The E46 325ti Appreciation Thread

[Mark-E34-535]

They're certainly not getting any cheaper.

[chillbill]

Still think the '46 compact isn't the prettiest thing in the world...

But this hasn't stopped me from buying another one . Topasblau 325ti, M-Sport II, 230k km/143k miles:



Favourite thing so far - Bastuck exhaust. It's really only a tad (10-15%?) louder, gives just a bit more "hummm" when pootling along and sings nicely in the higher rpms. Feels very OEM+.

Have also ordered a GR Yaris, but do think this era BMWs are very well built and satisfying to drive, even at legal speeds. I.e. if well kept, bargains of the range.

[s m]

chillbill said:

Still think the '46 compact isn't the prettiest thing in the world...

But this hasn't stopped me from buying another one . Topasblau 325ti, M-Sport II, 230k km/143k miles:



Favourite thing so far - Bastuck exhaust. It's really only a tad (10-15%?) louder, gives just a bit more "hummm" when pootling along and sings nicely in the higher rpms. Feels very OEM+.

Have also ordered a GR Yaris, but do think this era BMWs are very well built and satisfying to drive, even at legal speeds. I.e. if well kept, bargains of the range.

Very nice

Sunroof too

Enjoy

[alexcjp]

I'm about 2 years into 325ti ownership, I've been creeping in the background of this thread the whole time! She's a pistachio green pre facelift (2001) SE that I picked up for pretty cheap, she was a little worse for wear but after lots of work, she was my weekend toy and occasional track day car. However, after changing my daily car for something with a bit more power, the compact is being used less and less on the road.

I'm planning on turning it into a full track day car, sacrilege I know....but thought there may be some fans of them being track toys in here....so my question is, does anyone know if a bolt in half cage that is built for a coupe will fit into a compact? Has anyone tried this or successfully done it?

Most cage builders I've spoken to have said they aren't sure if it fits, but that I should buy one and try it, which I'm a little bit reserved to do in case I end up with a big roll cage in the lounge that I need to send back!

Any help is greatly appreciated!

[Krikkit]

Worst case I'm sure you could have one tweaked, but I'd be shocked if a coupe half-cage wouldn't fit the compact:

https://www.jp-cages.co.uk/product/bmw-e46-coupe-h...

p.s. If it won't fit, JP Cages are fantastic guys and worth a trip to visit.

[s m]

Krikkit said:

Worst case I'm sure you could have one tweaked, but I'd be shocked if a coupe half-cage wouldn't fit the compact:

https://www.jp-cages.co.uk/product/bmw-e46-coupe-h...

p.s. If it won't fit, JP Cages are fantastic guys and worth a trip to visit.

May be worth asking this guy too

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133588197479?mkcid=16&a...

[alexcjp]

s m said:

Krikkit said:

Worst case I'm sure you could have one tweaked, but I'd be shocked if a coupe half-cage wouldn't fit the compact:

https://www.jp-cages.co.uk/product/bmw-e46-coupe-h...

p.s. If it won't fit, JP Cages are fantastic guys and worth a trip to visit.

May be worth asking this guy too

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133588197479?mkcid=16&a...

Thanks, this is a great help, i'll have a chat with both of them and see what they say! Appreciate it!

Update: Josh from JP has said he's unsure if they fit a compact so cannot advise

Further update: The chap from the ebay link, Wayne at Motorsport Roll Cages has been fantastic, custom cage for the compact is on its way! I might even pop some photos on here when its in and done!

Edited by alexcjp on Thursday 30th June 11:20

Edited by alexcjp on Tuesday 5th July 11:25

[grahamgraham]

alexcjp said:

I'm about 2 years into 325ti ownership, I've been creeping in the background of this thread the whole time! She's a pistachio green pre facelift (2001) SE that I picked up for pretty cheap, she was a little worse for wear but after lots of work, she was my weekend toy and occasional track day car. However, after changing my daily car for something with a bit more power, the compact is being used less and less on the road.

