sent out, but otherwise the seem to be a good balance between cost and performance. I will let you know about durablity in ten years time!

Daniel

[anonymous-user]

dhutch said:

Krikkit said:

B4 are perfect for a road car imo, and cope well with light amounts of lowering too.

My car is a 330ci SE rather than a ti, but I have have B4 dampers all round, bought with the Ebach springs from TDC automotive around a year ago and I have been very happy with them for normal oem feel fast road and commuting. The dust shields failed on the rear dampers within weeks and I never fitted the identical replacements I got sent out, but otherwise the seem to be a good balance between cost and performance. I will let you know about durablity in ten years time!

Daniel

Ive been tempted by the bilstein B4, as my car has the m sport dampers which you cant get unless from bmw (which is a small fortune!) how do the B4 compare? are they a step up from the B4 or will i find them less sporty than the oem's.

[Zener]

Billy B4's will work far better than high mileage Sachs M Sport OE even Red label type 2 , fit and forget

[dhutch]

eezeh said:

Ive been tempted by the bilstein B4, as my car has the m sport dampers which you cant get unless from bmw (which is a small fortune!) how do the B4 compare? are they a step up from the B4 or will i find them less sporty than the oem's.

Yes, there isn't a lot of options for the sport/se cars which was a lot of my reason for the B4s.

Really had to say how they compare to the OEM offering as by the time I got the car the original Sachs dampers where absolutely shot. However they are neither crashy nor wallowy, feels good, I'm happy.

Daniel

[dubster2007]

eezeh said:

Ive been tempted by the bilstein B4, as my car has the m sport dampers which you cant get unless from bmw (which is a small fortune!) how do the B4 compare? are they a step up from the B4 or will i find them less sporty than the oem's.

Sachs do aftermarket m sport damper, bought a pair recently for my 325ti and the numbers match up to oem cross referencing.

[Zener]

dubster2007 said:

Sachs do aftermarket m sport damper, bought a pair recently for my 325ti and the numbers match up to oem cross referencing.

Sachs are the M Sport OE suspension anyway BMW dont make dampers along with pretty much all other car manufacturers who dont

[anonymous-user]

Zener said:

dubster2007 said:

Sachs do aftermarket m sport damper, bought a pair recently for my 325ti and the numbers match up to oem cross referencing.

Sachs are the M Sport OE suspension anyway BMW dont make dampers along with pretty much all other car manufacturers who dont

As far as I am aware sachs used to make 2 types of dampers for e46's. blue and red labels, being standard and sport respectively. Red label dampers are no longer available for purchase.
Hence only being able to obtain sports dampers from BMW.

[Zener]

eezeh said:

As far as I am aware sachs used to make 2 types of dampers for e46's. blue and red labels, being standard and sport respectively. Red label dampers are no longer available for purchase.
Hence only being able to obtain sports dampers from BMW.

Seems about right two types of M Sport type 1 and 2 red label