The E46 325ti Appreciation Thread
Discussion
Krikkit said:
225/45 tyres on the front of mine, plenty of feel for its type, but it's more on the playing field of a golf GTi and other more grown up hatches.
Compared directly to the Clio 172 and 106 Rallye I had it's much less busy.
Yes mine too - but I remember "upgrading" my 200SX from 205 16 to 245 17 and they absolutely ruined the car (I swapped back) so I'm tempted to downgrade to a 205 16 maybe reducing the rolling radius to reduce the gearing a bit tooCompared directly to the Clio 172 and 106 Rallye I had it's much less busy.
KTMsm said:
Krikkit said:
225/45 tyres on the front of mine, plenty of feel for its type, but it's more on the playing field of a golf GTi and other more grown up hatches.
Compared directly to the Clio 172 and 106 Rallye I had it's much less busy.
Yes mine too - but I remember "upgrading" my 200SX from 205 16 to 245 17 and they absolutely ruined the car (I swapped back) so I'm tempted to downgrade to a 205 16 maybe reducing the rolling radius to reduce the gearing a bit tooCompared directly to the Clio 172 and 106 Rallye I had it's much less busy.
Imo 16s look a little lost on the E46, and the tyre sizes are much more expensive, 225/45 all the way. (Unless you're still on the 200SX
)Krikkit said:
Is it a 5 or 6-speed Ti? Surprised it needs gearing down, my 5-speed feels pretty short considering.
Imo 16s look a little lost on the E46, and the tyre sizes are much more expensive, 225/45 all the way. (Unless you're still on the 200SX)
5 speed - probably because I'm used to my Swift sportImo 16s look a little lost on the E46, and the tyre sizes are much more expensive, 225/45 all the way. (Unless you're still on the 200SX
)Unfortunately my mint one previous owner, full service history, 200SX was sold 6 years ago for £4,000 to pay for the kitchen roof - probably a 20 grand car now
My 325ti was a 5 speed and felt pretty low-geared to me!
3,000 rpm in 5th was pretty much 70 mph so to get to the quoted top speed of 144mph it would have been on the rev-limiter.
But that gearing did mean I didn't need to change down to get back up to speed on Motorways, unlike my later 6 speed 3 Series.
3,000 rpm in 5th was pretty much 70 mph so to get to the quoted top speed of 144mph it would have been on the rev-limiter.
But that gearing did mean I didn't need to change down to get back up to speed on Motorways, unlike my later 6 speed 3 Series.
e21Keith said:
s m said:
Max M4X WW said:
So that CATS 30k mile thing went for £5800 
Quite a bit - but then they’re not making anything like that these days eitherdurango95 said:
I've spent a good few evenings reading this whole thread. Now I've done the initiation I'm ready to buy... Anyone looking to move their facelift manual 325ti Sport on?
Good luck finding one. Edited by durango95 on Thursday 10th March 20:51
I often wish I had kept mine, but I got seduced by more power with my E90 330i!
But if I was buying again I wouldn't get hung up on finding a Sport as the SEs had the same M-Sport suspension and seats, so the only real difference is that Sports have staggered 17" wheels and SEs have "square" 16s - but wheels are easy enough to change!
Staggered 18" MV2s or Style 32s from other E46s fit straight on, as do non-M E85 wheels like 107s,108s and many others.
Although a facelift with the 6-speed has a certain appeal, my 5-speed averaged over 32mpg for the 23K miles I had it so I doubt a 6-speed would do much better.
I'd focus more on colour and spec. My pre-facelift was an Imola Red Sport with full leather and power-fold mirrors and when my nephew was selling his Sapphire Black SE facelift with full leather and electric sunroof I was really tempted!
Edited by Mr Tidy on Monday 14th March 23:45
Mr Tidy said:
Good luck finding one.
I often wish I had kept mine, but I got seduced by more power with my E90 330i!
