BMW 325ti Compact (E46) | PH Fleet
Mighty Compact makes it to the Nurburgring (and home again) in one piece
In hindsight, I needn’t have worried. But you know how it is when planning a big trip with an old car, overthinking every eventuality and swearing there are strange noises on the days leading up to departure that never used to be there. It was exactly the case with the Compact ahead of 800 miles or so in a weekend for the Nurburgring 24 Hours. There was no need to be concerned, really: the clutch was new, it had been recently serviced, the tyres were fresh. But I can’t deny more than a little anxiety as we set off for the Eurotunnel at 5am on the Friday of race weekend.
As it transpired, the little red BMW was almost perfect throughout the whole weekend. It cruised quietly, comfortably and capably while crammed full of stuff, got itself going smartly when overtakes were required, kept climate-controlled air coming for hour after hour, and braked without drama when the Brussels ring road went a bit… Belgian. Indeed, the only problem was in Belgium, when an especially gnarly motorway bump threw up a warning light. By the time we’d stopped again in France, turned it off and on again, the light was gone, never to return. It was an encouragement to leave Belgium asap, seemingly.
Neither my mate Joe in the passenger seat nor I complained about any back pains throughout the trip; in fact, I ended up sleeping in the Compact both nights, thanks to a newfound (and very inconvenient) aversion to tents. While I wouldn’t recommend it, sleeping in an old BMW wasn’t as bad as expected. Stephen in the Dacia definitely had the best bed, without doubt.
And of course, the whole escapade has just made me love the silly thing even more. I got my sticker from the shop, there are some fun pictures, and the response to the Compact in Europe really was the cherry on top. Turns out folk love a strange hatchback on the continent even more than here. The ‘325 ti’ badge felt worth every penny as passersby on the campsite wanted to ask about the 2.5-litre hatch. Nobody has ever been so proud of a car worth so little as me on N24 weekend - it was great.
UGB didn’t escape the weekend entirely issue-free, though. I’d bought the car without the remote central locking working on the passenger door, but now it’s given up the ghost entirely. A battery replacement for the key didn’t sort it, so that’ll require investigation; having to open the driver’s door to unlock the boot is a bit annoying, if not yet the end of the world.
For the moment, I’m happy enough making the most of a car that feels fitter than it ever has in the year I’ve had it, with the new clutch feeling having definitely not worn off and the old lump up front still a joy as 160,000 miles approaches. There will be a few jobs for the winter alongside the locking - a fresh coat of underseal is probably worthwhile, and perhaps a tidy up of the wheels - but with the weather playing ball, I’m enjoying the classic BMW experience more than ever. And already thinking about how good next year’s N24 trip might be…
FACT SHEET
Car: 2003 BMW 325ti Compact
Run by: Matt Bird
On fleet since: July 2024
Bought for: £2,999
Mileage: 158,603
Last month at a glance: Road trip!
Previous reports
- Fortune favours the brave, doesn’t it?
- 1,000 miles driven, £1,000 spent
- MOT AOK
- Classic Compact charmer clutch change
I have to say though, if the wheels need refurbishing, I think I'd have to take the opportunity to replace them. While I understand why you might not want to fit anything enormous, the current ones look like castors! With the right BMW wheels on it, it would really take it up a notch.
But congrats on the trouble-free voyage. My own (smaller) one ended 12 miles into a 180 mile round trip yesterday when a seized calliper caused a rear brake to overheat. I thought I'd done my preparation well, but 50 year old Italian cars have a way of offering you little surprises.
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