The Blue Phoenix - E46 325i

[Senor_Taylor]

... and just like the phoenix, another car rises from the ashes of Michelle the Miata.

I busted my butt over winter break and worked as much as I could get away with, all in anticipation of getting another car. Looking at the Miata all busted up in the barn every time I'd go to work was very sad. Channing and I worked out a deal that involved me trading him the Miata (plus cash, obviously) for his wife's 2002 325i. I couldn't get someone to tow the Miata until the same day I was coming back to JMU, so we made it all in one trip.



The condition of the car is definitely "Daily driver with 3 kids" as I found 3 clif bar wrappers and about a pound of glitter in the rear floorboards. After a quick wash, vacuum, seat cleaning, headliner re-gluing, and headlight restoration, it's a pretty sharp looking car and definitely a pleasure to ride in. Plus the straight six is a beautiful sounding engine with plenty of torque down low so it's insanely easy to drive. Overall I'm very satisfied in my first 24 hours of driving it. It's a far cry from a beat up, 24 year old Miata with a leaky roof. This is my first time having a European car, a straight six, 4 doors, a big trunk, plus a laundry list of things I'm not used to. I'm not sure what I'll do with this car. For now, the plan is to just drive it until the wheels fall off, which may be next week. :dunno:

[JPolen01]

When do you put your (insert sorority) sticker on the rear window?

[Senor_Taylor]

When do you put your (insert sorority) sticker on the rear window?

You're just jelly cuz you didn't get a bid to the prestigious DELTA DELTA DELTA.

[davej]

you didn't vacuum up the M-Sport glitter, did you?! That's going to adversely affect your double variable nockenwellensteuerung; I suggest refilling the cabin with it asap.

[Senor_Taylor]

These damn German cars. Thanks for telling me. I also found what I can only assume was a 50 year old rotten peach under the passenger seat. Was that part of the cold weather package?

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[Jake]

These damn German cars. Thanks for telling me. I also found what I can only assume was a 50 year old rotten peach under the passenger seat. Was that part of the cold weather package?

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Yeah, it powers the heated mirrors. Put it back.

:thumbup:

I'm glad you got everything sorted out - this is definitely a far cry from what you've owned so far! The smoothness of an I6 is pretty cool.

FYI, if you're looking for a way to add iPod/Bluetooth capabilities to the stock radio (since aftermarket units look like ass in that dash), a Dice Mediabridge should take care of it.

[Senor_Taylor]

That's actually exactly what I was about to ask. Thanks, Jake!

Edit: after looking at the price, the radio is just fine.

[JPolen01]

These damn German cars. Thanks for telling me. I also found what I can only assume was a 50 year old rotten peach under the passenger seat. Was that part of the cold weather package?

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This made me lol. I used to have a small detailing company with a friend. The shit you find in people's cars can be so foul.

[Jake]

That's actually exactly what I was about to ask. Thanks, Jake!

Edit: after looking at the price, the radio is just fine.

Look for one used.

[BLINGMW]

FYI, if you're looking for a way to add iPod/Bluetooth capabilities to the stock radio (since aftermarket units look like ass in that dash), a Dice Mediabridge should take care of it.

OH@!!23 It has one of those! I forgot! When you first turn on the car it should be discoverable from your phone for like 30 sec. Well, it was until you removed the glitter and sundried fruit. :dunno:

So what did you use on the headlights? Obviously whatever I did was a total waste of time.

[Senor_Taylor]

FYI, if you're looking for a way to add iPod/Bluetooth capabilities to the stock radio (since aftermarket units look like ass in that dash), a Dice Mediabridge should take care of it.

OH@!!23 It has one of those! I forgot! When you first turn on the car it should be discoverable from your phone for like 30 sec. Well, it was until you removed the glitter and sundried fruit. :dunno:

So what did you use on the headlights? Obviously whatever I did was a total waste of time.

WAIT WHAT. ARE YOU SERIOUS!?!?!?!??!?

Also, it took me 20 minutes today to figure out why the climate control was still blowing cold air when I had it set on 91 degrees.... BMW's are weird.


