2001 BMW  325ci

Highlights

• Fast becoming a modern classic 
• Very well presented leather interior
• Refurbished wheels
• Cruise control
• Soft top fabric replaced

Overview

If the thought of summer is on your mind and you just can’t wait to enjoy the sun on your face and the wind in your hair, then you’ll be looking for a convertible. And we just so happen to have one which will provide plenty of opportunity for spirited driving with the roof up or down. It’s a true soft-top with a fabric roof and benefits from some extensive recommissioning work carried out in recent years.

Refurbished wheels, new brakes and a replaced soft-top all make this E46 a tempting vehicle of choice for a daily driver. And with a very nicely presented leather interior, it’ll be a pleasant place to be whether you’re commuting or simply driving for the fun of it. 

The 2.5-litre straight-six petrol engine produces 186hp, which is certainly enough to have fun with. But there are also a few modern conveniences such as cruise control and an automatic gearbox to make driving this BMW a breeze. 

History and Documentation

• First registered in May 2001
• Owned by the present keeper for two years 
• Two former keepers prior to current owner
• The vendor tells us that he acquired if from his father in law who bought the car from a family friend
• Well-stamped service book by BMW main dealer in Glasgow
• The car reportedly spent a period of time in underground storage
• When taken out of storage in August 2020, it received a major service and overhaul costing circa £2500
• Comes complete with the original book pack and documentation wallet
• Two original keys
• MOT valid until August 2024
• No outstanding safety recalls 
• V5C present, in the vendor’s name 
• Service stamps: February 2003 @ 13,543 miles, September 2004 @ 18,687 miles, November 2005 @ 20,476 miles, March 2008 @ 24,832 miles, January 2010 @ 28,200 miles, March 2015 @ 31,444 miles

Interior

• Full black leather interior in very good condition throughout 
• The upholstery is well presented for its age
• Electronically adjustable seats 
• Even high-traffic areas such as the driver’s bolsters are showing little sign of use 
• Matching dark grey carpets clean and tidy 
• Original ‘BMW Business’ radio/cassette player 
• Parrot Bluetooth phone system connecting to the car audio system
• 6 CD changer in the boot 
• Automatic climate control
• Multi-function steering wheel
• Cruise control
• The door cards are in great condition 
• Dashboard well presented, with no cracks or UV damage that we could see
• The plastic on one of the storage compartments in the centre console has gone a bit sticky
• To the rear, the spacious boot is carpeted, clean and tidy complete with unused space saver wheel
• The original tool kit is complete and apparently unused, including jack, warning triangle, and wheel brace 

Exterior

• The silver paintwork is generally very presentable 
• There are a few unobtrusive dents and scratches, as you would expect to see on a car of this age 
• Body panels appear straight, with good shut lines 
• The dark blue soft-top roof has reportedly been replaced by BMW for an OEM roof
• The fabric looks well preserved, with no obvious tears or stains
• New set of Bridgestone tyres fitted in August 2020
• Heated rear windscreen
• A couple of small patches of corrosion can be seen in the door jambs
• The alloy wheels are very well presented, no corrosion or kerb damage that we could see, having been recently refurbished
• The vendor reports that the underside of the car is in excellent condition, there is some rust on the rear tie bar and some of the rear suspension components as mentioned on the MOT. This has been left so viewers can see what the advisory was for, although it is surface rust rather than structural so could be restored by the new owner
• The lamp lenses all appear to be clear and bright, with no obvious chips

Mechanical

• 2,494cc, straight-six petrol engine
• Produced 186hp when new 
• Automatic transmission
• In August 2020, the car received new oil and filters, spark plugs, brake discs and pads all round, a new set of tyres, some brake pipes and front suspension bushes 
• Recently an ABS sensor has been replaced
• The seller tells us that the engine starts perfectly from hot or cold, and the brakes function very well having been replaced in recent years
• The engine bay itself is very clean and tidy, with nicely presented plastic engine covers on show

Summary

In all, this 325 offers an opportunity to get your hands on what is fast becoming a modern classic. It’s a great example of a simpler time, a time before dashboards were touchscreens, but it still offers a few of the modern niceties you might appreciate, like cruise control and heated seats. It’s a car you can have fun with, put the roof down, give it a bootful, and listen to those six cylinders do their thing.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located in Norwich, Norfolk.