Discussion
Evening all, decided to treat myself to an e90 325I m sport. Yes I know I should of bought a 330 but I couldn't pass this one up, as far as I'm concerned she's beautiful. Let me know what you think and any ideas on engine mods.
Hope you like it these were taken after a 6hour polishing day
Hope you like it these were taken after a 6hour polishing day
Edited by Swampy325i on Tuesday 21st August 20:12
It had a full service prior to me buying it, I'm quite new to the bmw scene I had an e36 years ago and an e46 before this one but didn't tinker much as it was just a work horse. I was contemplating a custom exhaust and air filter. I'd quite like to buy some Angel eyes for it. I've heard that the 330 injectors also fit??
Wow - I love that Swampy! 
I had an E46 325ti Sport in Imola Red for 3 years, but it was time to move it on.
So I swapped it for an E91 325i SE for a bit more practicality - it is supposed to be my sensible car after all!
And while it's Charcoal Grey, it does have a Lemon leather interior - but I do miss the Sport seats.
Mine has the N52 engine. Partly due to the high gearing at first I thought it was a bit "meh" - but then I discovered you just have to rev the nuts off it!
I hope you enjoy yours - it looks fantastic.
I had an E46 325ti Sport in Imola Red for 3 years, but it was time to move it on.
So I swapped it for an E91 325i SE for a bit more practicality - it is supposed to be my sensible car after all!
And while it's Charcoal Grey, it does have a Lemon leather interior - but I do miss the Sport seats.
Mine has the N52 engine. Partly due to the high gearing at first I thought it was a bit "meh" - but then I discovered you just have to rev the nuts off it!
I hope you enjoy yours - it looks fantastic.
Swampy325i said:
Thanks Mr Tidy, yeah I had the 318ci e46 before this but it was just a work horse so it didn't get the attention this one will. I believe mine is the n52 lump also am I right in thinking they have the 3.0l block? But down as a 2.5?
The 325 is a 3l block, but missing the fancy intake.Some people have retrofitted the parts to bring it to 330i spec but it's not very cost effective.
Badgerboy said:
Swampy325i said:
Thanks Mr Tidy, yeah I had the 318ci e46 before this but it was just a work horse so it didn't get the attention this one will. I believe mine is the n52 lump also am I right in thinking they have the 3.0l block? But down as a 2.5?
The 325 is a 3l block, but missing the fancy intake.Some people have retrofitted the parts to bring it to 330i spec but it's not very cost effective.
I don't think there is much you can do to increase power on the 2.5 N52 (Google N52b25). The 330i was a 3.0 engine (N52b30).
A map with supporting mods might yield some power and driveability improvements, but nothing much in the grand scheme of things.
A supercharger or turbo will probably get decent numbers (300hp+), but expensive so not cost effective. If you were willing to do that I would sell and buy a 335i / E46 M3 / Audi S4 etc.
If you really want to make it faster, then I think you can change the diff to the 320i one which has a shorter final drive ratio, so give shorter gears. It's a compromise, but it will make it accelerate faster. Smaller wheels + tyres would help in the same way too.
Other thing to consider is loosing weight, but that might also be too much of a compromise in terms of NVH.
I think you could end up spending a LOT of money making the car faster, but worse in every other way and too compromised. Instead, I would enjoy it as is and add missing spec to make it nicer, so retrofitting options like split armrest or stuff like that. Cheap, but makes a difference.
A map with supporting mods might yield some power and driveability improvements, but nothing much in the grand scheme of things.
A supercharger or turbo will probably get decent numbers (300hp+), but expensive so not cost effective. If you were willing to do that I would sell and buy a 335i / E46 M3 / Audi S4 etc.
If you really want to make it faster, then I think you can change the diff to the 320i one which has a shorter final drive ratio, so give shorter gears. It's a compromise, but it will make it accelerate faster. Smaller wheels + tyres would help in the same way too.
Other thing to consider is loosing weight, but that might also be too much of a compromise in terms of NVH.
I think you could end up spending a LOT of money making the car faster, but worse in every other way and too compromised. Instead, I would enjoy it as is and add missing spec to make it nicer, so retrofitting options like split armrest or stuff like that. Cheap, but makes a difference.
Edited by Mike335i on Sunday 26th August 18:27
Fair enough I can live with that as I said it's quick enough for a family car just the inner manchild in me wants abit more power. I may just consider the custom exhaust then want more of a growl ratger than the current gust of wind sound.
Cheers gents
Not a fan of the post picture i put up so heres a better one....... I wonder if my pal would notice if I nicked his diff 😂😂
Cheers gents
Not a fan of the post picture i put up so heres a better one....... I wonder if my pal would notice if I nicked his diff 😂😂
Looking good in that photo OP - I wish I could have found a red E91!
It was the later models with the next-generation of engine (N53) where both 325i and 330i were 3 both 3 litres. But after reading a few things about issues with coking-up, failed injectors and High Pressure Fuel Pumps I avoided those on purpose.
The 325i is quick enough, but you do need to rev it! Enjoy!
It was the later models with the next-generation of engine (N53) where both 325i and 330i were 3 both 3 litres. But after reading a few things about issues with coking-up, failed injectors and High Pressure Fuel Pumps I avoided those on purpose.
The 325i is quick enough, but you do need to rev it! Enjoy!
Mr Tidy said:
Looking good in that photo OP - I wish I could have found a red E91!
It was the later models with the next-generation of engine (N53) where both 325i and 330i were 3 both 3 litres. But after reading a few things about issues with coking-up, failed injectors and High Pressure Fuel Pumps I avoided those on purpose.
The 325i is quick enough, but you do need to rev it! Enjoy!
The n53 325 is as quick as the n52 330i 3.0 and better on fuel but suffers a slightly diesel sound track at idle and greater fragility, though not as bad as some would make out. Repeatedly.It was the later models with the next-generation of engine (N53) where both 325i and 330i were 3 both 3 litres. But after reading a few things about issues with coking-up, failed injectors and High Pressure Fuel Pumps I avoided those on purpose.
The 325i is quick enough, but you do need to rev it! Enjoy!
Enjoy the motor OP. The shorter stroke of the 2.5 should make it more revvy. Revs are good. I think people forget that these days with diesel and turbo petrol short power bands. Booooooooring.
Edited by bmwmike on Sunday 26th August 23:50
bmwmike said:
The n53 325 is as quick as the n52 330i 3.0 and better on fuel but suffers a slightly diesel sound track at idle and greater fragility, though not as bad as some would make out. Repeatedly.
Sorry if I may have posted more than once about BMW straight 6s, but I can't see how an N53 325i rated at 218 bhp is going to be as quick as an N52 330i rated at 258 bhp. BMW don't seem to think it is, and they should know! Mr Tidy said:
Sorry if I may have posted more than once about BMW straight 6s, but I can't see how an N53 325i rated at 218 bhp is going to be as quick as an N52 330i rated at 258 bhp. BMW don't seem to think it is, and they should know!
It obviously isn't as fast as a 330i as it is a less powerful version of the same car.Edited by Mike335i on Monday 27th August 01:18
bmwmike said:
No significant weight difference but not sure about gearing. Either way I was talking n52 330i to n53 325i and not the OP car so apologies for dragging it off topic.
The n52 2.5 is a lovely lump. Ops car in imola red looks great.
Fair enough, but E90s didn't come in Imola Red - they were Crimson Red, Japan Red or Vermillion Red (metallic). The n52 2.5 is a lovely lump. Ops car in imola red looks great.
Going by the photos I'd guess the OP's car is Japan Red - and it looks lovely in that colour!
"Imola Rot II" was an E46 colour - like these two.
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