[Candy 01]

Hi all,
I'am looking at a 325i and the buyer has told me it was registered in 05.03.2007, also he has said that it is a 3l engine. So does that mean he does have a 3l engine or a 2.5l engine?

Also member's on here have told me to go for the 3l instead of the 2.5l i was wondering why this was, does the 325 engine have problem's or is the 325 3l engine better performance wise?

Also why did they change the engine from a 2.5l to a 3l surely a 325 is meant to be a 2.5 engine, if it's got a 3l engine why not call it 330...

Sorry for all the questions but this is going to be my first BMW I'm going to be buying and i don't have a clue on them. I'm hoping i would be able to gain some knowledge from some of you that have owned BMW for a longer time than i have.

Thanks guy's.

[AlanQS]

I suspect that upping it to 3.0L made the 325 a bit more efficient, a bit more clean, in line with BMW policy and, perhaps, more efficiency of manufacture since the 325, 330, and 335 are all 3.0L but with different engine components and states of tune.

This means that both the 2.5 and 3.0 L engine in the 325 are pretty unstressed units as they are capable of much more power and, also perhaps, greater reliability. I haven't heard of any common problems on the engine in the 325 for either engine size.

As far as I can tell, though I'm only about 70% sure, the 3.0L engine came out in cars manufactured from September '07.

[kaishang]

OP you are buying a 3 year old used car... it doesn't matter if it is a detuned/depowered 3-litre or a 2.5 litre with the same power - both work well, neither have particular reported problems. Some parts of the the 3 litre 325i may be more reliable because it is less stressed than a 2.5 litre OTOH AFAIK the 3 litre 325i has a direct (ie much higher pressure) injection cylinder head, which is a point of failure that the older 2.5 litre does not have.

The owner themselves probably does not know what they have.

Don't worry about it.

If you really want to know you could try looking at which tax band it sits in... there may be a difference between the 3 and 2.5 litre versions.

[Candy 01]

Originally Posted by kaishang

OP you are buying a 3 year old used car... it doesn't matter if it is a detuned/depowered 3-litre or a 2.5 litre with the same power - both work well, neither have particular reported problems. Some parts of the the 3 litre 325i may be more reliable because it is less stressed than a 2.5 litre OTOH AFAIK the 3 litre 325i has a direct (ie much higher pressure) injection cylinder head, which is a point of failure that the older 2.5 litre does not have.

The owner themselves probably does not know what they have.

Don't worry about it.

If you really want to know you could try looking at which tax band it sits in... there may be a difference between the 3 and 2.5 litre versions.

What do u mean by "it doesn't matter if it is a detuned/depowered" of course it matter's if i'am spending my hard earned cash on buying it

[Candy 01]

Is their any other way's of checking what size engine it has :-s

[kaishang]

Originally Posted by Candy 01

What do u mean by "it doesn't matter if it is a detuned/depowered" of course it matter's if i'am spending my hard earned cash on buying it

The detuned 3 litre used on newer 325i models has about the same power as the previous 2.5 litre which has not been detuned. To make the 3 litre 325i, BMW took the 330i engine and messed with it to make it less powerful. The 2.5 litre engine won an 'engine of the year' award for it's capacity class. The 325i 3 litre donk is otoh is a detuned 330i.

Hence it doesn't matter.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Candy 01

What do u mean by "it doesn't matter if it is a detuned/depowered" of course it matter's if i'am spending my hard earned cash on buying it

Power outputs:

2006 model 325i: 218bhp/250Nm (2750 - 4250), from the 2497cc engine.

2008 LCI model 325i: 218bhp/270Nm (2400 - 4200), from the 2996cc engine.

HighlandPete

[kaishang]

Ahh, LCI model. Easy to tell then if it is LCI or pre-LCI.

[AlanQS]

I have figures of 198PS for the 2.5i and 218PS for the 3.0L but the fuel consumption and CO2 of the 3.0L was marginally better.

Kaishang's comment about being detuned/depowered is a reference to the fact that the 325i is a detuned (and therefore lower powered) version of the 330i.

I've done several internet searches, which you could also try and the 3.0L engine was either introduced in September 2007 or March '07. The only place I've so far found for showing 3.0L is an American source so it does not follow that European market cars got the change at the same time, - but it might.

[kaishang]

That's too low for the 2.5 litre 325i power.... I used to own one, it was 160kW or about the 218hp which Highland Pete quotes. The 198PS must be from an older variant of 325i.

The practial difference between the 3 litre and 2.5 litre is that the 3 litre revs lower but has more torque. But it is only a 10% difference, so again, it doesn't really matter what you buy and BMW probably messed with the final drive ratio as well to that 10% torque difference may not even be there at the wheels.

[HighlandPete]

The figure I quoted for the 2.5i engine is from BMW's brochure for the E91 2006. 160kW/218hp. Shows up in other data as well.

Timing, that is difficult, as BMW have this habit of changing engines in different models at different times. Certainly the LCI has the 3.0 engine, whether it came into the model a bit before, that is the issue.

