[willhollin]

There seem to be quite a few very good value E92 325i Coupes on the BMW AUC site. Anybody got one on here can give me the lowdown on what the engine is like?

[booforty]

I test drove a E90 325i once and the straight-six is an awesome engine. Sounds great and its very punchy although not quite as responsive as the 330i's straight-six... The 325i is a great engine though and a million miles better then the 4-cylinder 320i

[vivekk]

Same here- I test drove a 325i- you notice the difference between that & the 330i at higher revs.

All of the 6-cylinder engines are a great drive- you really need to try both out, if you can.

Viv

[willhollin]

I had a quick go in one on Friday, but that may have been the 3.0 L as it was an 07 plate, I then had a go in a 330D which was superb. Just a bit too expensive for me though.

So what do you reckon this is really worth? What sort of offer would be realistic?

http://www.rybrookshrewsburybmw.co.u...WB32010PS97139

[kend]

I have the original pre ed 325 and I think it is great - ticks all the boxes for me.
I am thinking of changing for an E93 and would have no hesitation in having the 325 petrol again.

[sheps]

I have a pre ED 325i E92 in which I have now covered nearly 19k miles since Spetember.

I think your opinion of one will have to take into account what cars you've had in the past and what you're directly coming from - cards on the table, I now wish I'd got something with more power and torque...

Don't get me wrong, the engine is silky smooth, it loves to rev (and it sounds great when doing so) but I just find it a bit flat unless you're working it quite hard.

Maybe my expectations were unrealistic, but I had hoped for the 'effortless gathering of pace' type in-gear thrust, and that just isn't present. I'm guessing the 330i would offer the aural experience as well as the grunt I was looking for...

I guess it comes down to your expectations and how you intend to drive;

Personally speaking, I think it's a good engine, and the straight six noise encourages you to work it quite hard. Which is good because, in my opinion, you need to do that to make genuinely swift progress.

[fortygreen]

Having lurked on this site for a few months, now it's time to join, having just bought a 325i SE Coupe manual, one of the first built in May 2007 with the N53 3.0 litre engine and ED.

To add to the replies to willhollin, I totally agree with sheps that it all depends on what you drove before. My first BMW was an E36 320i with the 2.0 litre straight six, dual VANOS and 150bhp. I think the 0-60 was about 10 secs but I thought I was in heaven back in 1992! A few years later I had an E39 523i - 2.5 litre and 170bhp, 0-60 in eight point something, not huge torque but no problems as the straight six revs so sweetly. Obviously the new car feels very quick compared to either of the other two, and for me the 325i is everything you would expect from a BMW straight six. Quieter than expected - maybe the exhaust is tuned that way to distinguish it from the 330i. I reckon you won't be dissatisfied with a 325i unless you first drive a 330i or 335i.

The fuel consumption seems to be as huge an advance as the performance. BMW just amaze me with how they manage to reconcile these conflicting objectives. Starting with only 200 miles on the odometer, I achieved 37mpg from Liverpool to Bucks taking a cross-country route then the M40. How does this compare to a pre-ED N52 325i I wonder?

[threethirty]

Originally Posted by sheps

Don't get me wrong, the engine is silky smooth, it loves to rev (and it sounds great when doing so) but I just find it a bit flat unless you're working it quite hard.

I have found the 330i to be similar to this. It has to be driven HARD to put a smile on your face, the low down torque is flat. But get over 5,000 revs (particularly in 2nd or 3rd gear) and it opens up strongly ... and the engine sound is a delight!

[chrisbin]

Originally Posted by threethirty

I have found the 330i to be similar to this. It has to be driven HARD to put a smile on your face, the low down torque is flat. But get over 5,000 revs (particularly in 2nd or 3rd gear) and it opens up strongly ... and the engine sound is a delight!

Yeah....I'm surprised that there isnt more low down urge in the 330i....oh and I actually remember the 325i E90 having an even better soundtrack than the 330i I have at the moment....

330i avg mpg so far over 600 mls is 27........oh and that includes a bit of "exercise" yesterday with a Grand Cherokee 6.1 SRT-8 which was "interesting".......

[-=TSL=-]

I have an 08 325i and am delighted with it! It should be known I came from an E46 318i so naturally it is a BIG step.

I just came back from the Nurburgring with it and had a chance to give it a bit of a thrashing. I was very surprised with the flexibility of the engine, and the aural note does urge you to nudge the redline, never sounding strained.
I found the actual performance to be more than enough for a 'gring beginner and it does need to be revved to achieve its full potential. I was surprised with the speed I could hold through the corners, but that is a benefit all of us have I guess..

Was happy to overtake a couple of R32's but whether that was a driver issue, remains a secret.

As said before, I can only imagine the 330i would improve on high end grunt, although I've never driven one.

Overall - 9/10
Could do with a bit more low end torque, but that would mean buying a diesel!


TSL

[CrimsonRedE93]

You always want what you haven't got:

Got top end want low end, got low end want more top end

Wheres that Audi R8 D


By the way I think the 325i engine is strong and rewarding to drive