But if I was buying again I wouldn't get hung up on finding a Sport as the SEs had the same M-Sport suspension and seats, so the only real difference is that Sports have staggered 17" wheels and SEs have "square" 16s - but wheels are easy enough to change!
Staggered 18" MV2s or Style 32s from other E46s fit straight on, as do non-M E85 wheels like 107s,108s and many others.
Although a facelift with the 6-speed has a certain appeal, my 5-speed averaged over 32mpg for the 23K miles I had it so I doubt a 6-speed would do much better.
I'd focus more on colour and spec. My pre-facelift was an Imola Red Sport with full leather and power-fold mirrors and when my nephew was selling his Sapphire Black facelift with full leather and electric sunroof I was really tempted!
As a contrary to that I'd definitely go for a facelift sport. Interior is better and car just looks better.I often wish I had kept mine, but I got seduced by more power with my E90 330i!
But if I was buying again I wouldn't get hung up on finding a Sport as the SEs had the same M-Sport suspension and seats, so the only real difference is that Sports have staggered 17" wheels and SEs have "square" 16s - but wheels are easy enough to change!
Staggered 18" MV2s or Style 32s from other E46s fit straight on, as do non-M E85 wheels like 107s,108s and many others.
Although a facelift with the 6-speed has a certain appeal, my 5-speed averaged over 32mpg for the 23K miles I had it so I doubt a 6-speed would do much better.
I'd focus more on colour and spec. My pre-facelift was an Imola Red Sport with full leather and power-fold mirrors and when my nephew was selling his Sapphire Black facelift with full leather and electric sunroof I was really tempted!
Sold my 325ti sport facelift recently, sad to see it go.
Mr Tidy said:
durango95 said:
I've spent a good few evenings reading this whole thread. Now I've done the initiation I'm ready to buy... Anyone looking to move their facelift manual 325ti Sport on?
Good luck finding one. Edited by durango95 on Thursday 10th March 20:51
I often wish I had kept mine, but I got seduced by more power with my E90 330i!
But if I was buying again I wouldn't get hung up on finding a Sport as the SEs had the same M-Sport suspension and seats, so the only real difference is that Sports have staggered 17" wheels and SEs have "square" 16s - but wheels are easy enough to change!
Staggered 18" MV2s or Style 32s from other E46s fit straight on, as do non-M E85 wheels like 107s,108s and many others.
Although a facelift with the 6-speed has a certain appeal, my 5-speed averaged over 32mpg for the 23K miles I had it so I doubt a 6-speed would do much better.
I'd focus more on colour and spec. My pre-facelift was an Imola Red Sport with full leather and power-fold mirrors and when my nephew was selling his Sapphire Black SE facelift with full leather and electric sunroof I was really tempted!
Edited by Mr Tidy on Monday 14th March 23:45
Edited by MRyan99 on Tuesday 5th April 18:42
Wow, quite the find!
For those thinking of going newer, unless you're desperate for performance my advice is keep what you've got. I've just bought an E87 130i and while it's got a fabulous engine in the N52 and 6-speed box, the E89 experience isn't as good as the E46 by a country mile.
Save your money and build a 3-litre swap instead.
For those thinking of going newer, unless you're desperate for performance my advice is keep what you've got. I've just bought an E87 130i and while it's got a fabulous engine in the N52 and 6-speed box, the E89 experience isn't as good as the E46 by a country mile.
Save your money and build a 3-litre swap instead.
Manual 325ti for £1795.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284718495776?_trkparms=...
Had I not just got a wagon I'd have been tempted to snap this up.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284718495776?_trkparms=...
Had I not just got a wagon I'd have been tempted to snap this up.
Mark-E34-535 said:
Manual 325ti for £1795.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284718495776?_trkparms=...
Had I not just got a wagon I'd have been tempted to snap this up.
Makes me think I sold mine too cheap - no rust but cosmetically similar, with a big box of spares, £1500.https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284718495776?_trkparms=...
Had I not just got a wagon I'd have been tempted to snap this up.
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