BMW 325ti Sport Compact

[jaedba2604]

Hi,

has anyone had much experience with these? good / bad points?

looking at around £5k spend, are there any alternatives (any reasonable marque - no american nonsense before you step forward... ) must haves are 4 seats and reasonable luggage space. and reasonable to run in terms of costs, considering the 325 as a benchmark.

many thanks

[Leins]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Main rivals from back in the day would be the Audi S3 and Golf R32. Both quicker, but slightly different in philosophy

They're not huge cars, so you won't fit 4 people in too comfortably, and the boot isn't massive for a hatchback due to RWD layout

[toppstuff]

If you really love cars and driving, everyone must own a six cylinder BMW.

And the 325i coupe is a very practical, nice thing to own.

I had a 325 i saloon many years ago. Epic car. Miss it badly.

If you can find a good coupe, snap it up would be my advice.

[s m]

jaedba2604 said:

Hi,

has anyone had much experience with these? good / bad points?

looking at around £5k spend, are there any alternatives (any reasonable marque - no american nonsense before you step forward... ) must haves are 4 seats and reasonable luggage space. and reasonable to run in terms of costs, considering the 325 as a benchmark.

many thanks

If you don't need hatchback verstility the obvious choices are E46 325/330 in coupe or estate format. Obviously if you need a smaller hatch type car rule those out and maybe look at the Merc Compact hatches if you want rwd

[Six Fiend]

Came oh so close to buying a 325Ti - great little car, goes like hell, plenty of versatility and easy to park

Most are nicely specced too and for your budget you should get a very good one.

[s m]

Six Fiend said:

Came oh so close to buying a 325Ti - great little car, goes like hell,

Yes, adequately nifty - performance on a par with an E36 328i

[4damski]

Battery in the boot plus RWD doesnt leave much room for luggage.

That said, engine is almost bomb proof, and they are good value for money

[jonnydm]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3787662.htm
Car is being sold by a keen PHer and looks like excellent value with great history.

[bd02]

I can tell you the ride and handling will be awful on those wheels... Didn't take me long to replace with the original spec 17 inch ones when I owned one. I found that i liked the idea of the car far more than the reality... not especially quick, revvy on the motorway with only 5 gears and poor fuel consumption. Ride too firm for me too, even on 17 inchers with squidgy continentals

[toppstuff]

jonnydm said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3787662.htm
Car is being sold by a keen PHer and looks like excellent value with great history.

That is a lot of loveliness for not much money. Plenty of life left in that car.

A good buy.

[s m]

bd02 said:

I can tell you the ride and handling will be awful on those wheels... Didn't take me long to replace with the original spec 17 inch ones when I owned one. I found that i liked the idea of the car far more than the reality... not especially quick, revvy on the motorway with only 5 gears and poor fuel consumption. Ride too firm for me too, even on 17 inchers with squidgy continentals

192bhp in a car that weight will only get you so far but 0-60 in mid-sixes, 0-100 in 17 seconds and a 140+ top speed seem OK
Always depends on your reference point though

[Leins]

bd02 said:

I can tell you the ride and handling will be awful on those wheels... Didn't take me long to replace with the original spec 17 inch ones when I owned one. I found that i liked the idea of the car far more than the reality... not especially quick, revvy on the motorway with only 5 gears and poor fuel consumption. Ride too firm for me too, even on 17 inchers with squidgy continentals

Mid-2003 onwards facelift models had a 6-speed, and got rid of the awful (IMO) "Lexus" rear lights. Never had a problem with the ride on mine with MV2s, but each to their own I suppose. At least they weren't on RFTs!

I do agree that it's not the fastest or most efficient car around and you really have to rev the nuts off it to get it to shift, with the Vanos kicking in above 4k RPM. Does make a lovely noise though

I absolutely loved mine, and I purposely bought one instead of the equivalent coupe or saloon because it appealed as a small-ish RWD hatchback with a 2.5 6cyl under the bonnet

[kentmotorcompany]

Handling can be a bit twitchy!

[vsonix]

toppstuff said:

jonnydm said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3787662.htm
Car is being sold by a keen PHer and looks like excellent value with great history.

That is a lot of loveliness for not much money. Plenty of life left in that car.

A good buy.

I'd buy it. Would have to swap the MV1 wheels for something else, though as they are one of my least favourite BMW wheels. Maybe some M3 CSL/BBS CH reps. And the Lexus style tail lights would need to be ditched in favour of solid colour ones.

[rich85uk]

looked at them before i got my E46 330, nice enough cars but dont seem to be many around. also prefer the coupe looks and size and the added bonus of more power. worth considering and many will now be in your price range

[jaedba2604]

i was quite tempted by the black/tan one...it's for the g/f and she quite liked it too, shame, it's sold.

these do seem quite a bargain now, was looking at the £5k price range and it seems that it is one car where you do get a choice of a few decent examples. and sometimes, it does make you wonder if it's worth spending more, as where can you leave a car now?!

anyway, i'll keep looking, thanks for the input.