First time BMW owner...E46 325i

[JPJ89]

Picking up my first BMW this weekend, making the switch from Renaultsport’s so it’s all new to me! Looked at a few before finding an Imola Red saloon with 5 speed manual gearbox, was an absolute dream on the test drive and is in great condition for its age (82,000 on the clock, 2003 model). Been doing research on the essentials, so far picked up that the first things needing done immediately are the cooling system and disa valve, will do these along with a good service for peace of mind. Anything else I should be looking out for straight away? I’m aware of the rust issues to keep an eye out for but everything seems ok for now. Also any good owners clubs and E46 specific sites out there? Cheers

[JPJ89]

Will be looking to change the water pump straight away, was going to do the radiator as well while I was at it. Genuine BMW parts recommended all round, or any decent alternatives for rads?

[JPJ89]

Thanks for all the advice, so it would seem that all the stories of doom on the internet over the cooling system are exaggerated , if that’s the case then I will first keep an eye on things and see how the levels etc are over the first few weeks. One thing is that there is no evidence or paperwork for any recent work to either, so with the car being over 80,000 miles and 15 years old now i was thinking it would be a good preventative measure but I suppose if it ain’t broke then don’t fix it. I would be carrying out any jobs like this myself to save on labour costs I should add. Will post up some pics when I collect on Sunday, the steering wheel thing is interesting, the interior on this car is in incredible condition for its age but I did retrim the steering wheel on my old RS Clio 182 and i know what you mean, lifts the whole interior and feel of the car!

[JPJ89]

Mr Tidy said:

My 325ti Compact needed a cooling system refresh within a few months of buying it, but a new radiator, cap, thermostat, expansion tank, alternator belt, coolant temperature sensor, new anti-freeze and labour cost less than £500.

Whereas on my Z4 Coupe an OEM electric water pump cost more than that before it was fitted!

Edited by Mr Tidy on Wednesday 4th July 01:23

My nephew had a 325ti for a year, but when he became a dad his got swapped for a 325i Sport Touring.

So here is some gratuitous Imola Red, just because:-

Edited by Mr Tidy on Wednesday 4th July 01:29

Lovely pair of Imolas there, only a couple of days now til I go and collect mine...in the meantime I have done the VIN decoder online to have a look at the options and see if there’s anything I missed during viewing, here’s the results:

Vehicle options
L812A National version Great Britain
S210A Dynamic stability control
S226A Sports suspension settings
S249A Multifunction f steering wheel
S302A Alarm system
S338A M Sports package II
S411A Window lifts,electric,front/rear
S428A Warning triangle and first aid kit
S431A Interior mirror with automatic-dip
S438A Fine wood trim
S441A Smoker package
S473A Armrest front
S481A Sports seat
S494A Seat heating driver/passenger
S495A 3-point belt and headrest, center rear
S508A Park Distance Control (PDC)
S520A Fog lights
S534A Automatic air conditioning
S550A On-board computer
S661A Radio BMW Business (C43)
S692A Preparation, BMW 6-CD changer I-bus
S710A M sports steering wheel, multifunction
S716A Aerodynamics package
S760A High gloss shadow line
S775A Headlining anthracite
S785A White direction indicator lights
S789A BMW LA wheel, Individual
S832A Battery in luggage compartment
S850A Dummy-SALAPA
S853A Language version English
S863A Retailer Directory Europe
S877A Delete cross-pattern operation
S880A On-board vehicle literature English


Can anyone good with these things tell me if they know the difference between S226A and S338A, as I seem to have both and they both look like suspension options? And where would S428A (Warning triangle and first aid kit) be located as I must have missed that when looking!

[JPJ89]

Ok nice one, il take you up on that if it’s not there! Will have a look in the boot when I collect it anyway, any idea where should I be looking in the boot? Under carpet with the spare, or by the side etc.? Right ok then take it the 2nd option must relate to the sport body kit or something along those lines then.

[JPJ89]

helix402 said:

Excellent, can’t really miss it! Does the M Sport Package II refer to the M items throughout perhaps, such as sill plates, gear knob etc?

