325i - Any good?
Discussion
2008 model.
I've spent ages looking for a 330/335 (diesel or petrol, doesnt matter) which fit my certain requirements. Not found one just yet.
Anyway, a 325i has come up with the exact spec i'm after. Its about 5 hours away so cant have a quick drive, but will it be any good? Its the LCI model with upgraded idrive etc.
After recently driving a Discovery 3, i'd set my heart on the next car being an auto, but this 325i is a manual, so thats something else im not sure about.
The figures on paper, seem closely matched with the St220, which is a car i owned before. If anyone has owned an st and 325 and can compare them, that would be great.
Thoughts? My biggest regret is buying it, then spending all the time driving it and wishing it was a 330 or 335.
I've spent ages looking for a 330/335 (diesel or petrol, doesnt matter) which fit my certain requirements. Not found one just yet.
Anyway, a 325i has come up with the exact spec i'm after. Its about 5 hours away so cant have a quick drive, but will it be any good? Its the LCI model with upgraded idrive etc.
After recently driving a Discovery 3, i'd set my heart on the next car being an auto, but this 325i is a manual, so thats something else im not sure about.
The figures on paper, seem closely matched with the St220, which is a car i owned before. If anyone has owned an st and 325 and can compare them, that would be great.
Thoughts? My biggest regret is buying it, then spending all the time driving it and wishing it was a 330 or 335.
If you get a 325 you will always wish you bought the 330, given the negligible difference in fuel and insurance costs.
However, given it is 8 years old you will be changing the entire coolant system and suspension system in either, given they are built the way they are. Then, you can sit back and look forward to the rot.
Great cars though, I run an E46 330i and have for the last 4 years.
However, given it is 8 years old you will be changing the entire coolant system and suspension system in either, given they are built the way they are. Then, you can sit back and look forward to the rot.
Great cars though, I run an E46 330i and have for the last 4 years.
LotusAlfaV6bloke said:
If you get a 325 you will always wish you bought the 330, given the negligible difference in fuel and insurance costs.
However, given it is 8 years old you will be changing the entire coolant system and suspension system in either, given they are built the way they are. Then, you can sit back and look forward to the rot.
Great cars though, I run an E46 330i and have for the last 4 years.
Where did you copy and paste that from. LolHowever, given it is 8 years old you will be changing the entire coolant system and suspension system in either, given they are built the way they are. Then, you can sit back and look forward to the rot.
Great cars though, I run an E46 330i and have for the last 4 years.
Not copy paste - actual ownership. Try it, internet heroes!
Sorry about the maths - thought he was looking at one 8 yrs old, but that was another thread. 8 or 6 years, I wont lose sleep over it.
Anyone saying that E46s don't rot out their arches or front wings is dreaming. Anyone who also says the radiators don't sag and pop or the pumps last is also dreaming! And as for E46 front suspension... this is not news to anyone who has had one, surely?
Sorry about the maths - thought he was looking at one 8 yrs old, but that was another thread. 8 or 6 years, I wont lose sleep over it.
Anyone saying that E46s don't rot out their arches or front wings is dreaming. Anyone who also says the radiators don't sag and pop or the pumps last is also dreaming! And as for E46 front suspension... this is not news to anyone who has had one, surely?
ArsE92 said:
LotusAlfaV6bloke said:
However, given it is 8 years old you will be changing the entire coolant system and suspension system in either, given they are built the way they are. Then, you can sit back and look forward to the rot.
b
ks2014-2008 = 6 years.
LotusAlfaV6bloke said:
Not copy paste - actual ownership. Try it, internet heroes!
Sorry about the maths - thought he was looking at one 8 yrs old, but that was another thread. 8 or 6 years, I wont lose sleep over it.
Anyone saying that E46s don't rot out their arches or front wings is dreaming. Anyone who also says the radiators don't sag and pop or the pumps last is also dreaming! And as for E46 front suspension... this is not news to anyone who has had one, surely?
But this is referring to the E90 3 series. Same mechanical problems?Sorry about the maths - thought he was looking at one 8 yrs old, but that was another thread. 8 or 6 years, I wont lose sleep over it.
Anyone saying that E46s don't rot out their arches or front wings is dreaming. Anyone who also says the radiators don't sag and pop or the pumps last is also dreaming! And as for E46 front suspension... this is not news to anyone who has had one, surely?
