My 2003 BMW 325ti M-Sport
Discussion
Cheers Mr Tidy, having had a quick look at the storage parcel shelf it has to be unclipped from the hatch to make any use of the extra storage? Interesting if so. Might try and whip something up to replace it instead of buying a new string & clip.
Read a quick guide on changing the oil filter housing gasket, looks like a right PITA. Will have to investigate the weeping before deciding to rip the filter housing off, might be something as simple as dip stick o-ring.
Parts & products are on order including a cool little OEM accessory you will see later, expect an update later this week
Read a quick guide on changing the oil filter housing gasket, looks like a right PITA. Will have to investigate the weeping before deciding to rip the filter housing off, might be something as simple as dip stick o-ring.
Parts & products are on order including a cool little OEM accessory you will see later, expect an update later this week
InitialDave said:
Mr Tidy said:
To be fair from what I've read boot floor problems only tend to afflict M3s, and it isn't so much rust as "tearing" - presumably the rear end of an M3 gets a lot more stress than any other E46!
But the Compact doesn't seem to suffer as much with bubbling wheel-arches as any other E46 model, which is a bonus!
Ah, good to know. A Compact's one of the potentials for me when I need a budget daily driver.But the Compact doesn't seem to suffer as much with bubbling wheel-arches as any other E46 model, which is a bonus!
InitialDave said:
Haha, in terms of purchase price, running costs aren't something I generally worry about.
Ref the boot floors, never heard of a compact with a bad boot floor. I believe the design is unique to the compact, for some reason the the arches also do not rust as bad as the coupes/saloons/tourings for some reason? I presume they have the same arch liners and quarter panel 
That reminds me I have found what seems to be erosion of the paint / primer on the front right quarter panel in the panel gap between the panel and the bonnet. Seems to only go half way up the panel, will post a picture up later. Might need to order some mixed paint in a can and spray it on to prevent corrosion. Looks as if its been driven through a sand storm!
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 29th January 00:18
Discovered the car has heated washer jets, surprise, they are not working! My passenger mirror heater seems to have packed it in as well. Waiting for it to be a bit dryer before I go pulling it apart to diagnose the problem.
Managed to bag a bcables diagnostics cable w/ diagnostics & coding package for a tenner.
In the meantime i've been having a play around with coding the car with NCSExpert & NCSDummy to activate some features normally only a dealer would be able to activate.
Still looking for an Alpine HU!
Managed to bag a bcables diagnostics cable w/ diagnostics & coding package for a tenner.
In the meantime i've been having a play around with coding the car with NCSExpert & NCSDummy to activate some features normally only a dealer would be able to activate.
- Doors now lock above 16km/h (can change the speed at which they lock)
- Activated double flash hazards - May change back to single flash hazards
- Enabled the 'Panic Mode' alarm
- Enabled high beam flashing w/ alarm
- Enabled low beam flashing w/ alarm
Still looking for an Alpine HU!
Mr Tidy said:
Your work on the parcel shelf has certainly paid off - that looks great.
In terms of headlights, the most popular option on a Z4 forum for those of us without the optional Bi-Xenons are Osram Nightbreakers.
Thanks! Still needs a few more coats of black, unfortunately it feels rather crispy now rather than the fluffy (if you can call it that) texture it had before despite careful application with a sponge. Suppose it doesn't really matter but it would have been nice to retain the original texture.In terms of headlights, the most popular option on a Z4 forum for those of us without the optional Bi-Xenons are Osram Nightbreakers.
I have read into the Osram Nightbreakers and phillips supposedly last longer than them. What are your thoughts?
daniel-5zjw7 said:
Wow those lights are bright!! Personally i like the stock lighting especially the orange lights in the interior light that shine down on the gearnob/trays, such a cool idea.
Your interior just needs a steering wheel retrim and it'll be very tidy!
Agreed, spent too much this month already Your interior just needs a steering wheel retrim and it'll be very tidy!
Orange lights are still there, kept the original bulbs because I have a feeling ill change them back at some point
daniel-5zjw7 said:
Lol I know the feeling.. how easy were the droplinks to change btw, any issues?
No quite easy, just need a thin enough spanner to get in there & stop the ball joint spinning. May require a bit of grinding down depending on what's already fitted. Dont even have to take the wheel off if you don't want.
Spray some wd40 or I used aerokroil spray to lubricate the threads.
amc_adam said:
Haha, i think most people are!
