E46 325i (or 323i)

E46 325i (or 323i)

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greenarrow

Original Poster:

3,550 posts

116 months

Thursday 16th May 2019
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Since selling my MX-5 a year ago, I've been itching for a cheap weekend/2nd car and have been wondering about getting a cheap BMW, having never before owned one.

I've noticed how cheap the E46 325i is at the moment. Seem to be about 50% of the price of comparable 330is.The 323i is often even cheaper. They really do seem very unloved!!

Just wondered how they are rated by BMW owners/fans on here. Obviously slower than a 330i, but still a nice straight six and more often than not they seem to be manuals whereas most 330s for sale. are autos in my experience. I seem to remember EVO magazine back in the day saying the 325i was actually the sweeter steer,

Anyway, having seen several sub £1500 examples on facebay wondering whether it would be worth it, or likely a potential ruinous money pit. Instead I could get a Jap couple like a Celica VVTLI, or a cheap Clio 172. Obviously these are very different cars, but they all tick the weekend car that could also go round a track, box. I do however feel the need to scratch a BMW itch that started after nearly buying several E36/£39s and £46s over the years. In some ways, I feel its the final chance before prices go up....

Cheers.

E-bmw

9,104 posts

151 months

Thursday 16th May 2019
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Ok, lets get started........

The e46 is heavier than the e36 & a bit softer dynamically but the 6s are still good and robust cars, the issue comes with the bit where you include the word "cheap".

They are generally cheap for a reason/several reasons.

At that age a full suspension refresh is an almost certainty, as is a full cooling system refresh, budget £500+ as a minimum DIY, double it as a minimum if you are paying someone to do it.

Many will have rust problems underneath, which, if you have a welder is al DIY-able.

The rear sub-frame mounts are a known potential weak point, that can easily cost £1000 to fix but again is DIY-able over a weekend.

With a good check for the above they can be a good & robust car again but keep clear of the 323 as they are a bit under-powered.

helix402

7,832 posts

181 months

Thursday 16th May 2019
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330i is better than the 325i. Don’t forget the 328i. Though most are rusty now.

Or get a 330d, quicker than a 330i too. 😉.

(Sadly I will not be drawn into any arguments on which is quicker, the figures say the 330i is so it must be)

Be aware that any E46 is an old car and will need tlc.

naturalaspiration

639 posts

82 months

Thursday 16th May 2019
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M54B25 is an amazing engine and more than adequate for an E46 in manual guise. Still 330i is a proper powerhouse, and mated with a 6 gear manual - think '05 onwards - make it for a relaxed cruiser should you want it to be. The 5th gear is short - with their aggressive rear diff ratios. My E39 525i revs above 4k at 100MPH which is crazy for such a powerful engine. Now fitting a 525tds rear diff for some peace and quiet for those long motorway trips...

Edited by naturalaspiration on Thursday 16th May 21:15

greenarrow

Original Poster:

3,550 posts

116 months

Thursday 16th May 2019
quotequote all
Just to clarify, my daily driver is a diesel so I want a petrol! Don’t mind if it’s slower than a 330d, I just want the sound and experience of a n/a straight 6. I’ve searched for 328s and they’re rare. They only make 1 bhp more than the 325i and a bit more torque so performance is only a tiny bit faster...

bmwmike

6,918 posts

107 months

Thursday 16th May 2019
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I had a manual 323i e46 and it was lovely. Not a rocket ship but certainly something very honest and up front and I'd have another.

Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Friday 17th May 2019
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Does the number of doors matter?

I had a 2002 E46 325ti Sport Compact (so a hatchback) for over 3 years and loved it!

I bought it in December 2014 a few miles below 80K, and sure enough in April 2015 the radiator started leaking as the bottom was as bowed as a banana! But I got a new radiator, thermostat, expansion tank, temperature sensor and anti-freeze (plus an unrelated auxiliary drive-belt) supplied and fitted by my local BMW Indy for £470. That's less than a new electric water pump for my E91 cost at the same place last year, so it didn't seem dear to me!

And anyway given the age of E46s now I'd expect most of them will have already had that work done.

Although the Compacts came as SEs and Sports, they all have Sport suspension and seats - and the 325tis have a lower final drive ratio so they aren't much slower than an E46 330i.

The pre-facelifts (like mine) do rev at 3,000rpm at 70 in 5th, but if you can find a facelift they have a 6-speed gearbox so rev a bit lower while still being just as quick.