I'm planning on turning it into a full track day car, sacrilege I know....but thought there may be some fans of them being track toys in here....so my question is, does anyone know if a bolt in half cage that is built for a coupe will fit into a compact? Has anyone tried this or successfully done it?

Most cage builders I've spoken to have said they aren't sure if it fits, but that I should buy one and try it, which I'm a little bit reserved to do in case I end up with a big roll cage in the lounge that I need to send back!

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Welcome to the thread, your car & plans sound very similar to mine... definitely not sacrilege ;-)

I picked up my 325ti, also pistachio green & pre-facelift, a year or so ago as a track toy/rolling project, changed the fluids and did a couple of track days within a couple of weeks then set about some more involved mods/maintenance. Next track day is Bedford on Monday. They're so much fun for what they are.

Sounds like you're getting a bit more involved with half cage & the like, any other plans?

thread is here:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[alexcjp]

grahamgraham said:

Welcome to the thread, your car & plans sound very similar to mine... definitely not sacrilege ;-)

I picked up my 325ti, also pistachio green & pre-facelift, a year or so ago as a track toy/rolling project, changed the fluids and did a couple of track days within a couple of weeks then set about some more involved mods/maintenance. Next track day is Bedford on Monday. They're so much fun for what they are.

Sounds like you're getting a bit more involved with half cage & the like, any other plans?

thread is here:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Having looked through your thread, our cars are near on identical looks wise and not far off spec wise! I wish i'd documented it much more like you have, i've loved working on it!

I've listed the jobs that i've done to mine below:
- Full cooling system replacement and upgraded where possible, also modified the thermostat to be permanently open for track use
- Brakes replaced with Brembo High Carbons and yellowstuff pads and high temp brake fluid
- Custom stainless exhaust with no resonators, original cats kept
- JOM coilovers (would like to upgrade once funds allow!)
- Spacers to fill arches a bit
- Powerflex Bushes
- Cold air intake with a direct feed, however i'm toying with putting the standard box back into see if it makes any difference
- ATS Streetrallye lightweight wheels on Nankang NS2Rs all round (square set up)
- Stripped interior, rear wiper and spare wheel carrier but kept the dash, headliner, sunroof and front 1/3 carpet for some comfort when I use it for the weekly shopping trip
- NRG Quick release and OMP steering wheel (all wired in for the horn to work)
- OMP TRS-X bucket seats, OMP 6 point harnesses
- Roll Cage from MRC
- Facelift rear lights
- LED headlights
- Bluetooth module to work with original business stereo

I'm planning a few track days towards the end of july/august once the cage is finally in. I'll pop some pictures of it in here once I get home tonight.

[Krikkit]

Sounds like a good start, I'd get some of the tat stripped from the engine bay as well, amazing how much rubbish there is in the front of an E46.

FWIW take some spare pads with you - I've had and heard of bad experiences with Yellowstuff.

[Max M4X WW]

Has anyone had a 325ti and 130i on here? Thinking about the latter (I sold my 325ti a couple of years ago).

[Mr Tidy]

Max M4X WW said:

Has anyone had a 325ti and 130i on here? Thinking about the latter (I sold my 325ti a couple of years ago).

I wanted to, but after 3+ years with my 325ti I'm now 3 years into E90 330i ownership so the same N52 engine as the 130i that I couldn't justify on price.

The 330i is just a bit too refined - hopefully a 130i would be a bit more unruly. They certainly seem to have quite a following!

[s m]

Max M4X WW said:

Has anyone had a 325ti and 130i on here? Thinking about the latter (I sold my 325ti a couple of years ago).

There’s been a few I think

RoVoFob posted recently - had a 130i after his 325ti

I’m not sure I’ve seen the other guys post recently

[Max M4X WW]

Fair enough, thanks.

I know my way around the E46/E39, so the shift to a newer car worries me as they are more complicated etc. Never really heard anyone talk about issues with timing chains, starter motors or air-con compressors with the older platforms, but I've heard a few stories on the N52!

Obviously, I have my eye on a car with over 150k miles too.. My 325ti was "fine" at 138k.

[AndyLB]

Picked this lovely thing up last week:




https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-325-ti-Sport-Compac...

Few things to sort out. The android head unit is horrendous, steering wheel and seats a bit minging.


Sadly, looks like the gearbox is on it's way out (not entirely surprising at this mileage). Starting to jerk very occasionally between gear shifts.

I'd hoped the old "take yoru car to ZF in Dortmund" was still a thing but they've stopped doing it. Not sure what to do now, drive it until the gearbox fails or something else.

[e21Keith]

Beautiful colour (outside) and the beige interior was really in back when the car was new.

My experience of BMW auto 'boxes from this era is very poor, having had the original 'box fail in my e39 at 50k and the genuine new BMW replacement fitted by the main dealer fail again at 110k in the same car. Even when new I've found the changes can be jerky in some circumstances. You can try changing the fluid, this may make things better or worse, recon 'boxes are a lot cheaper now than they were. Or you could upgrade it with a conversion to manual!

Sadly my partner now needs an auto due to health issues, so I'm going to have to sell her '54 plate 325ti Sport, manual, black on black, electric heated seats...

Separately, I'm looking for a 325ti 6 speed manual 'box to go in a Z4, so if anyone is breaking a 325ti with the 6-speed box I'm interested.

[helix402]

AndyLB said:

Picked this lovely thing up last week:




https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-325-ti-Sport-Compac...

Few things to sort out. The android head unit is horrendous, steering wheel and seats a bit minging.


Sadly, looks like the gearbox is on it's way out (not entirely surprising at this mileage). Starting to jerk very occasionally between gear shifts.

I'd hoped the old "take yoru car to ZF in Dortmund" was still a thing but they've stopped doing it. Not sure what to do now, drive it until the gearbox fails or something else.

Manual conversion. Most of it can be done in a day.

[Max M4X WW]

helix402 said:

AndyLB said:

Picked this lovely thing up last week:




https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-325-ti-Sport-Compac...

Few things to sort out. The android head unit is horrendous, steering wheel and seats a bit minging.


Sadly, looks like the gearbox is on it's way out (not entirely surprising at this mileage). Starting to jerk very occasionally between gear shifts.

I'd hoped the old "take yoru car to ZF in Dortmund" was still a thing but they've stopped doing it. Not sure what to do now, drive it until the gearbox fails or something else.

Nice car, I had my eye on it but it was to far to view.

[Mr Tidy]

Max M4X WW said:

I know my way around the E46/E39, so the shift to a newer car worries me as they are more complicated etc. Never really heard anyone talk about issues with timing chains, starter motors or air-con compressors with the older platforms, but I've heard a few stories on the N52!

Obviously, I have my eye on a car with over 150k miles too.. My 325ti was "fine" at 138k.

My 330i is my 4th car with the N52 engine and it's still running really well at 118K miles.

I haven't heard of too many issues with the N52 apart from electric water pumps dying (new ones are £300 or so) and oil leaks from cam-cover, filter housing and sometimes sump gaskets.

[Max M4X WW]

Mr Tidy said:

Max M4X WW said:

I know my way around the E46/E39, so the shift to a newer car worries me as they are more complicated etc. Never really heard anyone talk about issues with timing chains, starter motors or air-con compressors with the older platforms, but I've heard a few stories on the N52!

Obviously, I have my eye on a car with over 150k miles too.. My 325ti was "fine" at 138k.

My 330i is my 4th car with the N52 engine and it's still running really well at 118K miles.

I haven't heard of too many issues with the N52 apart from electric water pumps dying (new ones are £300 or so) and oil leaks from cam-cover, filter housing and sometimes sump gaskets.

Good to know. Thanks