E91 Straight Six Bearding
Discussion
phil_cardiff said:
rallycross said:
stevemcs said:
Question about the 325i with the 3.0 engine rather than the 2.5, are they any good ? I realise they can be fitted with the 3.0 inlet manifold to increase power. Or should i just consider a 30/35d.
The 325i 2.5 is one to avoid - slow but thirsty.The 3:0 325.i is a lot better and if you get a post 2009 model they can be remapped back to 330/130i level of power for less than £300:
Your money, your choice. Obviously.
2.5 is the N52
3.0 is the N53 (and the various issues associated with it).
g3org3y said:
phil_cardiff said:
rallycross said:
stevemcs said:
Question about the 325i with the 3.0 engine rather than the 2.5, are they any good ? I realise they can be fitted with the 3.0 inlet manifold to increase power. Or should i just consider a 30/35d.
The 325i 2.5 is one to avoid - slow but thirsty.The 3:0 325.i is a lot better and if you get a post 2009 model they can be remapped back to 330/130i level of power for less than £300:
Your money, your choice. Obviously.
2.5 is the N52
3.0 is the N53 (and the various issues associated with it).
MajorMantra said:
"Avoid" is a bit strong. I'm sure the 3.0 is better (similar mpg but more performance I'm told...) but in everyday driving the 2.5 is perfectly pleasant, and the cost of entry is a good bit lower.
Lower entry cost is why I ended up buying an E91 325i with the N52 engine early last year. But it just felt a bit sluggish, so earlier this year I replaced it with an E90 330i with the N52 engine as I didn't want to gamble on the potential N53 engine issues. An E91 330i was always going to be out of budget - Tourings just seem to command higher prices, and don't seem to come up for sale too often.
I performed one of those really unglamorous, yet satisfying jobs this morning.
I sorted out the rear wiper.
Since I’ve had this car I’ve noticed the rear wiper was a little slower than I’d like, and wasn’t parking properly. Cars with wipers just stuck at haphazard angles. E91s and 1 series seem to be notorious for this.
It’s a few bolts, knock the inner shaft out and then a sand with some 800 grit wet and dry, general cleaning and scraping, and back together. The wiper now moves much more freely, wipes properly, and parks where it should do. Just in time for winter.
I sorted out the rear wiper.
Since I’ve had this car I’ve noticed the rear wiper was a little slower than I’d like, and wasn’t parking properly. Cars with wipers just stuck at haphazard angles. E91s and 1 series seem to be notorious for this.
It’s a few bolts, knock the inner shaft out and then a sand with some 800 grit wet and dry, general cleaning and scraping, and back together. The wiper now moves much more freely, wipes properly, and parks where it should do. Just in time for winter.
MajorMantra said:
"Avoid" is a bit strong. I'm sure the 3.0 is better (similar mpg but more performance I'm told...) but in everyday driving the 2.5 is perfectly pleasant, and the cost of entry is a good bit lower.
It’s good advice I’ve had all the different E90/E91 models and the 2.5i 325 (I’ve had 3) feels lazy and underpowered v’s a 3.0 and the fuel consumption is no better than a 3.0 so now these cars are relatively cheap to buy best avoid buying a 2.5 if you can get a 3.0 - but of course a 2.5 is still a much better choice than a 4 cylinder one as nice and silky smooth and copes fine with big mileage.Over the years I’ve had 320i, 320d, 325i (2.5 and 3.0) and 325d, 335i, 335d; 330d and 330i (n52 and n53) I’d always pick a 6 cylinder version and now these cars are getting older the one for me would be 330i n52 in manual.
rallycross said:
I’d always pick a 6 cylinder version and now these cars are getting older the one for me would be 330i n52 in manual.
I've always thought how much of a shame is it how rare/difficult to get hold of the 330i n52 manual is though. It is also my ideal, and I foolishly didn't wait and went for the auto with my old one. Mr Tidy said:
Lower entry cost is why I ended up buying an E91 325i with the N52 engine early last year.