I used a turtle wax kit that comes with little sandpaper buffing pads, a rubbing compound, a sanding lubricant, and some sealer. It was quick and it looked like it didn't work until I put the seal stuff on it and it magically cleared up. I missed a spot on the driver side, though, so I may do it again.

I think it was this. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Turtle-Wax-T-240KT-Headlight-Restorer/dp/B001TI5IIQ">http://www.amazon.com/Turtle-Wax-T-240K ... B001TI5IIQ</a><!-- m -->


Edit: I just ran outside and tested it. Wow... this is awesome. I've never had a car with bluetooth, So nifty. Thanks, Chan! Anything else cool I need to know about? Like is there a pot of gold in the trunk?

I also just found the flashlight in the glove box I think. Pretty cool.

[BLINGMW]

Also, it took me 20 minutes today to figure out why the climate control was still blowing cold air when I had it set on 91 degrees.... BMW's are weird.

Oh, the little wheel between the center vents that totally overrides the climate control? Yeah it was that way on the E36 and apparently someone thought that was awesome and should be kept for the E46.

[Senor_Taylor]

Oh, the little wheel between the center vents that totally overrides the climate control? Yeah it was that way on the E36 and apparently someone thought that was awesome and should be kept for the E46.

Yeah, that's the one!

I ordered a repair kit for the door lock cylinder, so hopefully I'll get that fixed and I'll try resyncing the second key you gave me after that and hopefully everything will be squared away and I don't have to worry about locking myself out.

[SlimKlim]

Mmm, high mileage BMW ownership on a tight college budget, seems familiar for some reason. hock:

That little climate control wheel lets you have a cool face and warm feet in the winter, you animals.

Some other common things you'll discover soon if you haven't already:

- The beep when you start the car on cold mornings is warning you it's cold enough for ice to form, nothing is broken
- There is a touch pad thingy to open the trunk above the license plate, I've met an amazing number of people who think it only opens with the key
- I think one of the buttons on the cluster will let you change the clock to 24-hr format and the temp from F to C to get your DDM on, not sure how exactly
- Press unlock on the key, press again and hold, all windows and sunroof should open. You can also stick the key in the door, turn to unlock and hold. Putting it in the door and turning to lock and holding *should* roll them all up again
- Pass mirror will tilt down to show you the curb when you shift into reverse, if you don't like it put the selector switch in the passenger mirror spot and it'll stop
- You can do a bunch of nerdy shit with the OBC in test mode, like get a digital RPM readout, but you can google all the steps if you want to

Since you're officially part of the club this wiki contains literally every scrap of information about E46s. http://www.bimmerfest.com/wiki/index.php/BMW_E46

And anything that isn't in there you can ask the old farts here, I've "known" some of these guys for damn near a decade now, its a pretty good group: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=98

[*insertusernamehere*]

Yes. You have officially been indoctrinated. Welcome to the real MM haha

[D_Eclipse9916]

Just FYI, a lot of Joey's tidbits are only if you get it programmed. (May be wrong here but the unlock using the key to drop windows has to be programmed)

One that isn't is sticking the key in and holding it in lock to close all windows and sunroof. I used it all the time.

[SlimKlim]

My 325i did the windows down thing right out of the box. :dunno:

[Beej]

As I said in the other thread, great buy! High mileage BMW's can be scary, but you have a lot of history on it and know where Channing lives so you should be fine.

My car (actually both of them) will drop the windows when holding unlock on the key. I know it can be coded, but I don't know why you can't roll them up from the key.

I just realized my first car, an e30, was 15 years old when I got it...and I'd say it was generally considered old'n'busted by my badass HS friends. Surely e46's aren't the equivalent these days? That's a lot of car for the money, IMO.

[RawrImAMonster]

I should be able to program e46's shortly if you want anything changed. I might get around to testing it out tonight. I just want to upload my tune before I modify my cable for programming.

[Senor_Taylor]

Yeah mine does the window thing now. Thanks for all of the tips and such! The main reason why I'm not planning on mods yet is to have money for repair eventually. I've been reading about E46's religiously for the last week.

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