For those of us who’ve owned an E46 three series Compact and see it as a light-weight coupe rather than an odd-looking hatchback, this is an excellent thread detailing a conversion to S54 and M3 running gear. It’s worth reading to appreciate the fabrication skills alone:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/top ... 749338&p=1
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BMW 325ti Compact M3 Conversion
- BMWZ4MC
- Lifer
- Posts: 6346
- Joined: Sun Sep 13, 2009 4:24 pm
- Location: Back in the sunshine
BMW 325ti Compact M3 Conversion
Z4MC - heavily fettled for track use
Lotus Exige - sensible daily driver on the mods slippery slope
Westfield SEiW - in hibernation
Modified RS4 Avant - back in Blighty
S2000 GT - gone
- philbo909
- Senior Member
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- Location: SN8
BMW 325ti Compact M3 Conversion
Really good level of work there, I'm very slowly warming to these compacts...
Sapphire black z4 coupe 135,000miles young
- Mr Tidy
- Legend
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- Location: North West Surrey
BMW 325ti Compact M3 Conversion
It is a great modification, and an E46 325ti is a good starting point!
I had a 325ti Sport Compact for just over 3 years, but this year I replaced it with an E91 325i for practicality.
Coupes because stunning!
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
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- Lifer
- Posts: 6400
- Joined: Fri Jun 05, 2009 11:36 pm
- Location: Ayrshire,Scotland
BMW 325ti Compact M3 Conversion
Looks a great bit of work getting done,fantastic engineering/fabrication work
Look forward to seeing the finished product
Look forward to seeing the finished product
Interlagos Blue M RDSTR,2008. Logic7 dsp Hifi;satnav,stubby,htd seats,etc,etc.
Black 2005 3.0i NOW SOLD(and missed)
- BMWZ4MC
- Lifer
- Posts: 6346
- Joined: Sun Sep 13, 2009 4:24 pm
- Location: Back in the sunshine
BMW 325ti Compact M3 Conversion
I had a 320d as a daily driver when I was commuting 100 miles a day so didn’t want to use my Zed. It was really torquey and handled brilliantly with a neutral balance that could be encouraged into oversteer. Mine was the facelift version with coloured rear lights and different side skirts as well as the M sport wheels from the 325ti. I fitted spacers and it actually looked ok too.
Apart from a new clutch at 140k miles and a split turbo hose it was indestructible (although the swirl flaps had been removed early in its life as they can break up and, if the pieces are ingested, it can kill the engine). I ended up running it for a few years and the cost saving in fuel had paid for the car by the time I sold it.
I replaced it with an S2000 as my ‘practical’ commuting car, so I didn’t miss it too much
Apart from a new clutch at 140k miles and a split turbo hose it was indestructible (although the swirl flaps had been removed early in its life as they can break up and, if the pieces are ingested, it can kill the engine). I ended up running it for a few years and the cost saving in fuel had paid for the car by the time I sold it.
I replaced it with an S2000 as my ‘practical’ commuting car, so I didn’t miss it too much
Z4MC - heavily fettled for track use
Lotus Exige - sensible daily driver on the mods slippery slope
Westfield SEiW - in hibernation
Modified RS4 Avant - back in Blighty
S2000 GT - gone