325 ti Sport Compact

[munta]

I'm thinking of getting one of these models. 9,000 miles, < 1 year old, leather interior, metalic paint, 8/8.5x18 wheels, approved dealer for £20K.

I have yet to take it for a test drive but does anyone have any thoughts on how good it is and what to look for on a test drive?

EDIT: Or would I be better saving for a more expensive Coupe?

Cheers

>> Edited by munta on Thursday 15th September 10:07

[baz1985]

I read a piece in BMW Car that the E46 325ti Compact was the best E46 to drive and nearly as sharp as the E46 M3. Should be great fun and theres not many about which is good.

Baz

[munta]

baz1985 said:

I read a piece in BMW Car that the E46 325ti Compact was the best E46 to drive and nearly as sharp as the E46 M3. Should be great fun and theres not many about which is good. Baz

Sorry - I'm new to BMWs - Ive seen E46, E39, E30 and so on mentioned before. What do they stand for? I've never seen it in any BMW brochures or on their website.

[Zod]

munta said:

baz1985 said: I read a piece in BMW Car that the E46 325ti Compact was the best E46 to drive and nearly as sharp as the E46 M3. Should be great fun and theres not many about which is good. Baz Sorry - I'm new to BMWs - Ive seen E46, E39, E30 and so on mentioned before. What do they stand for? I've never seen it in any BMW brochures or on their website.

BMW internal code numbers for each model. e.g. the last four generations of 3 Series have been E30, E36, E46 and E90.

[munta]

Zod said:

BMW internal code numbers for each model. e.g. the last four generations of 3 Series have been E30, E36, E46 and E90.

Many thanks - that will help my googling

[dick dastardly]

This should help...

[munta]

dick dastardly said:

This should help...

Thanks - found all I need to know and more on wikipedia now.

[computamedic]

munta said:

I'm thinking of getting one of these models. 9,000 miles, < 1 year old, leather interior, metalic paint, 8/8.5x18 wheels, approved dealer for £20K.

I had a 2002 325ti Compact with 17" wheels. With the sports suspension it gave the worst ride I have ever experienced in a BMW. Changed it after a year for a 2004 330i Sport Saloon - and the difference was like chalk and cheese!! The 330i has 18" wheels AND sports suspension and is a much nicer ride.

Just my 2c!!

Regards

Dave

[munta]

computamedic said:

munta said: I'm thinking of getting one of these models. 9,000 miles, < 1 year old, leather interior, metalic paint, 8/8.5x18 wheels, approved dealer for £20K. I had a 2002 325ti Compact with 17" wheels. With the sports suspension it gave the worst ride I have ever experienced in a BMW. Changed it after a year for a 2004 330i Sport Saloon - and the difference was like chalk and cheese!! The 330i has 18" wheels AND sports suspension and is a much nicer ride. Just my 2c!! Regards Dave

I took the car out for a test drive yesterday. I must admit that it was a quite a bumpy ride. A lot more than my Primera GT SE with Sports suspension (don't laugh ). However, I haven't yet driven another BMW to compare it to. I'm going to test a 320 convertable and a 325 saloon later in the week so may get a better feel for the range.

Thanks for the input.

[trax]

I had a 318ti compact sport a few years ago, and loved the drive and ride. Sure the 325 might handle differently but they are lovely to drive.

Went onto a 320ci(e46) convertable, without sport suspension, and the ride was obviously smother, but not as precise.

Got the M3 (E46), and the ride is as you can imagine, hard, but when you spec the sport model, thats what you expect.

[Kentish]

trax said:

I had a 318ti compact sport a few years ago, and loved the drive and ride. Sure the 325 might handle differently but they are lovely to drive. Went onto a 320ci(e46) convertable, without sport suspension, and the ride was obviously smother, but not as precise. Got the M3 (E46), and the ride is as you can imagine, hard, but when you spec the sport model, thats what you expect.

That's just what I have now, except it's the Ti Sport SE with the special edition boa boa interior and all the "M" body trim, traction control, ABS, aircon etc.

I love it, the power is only 140 bhp but it is so lively once you have got into 3rd and the handling is amazingly different to the last more ordinary Compact I used to own. The ride is harder but not uncomfortable on the standard Sport alloys (now for sale plug plug..) but I have just fitted the M3 Evo 2 18" alloys and it's now a bit harder!