Anyway, I foolishly sold mine in February 2018 to buy an E91 325i (it was supposed to be my practical car so that seemed more practical) for less than £1,500 - the 325i was nothing like as much fun. (Probably why I've already replaced it with an E90 330i). laugh

Gratuitous photo, just because!







greenarrow

Original Poster:

3,550 posts

116 months

Friday 17th May 2019
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Good call! I like the 325ti too !

If someone was selling one cheaply....

Sardonicus

18,928 posts

220 months

Friday 17th May 2019
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I have the heavy weight E46 in a 2.5 after 4 years and like it lots biggrin driven various 330's CI's etc and yes the extra punch is notable although less rev eager IMO but cant see justification in extra cost for another 40 oddish HP hike and stronger drive-train (gearbox etc) I think the M54 is a fantatstic motr is quite happy to pootle around at low RPM (very tractable) or have some fun when required after 4k rpm the motor really comes alive, fortunately I dont have their only nasty vice of consuming oil and this one is a big miler angel startling MPG at times on long journeys too in a good way

naturalaspiration

639 posts

82 months

Friday 17th May 2019
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Sardonicus said:
I have the heavy weight E46 in a 2.5 after 4 years and like it lots biggrin driven various 330's CI's etc and yes the extra punch is notable although less rev eager IMO but cant see justification in extra cost for another 40 oddish HP hike and stronger drive-train (gearbox etc) I think the M54 is a fantatstic motr is quite happy to pootle around at low RPM (very tractable) or have some fun when required after 4k rpm the motor really comes alive, fortunately I dont have their only nasty vice of consuming oil and this one is a big miler angel startling MPG at times on long journeys too in a good way
Mine is currently at 260k miles - used to (up until 70k miles ago 4 years or so) have high oil consumption too - 1L to 1.2k miles - now at 1L to 3.6k miles. The only difference is I have started adding LM Oil Saver (only once) and Ceratec. Happy bunny.

Sardonicus

18,928 posts

220 months

Friday 17th May 2019
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Been using Shell Helix 5/30 since purchase and stuck with it oil consumption just to wind you up whistle about 0.5 litres in 4k same time its changed always been the same in my 30k now at 180k everything as it should be CCV kit as a precaution all gen BMW and FSH prior to purchase , original front wings too eek

Touring442

3,096 posts

208 months

Friday 17th May 2019
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E46's are now needy old cars with a litany of issues. My most recent experience with one of these was a 2002 320i, 125'000 miles and FSH belonging to a mate.

F*ck*ng hell. laugh

It looked alright and wasn't rusted out, possessing all four wheel arches in ok condition. Of course the air con didn't work. Looking at it didn't reveal that it uses oil at a staggering rate, around 300 miles to a litre - TADTS. Despite having a new rad and header tank, the dash was lit up like a fking Xmas tree - EML, coolant level and oil level. It had a new rad, but the new Meyle header tank was faulty and needed replacing, again. I only fit genuine BMW so that's 80 quid plus fitting. The oil level light was a shagged level sensor, a 2 hour swearfest that included drilling because the bd had corroded itself in place.
Of course, it pissed oil out from the oil filter housing gasket, plus of course the rear diff bush was shagged as were the driveshafts, and of course, the window regulator broke because E46. Naturally, the central locking stopped working a week later because the GM5 module failed and of course, the heater fan varies speed like it's on acid, because E46. Par for the course, the rear light bulb holder burnt the earth contact out.

When it started to knock like a bh on pulling away (feels like a subframe mount), it was time to call it a day but not before the clutch master cylinder went pop. That was a fun job.

They're fking horrible things in old age. Every time one darkens my door, I'm reminded of this. There are a few good* ones left, apparently. I don't recall seeing one.

Edited by Touring442 on Friday 17th May 15:54

greenarrow

Original Poster:

3,550 posts

116 months

Friday 17th May 2019
quotequote all
Are they really ALL that bad, or did you just buy a clunker?