But it just felt a bit sluggish, so earlier this year I replaced it with an E90 330i with the N52 engine as I didn't want to gamble on the potential N53 engine issues. An E91 330i was always going to be out of budget - Tourings just seem to command higher prices, and don't seem to come up for sale too often.
How many times have you told everyone this ? A million ? But it just felt a bit sluggish, so earlier this year I replaced it with an E90 330i with the N52 engine as I didn't want to gamble on the potential N53 engine issues. An E91 330i was always going to be out of budget - Tourings just seem to command higher prices, and don't seem to come up for sale too often.
helix402 said:
stevemcs said:
How does the 335d and 325i N53 compare, it would have to be auto.
The 335d is very fast and quite economical. The 325i isn’t. (No offence intended to anyone who likes the 325i. We all have different tastes).rallycross said:
MajorMantra said:
"Avoid" is a bit strong. I'm sure the 3.0 is better (similar mpg but more performance I'm told...) but in everyday driving the 2.5 is perfectly pleasant, and the cost of entry is a good bit lower.
It’s good advice I’ve had all the different E90/E91 models and the 2.5i 325 (I’ve had 3) feels lazy and underpowered v’s a 3.0 and the fuel consumption is no better than a 3.0 so now these cars are relatively cheap to buy best avoid buying a 2.5 if you can get a 3.0 - but of course a 2.5 is still a much better choice than a 4 cylinder one as nice and silky smooth and copes fine with big mileage.Over the years I’ve had 320i, 320d, 325i (2.5 and 3.0) and 325d, 335i, 335d; 330d and 330i (n52 and n53) I’d always pick a 6 cylinder version and now these cars are getting older the one for me would be 330i n52 in manual.
stevemcs said:
Thanks, but E91 330i’s with xenons and heated seats are a little thin on the ground, 325s are more plentiful but 335ds are even easier to find. Although not at 4K
I usually keep an eye on Autotrader to see what's available 'locally'. 330is seem to be quite uncommon, especially in Touring form.LOADS of 320is though.
g3org3y said:
What are your thoughts re the well documented issues of the N53? A 'when' rather than 'if' situation or just down to luck?
I’ve had 3 of the 330i N53, it’s a great engine that loves revs, of the 3 I’ve had only one had any problems and you need a really good specialist to avoid painful bills, far too complicated for what it is. g3org3y said:
I usually keep an eye on Autotrader to see what's available 'locally'. 330is seem to be quite uncommon, especially in Touring form.
LOADS of 320is though.
Of course. 320 outsell 330 by about 10:1LOADS of 320is though.
As we know, 320 is about as far as you need to go.
Once you've got something that will cruise happy at 120 mph all day every day,
some 50 mph beyond the UK limit, you've got enough power.
Works well on the only unlimited roads in Europe, too.
dcb said:
g3org3y said:
I usually keep an eye on Autotrader to see what's available 'locally'. 330is seem to be quite uncommon, especially in Touring form.
LOADS of 320is though.
Of course. 320 outsell 330 by about 10:1LOADS of 320is though.
As we know, 320 is about as far as you need to go.
Once you've got something that will cruise happy at 120 mph all day every day,
some 50 mph beyond the UK limit, you've got enough power.
Works well on the only unlimited roads in Europe, too.
g3org3y said:
dcb said:
g3org3y said:
I usually keep an eye on Autotrader to see what's available 'locally'. 330is seem to be quite uncommon, especially in Touring form.
LOADS of 320is though.
Of course. 320 outsell 330 by about 10:1LOADS of 320is though.
As we know, 320 is about as far as you need to go.
Once you've got something that will cruise happy at 120 mph all day every day,
some 50 mph beyond the UK limit, you've got enough power.
Works well on the only unlimited roads in Europe, too.
The N52 is also 10x less likely to s
t itself also, so I have no idea why you'd buy the 320. Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff