Opinions On 325ci's Please, Good Or Bad....

[Zircon]

I am going to look at a 325Ci soon to make sure it is what I want to replace my current '95 E36 318is Coupe with.

I don't expect it to be a road rocket but I do expect it to be significantly quicker than my 318is.

Most importantly though to me is to get peoples opinions on the 325Ci engine.

I bought the 318is without researching properly and although it is a fine little car I have never been impressed with the engine, the way it sounds when driving hard, the way it sounds old and its quite poor performance. It uses no oil or water and doesn't smoke, I just think it is a bit of an ancient design.

The car I am looking at is a 2001 with 92k on the clock......

How old is the 326Ci engine design?

Are the 325's reliable, expensive to fix?

Do they sound clanky?

Do they get through many sensors?

Do they like being revved?

Do they respond quickly?

Are they flexible? etc......

Thanks

Rob

[scorched soul]

Can I ask if there a reason you are going for the 325ci over the 330ci?

I only ask as the running costs between the two are negligble - fuel economy is almost the same, insurance group not that much different, maintanence and parts are very similar etc. When I was looking for my car, I can't say I found any difference in prices...I actually bought a 2001 model with about 90K on the clock, so right around your level.

The 325ci is a great engine, but the 330ci more so, so perhaps have a little search for those?

To answer your q's (applies to both 325 and 330)

They are reliable if maintained properly, check for service history.

Engines are flexible, free revving (325 perhaps more so than 330) and very refined/smooth, no clanking whatsoever.

The engines themselves are responsive, however I personally find the drive by wire system slightly annoying, however I think this more of a problem with the auto, so if you're going for manual, you should be ok. Btw, would def recomend manual only for 325, but 330 can take the auto.

Good luck with your search. Whats your budget?

[C_4SAD]

I'm happy with my 325, but if I were to purchase again, I'd have gone for the 330...as mentioned above, there really isn't much in the running costs.

[RickyZ]

I'm happy with my 325, but if I were to purchase again, I'd have gone for the 330...as mentioned above, there really isn't much in the running costs.

Push for 330 if you can dude

[Devil2575]

There isn't much in the running costs but 325s are cheaper to buy.

I test drove a 325 before I bought my 330 and it was a nice car. Like the 330 but with less power. You also tend to get less kit in 325s compared to 330s as well.

[C_4SAD]

Push for 330 if you can dude

I was looking at them today, but think the next step will probably be an X5 (have another littl'n on the way, so think it would be wise choice for space)

[RickyZ]

I was looking at them today, but think the next step will probably be an X5 (have another littl'n on the way, so think it would be wise choice for space)

another one making how many dude ? 4 doors are suprisingly spacious

[scorched soul]

The only thing I will say for the 325ci is that the engine is supposed to be a lot sweeter and free revving. Some people to think that a manual 325ci can be preferable to an auto 330, and even a manual 330.

The reason is that you can (have to?) push the 325ci a little harder, but that means you can enjoy the car more often at lower speeds. The 330 is a lot more muscular but has so much power that you actually have to be going pretty fast to get the real enjoyment of revving a car. The 325ci lets you have a little more fun more of the time.

Saying that, the 330 is obviously faster, and I think much torquier and has more of a big car feel of picking up speed effortlessly, but that perhaps takes away from some of the enjoyment.

I'm not sure if I agree with the above, as I haven't driven a 325, but I can certainly understand the rationale. I used to love chucking about my sisters 1.4 clio, it was a slow POS, but it was also so much fun wringing the engine's neck at llike 30mph and chucking it about. I could never have that kind of fun in my 330 and do actually kind of miss it.

The 325 is obviously a lot closer to the 330 than a clio, but maybe drive them back to back?

I do think you will always be thinking of a 330 if you get a 325 tho..

[Devil2575]

IMHO if you have a family and need more space and practicallity a 5 series is a better choice than an X5. A 5 series touring has loads of room.

[Mike-]

I wouldn't say the running costs are negligible between the 325 and 330. Insurance would've been a bomb on the 330 (I'm 21), and on a run I get over 40mpg if needs be. Driving like a regular person (80-90 motorway/some town) I still get over 30, which I doubt a 330 can do.

I don't really know what I'd do with an extra 40bhp, handy on the motorway I guess. I find by the time I've put my foot down and about to go into third I'm either breaking the law or I'm in the back of someone.

Never driven a 318 personally but the 6 cyl in the BMW definitely is a different world to all the 4 cylinder cars I've driven. They do liked to be revved, which is good because they need to be to get any pace out of them. Not 'nippy' cars and only really get going at 3.5-4k, but obviously once you are going, happy days.

[scorched soul]

IMHO if you have a family and need more space and practicallity a 5 series is a better choice than an X5. A 5 series touring has loads of room.

The touing would be much better to drive too, right? Since it would basically be like driving a 5 series saloon, as opposed to some massive 4x4???

[Rambo84]

I bought a 325ci last month and although I love it, having subsequently driven a 330ci I wish I'd have spent a little more! Don't get me wrong there’s plenty of power from the 325 but if you do a lot of motorway driving the extra torque in the 330 makes overtaking much swifter. I wouldn’t install an induction kit or custom exhaust on my 325 as I don’t believe it has enough power to justify the sound, whereas if I had a 330 I’d have a Dave.f/Bry.f kit lol

At the time my rationale was, 325 cheaper to buy by at least £1000 and insurance was £180 cheaper (325 ins grp 16, 330 ins grp 17). Most 330's I looked at had been driven hard, whereas my 325 previous owner was an old lady who insisted on a main dealer service!

[RickyZ]

I bought a 325ci last month and although I love it, having subsequently driven a 330ci I wish I'd have spent a little more! Don't get me wrong there’s plenty of power from the 325 but if you do a lot of motorway driving the extra torque in the 330 makes overtaking much swifter. I wouldn’t install an induction kit or custom exhaust on my 325 as I don’t believe it has enough power to justify the sound, whereas if I had a 330 I’d have a Dave.f/Bry.f kit lol

At the time my rationale was, 325 cheaper to buy by at least £1000 and insurance was £180 cheaper (325 ins grp 16, 330 ins grp 17). Most 330's I looked at had been driven hard, whereas my 325 previous owner was an old lady who insisted on a main dealer service!

330 will achieve over 30mpg on a run, I had my old one upto 32

330 has better noise and more torque as stated and overtaking is simply the easiest thing ever

be careful tho as they gather speed quickly

[DJ Syxx]

330 will achieve over 30mpg on a run, I had my old one upto 32

330 has better noise and more torque as stated and overtaking is simply the easiest thing ever

be careful tho as they gather speed quickly

I had 36mpg out of mine and the torque makes all the difference. Go with the 330 you wont regret it.

[Jay.]

i was 21 when i got my 330ci. i had no problem insuring it for 1100 quid and the mpg is 29-33 mpg on town/motorway driving easy.

[Zircon]

Great number of replies guys, thank you all.

I totally get what you are saying about the 330i but I already own a 300bhp MR2 Turbo that will do a 5 second 0-60 so I don't really need another rocket like a 330i. Of course if money was no object then I would have one as a preference.

The 325 will be a daily drive with a decent turn of speed and lovely and comfortable. This will be in complete contrast to the MR2 which is highly tuned, on race suspension, low, crashy, noisy but exceptionally fast and fun - a real weekend car.

My budget is going to be £3500 when I get it together in a few months time, so a little short for a 330i and I don't want over 100k on the clock if I can avoid it. I know they will easily take it, but I want it to be me that gets the best life out of the car.

So as a preference I want one of the bigger 6 pot engines, with insurance reasonable rather than expensive (I am 30, but am already insuring an expensive toy) and am more interested in the condition and spec of the car I get than the difference between a 325 and 330. I have got 2 modified cars at the moment (the 318is has quite a few bits) but I want to have 1 standard car to love for what it is and not feel the need to tinker heavily.

Cheers

Rob

[mit]

My 325 is great around town and I wouldn't go to the trouble of swapping it for a 330 now, but I wish I hadn't bought it on the spur of the moment like that, as I wish it was a 330. There is no rational reason for this though since 90% of my driving is in London and I've never been beaten off the lights when I needed to get away first, so it's more of a badge kudos thing lol

On the motorway it runs just as sweetly, and I've never had a problem but then I don't drive like Lewis Hamilton in a F1 car or anything. A lot of the power hungry dudes on the forum who go for induction kits and tuning upgrades and stuff will tell you it's not fast enough, but it's plenty fast enough for me

Oh and the engine does rev very nicely, but feels slow compared to other (non BMW) cars. But then strangely, when you accelerate quickly from standstill it gets to the red line before you realise it. I can't explain why that is, maybe to do with the VANOS or something.

[s1monove]

Hi mate, i dont think the 330 is that quick anyway (mine is an auto though!!)

if you get the 325 you will always wish you got the 330

if you do get the 325, de-badge it and nobody will know the difference anyway!

[Nav]

i got a 325ci n i dont really wish i got a 330, im happy with it, does the job!