BMW 325ti (E46) | PH Fleet

Lately, I haven’t had the very best luck in the case of clutches. Promise I’m not a automobile killer – no less than I hope not. However having spent c. £1,500 having the clutch and flywheel modified on the Mini final 12 months, it cooked a head gasket a matter of weeks later. I offered it for a 3rd of that clutch change price, which nonetheless hurts. 

Now I’ve spent the identical once more doing an equivalent job on the Compact. Typically it looks like I’d have the ability to afford a pleasant new automobile, all the cash that’s been spent on preserving outdated crud going. Reality be advised, it’s all the time been one thing that was on the to-do checklist for the automobile; even by rubbery, obscure BMW handbook requirements, the shift was sloppy and the chew was excessive. There was no point out or document of a change, so it might effectively have been the unique merchandise. Or no less than one which had seen higher days. With peculiar use just a few extra miles might effectively have been eked out – there was no slipping, or failure to have interaction gears – however with a stag do journey to the Nurburgring 24 Hours not far off I used to be getting panicky. The considered it giving up someplace in Europe, having camped within the forest for a weekend and determined to get residence, stuffed me with dread. 

And whereas my bank card isn’t happy, I’m so blissful the work has now been finished. Together with an enormous service, the Compact feels remodeled: clutch chew is again the place it must be, the straight six feels stronger, and the shift is simply as dangerous as a contemporary BMW’s. So a noticeable enchancment. Perhaps I ought to have gotten the linkages and whatnot sorted whereas such an enormous job was being finished, however fairly frankly the considered spending much more cash in a marriage 12 months wasn’t an interesting one. 

The truth is, for the rapid future, I’d say the ti is sorted – from a driving perspective, no less than. There are little beauty ins and outs that may very well be finished (make your jokes now concerning the main, unrectifiable beauty points), however actually nothing essential. Proper now I can deal with driving it at each given alternative, as a result of it feels completely bob on: no squeaks, rattles, groans or worries. If solely the identical may very well be mentioned for the motive force. 

I’m off to a automobile meet this week, and fairly frankly am searching for any excuse to drive the BMW proper now. I’ll take the lengthy option to nursery, choose up the takeaway, or exit only for the enjoyable of it. Notably with the clutch finished, I’m much less nervous than ever, which suggests there’s ample alternative to get on with merely having fun with a naturally aspirated engine, hydraulic steering and a handbook gearbox. When so many new automobiles really feel so overwrought, the little Compact is all the time the proper palette cleanser. 

Actually, the Compact being so sorted means I’ve been distracted for a short time by such foolish concepts as an RX-8 or a later, equally ugly small BMW. I’d actually like to depart it no less than a pair extra years earlier than having to do a clutch once more, thanks very a lot. Fingers crossed, really, that that is the final little bit of outdated BMW fettling for some time. I’ll report again after it’s been to Germany…

Automobile: 2003 BMW 325ti Compact
Run by: Matt Chicken
On fleet since: July 2024
Purchased for: £2,999
Mileage: 156,285
Final month at a look: Basic Compact charmer clutch change