I've been meaning to get one of those 1 liter oil bags, i used to keep an unopened 1 liter bottle laid down under the boot carpet with the tool kit. Until one day i needed to top up and then realised it had emptied itself and the battery box was full up, it had been running out of the battery drain hole and under the car
Just a thought, have you popped out the front arch liners and checked the inner lip on the arch for crud build up? i never thought to check mine....going to need new arches at some point now
You mean this arch? Found it quite a while ago I've been meaning to get one of those 1 liter oil bags, i used to keep an unopened 1 liter bottle laid down under the boot carpet with the tool kit. Until one day i needed to top up and then realised it had emptied itself and the battery box was full up, it had been running out of the battery drain hole and under the car
Just a thought, have you popped out the front arch liners and checked the inner lip on the arch for crud build up? i never thought to check mine....going to need new arches at some point now
IMG20180825140018 by ee zeh, on Flickr
Those look like sanding marks to me, the supposed bumper off respray has extended a bit further past the bumpers..
By chance I came across a tin of 2k base the same colour code at work so have myself a little bottle. Just need clear now to do the arch and the bonnet shut line.
2018-09-20_09-51-42 by ee zeh, on Flickr
daniel-5zjw7 said:
Wish my wings were that tidy! One has gone past the point of repair so have a new gen wing in the shed, and I noticed the last time i washed it there was a bubble coming through on the pass side.. will probs just get another new wing now. If both of yours are like that then you should be OK for a while!
The bonnet shut line is odd, mine is the same so I guess is just how they are.
No corrosion on the bonnet shut line, just bare metal. looks like its been sand blasted and not sprayed over properly? The bonnet shut line is odd, mine is the same so I guess is just how they are.
MrF193 said:
Great thread! I’ve recently picked up an 03 325ti Sport and need to replace the gearknob. Your clubsport one looks fantastic! Can I ask what the part number was and how you went about fitting it?
Nice, what did you get? 
P/N for the 6 speed is 25117896886, i ordered mine through m3cutters from cotswolds bmw for their discount.
Removal of the gearknob is quite simple, grab hold of it and pull up and try not to punch yourself in the head because you will come close to it!
Installation is as simple as just pushing the new one on.
amc_adam said:
The paint looks stunning, bloody time consuming though isnt it
I don't know why but my Compact done the same with the brake caliper, i put refurbished ones on the same side twice and it still kept getting stuck! I'm no help there ,sorry!
I know what you mean about that little compartment on the drivers side. As soon as i saw the M3 donor had the door on the front i was chuffed to bits
Yeah its not too bad, I haven't actually seen it in the sun since I did it as its all under dirt now, those are some older photos although I thought I caught a glimpse of holograms all over the place which i'm not too happy about I don't know why but my Compact done the same with the brake caliper, i put refurbished ones on the same side twice and it still kept getting stuck! I'm no help there ,sorry!
I know what you mean about that little compartment on the drivers side. As soon as i saw the M3 donor had the door on the front i was chuffed to bits
g3org3y said:
Good thread, the E46 Compact (esp in 325 form) has quite a bit of a cult following 
(It's a shame they didn't release the E36 323ti in the UK)
I recently had a bit of bother with replacing intake boots. The Febi Bilstein parts seemed ok to me tbh. Refitting the lower one perfectly is a fiddly job!
What made you decide to refurb the DISA rather than replace, I presume cost?
Paint looks great after the polishing btw.
In all honesty there wasn't really anything wrong with the DISA itself but a leak from the seal, i really just wanted to get in there and replace the lower intake boot and clean out the ICV. (It's a shame they didn't release the E36 323ti in the UK)I recently had a bit of bother with replacing intake boots. The Febi Bilstein parts seemed ok to me tbh. Refitting the lower one perfectly is a fiddly job!
What made you decide to refurb the DISA rather than replace, I presume cost?
Paint looks great after the polishing btw.
So yes cost was a factor but IMO a rebuilt disa with the aluminium flapper valve and solid aluminium pin is a far better replacement than a new OE valve with all plastic components. I scraped out the factory RTV formed seal and fitted an O ring instead which has sealed it nicely.
I haven't any photos of the lower intake boot I fitted but its very squishy and there is an awful lot of mould flash, it really does look like the injection moulds used are very old and tired. Not to mention the wrong angle for the ICV pipe. It just about fits but its not how it should be.
Thanks re the paint, it'd be nice if i could see it!
I expect it will need a light polish in the not so distant future what with all the crud on the paint, bound to end up with small scratches and what not.
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