The E46 325ti Appreciation Thread

[Mr Tidy]

mu9en said:

Does anyone know the part number of the weighted one? My 325ti is a Sport model and wondering if it already came with the weighted one.

I think the Sport had the weighted one - SEs had a different part altogether.

The Part Number for the 6 speed weighted one is B25.11.7.896.886.

[mu9en]

Mr Tidy said:

I think the Sport had the weighted one - SEs had a different part altogether.

The Part Number for the 6 speed weighted one is B25.11.7.896.886.

Thanks for the help!

[Thoglan]

Finished assembling the 330Ti more or less, missing a few bits here and there but 95% done.




Badge change

Still repairing the drivers seat so I swapped in the bucket seat from my M3 just to test drive


First test drive is always a good feeling. Thing feels super tight, and quick. Corner to corner it's really not much slower than my M3. Not nearly as zingy as the S54 but much smoother and torquier down low. Bilstein B8s and eibach springs ride beautifully. Stoked.

[FNG]

Very awesome indeed, well done. Job looks really clean and neat.

I'd love to 3.0 mine, albeit I'd want a 6 speed in it so I could raise the final drive ratio a bit further.

Am I right in saying your diff is a 3.38:1 if it's from a 330i auto? You happy with where it places the engine speeds in typical driving?

I've got an LSD kit to put into a new diff and am torn between 3.46 and 3.64 - just don't want to find I'm revving high in 2nd or lugging in 3rd.

[RSTurboPaul]

Looking smart, nice work!

[Sardonicus]

FNG said:

Very awesome indeed, well done. Job looks really clean and neat.

I'd love to 3.0 mine, albeit I'd want a 6 speed in it so I could raise the final drive ratio a bit further.

Am I right in saying your diff is a 3.38:1 if it's from a 330i auto? You happy with where it places the engine speeds in typical driving?

I've got an LSD kit to put into a new diff and am torn between 3.46 and 3.64 - just don't want to find I'm revving high in 2nd or lugging in 3rd.

I run a 2.5 Touring with a Getrag 5sp and a 3.15 final drive and 18" wheels and that is far from over geared or lugging, 6th gear would come in handy only at high speed @ 70 mph is all good inc MPG

[Thoglan]

FNG said:

Very awesome indeed, well done. Job looks really clean and neat.

I'd love to 3.0 mine, albeit I'd want a 6 speed in it so I could raise the final drive ratio a bit further.

Am I right in saying your diff is a 3.38:1 if it's from a 330i auto? You happy with where it places the engine speeds in typical driving?

I've got an LSD kit to put into a new diff and am torn between 3.46 and 3.64 - just don't want to find I'm revving high in 2nd or lugging in 3rd.

Yep it's a 3.38. I intentionally chose to use a ZF 5 speed over the 6 speed, it would have essentially cost the same either way. I think the smaller lighter 5 speed is better suited to the compact than a 6 speed but I can see the appeal of having an overdrive gear if you do a lot of motorway driving. The ratios between the 5 and 6 speed are essentially exactly the same with the only difference being the overdrive gear, so you might find that with an even higher ratio diff the gears start feeling too short for just regular driving.

I think it's perfect with the 3.38, makes the car feel super torquey in first second and third gear. Honestly feels like it has more pickup than my M3 but falls flat where the S54 just keeps pulling. But still totally usable and sits at about 3k rpm on the motorway.

[FNG]

Sardonicus said:

I run a 2.5 Touring with a Getrag 5sp and a 3.15 final drive and 18" wheels and that is far from over geared or lugging, 6th gear would come in handy only at high speed @ 70 mph is all good inc MPG

Interesting and thanks for the feedback.

Mine's on 17s and runs a 3.23:1 final drive, and I feel it's sluggish and only really responds in the upper part of the rev range. It's a very different car but I've come from a remapped Golf GTi, so maybe 50bhp more via a turbo and 150kg less weight, so I'm possibly feeling the lack of torque from a turbo.

I was looking to pep it up for 2nd and 3rd but hopefully not finding myself at high revs in one gear or bogging down in the next one. And recognising that the best solution is probably an engine swap alongside the diff ratio.

I find I'm at 3000-4000rpm on the motorway but having done the calcs, even going to 3.64:1 I'd only see another 400-500rpm on the clock; at motorway speeds the wind noise is louder than the exhaust (even with a silly stainless single-box system) so unless I start commuting long distances all of a sudden perhaps the overdrive ratio of the 6spd isn't needed.

