E90 325i SE - Buying Tips?
Discussion
Knowledgeable guys and gals of PH, firstly, Happy New Year! I am after some help if I may.
Tomorrow I'm going to see a 2006 BMW 325i SE - is there anything in particular I should look out for? Are there any common faults/issues with these cars? It's the 2.5 which has done 56,000 miles with FBMWSH.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
ETA: I currently drive a 2005 1.4 TDCi Fiesta hence the request for help as I've never had anything like this before.
Tomorrow I'm going to see a 2006 BMW 325i SE - is there anything in particular I should look out for? Are there any common faults/issues with these cars? It's the 2.5 which has done 56,000 miles with FBMWSH.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
ETA: I currently drive a 2005 1.4 TDCi Fiesta hence the request for help as I've never had anything like this before.
Edited by Accumul8 on Sunday 1st January 18:26
Not according to my insurance company when I gave them the reg for a quote! But I have read this in a couple of different places.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_3_Series_(E90)
2007 onwards is a detuned 3.0, the 2006 is a 2.5.
ETA wiki link.
ETA
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_3_Series_(E90)
2007 onwards is a detuned 3.0, the 2006 is a 2.5.
ETA wiki link.
ETA
Edited by Accumul8 on Sunday 1st January 21:53
I have a 05/55 E90 325i with the 218bhp 2.5 straight 6 engine.
Only problem I had was uneven tickover/stalling at junctions. Will be obvious on any test drive as a warning light also came on.
No other problems but they do like a drink. Average around 30/32 mpg. Nice solid car though with a decent soundrack.
PS make sure the tyres have plenty life left. Just got 2 new fronts at £158 a corner.
Only problem I had was uneven tickover/stalling at junctions. Will be obvious on any test drive as a warning light also came on.
No other problems but they do like a drink. Average around 30/32 mpg. Nice solid car though with a decent soundrack.
PS make sure the tyres have plenty life left. Just got 2 new fronts at £158 a corner.
Edited by pattyg on Monday 2nd January 11:05
The car was in Bury and I'm from Chester. It wasn't the best experience!
I rang the guy at 11 and told him I'd be an hour. I get there, and the car has only just turned up - one of the guys has been using it over Xmas. I ask to take it out but there's no fuel in it so he has to go get some.
The dealer drives it on the outward journey and I drive it back. The test drive consisted of one turn left onto main road and one turn right off main road back to dealership. The bit inbetween was a straight road! Distance, approx 1.5 miles.
When the car first starts up, I notice that the service light is on. I'm not sure if this is showing how long until a service is required or if it needs one now. I ask the dealer but he didn't know. He went to ask the other guy who comes out and says that a service is overdue.
This dealership is selling it for a mate who is a MINI dealer/spares centre. But the odd thing is, the service book and all other literature wasn't with the car but still at the MINI dealer. Why? I have no idea.
Both rear tyres are verging on illegal and was picked up on when it was MOT'd 3 months ago. The price on the car was £6984. This is a trade price - sold as seen. If I want it serviced, new tyres and warranty, that'll be £7699.
I ask about length of warranty and he says 12 months. I ask him a little more about it and he says it's 3 or 6 months, he's unsure.
There are a few other things too but this has turned into a dealer bashing post which wasn't my intention.
As far as the car went, it felt nice and solidly built and on my limited test drive, the engine pulled strongly. Up to 40 mph, anyway. But I'll continue the search and I'm sure something will turn up!
I rang the guy at 11 and told him I'd be an hour. I get there, and the car has only just turned up - one of the guys has been using it over Xmas. I ask to take it out but there's no fuel in it so he has to go get some.
The dealer drives it on the outward journey and I drive it back. The test drive consisted of one turn left onto main road and one turn right off main road back to dealership. The bit inbetween was a straight road! Distance, approx 1.5 miles.
When the car first starts up, I notice that the service light is on. I'm not sure if this is showing how long until a service is required or if it needs one now. I ask the dealer but he didn't know. He went to ask the other guy who comes out and says that a service is overdue.
This dealership is selling it for a mate who is a MINI dealer/spares centre. But the odd thing is, the service book and all other literature wasn't with the car but still at the MINI dealer. Why? I have no idea.
Both rear tyres are verging on illegal and was picked up on when it was MOT'd 3 months ago. The price on the car was £6984. This is a trade price - sold as seen. If I want it serviced, new tyres and warranty, that'll be £7699.
I ask about length of warranty and he says 12 months. I ask him a little more about it and he says it's 3 or 6 months, he's unsure.
There are a few other things too but this has turned into a dealer bashing post which wasn't my intention.
As far as the car went, it felt nice and solidly built and on my limited test drive, the engine pulled strongly. Up to 40 mph, anyway. But I'll continue the search and I'm sure something will turn up!
When looking at any car with this range of engines you need to be very careful of any engine noises there is a problem with oil supply to the hydraulic lifters that makes them rattle that only a replacement cylinder head can properly repair which is big money.
If you google the fault it will tell you exactly which engines/ years are affected.
If you google the fault it will tell you exactly which engines/ years are affected.
neiljohnson said:
When looking at any car with this range of engines you need to be very careful of any engine noises there is a problem with oil supply to the hydraulic lifters that makes them rattle that only a replacement cylinder head can properly repair which is big money.
If you google the fault it will tell you exactly which engines/ years are affected.
Hi Neil. Thanks for the heads up, scary stuff! I think (and hope) the car I'm after I'd an N53. The affected engines are N51, N52 and N52K. If you google the fault it will tell you exactly which engines/ years are affected.
Hi,
The newer 325i SE N53 engines will have a slght metallic rattle on Idle. According to BMW main dealer at Ash Vale, this is perfectly normal and occurs due to an 'ecomony idle' that the new 325i s have. Its something to do with achieving a lower tax band for the 325i. As soon as you touch the accelerator, it goes away. I too, thought this was a lack of oil getting to the HVA units, but BAREN's BMW Ash Vale have assured me this is not the case.
Best wishes,
Lloyd.
The newer 325i SE N53 engines will have a slght metallic rattle on Idle. According to BMW main dealer at Ash Vale, this is perfectly normal and occurs due to an 'ecomony idle' that the new 325i s have. Its something to do with achieving a lower tax band for the 325i. As soon as you touch the accelerator, it goes away. I too, thought this was a lack of oil getting to the HVA units, but BAREN's BMW Ash Vale have assured me this is not the case.
Best wishes,
Lloyd.
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