Looking at e90 325i auto.

[silverdelange]

Hi all.

I need to upgrade the wife's car since we are expecting our first child, and I have been looking at a 2007 / 2008 325i auto with between 80 000 and 120 000 on the clock. Anything I should look out for? Are they quite reliable?

Thanks for any info!

 

[sclass]

Everyone is about to tell you to go buy a diesel, so save yourself the trouble and ask about those instead ......

 

[silverdelange]

Hahaha!

Ja, I fugured that much, but I am a bit over the diesels. It will take a lot of convincing for me to even consider buying a second hand, out of warranty diesel again. Scared of them turbo's.

 

[Iceman007]

325i e90s. Before 2009 Noisy heads. So any noise from the engine head means a 90%chance for head replacemant +/- 25k for New head. Mine had an rev hunting problem when starting cold and mine battled from 220 to 240 before the head was replaced. Injectors is also a problem that pops up on the e90 I6 engines. Mine had all 6 replaced on 50 000km. Fuel economy is 14L/100km driving light footed in town. Spirited driving will take you to 16L/100km in town. Long distance they are good for and you will get to between 11L/100km to 12L/100km. With a diesel you can get 6.0L/100km in town light footed and about 7L/100km heavy foot in town. Highway you can get from 4.8L/100km to 5.6L/100km depending how fast you drive

This was my reasons leaving the petrol and going for diesel. And the facts are all true as stated above. Now its what makes you happy that counts. Price of a head I am sure is more or less the same as a turbo. If something brakes be it on a diesel or petrol it is going to cost you money. All cars brake eventually.

Goodluck with your choice :thumbs:

If you can find a good 2010 e90 320d then rather take the e90 320d.

 

[KarshS]

i also had many issues with my pre lci e90 325i. Ended up trading in due to it being more at the dealer than actually in my possession.
Traded it in because even BMW gave up with the car. I would rather go 330i once if you dont want a diesel.

Auto boxes on N/A cars is very lazy.

 

[Twincam Shark]

i had a 2008 Mpack 325i
car was perfect with no issues
at 100 020km the car started giving me issues, with a electric fault, were it would driver perfect and then just not start again, and i was 20km out of motorplan.

Traded it in for a e90 mpack 2011 - 320d
I'm loving it and not one issue , besides the value dropping drastically.

But they are awesome cars , the 320d that is.

 

[sclass]

Holler at Phillip Foglar, he an E90 bosso, will set you straight with all N52 queries :thumbs:

 

[GPGrobler]

Does your wife know how to drive a manual?

 

[silverdelange]

Yep, she can drive a manual, but in Jhb traffic it becomes quite tiresome.

 

[Rocco]

Hi

I have an e90 LCI 325 and enjoying it...whilst under motor plan however I was paranoid and had BMW check/replace whatever noise, etc I was not happy with on the car. It’s been 10k since motor plan has lapsed and the car has not skipped a beat (touch wood)!
The car is fairly heavy on fuel if you heavy on the gas but I usually get anywhere between 550 to 600km on a tank avg 10.3L/100km, this is according to fuelly. I did 4000km or so last month with a fuel bill of just over R6500 so ya...

 

[sclass]

I get anywhere between 10.5 - 11.5 l/100km in traffic/start-stop, drops to the mid 8s on the highway at steady speeds. These figures go out the window though with a heavy right foot :fencelook: ....

 

[GPGrobler]

Yep, she can drive a manual, but in Jhb traffic it becomes quite tiresome.

Then I would say the auto is a good choice, even an older model will be alright, some inside info: a rep of BMW told a friend of mine that the M54 is the best motor BMW has built and they regret having to pull it in favour of newer "alternatives"

 

[Bernard///M3]

Can I throw in another option?

How about an SUV, like an X3. I looked on the autotrader and on average the car you looking at is about R170k, you can pick up X3s in that price range.