HighlandPete

[JonnySi]

You can check engine size on the chassis plate on the B post

If its a 2.5 it will be; N52B25 or N53B25
If its a 3.0 it will be; N52B30 or N53B30

This means;
N- new generation
5- 6 cylinder engine
2- development
B- Benzine (Petrol)
25/30- Engine CC

[Candy 01]

Originally Posted by AlanQS

I have figures of 198PS for the 2.5i and 218PS for the 3.0L but the fuel consumption and CO2 of the 3.0L was marginally better.

Kaishang's comment about being detuned/depowered is a reference to the fact that the 325i is a detuned (and therefore lower powered) version of the 330i.

I've done several internet searches, which you could also try and the 3.0L engine was either introduced in September 2007 or March '07. The only place I've so far found for showing 3.0L is an American source so it does not follow that European market cars got the change at the same time, - but it might.

Yea i'am abit confused aswell i've been doing a few search's myself but can't find the proper date's.

Originally Posted by kaishang

The detuned 3 litre used on newer 325i models has about the same power as the previous 2.5 litre which has not been detuned. To make the 3 litre 325i, BMW took the 330i engine and messed with it to make it less powerful. The 2.5 litre engine won an 'engine of the year' award for it's capacity class. The 325i 3 litre donk is otoh is a detuned 330i.

Hence it doesn't matter.

Ohh ok i got you mate, it's my first bmw i've been looking at so i don't have much of a clue on them. That's clarified it up for me.

Originally Posted by JonnySi

You can check engine size on the chassis plate on the B post

If its a 2.5 it will be; N52B25 or N53B25
If its a 3.0 it will be; N52B30 or N53B30

This means;
N- new generation
5- 6 cylinder engine
2- development
B- Benzine (Petrol)
25/30- Engine CC

Thank's for that just what i was after i'll check the chassis number to find out what liter the engine it has.

[Candy 01]

I've just found out that the car i'am looking at has a Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2497CC which mean's it's a 2.5litre and not a 3litre engine. So ideally i just want want to know is their any problem's with the 2.5litre engine and is it as good as the 3litre engine?

If i wanted to remap the 325i which engine would be best suited to be remapped, or does it not make any difference?

[gkerr4]

there are no known stand-out issues on the 2.5 325i engine - it's a cracking motor - smooth, refined powerful.

obviously the 3.0 will be slightly better - it has a little more torque and may be a bit more economical and lower on emissions due to the newer design of its direct injection head.

if you really want the 3.0 engine, you will need to dig deeper in your pockets as it is newer than the car you are looking at.

neither engine will benefit very much (if at all) from a remap - they aren't turbocharged - and it's only really turbo cars (petrol or diesel) which benefit (in big terms) from a remap.

[m1bjr]

The Registration Document - the V5 - will tell you the exact engine displacement Candy.

Odd that the 335 is only a 3ltr too.
But it goes like a 3.5

And my 318d is actually a 2ltr, but goes like a 1.8ltr LOL!

[Candy 01]

Originally Posted by gkerr4

there are no known stand-out issues on the 2.5 325i engine - it's a cracking motor - smooth, refined powerful.

obviously the 3.0 will be slightly better - it has a little more torque and may be a bit more economical and lower on emissions due to the newer design of its direct injection head.

if you really want the 3.0 engine, you will need to dig deeper in your pockets as it is newer than the car you are looking at.

neither engine will benefit very much (if at all) from a remap - they aren't turbocharged - and it's only really turbo cars (petrol or diesel) which benefit (in big terms) from a remap.

Yea i suppose for the money i'am looking to pay for the 2.5 325 i shouldn't really be bothered if it's a 2.5ltr or a 3ltr.

The 325 already has 219bhp i wonder how much bhp would i gain from a remap roughly. Might not be worth while like you said mate.

Originally Posted by m1bjr

The Registration Document - the V5 - will tell you the exact engine displacement Candy.

Odd that the 335 is only a 3ltr too.
But it goes like a 3.5

And my 318d is actually a 2ltr, but goes like a 1.8ltr LOL!

I know i find it quite weird lol but i suppose it's bmw's way of doing thing's.

[kaishang]

Candy_01, the 2.5 litre 325i is one fine car. I owned a 2006 325i with that same engine before the 330d. The 325i is probably more fun to drive than the 330d even if the 330d is more powerful.

You will be opening the window and planting the accelerator in tunnels, just so you can listen to the engine. Enjoy

[jhbodle]

Tuners reckon you'll get just over 230bhp remapped. I used to have the 2.5l 325i - lovely engine, recommended!

[Candy 01]

Originally Posted by kaishang

Candy_01, the 2.5 litre 325i is one fine car. I owned a 2006 325i with that same engine before the 330d. The 325i is probably more fun to drive than the 330d even if the 330d is more powerful.

You will be opening the window and planting the accelerator in tunnels, just so you can listen to the engine. Enjoy

Just needed clarifying that the 325 engine didn't have any problem's and i've got it clarified because i know member on here did mention that the 320 did have problem's.

I looking forward to getting it, if the buger think's the offer is right lol
I did have a astra vxr previously and was just wondering how the power would compare to that?

Cheer's

Originally Posted by jhbodle

Tuners reckon you'll get just over 230bhp remapped. I used to have the 2.5l 325i - lovely engine, recommended!

So only 11bhp more than it would be standard. So not really worthwhile getting a remap like other member's mentioned on here.