I'm getting a E90 325i

[Munter]

After much umming and ahhing, I have just put a deposit on a RED 325i with 100k on the clock.

Not the 530d I was thinking of before.

Anything I should know about the 325....

[philmots]

It'll sound lovely..

Is it the early 2.5 or later 3.0?

[Munter]

It's the earlier 2.5. On a 55 plate. I figure it'll be about run in by now.

[pattyg]

Same engine as mine, sounds great when pressed.

Only issue I had we're injectors as the car kept stalling and ran very unevenly just after I got it. Apart from that it is a more than capable machine.

[jrinns]

Cracking car, just sold my 55 plate had it 5 yrs and sold with 147k on clock, sounded sweet with a 3.0 bmw performance exhaust i pickedup off ebay.

Getting a 530d or 535d next, hope its as good and reliable

Enjoy

[Munter]

pattyg said:

Same engine as mine, sounds great when pressed.

Only issue I had we're injectors as the car kept stalling and ran very unevenly just after I got it. Apart from that it is a more than capable machine.

Everything seemed good on the test drive but there is no knowing when injectors might give up.

Chances of hooking up an Android phone to 2005 iDrive....Not essential just wondering.

[Munter]

Well I had tbe car for about an hour. Then I filled it up and it pissed petrol over the floor. So it's back at the dealer and I'm in my old car....

Arse.

Also the manual has gone missing so I'll be playing random button bingo for a bit.

[stewies_minion]

Oops. Not a good start.

There's an invoice for a fuel tank fault in my 330i's bills folder. I don't remember it being much so I'm sure it won't be a big issue. Fuel breather hose rings a bell.

[Munter]

Honest john website suggests it's a common fault as you suggest with a redesigned part solving the issue. Hopefully a quick fix.

Other problem is a cupholder stuck in the dash. Not had time to play to figure out why but I hope the garage will fix that also.

[Naldrett]

If it is the breather pipe, then common issue - yes. Quick fix - not really.

Fuel breather pipe is a cheap part but access is impossible without dropping the fuel tank which in turn requires a fair bit of suspension and diff dismantling. Reckon on around 5 hrs labour for a garage that is unfamiliar with the issue - less with those that have done it before. Tell them to go easy too as it is quite possible to crack the tank in the process.

If that's a bit too much to swallow, the alternative is to keep the tank at no more than two-thirds full so it doesn't get up to the level of the hole in the pipe. No more puddles on the floor but for peace of mind (and possible issue still with vapours?) it's worth getting sorted properly.

Had this on my 330i by the way - all sorted now and no more issues. BMW redesigned the part to be tougher. Should really have been a re-call IMO but I don't believe it ever was.

[Munter]

Naldrett said:

If it is the breather pipe, then common issue - yes. Quick fix - not really.

Fuel breather pipe is a cheap part but access is impossible without dropping the fuel tank which in turn requires a fair bit of suspension and diff dismantling. Reckon on around 5 hrs labour for a garage that is unfamiliar with the issue - less with those that have done it before. Tell them to go easy too as it is quite possible to crack the tank in the process.

If that's a bit too much to swallow, the alternative is to keep the tank at no more than two-thirds full so it doesn't get up to the level of the hole in the pipe. No more puddles on the floor but for peace of mind (and possible issue still with vapours?) it's worth getting sorted properly.

Had this on my 330i by the way - all sorted now and no more issues. BMW redesigned the part to be tougher. Should really have been a re-call IMO but I don't believe it ever was.

Well if they want the sale to stick they'll be fixing it. It's got the dealers 30day warranty (evans halshaw), but on top of that it's not fit for purpose with a fuel leak. So either they fix it or refund my cash under sale of goods. I don't think it'll come to that though.

[MantaMike]

This seems like a very familiar story, exactly the same thing happened to me when i picked up my 55reg E90 325, fill up on the way home and fuel pissing out, back to the dealer who weren't aware of the problem as they never put more than £5 worth of petrol in it!

In my case the dealer was excellent (Berkshire Specialist Cars, Sandhurst) and sorted it no quibbles though it took a few days cos it is a big job. it is caused by the filler neck breather pipe rubbing where it goes through a hole in the inner arch. You have to drop the diff to lower the tank to do the job properly, but the replacement part from BMW is modified with a sleeve so it shouldn't happen again.

Enjoy your 325 it is a great car with a great engine, i love mine!

Also, mine has i-drive with professional nav and bluetooth and it connects no problems with my old Android phone and my current i-phone, and diplays contacts in the i-drive screen.

Edited by MantaMike on Wednesday 2nd January 10:46

[Munter]

Thanks for the phone info Mike. I'll give it a whirl then when / if I get the car back.

I gave the dealer a ring this morning and while I didn't get any specific answers out of them, at least 2 different people in the service department now know I want to know what the plan is. And both were of the opinion it'd be assessed today in normal circumstances.

[Munter]

Just had a service chap on the phone.

SC: Can't find a leak sir. Can you bring it back when you fill it up.
Me:Err hang on a minute, no. I already put £70 in. You fill it up, and when it leaks replace the breather pipe with the redesigned part from BMW.
SC: Oh right it was full was it? We'll get it back in the workshop and take another look at it.

[Munter]

Can anybody confirm that if I fill the car to the point where the pump clicks off, (and do not attempt to pull again and again), that it's not possible to somehow "overfill" the car in such a way that it would be leaking fuel for the next 30 mins at least?

I may have finally convinced the dealership principle to try putting some fuel in the car and see if it leaks out. But he's convinced I "overfilled" it and / or there is no problem.

[Maruchino]

If they don't put any more fuel in, how can they check if it leaks, muppets

[toon10]

Great cars. Mines the 325 msport. The only negatives I find with mine are a poor stereo for a premium car and fuel consumption. I don't have a heavy right foot but I struggle to get more than 23mpg although that's mainly urban (95%)

The seats are fantastic with electric side bolsters and lumbar support. Strong brakes and nice creamy engine. I'd like a few more horses but then who doesn't.

[Munter]

Ah ha! Apparently there is a leaking pipe. They have ordered the bits and it should be done by Tuesday 8th. (I suspect we're looking at Thursday)

Unfortunately the 7 day free insurance I was given on their car (my old trade in), runs out on the 6th. It took a while for the problem this creates to be grasped (at least 2 days uninsured), but we got there in the end.

[Mutton]

Glad I noticed this thread - I also have a 55 plate 325i and although I don't have this issue (car only has 34k on the clock) I though I'd better see if I can prevent the problem before it arises as replacing the breather pipe seems very labour intensive after looking on a couple of forums. There is now an extra part which fits over the breather pipe to prevent it wearing out on the inner arch opening. Part numbers are:

Breather pipe part number is: B16.12.6.765.748
Protective tubing part number is: B16.12.4.390.434

I've just picked up the protective tubing from my local dealer for the princely sum of £1.40 and is split along its length to allow easy fitment over the existing breather pipe.

[VerySideways]

Mutton said:

There is now an extra part which fits over the breather pipe to prevent it wearing out on the inner arch opening. Part numbers are:

Breather pipe part number is: B16.12.6.765.748
Protective tubing part number is: B16.12.4.390.434

I've just picked up the protective tubing from my local dealer for the princely sum of £1.40 and is split along its length to allow easy fitment over the existing breather pipe.

Just picked up a 330i myself (yesterday) on an 07 plate.
So... how do you fit the protective piece? Is it from under the car or through the rear inner arch or what? I'm a big fan of the preventative fix