[FNG]

Thoglan said:

FNG said:

Very awesome indeed, well done. Job looks really clean and neat.

I'd love to 3.0 mine, albeit I'd want a 6 speed in it so I could raise the final drive ratio a bit further.

Am I right in saying your diff is a 3.38:1 if it's from a 330i auto? You happy with where it places the engine speeds in typical driving?

I've got an LSD kit to put into a new diff and am torn between 3.46 and 3.64 - just don't want to find I'm revving high in 2nd or lugging in 3rd.

Yep it's a 3.38. I intentionally chose to use a ZF 5 speed over the 6 speed, it would have essentially cost the same either way. I think the smaller lighter 5 speed is better suited to the compact than a 6 speed but I can see the appeal of having an overdrive gear if you do a lot of motorway driving. The ratios between the 5 and 6 speed are essentially exactly the same with the only difference being the overdrive gear, so you might find that with an even higher ratio diff the gears start feeling too short for just regular driving.

I think it's perfect with the 3.38, makes the car feel super torquey in first second and third gear. Honestly feels like it has more pickup than my M3 but falls flat where the S54 just keeps pulling. But still totally usable and sits at about 3k rpm on the motorway.

Exactly my concern, and as per previous reply I want to get better in-gear mid range pickup but don't want to be at high revs everywhere I go. It makes enough noise as it is now.

Get what you say about feeling flat too - getting up to 6k rpm it's tailing off, but it onlly feels like it's picking up at 4.5k. I don't mind a relatively low redline but only if it keeps pulling hard when you shift up.

Diffs aren't expensive, can probably get one for £100, it's just the question of fitting the LSD and finding I chose the wrong ratio, or not fitting the LSD and having to take it out again to fit it!

[danp]

FNG said:

Interesting and thanks for the feedback.

Mine's on 17s and runs a 3.23:1 final drive, and I feel it's sluggish and only really responds in the upper part of the rev range. It's a very different car but I've come from a remapped Golf GTi, so maybe 50bhp more via a turbo and 150kg less weight, so I'm possibly feeling the lack of torque from a turbo.
..

I don’t think a MK5 GTI is 150kg less, unless yours is stripped out?

Published figures are 1328kg GTI and 1480kg 325ti however I believe the former is unladen and the latter is to EU1 (includes 68kg driver, 7kg luggage, 90% tank) - so would be about 1363kg unladen. (still a bit too heavy for what it is, IMHO!)

[FNG]

If that's the case then ya got me, I quickly looked at published numbers (which, to be fair, are usually kerb weight which is one 75kg driver and 90% fluids) several weeks ago.
If the Golf weight is without driver then yes much less of a weight difference, and a 3.0 engine would get me a lot closer to matching power:weight again.

[FNG]

Oh and yes I felt it was pretty heavy for what it is, too.

Mine's probably a bit lighter with the stainless exhaust, not sure about wheels as the SE was on 16s I think...?? whereas mine is on team dynamics 17s, but still feels like a bit more than it ought to be carrying.

[danp]

FNG said:

If that's the case then ya got me, I quickly looked at published numbers (which, to be fair, are usually kerb weight which is one 75kg driver and 90% fluids) several weeks ago.
If the Golf weight is without driver then yes much less of a weight difference, and a 3.0 engine would get me a lot closer to matching power:weight again.

Guess it’s also the power delivery (turbo v NA), TBF I tried my brothers mapped Octy vRS recently and that felt very quick (especially in the mid range) compared to my 325ti, but I’d still prefer mine!

[jonindorset]

After 3 years, 20k miles and lots of spend on getting it to drive just so (Bilstein B12 Prokit, Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres, new brakes (discs, pads, calipers), complete cooling system refresh, CCV valve system renewal, new wheel bearings and more) I'm seriously considering parting with my 2003 pre-facelift 325ti SE manual.

Its Japan Red on 149k miles, with a comprehensive history including the original bill of sale. Its running original square 16" type 42 wheels, rust free, recently had an advisory free MOT, has a decent Kenwood Apple Carplay / Android Auto head unit. I'm wondering what it might be worth and therefore how much prep to do. The front bumper has a couple of patches of lacquer peel (been quoted £350 to respray it) and the lovely half leather grey/black sports seats have some frayed stitching at the top.

Any thoughts on value? They seem to be few and far between these days, especially pretty stock...

[greenarrow]

danp said:

FNG said:

If that's the case then ya got me, I quickly looked at published numbers (which, to be fair, are usually kerb weight which is one 75kg driver and 90% fluids) several weeks ago.
If the Golf weight is without driver then yes much less of a weight difference, and a 3.0 engine would get me a lot closer to matching power:weight again.

Guess it’s also the power delivery (turbo v NA), TBF I tried my brothers mapped Octy vRS recently and that felt very quick (especially in the mid range) compared to my 325ti, but I’d still prefer mine!

Autocar weighed a 3 door GTI Mk5 and it was 1411 KG I think.... weight they quoted for the 325ti was 1405KG but I am not sure they actually put that one on the scales. I have never driven a 325ti, but did drive a bog standard Mk5 GTI recently and was impressed with how punchy it felt. That wide torque band makes all the difference, from memory it makes peak torque from around 1900RPM..

As a frequent lurker on this chat thread, I just wondered how 325ti owners and admirers think it rates compared to the newer 1 series 130i? Watched an old Top Gear this week where JC said the 130i was rubbish, but for me they are quite appealing now and the performance is a step up on the 325ti...

[FNG]

I couldn't comment on a 130i but did have an E91 330i Sport a few years ago and was left impressed but totally uninvolved.

It was quick and grippy but lacking in feel until it was generating so much lateral grip that it was going far faster than was sensible on the road.

That led me to avoid BMWs that were launched post-2000 as I place a lot of importance on steering feel and driver involvement.

I've no idea whether the 130i is a really good steer, or just decent compared to its competition when it was launched - which could be a very different thing.

Hopefully someone will know.

[trevalvole]

FNG said:

I couldn't comment on a 130i but did have an E91 330i Sport a few years ago and was left impressed but totally uninvolved.

It was quick and grippy but lacking in feel until it was generating so much lateral grip that it was going far faster than was sensible on the road.

That led me to avoid BMWs that were launched post-2000 as I place a lot of importance on steering feel and driver involvement.

I too put a lot of importance on steering feel. I think both the 1-series and 3-series (with the exception of the *35i and M models) went from hydraulic PAS to EPAS in 2007 with the introduction of Efficient Dynamics and expect experiences could be quite different depending on whether the vehicles were from before or after this change.

[Toltec]

Looks like someone hit the front of ours while it was parked on the drive. Numberplate is cracked, the bumper was displaced off various clips and after I drove it one of the indicator lenses has disappeared.

The speed sensor died a couple of weeks ago and I have just been waiting for a dry day to check if it is the sensor or wiring. It scraped through the MOT by turning the air bag warning off for just long enough to pass. Everything else was fine on the MOT, but I have the feeling this is going to be its last year, of course I have been thinking that for a few years now. Much as I like driving a 21 year old car around the ULEZ it is mainly my wife's car and I don't want it to break down on her.

[RSTurboPaul]

Toltec said:

Looks like someone hit the front of ours while it was parked on the drive. Numberplate is cracked, the bumper was displaced off various clips and after I drove it one of the indicator lenses has disappeared.

The speed sensor died a couple of weeks ago and I have just been waiting for a dry day to check if it is the sensor or wiring. It scraped through the MOT by turning the air bag warning off for just long enough to pass. Everything else was fine on the MOT, but I have the feeling this is going to be its last year, of course I have been thinking that for a few years now. Much as I like driving a 21 year old car around the ULEZ it is mainly my wife's car and I don't want it to break down on her.

That all seems pretty fixable! Although electronics is a major PITA...

[Thoglan]

greenarrow said:

weight they quoted for the 325ti was 1405KG but I am not sure they actually put that one on the scales.

I don't know for certain but the weight numbers for the 325Ti's feel overstated. Have yet to measure my 330Ti with the heavier 330 brakes/diff/axles etc but it feels significantly lighter than my M3 which is already a stripper spec car and very light relative to other M3s.

greenarrow said:

I just wondered how 325ti owners and admirers think it rates compared to the newer 1 series 130i?

I owned a 130i briefly before I built my 330 compact and the compact is night and day better. I never really gelled with the 130, the compact feels way more nimble and feels just as fast with the B30 motor in it. The only thing the 130 had the compact beat on was sound, it had a lovely burble at idle, the compact is pretty much silent with the stock exhaust.