E92 325i sport convertible

E92 325i sport convertible

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Discussion

Chan61922

Original Poster:

172 posts

113 months

Tuesday 4th November 2014
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Hi guys some of you may have read some of my recent posts regarding e90 sport convertibles, I was firstly looking at 320i, realised how underpowered they are and the list of common faults, I then toyed with the idea of a 325d, which I was on the verge of buying then some toe rag got in there before me and pinched it.

I'm now considering a 325i sport convertible, I wanted something economical initally but it seems like everyone is pointing to a 6 pot in this model, ideally a 330d or 335d would be amazing just don't think my budget can stretch that far. I'm looking to spend upto 12.5k.

What I wanted to know is are these 325's reasonable around town? I do roughly 12-15k a year, a lot of that is town driving/dual carriageway and going to work etc, occasional motorway blast. I understand that auto won't be quite as economical, but how bad are they? Figures state 27mpg urban? Sounds too good to be true as my 330ci sport convertible also in auto gave me no more than 22mpg around town, and a poor 17/18 when pushing it hard. Although I would prefer auto think manual in the 325 would be a safer bet, what am I looking at around town? Any 325 owners out there? Auto or manual what are you guys averaging? Current car is a 318ci sport manual, and a clk 270cdi (shared with Mrs) I get high 20's - 33 in both which is perfectly liveable. I realise the 325 will be juicer, but how much

Cheers

Smiley198700

158 posts

115 months

Tuesday 4th November 2014
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my E90 330i auto gets about 23-24mpg and that's mostly short hops around town

I think the economony is very similar between the 325 and 330 if you could stretch to one smile

Smuler

2,286 posts

138 months

Tuesday 4th November 2014
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Stratstone it is then, again? wink

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...

I'd say your mileage doesn't justify a diesel unless you can get a bargain; otherwise you wouldn't recover cost difference.

Smiley's correct re: 330i not being much difference, but from what you describe of your driving, 325i is fine surely.


Bungleaio

6,324 posts

201 months

Tuesday 4th November 2014
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My E93 325i averaged around 28 but would do 40 on the motorway with the top up.

They are 250kg heavier than the E92 so that hurts it a bit.

Chan61922

Original Poster:

172 posts

113 months

Wednesday 5th November 2014
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Hey thanks for replies, seems hard to find a manual 325 convertible out there, lots of nice autos going within my budget. I did see that stratstone 1 the other day it's gone up to 12,600 now, not too keen on silver tbh, as a mate as a silver cab, don't want him to think I'm copying him lol and the fake plasticy wood trim is just tacky imo, few nice black autos near me at 12k, 50/60k on clock, and a nice grey one with red leather, again auto frown I think I'll take the plunge and go with the 325, just need a manual frown I've even been considering moving to the dark side and getting an Audi a5 lol

Chan61922

Original Poster:

172 posts

113 months

Wednesday 5th November 2014
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Smuler

2,286 posts

138 months

Wednesday 5th November 2014
quotequote all
Grab it!! 335i is the best wink

Chan61922

Original Poster:

172 posts

113 months

Wednesday 5th November 2014
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Lol your tempting me to go back to my old ways frown don't think I fancy running a 335i as a Daily runner- very tempted as it's just within my budget and just the colors I wanted

Smuler

2,286 posts

138 months

Thursday 6th November 2014
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If you can't find an AU 325i/330i with warranty you want I'd say a AU 335i with warranty is a safer bet than running a 6-7 year old 325/330i non AU without warranty. The fuel costs for a 335i over a 325/330i are not that great from what owners say here on this forum ,for example, whereas if something did go wrong with a 325/330i not under warranty you could be hit with a bigger bill all at once.









Edited by Smuler on Thursday 6th November 06:48

Chan61922

Original Poster:

172 posts

113 months

Thursday 6th November 2014
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True, very true. Although I'm hoping to find a AU 325 manual, there's one up for sale atm in auto, just need a manual to come along and happy days smile I'm seriously considering a coupe fed of searching now frown

toon10

6,140 posts

156 months

Thursday 6th November 2014
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Most of my driving is urban in my E90 325 Sport and I get between 22 and 25 depending on driving. I tend not to hoon much these days and it's currently sitting at 23.5mpg. I love the engine in mine although I do wish it had more horses. I'm thinking of replacing it with a 335i next year but worried that it's too similar (just faster) to mine now and I'll get bored.

Chan61922

Original Poster:

172 posts

113 months

Thursday 6th November 2014
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Toon is yours a auto or manual? Saloon? Nice link to a 335i cab above smile someone will get s nice motor at decent price there, I just can't jusitfy spending 80-100 quid a week on fuel frown

toon10

6,140 posts

156 months

Thursday 6th November 2014
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Chan61922 said:
Toon is yours a auto or manual? Saloon? Nice link to a 335i cab above smile someone will get s nice motor at decent price there, I just can't jusitfy spending 80-100 quid a week on fuel frown
Mine is the manual saloon. I needed 4 doors when I got it, less so now so I'm thinking about the coupe next. I budget £145 a month for fuel as although I mainly do short urban runs, I only do between 7k - 8k miles per year.

Smuler

2,286 posts

138 months

Thursday 6th November 2014
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Interestingly, reading toon's post, my 335i DCT is sitting at the same average mpg, 23.5 biggrin

Before you definitely swing to a 325, is it worth trying to get as robust a calculation as possible on how much you would save in fuel?

Chan61922

Original Poster:

172 posts

113 months

Thursday 6th November 2014
quotequote all
If a 335i gave me 23.5 I would be over the moon smile my current daily driver just s little 318ci sport manual, I do roughly 50 quid 4/5 times a month, 50quids giving me rougly 300miles a time, so average spend a month is 200-250, that's great- I'd happily pay that much lol, actually think I'm averaging well into the 30's atm. If a 325 gave me same amount of miles for say 300/350 would be okay I think.

toon10

6,140 posts

156 months

Thursday 6th November 2014
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I don't think there's that much in it on mpg between the 325 and 330. I had wanted the 330 but the only one I found at the time was a basic spec model and I wanted the sport. I tested it and it was definately quicker in a straight line so I'd definately push for a 330 if you can find one that suits. If I can get the same mpg from a 335 over a 325 then that makes my decision even easier!

Smuler

2,286 posts

138 months

Thursday 6th November 2014
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My 23.5 mpg comes mostly from hard driving or stuck in urban traffic so an increase in mpg should be easy.


Now, please bear in mind I'm not a maths expert but....if I am right.

Your 300 miles for £50 in the 318ci = 16.7 p per mile.

As a middle ground my E46 2.5 was definitely* 23.5 p per mile that's about 1000£ more over 15,000 miles

It's early days for my 335i but I estimate 27.7p a mile. so for you that would be an increase of £1375 over 15,000 miles even if it's a worst case scenario of 23.5mpg

When I got my 325 ci, the previous owner got himself a 335i manual saloon and was jittery about the increase in fuel consumption. I don't know his figures, but I do recall him saying he was pleasantly surprised.


  • measured over 56k miles



Chan61922

Original Poster:

172 posts

113 months

Thursday 6th November 2014
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So 335i in relation to my 318 is 1375 over 12 months/12 = £114 extra a month, add 250(worst case of current) =364 a month x 12 (full year) £4368 lol sorry got carried away smile you mentioned your e46 325, wat figures where you achieving around town in that, I expect it would be near identical to my old 330- tbh I think bmw are annoying for even producing 325s, when all they are is a de-tuned 330, Beleive there not available to the yanks. Even the old e36s, you had 316 and 318 both 1.9 engines, 320 God knows! 323 and 325 both same, and then the 328, then off course 3.0 m3 and m3 Evo, why make life so comiplicated

Smuler

2,286 posts

138 months

Thursday 6th November 2014
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Lowest I ever saw on OBC for my 325 @ time of filling up was 22. But it was a manual. I think your 330i was an auto.

If I didn't cane it at all and had a good run included in the mix with some urban, I would hit high 20s at fill up.

Thus 25-26 would probably be my mode reading at fill up.

I'm not always convinced OBC's are that accurate, which is why I work my pence per mile out against the cost of fuel.

Therefore 23.5 mpg as my current average on the 335i is good considering the level of performance on tap. It should rise a little when more moderate driving is included.

Which is the point to consider, taking into account what toon said he achieved, are you really going to make a big saving between a 325/330 and a 335i?