7.5k budget - options?

[kenam]

Gompo said:

You'd get my 130i for that, not a perfect example but you won't get many 3-doors for less. May not be good enough spec for you anyway though. Great cars but I've not quite gelled with it personally. It is a big difference to my previous cars..

Good to know, thanks for the info -

What did you have previously? Whats so bad with he 130?

[rb5er]

Looks,pedals,steering wheel & gearbox imo.

[aussieal]

The N52 came in 3.0 and 2.5 guise, both normally aspirated like the N53 but not with the later direct injection.

The N53 was a 3.0 engine whether in the 325i or the 330i, but obviously in different states of tune and potentially with some different parts such as the exhaust manifold.

Not sure if there ever was a newer version of the 2.5 N52, think it just stopped and was replaced with the N53. The 130i then had the only remaining N52 in it. My car is a June 2007 N52 330i manual, from what I can gather that engine ceased production in the E90 3 series at the end of August 2007, presumably together with the 2.5.

[kenam]

aussieal said:

The N52 came in 3.0 and 2.5 guise, both normally aspirated like the N53 but not with the later direct injection.

The N53 was a 3.0 engine whether in the 325i or the 330i, but obviously in different states of tune and potentially with some different parts such as the exhaust manifold.

Not sure if there ever was a newer version of the 2.5 N52, think it just stopped and was replaced with the N53. The 130i then had the only remaining N52 in it. My car is a June 2007 N52 330i manual, from what I can gather that engine ceased production in the E90 3 series at the end of August 2007, presumably together with the 2.5.

cool - so any 07/57 registered 325i should be the n52 - from what I gather this is generally accepted as a less trouble free but slightly thirstier?

[Smuler]

kenam said:

cool - so any 07/57 registered 325i should be the n52 - from what I gather this is generally accepted as a less trouble free but slightly thirstier?

If ever in doubt as to what engine, put the last 7 digits of VIN in here

http://www.bmwarchive.org/vin/bmw-vin-decoder.html

[kenam]

thanks - very handy to know.


All the ones I am looking at are 2.5l N52s (N52B25O1) - that's still good a engine? not quite a peppy as the 3l n52 in a 130.. (which I have never driven btw!!) but still gonna be quite fun?

Any other opinions good or bad on the 325s?

Thanks again!

[kenam]

Also - I heard when reading about 130i's (might even be earlier in this thread) there are issues with earlier n52s - I guess I am isolated from this somewhat?

[Gompo]

kenam said:

Good to know, thanks for the info -

What did you have previously? Whats so bad with he 130?

Hah, nothing bad with the 130i! It's just different and was possibly the wrong move for me. My last car was a DC2 ITR, slightly modified which I had for 5 years, so most things were going to drive and feel quite differently.. I was initially after a Z4 Coupe, but I don't fit; I've always liked the 3 door shape on the 1-Series so went for that instead given they share the same engine.

It doesn't help that I drive it almost everyday for a handful of miles, with nowhere to stretch its legs. On longer journeys or specific hoons I enjoy it, but on my daily jaunt it's not much of an event. I've had it a year (and 5k miles) now and just thinking that after the summer (and some longer journeys) I may part with it, depending if I've gelled any more; there's lots of things I fancy owning in the short term while I can.

[Smuler]

kenam said:

thanks - very handy to know.


All the ones I am looking at are 2.5l N52s (N52B25O1) - that's still good a engine? not quite a peppy as the 3l n52 in a 130.. (which I have never driven btw!!) but still gonna be quite fun?

Any other opinions good or bad on the 325s?

Thanks again!

Saw an earlier post where you were looking for E92s.

OP. Here's a E92 325 in action. I'm a big E46 fan and wouldn't have upgraded below a 335i BUT c'mon reality check any of these E92 straight six cars are head and shoulders above most of the dross on the roads, and if you're renting it sounds like you've driven that dross. A coupe is best on looks/image and you will have pre lci (facelift) which I think is better looking. I'd recommend a manual gearbox, on any normally aspirated car for fun. I've not driven a 130 but could imagine a smaller car with that engine would be fun, but the E92s do handle well with good heavy steering feel. 330 is faster, for sure, but it won't reach the next level in performance so if costs/ availability are a factor I wouldn't 'die in a ditch' over getting a 325. I didn't find the gap to the 330 big enough coming from my E46. And if this is your first BMW straight six coupe you will love it.

I get the flavour that the N52 is preferred on reliability, but I wouldn't buy a car on overall reputation of engine. The E46s are widely seen as more reliable than E92 and the 335i (particularly N54) is widely seen as the problem child of the E92s and yet mines been faultless and now having surpassed the mileage on the E46, when I bought it, the 335i is using less oil and running costs are the same.








https://youtu.be/U_meO-WgIc0

[stevesingo]

What about a 320Si?

OK, not exactly fast, but has a unique engine (which is not as unreliable as some might say 40kmiles in our in 2years, no issues) which sounds great as it passes 6.5k rpm, and the best handling E90 you can get due to the lightest engine fitted to the E90.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds?Category=us...

Judging by the prices of the above, they seem to be holding value pretty well too.

[kenam]

Smuler said:

Saw an earlier post where you were looking for E92s.

OP. Here's a E92 325 in action. I'm a big E46 fan and wouldn't have upgraded below a 335i BUT c'mon reality check any of these E92 straight six cars are head and shoulders above most of the dross on the roads, and if you're renting it sounds like you've driven that dross. A coupe is best on looks/image and you will have pre lci (facelift) which I think is better looking. I'd recommend a manual gearbox, on any normally aspirated car for fun. I've not driven a 130 but could imagine a smaller car with that engine would be fun, but the E92s do handle well with good heavy steering feel. 330 is faster, for sure, but it won't reach the next level in performance so if costs/ availability are a factor I wouldn't 'die in a ditch' over getting a 325. I didn't find the gap to the 330 big enough coming from my E46. And if this is your first BMW straight six coupe you will love it.

I get the flavour that the N52 is preferred on reliability, but I wouldn't buy a car on overall reputation of engine. The E46s are widely seen as more reliable than E92 and the 335i (particularly N54) is widely seen as the problem child of the E92s and yet mines been faultless and now having surpassed the mileage on the E46, when I bought it, the 335i is using less oil and running costs are the same.


https://youtu.be/U_meO-WgIc0

Thanks for that - some nice common sense there while I go nuts comparing stats! Its not only my first straight 6 - my first bmw (actually first car for a long time!) I just wish I wasn't stuck up in NI for now as choice is very limited..

Re reliability - reckon I will grab a 3rd pty warranty for 1st year anyway - seems to be worthwhile.

See your point re the Auto vs Manual - for other reasons I prefer a manual anyway- but again.. choice limited a little

stevesingo said:

What about a 320Si?

OK, not exactly fast, but has a unique engine (which is not as unreliable as some might say 40kmiles in our in 2years, no issues) which sounds great as it passes 6.5k rpm, and the best handling E90 you can get due to the lightest engine fitted to the E90.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds?Category=us...

Judging by the prices of the above, they seem to be holding value pretty well too.

Looks good - but even fewer to chose from! Part of the reason for looking at the 325s vs (for example 130) was the availability - if possible I will be buying in NI or Scotland and as we are hitting some summertime would prefer sooner rather than later!

[Smuler]

I would try for a BMW Insured Warranty I hear much more positives about them than others.

[kenam]

Cheers!

Smuler said:

I would try for a BMW Insured Warranty I hear much more positives about them than others.

That the ones from https://www.bmw-warranty.co.uk/ ?

Thats what I have been looking at so far. Approx £500 if mileage under 60k (which one or two I am looking at are just under!)

I will travel a fair bit at weekends and the odd trip across to scotland so a full UK warranty is probably preferable than a local dealers x months free warranty

[kenam]

Also thanks all - I thought when I put this thread up all the advice would be - "Take your poxy 7k and use it as a deposit on a new 640"!

[Smuler]

kenam said:

That the ones from https://www.bmw-warranty.co.uk/ ?

Thats what I have been looking at so far. Approx £500 if mileage under 60k (which one or two I am looking at are just under!)

I will travel a fair bit at weekends and the odd trip across to scotland so a full UK warranty is probably preferable than a local dealers x months free warranty

Yes, it's that one. I believe no claim within first month, but any immediate problems selling dealer should deal with.

[aussieal]

I know you can check the engine with the VIN as stated above, but pretty sure the N52 engines (2.5 and 3.0) were last seen in the 07 cars. The 57 cars saw the introduction of the N53.