E92 325i or 320i
Discussion
Hi, I have just sold my Scirocco and I am now in a predicament where I have to replace it. I've been looking at 5 year old 220/8i and 420/8i m sport coupes at between the £11.5k and £14k mark but have been thinking do I just put the money I got from the Scirocco back in to a E92 320i or 325i (around 2009) and scratch that BMW itch for a year without having to throw possibly another 10 grand at a car. Any opinions on the E92 and both the engines I have mentioned. Thanks
The later N53 has the same injector problems as the N43, but not the timing chain ones.
The cutoff date for the changeover was 2008, and apparently didn't quite line up with the LCI changeover. Consult the engine size (for the 325i, N53 = 3.0 L), tax bracket (N53 = cheaper) or use a VIN decoder (results include the engine type).
The cutoff date for the changeover was 2008, and apparently didn't quite line up with the LCI changeover. Consult the engine size (for the 325i, N53 = 3.0 L), tax bracket (N53 = cheaper) or use a VIN decoder (results include the engine type).
My local BMW Indy told me to stick to 6 cylinder engines, preferably petrol.
Which I have done for the last 5 years, and I've enjoyed all of them without any crippling bills despite their age so he may have had a point!
Based on that I'd definitely avoid an E92 320i.
When I started looking for an E91 last year I specifically looked for one with the N52 engine, as although it had the higher road tax band it seemed to suffer from less issues than the subsequent N53 engines.
So I ended up with a 325i that had done over 130K miles with full BMW History, and it drove really well.
But I wanted a bit more sparkle so I replaced it with an E90 330i earlier this year - if a 325i is an option you really should try a 330i if you can find one. It's the same engine, just a bit bigger, so running costs are the same - but it just has so much more grunt!
Which I have done for the last 5 years, and I've enjoyed all of them without any crippling bills despite their age so he may have had a point!
Based on that I'd definitely avoid an E92 320i.
When I started looking for an E91 last year I specifically looked for one with the N52 engine, as although it had the higher road tax band it seemed to suffer from less issues than the subsequent N53 engines.
So I ended up with a 325i that had done over 130K miles with full BMW History, and it drove really well.
But I wanted a bit more sparkle so I replaced it with an E90 330i earlier this year - if a 325i is an option you really should try a 330i if you can find one. It's the same engine, just a bit bigger, so running costs are the same - but it just has so much more grunt!
It looks as though the tax and mpg figures are the same for the 325i and 330i in 3 litre form, the figures only change when you go up to a 335i. Like you said though, the 330's are harder to find. The ones I've been looking at are below 80k miles so hopefully they will have a bit of life left on them and won't throw up too many issues
I have the 3.0 325i on a 57 plate and wouldn’t cal it reliable. It’s just been in to have all its injectors replaced again which must be about set number 5 since new and it hasn’t hit 100k miles yet.
It has an oil leak from somewhere but the bmw garage don’t have the skill to find it as the computer can’t tell them where it is. It’s had the sump gasket changed to no effect.
And it has an annoying vibration at low revs as you put down the throttle. I can feel it, passengers feel it but bmw master technicians cannot.
Reading this back, maybe the engine could be fine if looked at by a proper mechanic but my perception is that I’ve seen a number of other people with 325/330/335 of the same era having many of the same issues.
It has an oil leak from somewhere but the bmw garage don’t have the skill to find it as the computer can’t tell them where it is. It’s had the sump gasket changed to no effect.
And it has an annoying vibration at low revs as you put down the throttle. I can feel it, passengers feel it but bmw master technicians cannot.
Reading this back, maybe the engine could be fine if looked at by a proper mechanic but my perception is that I’ve seen a number of other people with 325/330/335 of the same era having many of the same issues.
The latest N53 injector revision (index 11, introduced in 2013/14) seem to be ok, but there's no guarantee that cars will have them fitted. There's never been a universal UK recall for the injectors as far as I'm aware, and many that have had their injectors fixed under warranty due to poor running have just had their old (and crap) pre-index 11 injectors replaced with newer (and still crap) pre-index 11 ones.
My N53 330i had a full injector+coil packs+spark plugs+NOx sensor+fuel sensor replacement in late 2017, presumably to the newest type of injector, and it's run well enough since then.
It does still use oil, though, and the idle noise is still a bit crap. OK, so the fuel economy is good, and the VED is lower, and overall I do like my car. But is this really a great tradeoff? This engine just doesn't feel like BMW's finest hour.
But if you want a modernish 3 series BMW with a NA petrol straight six, what are your other options?
My N53 330i had a full injector+coil packs+spark plugs+NOx sensor+fuel sensor replacement in late 2017, presumably to the newest type of injector, and it's run well enough since then.
It does still use oil, though, and the idle noise is still a bit crap. OK, so the fuel economy is good, and the VED is lower, and overall I do like my car. But is this really a great tradeoff? This engine just doesn't feel like BMW's finest hour.
But if you want a modernish 3 series BMW with a NA petrol straight six, what are your other options?
SlowV6 said:
Have you considered a 330d or 335d or are diesels out?
Pre LCI 330ds are M57, with post getting the N57. I think 335ds are all M57s. Most are auto's, which are the ZF6 and suit the engine really well.
Most people are scared of diesels now. (Which is great as I can buy them cheaper!).Pre LCI 330ds are M57, with post getting the N57. I think 335ds are all M57s. Most are auto's, which are the ZF6 and suit the engine really well.
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