would you buy a (used) e90 325i?
Discussion
I would normally dismiss models like this as being 'not a 330'!
But when you actually look at the stats they're a lot better than you'd imagine. they've got 215 horses (so mid way between e46 328i and 330i) compared to the 250 odd of a pre 2007 e90 330i..and otherwise they're the same.
0-60 (i know it's a crap stat but still!) is just over half a second slower (6.7 vs 6.1).
on paper if one came up they sound as though they should be a reasonable bet.
are they?
But when you actually look at the stats they're a lot better than you'd imagine. they've got 215 horses (so mid way between e46 328i and 330i) compared to the 250 odd of a pre 2007 e90 330i..and otherwise they're the same.
0-60 (i know it's a crap stat but still!) is just over half a second slower (6.7 vs 6.1).
on paper if one came up they sound as though they should be a reasonable bet.
are they?
I haven't gone and looked it up for this engine, but I've noticed that a few of the 'mid range' BMW engines are 'almost' as good as the bigger ones - Z4 2.5 vs 3.0 for instances, there's only a couple of MPG and half a second difference between the two.
Which begs the question... why not get the bigger one?
Which begs the question... why not get the bigger one?
Gizmo! said:
Which begs the question... why not get the bigger one?
(agreed and where i came in!)i guess the reason might be because they got cheaper because of lesser identity and/or ended up being better condition like for like because they were owned by a middle aged engineer (or something) rather than a 'thrusting' IT type..!
But to continue that logic, the 330 could be ruled out on the grounds it isn't an M3...
Purely from a personal point of view, the 3-series is a comfortable, well made car but it's not something I'd choose for spirited driving so I'd be more than happy with one of the 'lesser' 6 cylinder engines.
Purely from a personal point of view, the 3-series is a comfortable, well made car but it's not something I'd choose for spirited driving so I'd be more than happy with one of the 'lesser' 6 cylinder engines.
Unstart said:
But to continue that logic, the 330 could be ruled out on the grounds it isn't an M3...
Purely from a personal point of view, the 3-series is a comfortable, well made car but it's not something I'd choose for spirited driving so I'd be more than happy with one of the 'lesser' 6 cylinder engines.
and indeed that would be my logic but the M3 has quite different running costs and so that's it's UnotSP!Purely from a personal point of view, the 3-series is a comfortable, well made car but it's not something I'd choose for spirited driving so I'd be more than happy with one of the 'lesser' 6 cylinder engines.
RicksAlfas said:
I'm sure someone asked this in Evo and they weren't very complimentary. I think it's a heavily detuned 3.0 (as opposed to a real 2.5) and it either didn't rev, or had little torque - or both.
ah!has anyone 'ended up' with a 325i?
has anyone chosen to buy say a higher spec 325 over a poverty 300 (i'd have taken the latter but i know a lot of people on here like gizmos..!).
My Gran has a 325 e90 estate. We chose that over all the other models for the below reasons. She wanted an Auto and we through that although the smaller engines where/are very good she might not like how the engines drove/behaved as they might need to be driven a bit harder. She used to have an L reg 530 (3.0l V8) which was a waft mobile. The reason for not picking the 330 was a bit excessive for her needs.
It’s a great engine and goes well enough but for me, I’d pick a 6 month older 330.
It’s a great engine and goes well enough but for me, I’d pick a 6 month older 330.
RicksAlfas said:
I'm sure someone asked this in Evo and they weren't very complimentary. I think it's a heavily detuned 3.0 (as opposed to a real 2.5) and it either didn't rev, or had little torque - or both.
I think ian_c_uk had one on there I think.Autocar tested a manual Touring version and it took over 20 seconds to 100 if that's important to you
Indeed, I had an e90 325i SE touring - 55 plate which was *actually* a 2.5, as opposed to the later 3.0 325i.
Engine - torqueless.
Gearbox (manual) - long throw *then* a notch, hard work.
Handling - vague, needed light braking to feel what the front wheels were doing.
Long distance driving was great, but then so would a 318d. The ergonomics are very good, the split tailgate handy, and everyone that I gave lifts to spoke favourably of it. But I, and the wife, hated it.
For 215bhp, naturally aspirated, straight six, with rwd and *ultimate driving machine* dynamics, it was a disappointment. I've had Octavia estates before and after (though not directly) and they are a nicer drive in my opinion.
Engine - torqueless.
Gearbox (manual) - long throw *then* a notch, hard work.
Handling - vague, needed light braking to feel what the front wheels were doing.
Long distance driving was great, but then so would a 318d. The ergonomics are very good, the split tailgate handy, and everyone that I gave lifts to spoke favourably of it. But I, and the wife, hated it.
For 215bhp, naturally aspirated, straight six, with rwd and *ultimate driving machine* dynamics, it was a disappointment. I've had Octavia estates before and after (though not directly) and they are a nicer drive in my opinion.
briSk said:
I would normally dismiss models like this as being 'not a 330'!
But when you actually look at the stats they're a lot better than you'd imagine. they've got 215 horses (so mid way between e46 328i and 330i) compared to the 250 odd of a pre 2007 e90 330i..and otherwise they're the same.
0-60 (i know it's a crap stat but still!) is just over half a second slower (6.7 vs 6.1).
on paper if one came up they sound as though they should be a reasonable bet.
are they?
Yes, they're good cars. Don't forget though that when comparing E36 and E46 with E90 you're comparing cars with very different weights. My E36 328i was 1320kg and had identical 30-70 times as my E46 330ci, because the 330ci weighed nearly 1500kg, which offset the extra power. The E90 is even heavier still - I think they're over 1600kg.But when you actually look at the stats they're a lot better than you'd imagine. they've got 215 horses (so mid way between e46 328i and 330i) compared to the 250 odd of a pre 2007 e90 330i..and otherwise they're the same.
0-60 (i know it's a crap stat but still!) is just over half a second slower (6.7 vs 6.1).
on paper if one came up they sound as though they should be a reasonable bet.
are they?
briSk said:
RobM77 said:
The E90 is even heavier still - I think they're over 1600kg.
(not being sarcastic)..and yet they're as quick and as (un)economical..!
Regarding not going for the ultimate model, go for it. I just bought a £22k Z4C 3.0 rather than a Z4M because it did twice the mpg, was much less to service and my £22k got me an almost new one with a year's BMW warranty. Admittedly, I also have an Elise and I race a single seater, but still, there are real world concerns other than just performance. There are more concerns for most of us than raw straight line speed. And unlike my choice, the handling on your 325i will be much the same as the quicker model, the 330i
RobM77 said:
briSk said:
RobM77 said:
The E90 is even heavier still - I think they're over 1600kg.
(not being sarcastic)..and yet they're as quick and as (un)economical..!
(not e90 vs e46).
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