Returning to BMWs (e46 this time)

[HotRodBimmer]

Hey everyone! Saying hello again after a long absence! I used to be on here all the time when I had my e34 (ah memories):


But alas, I let it go and went wondering around the automotive space as I tend to do. Through one V-Dub:



And a 300zx:



A truck:



And various other wheeled nonsense. But I missed the Bimmer since the day I sold it, so I finally decided to get another one. I have a long commute and spend a lot of time behind the wheel, so I wanted something fun to drive, efficient, 4 doors, and inexpensive, since I put around 30k a year on my daily. Answer, an e46! Ended up finding a 2003 325I 5spd, bone stock with only 80k for $4000, couldn't pass it up. How I got it, clean, original, and sporting hideous wheel gap :



Lately I'm limited to projects that take an hour or less, so just to keep myself sane I threw some Megan lowering springs on the front:



And then also the back



Then new control arm bushings, an e60 sport shifter swap, black grill to replace cracked chrome, and a rear muffler delete makes the car acceptable as a daily






I have an extra set of 284's (17x8et34) that I'll be throwing on at some point, and I've made all the pieces for a full cat-back exhaust, just got to fit and weld it all together when I have a whole afternoon to spare, then I'll probably cave and put coilovers on this summer.

Gotta say, I've never spent much time driving an e46 prior to getting this one, and I totally get the appeal, fun to cost ratio is really outstanding!

Anyways, just glad to be back in a BMW, look forward to being around the forums again!

[Eaglesail]

Hi, I'm new to BMW. I just bought a three series 2003 xi wagon. If I lowered the suspension similar like yours, with "Megan lowering springs" will the 'look' and drive handling improve? Will doing such increase the my cars value?

[legoman67]

Hi, I'm new to BMW. I just bought a three series 2003 xi wagon. If I lowered the suspension similar like yours, with "Megan lowering springs" will the 'look' and drive handling improve? Will doing such increase the my cars value?

Look is an opinion and is the main reason people lower these cars.

Just installing lowering springs alone will make handling worse.

It will likely have no effect on the value, although many people tend to avoid modified vehicles so you will have less potential buyers.

[HotRodBimmer]

Hi, I'm new to BMW. I just bought a three series 2003 xi wagon. If I lowered the suspension similar like yours, with "Megan lowering springs" will the 'look' and drive handling improve? Will doing such increase the my cars value?

Yeah,as legoman said, definitely won't help the value of the car, may even hurt it depending on the buyer, and correct, lowering springs by themselves do not make your car handle better. They make it lower, hence the name :-p

[Eaglesail]

I see you have an AUDI in your line up....I currently drive a 97 A6 avant, 194k...have so for 12 years. I do love this car..It's been trouble free mostly, struts, and one steering ball joint. It still runs like new...except it now more than ever before leaks coolant, and uses more oil. Audi's use oil by nature..but now I add oil and coolant for every 150 miles.......I'm new to BMW...I liked your new response...even though I'm not been here before...Steve in Norwich, Ct.

[HotRodBimmer]

Hey thanks, it's actually a VW Passat, though mechanically it is the twin of the A6. Mine never had any major issues, and was over 250k when I sold it, still without a single rip in the leather, and every accessory and switch still working as it should. Definitely got my money's worth out of that car, and yeah it leaked oil around the cam seals, with VW's you definitely get to know the dipstick lol.

[Eaglesail]

Yes you are right..VW and AUDI..particularly AUDI and cam seals, valve cover gaskets etc...and never forget to replace the large O-ring gasket between the oil filter, oil cooler to engine block gasket...they let go and hopefully not when you are driving on the interstate at hi-speeds...On Audi, we get an oil temp gauge and an idiot light for coolant temp! .I plan to keep the car as a second...but I really do like my new used BMW...

[XAlt]

Yes you are right..VW and AUDI..particularly AUDI and cam seals, valve cover gaskets etc...and never forget to replace the large O-ring gasket between the oil filter, oil cooler to engine block gasket...they let go and hopefully not when you are driving on the interstate at hi-speeds...On Audi, we get an oil temp gauge and an idiot light for coolant temp! .I plan to keep the car as a second...but I really do like my new used BMW...

The post-E34 temp guage is a mechanical idiot light as well. Big buffering, because they assume the consumer will freak out watching it go back and forth.

My favorite is the Audi oil pressure alarm, it's set to something so low that by the time you notice, you're done. That's what happened to my B5, still in for new rod bearings.

[TonyAngel]

Hotrod, congrats on the E46. My son has an E46 and I love it. I bought an E90 last week, but started shopping again today. The E90 is more of everything on paper, but I just really like that E46.

[HotRodBimmer]

Thanks for the comments y'all! I finally took the time to put on the 284s, the e90 specs definitely fill the fenders better than the stockers.

[90turbo1]

Thanks for the comments y'all! I finally took the time to put on the 284s, the e90 specs definitely fill the fenders better than the stockers.

ohhh nice

[metale]

Nice car! Looks great with the E90 wheels. Those came as a blessing to both E46s and E36s

What size tires are you running?

[HotRodBimmer]

ohhh nice

Thanks!

Nice car! Looks great with the E90 wheels. Those came as a blessing to both E46s and E36s

What size tires are you running?

I agree, I was really happy to find out stick e90 specs (on wheels I got for free) were the same as aftermarket sets I had looked at. I have 225/45r17 all around.

[phishy]

wheels look great! crazy how a few relatively simple mods can improve the exterior look of a car so much

[Eaglesail]

It didn't happen to me....It happend in my driveway...but could have happend on interstate 95 at 70 mph!

I just never could understand why Audi used an oil temp guage instead of an water-temp, or oil pressure..gauge!

[HotRodBimmer]

Well I received a complimentary cosmetic mod in the parking lot of my office. My car was parked and got clipped by the steel bumper of a box truck as it parked beside me. Fun times