Trust me those small little "things" take up more space than you think, my daughter will be 2 later this month and my son will be born next week, 2 months after my daughter was born I traded my GTI & her TDi in for a Prado, not the lightest on fuel or the prettiest, but it's a brut off-road, comfortable, but mainly safe and a very spacious 7 seater. (My favourite feature is the built-in fridge) Besides the thirst for diesel you can't take this car away from my wife, she hates going in the 335, because she might have to leave something behind. I sometimes see people with tiny entry level cars with babies and wonder how they get it right, I suppose it's all about affordability!

But thought I would through that in as an option as your wife will like the raised ride height and extra space. (Prams aren't small anymore & it's also like buying a car:rollsmile

 

[Iceman007]

I get anywhere between 10.5 - 11.5 l/100km in traffic/start-stop, drops to the mid 8s on the highway at steady speeds. These figures go out the window though with a heavy right foot :fencelook: ....

Also agree and that heavy right foot was killing my wallet. Make no mistake they are lovely cars for the long open road. I tend to think they are not made for town because the Auto's are lazy on pull away. Driving miss daisy in town I just just managed 12.6L/100km and this was a car that only had 40 000km on the clock when I got it.

If you really want a petrol and can afford the petrol then go for a 330i or 335i. It can at least justify the consumption.

 

[sclass]

I'm the first to admit that the smaller sized N52s DO NOT like town driving, especially as they are a bit thin at low revs (plus the cars weight). Actually when I first got the 323 I was in the high 12s to low 13s , but not trying to drive it like a 330 allowed me to steadily lower the consumption.

If you can get a bigger motor by all means do so, but I think it is more important for you to get the best car that you can for your available budget, whether that ends up being a 325, 330, or a diesel :thumbs:

 

[GPGrobler]

If you go for the diesel, be ready for a hefty repair bill if it breaks, or breaks soon after you buy it. Also to warn you, a motorplan or ex-motorplan means nothing, many times cars have not been serviced when they were actually were supposed to be serviced, just because the owner did not report the fault, or did not know about it!

 

[Iceman007]

If you go for the diesel, be ready for a hefty repair bill if it breaks, or breaks soon after you buy it. Also to warn you, a motorplan or ex-motorplan means nothing, many times cars have not been serviced when they were actually were supposed to be serviced, just because the owner did not report the fault, or did not know about it!

Just remember any Car breaks at some point. I can tell you this from 2010 the diesel models are more reliable. As some other fenatic said his 325i was more in the shop for repairs than on the road. It was the same with me my 325i e90 2009 LCI was also more in the shop than I would like to mention. bought it on 40 000km and sold it on 68 000km a year and a half later.

:fencelook: My diesel i Have now has been to the shop only for minor problem or 2 and services and I have done 20 000km behind the wheel. What a pleasure compared to my 325i e90 (I must ad that my e46 325i manual was way better)

 

[sclass]

Sory to hear that, what issues did you experience with your e90 325? Between 40-68k you should've been worry free

 

[DieselFan]

Lol what are you guys on about? my e46 330d is on 417k kms. It still has the original turbo. The engine had never been opened. The most expensive thing is the gearbox but that's because bmw used a shit GM gearbox. And other than that just regular e46 stuff like the cooling system.

My first e90 320d got it at about 60 000kms had only ever had services nothing else was wrong. It was written off at 140 000 kms it was a 2006.

My current 2007 e90 320d I got at 70 000kms it's now tipped over to 101 000kms and has had software since I got it. And no issues other than an intercooler seal. Just services.

If you look after your car properly and have mechanical sympathy for your car and service your car every 10 000kms. You probably won't have problems. So I have no idea why people are saying you're going to be in for a hefty bill that is bs or the person doesn't look after their cars.

Sent from Samsung S5

 

[DieselFan]

Oh and another thing who buys a car without looking at the service history. You don't just say ok cool it had mp it must be fine. You look at the history to make sure you're not getting a lemon. My current e90 has been serviced every 10 000kms since new.

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