I'm interested to know, as I have heard that E46s can become money pits, but equally, there are others like the contributors above, who have cars with really high mileage that still drive well.....

s m

23,164 posts

202 months

Friday 17th May 2019
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I’ve had a few 3-series over the years, all 6-pots, E21 323i, E30 325i Sport, E46 330i, E46 320i, E36 328i and now an E46 325ti.
My favourite E46 has been my 325ti, hence I’ve kept it the longest although my E21 323i was my overall favourite

Back to the E46 325ti, mine’s a 6-speed, sunroof, factory satnav, etc. Really like it, done 130k, bought it on 60k 7 years back, one owner car - 2.5k when they were at the bottom of the curve and unloved beside the 330 variants
Been to Italy 3 times in it with my family - effectively same performance as a 330i if you can live with just 146mph top end rather than 155mph
Sounds great with the Performance air box and standard exhaust, better to my ears than my old 330i or 325 Sport - reminds me of my old E21 323i - a proper racy noise. Same wheelbase and rear seat room as other E46s - my 16year old son can sit behind me without knees touching seat back - we’re both 5’11” - but it does feel more wieldy than the 2 E46 saloons I’ve had, maybe a combination of less overhangs front and rear, shorter gearing and tauter suspension ( still standard ). Not sure what I’d replace it with, E9x 3s feel a lot more remote, 125i roughly the same performance and a GT86 just no rear room and found the engine a bit disappointing
Don’t really like the 1-hatch shape but maybe a 3-litre coupe 1-series.

Mine doesn’t drink oil like some and not nearly as much as a 330i - cooking system and suspension are the bits to keep on top of if you want it to be reliable. Saloons seem to rust faster than hatches so give it a good look over round the arches and sills

CaptainMorgan

1,454 posts

158 months

Friday 17th May 2019
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I've also got a 325ti. Bought it about 18 months ago & it's been a right laugh. I've been using it for track days so it's not had an easy life either. It might not be the fastest thing in the world in a straight line but it makes up for it in the bends, the sound it makes is pretty good too.

As others have said they're old cars now so buy one with open eyes (and wallet). Mine appeared tidy and is pretty solid but soon needed bushes and brakes doing, good chunk of cash straight away. Cooling systems can be a bit fragile with age, handbrakes are crap, suspension will be tired too.

Saying all that, they're at the bottom of the depreciation dip, buy a clean one and keep it clean and you shouldn't lose much cash on it.

Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Saturday 18th May 2019
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I replaced my E46 325ti with an E91 325i - bad idea!

A year on I've replaced that with an E90 330i - so much better. 258 PS works pretty well. laugh

d_a_n1979

8,092 posts

71 months

Saturday 18th May 2019
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Agree with a lot of comments here; the 330i is the one to go for, but the 325i is still a good car.

They’re great engines & very strong/reliable, but they need to have been looked after 9as with all cars really). The E46s, like E39s are known for rust, so the car needs to be checked over thoroughly. If you’re ok with a project, that’s fine, but if you want a get in and go car, you need to spend more to get better. Spending more, should equate to not having to fork out lots of £££ on necessary body work, suspension/cooling system/brake work etc... Not a guarantee though.

Try & buy off an enthusiast that’s cherished the car. However, don’t discount jap import ones; there are a few in the country now & more coming in. Generally they’re spotless, with zero rust & low mileage! Worth considering if you’ve the budget smile

For example this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-325-2-5-auto-2004MY...

IMO the price is a touch high, but it looks in very good condition & super-low miles. I nearly went to see it, but found my 530i touring Jap import & that’s what I’d hankered for, for a good while (plus the 325i may have been a bit small for me, I’m not average sized...

naturalaspiration

639 posts

82 months

Saturday 18th May 2019
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If you don't want rust issues than its an E92 with a great N52 engine. Galvanized so no rust whatsoever. Or even better an E63 but finding a manual is nigh on impossible.

330ti

124 posts

74 months

Saturday 18th May 2019
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Mr Tidy said:
I replaced my E46 325ti with an E91 325i - bad idea!

A year on I've replaced that with an E90 330i - so much better. 258 PS works pretty well. laugh
I think we all know this by now .

Olivergt

1,318 posts

80 months

Monday 20th May 2019
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There are good ones out there, and they are not much more than the bad ones.

I would say go for it, if you check all the known problem areas when buying you should be able to get one that won't be a money pit straight away. Also note that the 325i's are not that prone to the rear sub frame issue, due to not having too much power (but still plenty for some fun).

The 6 cylinder engines are sublime.

Most of the issues are well known and there is good support out there to help resolve them.

I've got a 325i manual saloon with 95K on it, just resolved a few vacuum leaks with help from here (thank you).

The radiator and expansion tank look like new, so nothing to do there.

The suspension is still quite tight, so again nothing to do there.

It's an Irish car, so no salt on the roads, front wings are original and perfect, there is a tiny amount of rust starting on the rear arches, which I'm hoping to sort this winter, or at least keep it at bay for a while (only visible if you look under the arch).

Mines a second car, so is garaged when not being used, I'm hoping to enjoy it for a good few years, fixing the odd issues as we go along.