Can't comment on the E90s, not had one. The two specialist breakers I use for my E46 say the rust problems are still present, but I don't know about the other issues. In any event, age will help on some matters, and mileage will dictate the others.
The question over which to buy remains, and I agree - hold out for the right one (the 330).
The question over which to buy remains, and I agree - hold out for the right one (the 330).
Welshbeef said:
5 hours away so 10 hours return is a LoNG way to go for what is a run of the mill car.
What's the issue with 330/335's why can you not find one - is it budget ?
The OP might want a particular spec (they seem to suggest this in the initial post). I would travel for the right car.What's the issue with 330/335's why can you not find one - is it budget ?
Clivey said:
The OP might want a particular spec (they seem to suggest this in the initial post). I would travel for the right car.
Fair enough I guess. It generally the top of the range engine wise will usually have more options selected over what is 3rd choice in power plants. What he needs/likely to get
Leather
Blue tooth
Pro nav
M sport
Xenons
What else would he want? The other things like high bean assist are so rare to find its more a nice to have than anything else.
Welshbeef said:
Fair enough I guess. It generally the top of the range engine wise will usually have more options selected over what is 3rd choice in power plants.
What he needs/likely to get
Leather
Blue tooth
Pro nav
M sport
Xenons
What else would he want? The other things like high bean assist are so rare to find its more a nice to have than anything else.
He might want a particular colour combination. - Try looking for a red, manual 330i with the above spec (I'm not trying to be obtuse - I've looked for myself).What he needs/likely to get
Leather
Blue tooth
Pro nav
M sport
Xenons
What else would he want? The other things like high bean assist are so rare to find its more a nice to have than anything else.
One thing that I'd want with leather is heated seats...they're a separate option. Also, If I intended keeping it for a long time, I wouldn't want the OEM satnav on the E90 as it will become obsolete / useless and will be impossible to replace without changing the whole dashboard...
...so a red, manual 330i with heated leather, xenons etc. but no nav? That's a needle in a haystack even if any were built like that!
OP, I can't really comment on the 325i but I've just bought a e93 330i and I love it, I've had it a couple of weeks now and haven't regretted it for a 2nd. 325i and 330i are the same engine so I'd be tempted to tell you to get the 330i as the mpg figures and near identical and you get another 60 or 70 horses with the 330i, 272 ps is the 330i power. The engine on these cars sounds great,
I've not been sparing the horses in the couple of weeks I've had it and I've no been getting 25mpg for my 2nd week of owning it. A friend has a 330i and he says he gets 29mpg with a mixture of roads for commuting.
I bought mine as an AUC as I wanted a good warranty, I got 2 years as part of the deal, I also sacrificed Sat Nav as it came with pretty much everything else, I hardly used the nav in my old e90 330d anyway, but the idrive is very handy to have so if you really want a car with nav, make sure you get it.
I've not been sparing the horses in the couple of weeks I've had it and I've no been getting 25mpg for my 2nd week of owning it. A friend has a 330i and he says he gets 29mpg with a mixture of roads for commuting.
I bought mine as an AUC as I wanted a good warranty, I got 2 years as part of the deal, I also sacrificed Sat Nav as it came with pretty much everything else, I hardly used the nav in my old e90 330d anyway, but the idrive is very handy to have so if you really want a car with nav, make sure you get it.
Clivey said:
He might want a particular colour combination. - Try looking for a red, manual 330i with the above spec (I'm not trying to be obtuse - I've looked for myself).
One thing that I'd want with leather is heated seats...they're a separate option. Also, If I intended keeping it for a long time, I wouldn't want the OEM satnav on the E90 as it will become obsolete / useless and will be impossible to replace without changing the whole dashboard...
...so a red, manual 330i with heated leather, xenons etc. but no nav? That's a needle in a haystack even if any were built like that!
Fair enough on coils combo. One thing that I'd want with leather is heated seats...they're a separate option. Also, If I intended keeping it for a long time, I wouldn't want the OEM satnav on the E90 as it will become obsolete / useless and will be impossible to replace without changing the whole dashboard...
...so a red, manual 330i with heated leather, xenons etc. but no nav? That's a needle in a haystack even if any were built like that!
However Sat Nav its DVD based eBay sell latest ones for £12 I changed mine job done.
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