BMW 320d vs 325d

jamieh

Hi all,

I'm looking at a 2007/2008 E92 coupe at the moment.

I'm between a 2008 325d or a 2007 320d.

I know the 325d obviously has more poke but in general is there a big difference in fuel economy, servicing costs, etc?

Thanks.

Leonard Hofstadter

A 2008 325d will be cheaper to tax than a 2007 320d, plus it will have six rather than four cylinders, so I know which of those two I'd be having anyway:)!

jamieh

Cheers for the reply.

Yep, the 325 is €330 vs €660 to tax the 320.

In terms of fuel economy is there a huge real world difference or is it a few less MPG with the 325?

In terms of servicing is there any major pitfalls with the 6 pot vs the 4 pot or are they fairly even par when it comes to maintenance?

Leonard Hofstadter

jamieh wrote: »

Cheers for the reply.

Yep, the 325 is €330 vs €660 to tax the 320.

In terms of fuel economy is there a huge real world difference or is it a few less MPG with the 325?

In terms of servicing is there any major pitfalls with the 6 pot vs the 4 pot or are they fairly even par when it comes to maintenance?

A 325 will definitely use more fuel and it will be more expensive to service as well being a six cylinder, but it is very fuel efficient for its engine size if you know what I mean. It's worth noting that 320ds from September 2007 onwards got a different engine, which has problems with the timing chain, and is astronomically expensive to replace should it go (they start rattling to let you know they're on the way out), as for some daft reason BMW decided to put the timing chain on the back of the engine (the side facing the driver), which means the engine has to come out if/when it goes:eek:!

The 325d fortunately does not have this design of engine (until mid 2010) so you won't have to worry about any reliability problems with it as long as it's serviced on time all the time!

166man

captainspeed wrote: »

A 325 will definitely use more fuel and it will be more expensive to service as well being a six cylinder, but it is very fuel efficient for its engine size if you know what I mean. It's worth noting that 320ds from September 2007 onwards got a different engine, which has problems with the timing chain, and is astronomically expensive to replace should it go (they start rattling to let you know they're on the way out), as for some daft reason BMW decided to put the timing chain on the back of the engine (the side facing the driver), which means the engine has to come out if/when it goes:eek:!

The 325d fortunately does not have this design of engine (until mid 2010) so you won't have to worry about any reliability problems with it as long as it's serviced on time all the time!

You'd think it was the worst engine in the world the way you harp on about the timing chain being at the back of the engine...:D

Leonard Hofstadter

166man wrote: »

You'd think it was the worst engine in the world the way you harp on about the timing chain being at the back of the engine...:D

If it didn't have the defective sprocket and crankshaft (which causes the chain to fail in the first place), then there would be no need to harp on about it at all:). As you well know, a properly made timing chain should last the lifetime of the car, so in theory putting the chain at the back of the engine *should not* be a problem for anyone that maintains the car properly.

Anan1

captainspeed wrote: »

A 2008 325d will be cheaper to tax than a 2007 320d, plus it will have six rather than four cylinders, so I know which of those two I'd be having anyway:)!

Remember though that the cheaper tax will be more than outweighed by the higher purchase price. I'd sooner the six cylinders too, but you'd have to compare prices before advising the OP either way.

Idbatterim

op are you doing enough mileage to justify a diesel? the 6 cylinder will be nicer than the 4 cylinder diesel, but the 6 cylinder petrol would be nicer again... looking at the figures there, the 6 cylinder diesel only has 19bhp more and 0-100 is only .5 second quicker than the 4 cylinder...

jamieh

Idbatterim wrote: »

op are you doing enough mileage to justify a diesel? the 6 cylinder will be nicer than the 4 cylinder diesel, but the 6 cylinder petrol would be nicer again... looking at the figures there, the 6 cylinder diesel only has 19bhp more and 0-100 is only .5 second quicker than the 4 cylinder...

Hey,

Unfortunately, I do fairly high mileage so deffo have to go for a diesel.

Reckon I'll probably go for the 325d to avoid the timing chain issue, greater resale value and cheaper tax. There isn't a huge price difference between the 2 cars that I'm looking at and going by forums online the 6 pot is a much smoother engine! Cheers for the advice anyway!

Idbatterim

just took a look at carzone there, the below seems a cracker and great value! the timing chain issue was only with post September 07 cars I believe...

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/320D-SPO/29513445990831490/advert?channel=CARS

http://www.dmsautomotive.com/models.asp?upid=1

just bear in mind OP, that depreciation will be the major cost (and finance if applicable) far more than the tax etc... could you Pm me the 2 cars, would be interested to take a look?

Leonard Hofstadter

I'd still have the six cylinder, it may not be a lot faster, but it certainly will be a lot nicer because it will be quieter, smoother and sound so much nicer than the four cylinder. Plus the fact that every Tom, Dick and Harry has a 320d now, whereas there are very few 325ds, which is a plus to me - I like the idea of owning a car that not too many others have, especially with a premium badge car like this.

jamieh

Well lads....I took ye'er advice and went with the 6 cylinder. Glad a listened to ye - the world of difference between the 4 and 6 pot.

Here's a few pics. Picked her up yesterday.

dharn

best of luck with it:)

The Pontiac

Beautiful car. Happy driving!

jamieh

Thanks lads!

IrishZeus

Lovely car and good choice on the 6-pot.

Well wear

the culture of deference

lovely car.

can we ask what you got it for.

Leonard Hofstadter

Well done, nice spec, and good to see something different from the regular 320d that pretty much everyone who buys an E92 goes for, especially when the something different has those all important extra two cylinders:)!

Blazer

lovely car mate..
join up bmw-drivers.net for meets etc..great bunch of lads and pretty knowledgeable.

http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum

godtabh

Nice. What kind of money do these go for (advertised price and sale price are very different!)?

Well ware

Gumbo

Blazer wrote: »

lovely car mate..
join up bmw-drivers.net for meets etc..great bunch of lads and pretty knowledgeable.

http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum

He is already a member over there. Where do ya think he got the push to go for the 25d over the 20d

wandatowell

Wow, mint looking motor

JHet

She looks mint.

jamieh

Cheers for all the well wishes lads!!