Has anyone owned a 3 series saloon?

There seemes to be a fair few 325d around, with the old 6 pot at a not too bad price on private sale.

So I guess apart from the extra £60 a year in tax, what's making them so cheap?

Sure it's not a 330d, and it's not got the economy of a 323d either, but you'd never make that back in 5 years of ownership looking at the price differences.

So, what are they like, good to drive?

How bad are they on the snow with winter tyres and how unforgiving of lifting off in corners are they?

Ta

You're looking at the e9* I assume? If so I'm of no help!

What are you talking about?

The E36 325tds?

The E46 325d?

Or the E90?

The 325tds is a cranky sod of an engine, and not very economical to boot. The E46 guise is when BMW diesels started getting really good, but the 330d is the real pick of the bunch- especially in 'facelifted' format (204bhp and tonnes of torque). Just watch out if you go for an auto 'box- the torque has been known to blow the converter to pieces, and rebuilds are not cheap. Not had any real experience with the E90, but from what I've heard from friends who have owned/do own them, they're incredibly smooth and very good on fuel.

My boss is selling a very nice 330d estate on an '03 plate if that's the sort of thing you're after.

Regarding winter driving, they're a bit of a handful on winter tyres or normal tyres. Less so on winters, obviously. The rather large amount of torque they produce means you need extremely delicate and precise throttle inputs.

There was an e46 325d?! Didn't know that! I've got an e46 330d and am very pleased with in the in couple of weeks I've had it.

I believe (could be wrong) the auto box is rated at being below the amount of torque the engine produces as standard on an e46 anyway.

Edit - stupid keyboard keeps jumping and overwriting stuff - must proof read!

Edited 19 June, 201213 yr by TriggerFish

There was an 325d?! Didn't know that! I've got an e46 330d and am very pleased with in the in couple of weeks I've had it.

I believe (could be wrong) the auto box is rated at being below the amount of torque the engine produces as standard on an e46 anyway.

For other markets, yes... strange, seeing as there was an E39 525d sold in the UK.

it's a 2010 model if that helps.

e90/1 I think then. Not something I know anything about.

Snap. You've hit a black hole.

If it helps, the _25d in that era of 3-Series is actually a 3.0, not a 2.5. So you may as well go the whole hog. It might be that the _25d is the old E46 330d engine, seems to have similar outputs...

No it's a 3.0 Lump, but as i said they seem to be rudely cheap, unlike a 330 or 335d

Newer ones seem to be pretty good on MPG on paper but BMW does seem to have a rep online for being miles away from the official figures.

Watch the DPF on higher mileage cars. They have a limited life of about 80-120k. Apparently there is a hidden menu on the iDrive that will being up the remaining life of the DPF (bit like a variable service indicator) when it hits the limit the car will want it changed. Don't know if that can be reset.

Auto are sealed for life which isn't good for higher miles, manuals seem to be pretty rare in n25d and n30d models.

Boot is small, I had one of the other parents at a childminder speak to me about my Octy because he's so fed up of the small boot on his 3 series. They resort to taking his wife's Fiesta on most trips with the kids because it's more practical.

Other than that I do like them and they all drive like a dream as long as you avoid the M-Sport suspension on run flats. Apparently a spare wheel kit isn't that expensive so you can switch to normal tyres.

Edited 20 June, 201213 yr by Aspman

Get a 325i instead.

Get a 325i instead.

Have heard that on the older engine there isn't that much of a gap between the big petrols and big dervs. But a 330i might be A LOT cheaper to buy than a 330d

I was tempted by a petrol 6 pot, but then I think it might have to be a 130i

Anything with a big thirsty petrol engine is very cheap, although more on tax/insurance too/

Edited 20 June, 201213 yr by cheezemonkhai

Get an old 'un. Pre 23 March 2006 VED is capped at £270. Not cheap but better than £475

The E90 325d is just a detuned 330d, as far as I know. So it's still a 3 litre, straight six turbodiesel, puts out just under 200 bhp. A 330d of the same era (08-10) is about 245 bhp. You can probably get a 325d remapped to similar figures.

The E90 325d is just a detuned 330d, as far as I know. So it's still a 3 litre, straight six turbodiesel, puts out just under 200 bhp. A 330d of the same era (08-10) is about 245 bhp. You can probably get a 325d remapped to similar figures.

Yeah it is.

Get an old 'un. Pre 23 March 2006 VED is capped at £270. Not cheap but better than £475

Indeed, could be tempting, but I'd probably want a newer car as the main motivation to change would be to get something I don't have to worry about for a while.