There’s always a danger, when your job involves a lot of scouring the PH classifieds, that something will crop up that you might want. Or rather, something crops up that you might want - and can actually sort of afford. As so often tends to be the case, I really wasn’t looking (much) for a car when this Japan Red 325ti was listed. It was about the time the new, even less appealing M135 was shown; while the E46 was a nice reminder of when weird looking BMW hatches were at least kind of interesting, it wasn’t for me. My Mazda 3 was fulfilling its duties perfectly, offering exactly the kind of fuss free, easygoing transport I’d bought it for. The last thing I needed was a 150,000-mile BMW…
It would sell, anyway, what with the recently fitted Bilstein B12 suspension, Apple CarPlay, new brakes, water pump, thermostat and so on. The MOT was advisory free until Feb, E46s are still loved, and manuals remain the most desirable (even the five-speeds). I told myself to just let it go. We were going on holiday soon after, then there was Goodwood Festival of Speed, then there was also the small concern of not actually having the money to buy any kind of car.
We got back from holiday and the Compact was still around, now with an even more tempting price. People still really don’t like 3 Series hatchbacks, it would seem. Perhaps that should have put me off. The bank would all too readily lend the money, albeit at about four times the interest of the last time (thanks very much, Liz Truss). The more I thought about keeping the Mazda, the more the prospect of changing appealed - it’s just a bit too sensible (and slow) for something that doesn’t have to be used every day. The idea of having a car I liked more and a few thousand pounds appealed a lot more as well. Even if the jeopardy of an old BMW didn’t.
I had to enquire. Jon, the seller, could not have been better to deal with. As well as his very detailed ad (plus a great collection that includes a Giulia Quadrifoglio and Caterham Seven), he was always willing to chat over message and phone. I was all prepared to view the Compact (about 90 minutes away) on a Sunday, when Jon said someone was very keen to view it the day before - drat. It was going to go then, surely. But it didn’t. Perhaps that should have put me off, too. Undeterred, I picked up where we’d left off and within a couple of days the BMW was on my drive.
To say I’m thrilled would be a considerable understatement. Despite the detail of the ad, I was fully prepared for an eight-owner, 150,000-mile, £3k 3 Series to be a bit rough around the edges, but it very much isn’t. The paint is still really red everywhere, there aren’t many scratches at all, the diddy 16-inch wheels look ace, everything works inside and it starts on the button. A great wad of history, including the original invoice, was great to see, too. The driver’s seat will need a bit of attention soon, but other than that it seems in remarkably good condition.
Where the Mazda could sit outside and never really be thought about, I’m finding every excuse possible to poke around the Compact. It’s the new car excitement that never materialised before, and it feels fantastic. I hadn’t realised how rare this 3 Series was now, either, with HowManyLeft suggesting just 14 SE-spec 325tis are out there. I enjoy having something less common, for sure. No doubt the appeal of a much more modern and popular car will come to the fore right after the Mazda is sold...
There aren’t any great BMW plans, other than to keep it looking as red as possible, take it to all the car places I’d feel a bit embarrassed to take the Mazda (starting with PH26) and get charging on towards 200k. I’ll have it inspected properly, just to see what will need doing in time, and a bit more noise probably wouldn’t go amiss either, however for now I’m overjoyed to have a different red hatchback outside. More on actually driving it next time - see you at Bicester!
FACT SHEET
Car: 2003 BMW 325ti Compact
Run by: Matt Bird
On fleet since: July 2024
Bought for: £2,999
Mileage: 150,598
Last month at a glance: Fortune favours the brave, doesn’t it?
1 / 9