[JPJ89]

Thanks for all the replies, getting to know the ins and outs slowly, so I picked up the car yesterday and brought it home roughly 75 miles, all smooth sailing until I went back out in it last night and it threw a few dashboard warning lights at me. I had the EML, traction light and amber brake warning light all light up at once, and an amber check engine light also. 3 of the lights were gone this morning, but the check engine light remained solid amber. I have a BMW C110 code reader on the way but until then I’m just guessing, the joys of old car ownership! Hoping it’s just something like a vacuum leak, going to run the car tonight and have a listen at the DISA valve as I’m certain I could hear a rattling or ticking coming from that area yesterday. Will have a look at the intake boots and throttle body as well while I’m at it. I’m certain it wasn’t running quite right as well as it was before the light. Anyone with these issues before?

[JPJ89]

Never got round to posting any pics so here’s one...also had a chance to properly get the car looked over now, the radiator is badly swollen at the bottom and there is a coolant leak from somewhere as there was specs of coolant all over the top of the air duct above the kidney grilles after a hard drive, maybe getting whipped up from the belts if it’s leaking at the thermostat. Going to do the stat, water pump, expansion tank and radiator, with the 2 hoses as well and just be done with it in one go. Will be using genuine parts, except for the radiator I have seen Nissens mentioned but where is the best place to pick up one of these?

[JPJ89]

helix402 said:

A chap on eBay sells a full set of hose o-ring kits for various BMWs.

Would new hoses need these o-rings as well, or would they only be needed if re-using old hoses?

[JPJ89]

helix402 said:

eBay is cheapest for a Nissens rad. Coolant is G48. A 5l concentrate will give you some spare when mixed 50/50, is your car a manual or auto?

If it’s an auto get a new autobox cooler stat as it will break when you remove the exp tank.

Manual gearbox, had a browse at the nissens ones on ebay, found this one below but couldn’t see any mention of whether for manual or auto?

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...

[JPJ89]

helix402 said:

Rad is the same for manual or auto, comes with a choice of fittings for both.

Brilliant that’s a great help, away to order one up now, it also doesn’t mention whether it fits a car with air-con or without, take it that won’t matter either with this Nissens one? Planning to buy genuine for the rest of the parts, away to get a quote from Cotswolds unless anyone can recommend anywhere cheaper!

[JPJ89]

4rephill said:

Probably well known on here already, but if you press and hold the unlock button on the main key, the windows should all open before you get to the car (and courtesy of Jeremy Clarkson, if you hold the key to your head whilst doing it, you look a bit silly, but you double the distance that the windows operate from - It really does work! ) - Very useful for letting the hot air out of the car before you get in, during the roasting hot days we've been having recently!

Yes iv been using that trick the last week before going in the car, all 4 roll down fine with the button or key turned in the lock, only thing is when I lock it and hold only 3 of the windows go back up, the front passengers one stays down for some reason!

[JPJ89]

Yeah cheers, that’s the one iv ordered and is on the way, away to price up the other parts this afternoon and hopefully get them all in time for the weekend!

[JPJ89]

Has anyone on here used ECS tuning and able to vouch for the quality of parts used? Aftermarket so good value even shipped from America but unsure on quality, I see they use Nissens radiators though. Kit I was looking at below includes hoses, tank, pump and stat.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-assembled-by-ecs-parts...

[JPJ89]

Will just order genuine to be on the safe side, especially for the vital parts like pump and stat. Received a pretty expensive quote from Cotswolds but went a bit overboard and quoted all the parts listed from each section on realoem for hoses, expansion tank, pump and stat, including fasteners and clamps etc which probably wasn’t necessary. Have narrowed it down to top hose, bottom hose, coolant temp sensor, water pump & gasket, water pump pulley, thermostat/housing & gasket, expansion tank, expansion tank mounting plate, expansion tank cap, aux belt, ac belt, coolant. Planning on re-using all fasteners except perhaps for the water pump pulley, unless anyone can suggest otherwise. Bleed screws and coolant level sensors re-usable for example? Thanks again for all the input as well, been a massive help.

[JPJ89]

This seems like a good quality kit, anyone care to comment on the quality of parts? Ships for free as well as far as I could see when entering UK and postcode at checkout, seems to work out around £350 which isn’t too bad at all really!


https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-mango-cooling...