Cheap and nasty E46 project for future silliness

[cozmcrae]

I recently bought a rusty E46 325ti (the compact one) with the intention of having some fun with it in some future events and making a mini-series on Youtube. 

Its not the prettiest thing in the world but it runs (now) and drives in enough of a straight line that it is usable. 

[Fraz]

I love these. Had a 325ti in similar spec and latterly had a 318ti m sport which I also loved despite it trying to kill its own engine. 

[cozmcrae]

  On 24/03/2023 at 17:53, Fraz said:

I love these. Had a 325ti in similar spec and latterly had a 318ti m sport which I also loved despite it trying to kill its own engine. 

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I've been lucky with the engine in this one. I had both an E36 and E34 engine blow on me so I've been probably more paranoid than most with this car. 

[Schaefft]

The M54 really shouldnt cause much worry as long as the most basic maintenance has been done. They do like to burn oil though.

[riek]

  On 24/03/2023 at 20:20, Schaefft said:

 They do like to burn oil though.

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And leak it.

I'm going to try the o2pilot mod on mine when the weather is a bit better. It supposedly reduces oil burning to almost zero 

[cozmcrae]

Ok so the plan was to go racing and that involved getting the car up to standard on the cheap. I had forgotten how rusty cars from Scotland can be. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3do8agHNu8

[Dobloseven]

Not very well up on BMWs, but bought a 52reg 325 Ci auto last year and passed it to my son who has done good things with it. Have also got a thread running. Would that be the same engine? 

[cozmcrae]

  On 31/03/2023 at 16:50, Dobloseven said:

Not very well up on BMWs, but bought a 52reg 325 Ci auto last year and passed it to my son who has done good things with it. Have also got a thread running. Would that be the same engine? 

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Yes it's the same engine. Same car, just with a sloshbox and a bigger arse  🤣 

[Dobloseven]

  On 31/03/2023 at 17:12, cozmcrae said:

Yes it's the same engine. Same car, just with a sloshbox and a bigger arse  🤣 

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Read somewhere that the Compacts had a different, simpler rear suspension to reduce costs and give more boot space. HTBC though. Would quite like to get hold of another myself to play with. Son seems to have built up quite a lot of knowledge on them as well. He would prefer a manual ,but I really like the auto. 

[horriblemercedes]

I happen to know of a couple of these for sale ready to race (one is even in the same colour!) and they'd be fairly cheap as the owner has a new race car. I doubt that helps now though 

[cozmcrae]

  On 31/03/2023 at 22:18, Dobloseven said:

Read somewhere that the Compacts had a different, simpler rear suspension to reduce costs and give more boot space. HTBC though. Would quite like to get hold of another myself to play with. Son seems to have built up quite a lot of knowledge on them as well. He would prefer a manual ,but I really like the auto. 

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All the rear suspension parts I changed were the same as the longer models. I changed the shocks, springs, control arms and the upper and lower control bushes. Everything I rear was that they are the same. Only the final drive is shorter. 

[Dobloseven]

  On 31/03/2023 at 22:36, cozmcrae said:

All the rear suspension parts I changed were the same as the longer models. I changed the shocks, springs, control arms and the upper and lower control bushes. Everything I rear was that they are the same. Only the final drive is shorter. 

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Think this has been discussed before. Could be I'm thinking of the previous model. Like I say, I'm no expert, but interested. Coincidentally, the lady we bought ours off, phoned me up yesterday and was very happy to hear it was still going strong. 

[leakingstrut]

I think the e36 compact had e30 rear suspension. 

[cozmcrae]

So we successfully completed the 4 Hours of Most Endurance race in the Czech Republic. Pretty impressed the old cooling system had no issues since that was the only thing I was worried about. Wasn't the fastest team on the track but still had a huge amount of fun. 
https://youtu.be/lNVRNl0ZT_s

[cozmcrae]

[cozmcrae]

Though you lot maybe interested in this. I took put a black box insurance policy to see what you can get away with before it gets cancelled. I did everything above with the telematics box fitted.

https://youtu.be/L6au2W_pxWs?si=s9nF6QWWT-XQuvCP