[deeebo8452]

Hi All

I am looking to purchase a BMW 3 Series E90 LCI M SPORT Auto (2009-2011). I wanted your kind advice/opinions on whether to go for the 325d, 330d or 335d?

I have some questions revolving around the following:

1. The 325d, 330d and 335d are all 3.0 litre engines but obviously have differing performance. Is that to say they are the same engines but differently tuned?

2. Can you remap a 325d to the performance of a 330d? Can you remap a 330d to the performance of a 335d?

3. Is it worth remapping? In terms of power vs economy. Does the 325d or 330d remap better?

4. Are there any known issues with the 325d, 330d, or 335d? I had a 320d previously and did not know about the dreaded timing chain issue. So are there any similar known issues with either of these engines or other parts within the cars?

5. In terms of performance vs fuel economy, what would be the best engine type overall? I was thinking the 330d.

6. My annual mileage will be low (less than 10,000 miles), in that respect should I be really disregarding diesels and looking at petrol instead? If so what option from the 325i, 330i or 335i. I think the 335i would be far too thirsty in terms of fuel. I see a lot of people say that if you're doing low mileage you should definitely go for a petrol. What are the benefits of a petrol over a diesel? I know they have more bhp but do they drive better? I realise they have lower MPG but the argument is that since you do low mileage the annual amount you spend on petrol vs diesel is not ridiculously higher, even so, does the premium you spend on petrol worth "the better drive"?

7. I have a budget of around £11,000, would I be able to find a suitable 3 series in good condition with leathers, M Sport, Auto, 2009-2011 within this price bracket?

I would appreciate your feedback on the above. Feel free to add anything else you may think would be of interest even if not covered in my bullet points.

Thanks!

[ahmedb]

Originally Posted by deeebo8452

Hi All

I would appreciate your feedback on the above. Feel free to add anything else you may think would be of interest even if not covered in my bullet points.

Thanks!

Lots of discussions usually around 330d vs 335d. Firstly, you should test drive them all and gather an impression for yourself as everyone has their own opinion.

Secondly, coming from a 320d, the power of a 325d or a 330d will be more than sufficient (trust me, I did the same coming from a 320d LCI 184bhp engine). I elected for the 330d LCI option. The engine is amazing. I've had the pre-LCI 335d and now the LCI 330d and the performance feels identical. The most noticeable difference is the 335d has twin turbos so as soon as you plant your foot, the power is on tap. The 325d and 330d will take a short while to spool the turbos before it launches you.

1. As far as I am aware, they are all the same 6 cylinder engine but refined differently. 325d and 330d are single turbo, the 335d is twin turbo

2.
325d can be mapped to around 250bhp.
330d can be mapped to around 300bhp.
335d can be mapped to around 350-360bhp.

These are guideline figures as there are more/less aggressive maps available coupled with any other mods.

3. I would say enjoy the standard power first. When the novelty wears off, go for a remap. The fuel economy is not compromised unless if you are constantly booting it. Be aware that with the LCI engines, the ECU needs to come out, be taken apart and then put back together. Prices range from £250 to around £750.

4. If you Google E90 325d/330d/335d oil leaks, you will find some common issues there. I can't think of any others but I'm sure people will chip in.

5.
2010 184bhp 320d - 50mpg
2007 335d (remap and dpf delete) - lucky to get 35mpg
2008 330d (possibly been remapped) - 43/44mpg

For me, the 330d was a no brainer. It's £180 road tax and offers brilliant economy/power. Also available in manual which is what I have which is irrelevant to you

6. I think you could run a petrol if you wanted at only 10k miles per year. The advantages would be that they are cheaper to buy and fuel prices are quite cheap at the moment. Linear power bands and more revs and of course the noise. If you have the capital to put to a diesel and don't need to liquidise this in a hurry, they tend to hold value very well. Particularly the LCI engines at the moment. They are quite rare to come by a decent example.

7. Personally, I would go a for a 2010+ LCI auto as they have the new paddle design with + and - on different sides. The older chrome paddles are not to my liking but that depends on what you like. Also, the 2010+ models have the newer design of climate control with adjustable levels of auto CC.

I think you should be able to find what you want around the £11k budget but if you put a little more in, you can get something like this

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...ault&logcode=p

That ones been on Autotrader for a little while now and with it being winter time, the prices for RWD tend to drop. I reckon they would take offers

[mjn77]

You won't get a decent e90 335d (2009-2011) for £11k!

Also, be aware that the 335d comes in autobox only.

[ahmedb]

If mileage isn't important to you, you might be able to find a 100k+ mileage example within your budget but otherwise, as stated above decent lower mileage examples will be around the £16k budget

[Aragorn30d]

They are actually different engines on the LCI cars

The 335d is the older M57N2 engine, with twin turbos.
The 330d will be the newer N57 engine, with a single turbo.
The 325d could be either M57N2 or N57 depending on year, they changed those over much later.

Pre-LCI 330ds are also M57N2.

The N series engines are supposedly a bit more refined and use a bit less fuel.

[ahmedb]

Originally Posted by Aragorn30d

They are actually different engines on the LCI cars

The 335d is the older M57N2 engine, with twin turbos.
The 330d will be the newer N57 engine, with a single turbo.
The 325d could be either M57N2 or N57 depending on year, they changed those over much later.

Pre-LCI 330ds are also M57N2.

The N series engines are supposedly a bit more refined and use a bit less fuel.

Learn something new every day, I feel like I've been school'd

[Aragorn30d]

The newer 330d N57 also has a bit more power than the old M57N2 version, which helps some way to closing the gap to the 335d.

[russ9898]

Both the 325d and 330d providing they are the LCI N57 engine will remap to circa 300bhp.

[BirdsEye]

Personally, I would drive a 330D and a 330i and see which engine you prefer, then look to buy the best car you can find in your budget. A remapped diesel will be quicker than the 330i though. I looked and waited and decided to just get the 335D because if I bought a 330D I'd always have wanted the 'better' model.

[IceMan007]

If you're doing less than 10K miles per year, I would be seriously looking at a petrol....Unless it's the torque you're after?

[deeebo8452]

Originally Posted by russ9898

Both the 325d and 330d providing they are the LCI N57 engine will remap to circa 300bhp.

Is that to say the 325d remaps better than the 330d? I would have thought that a remapped 330d would have considerably more bhp than a remapped 325d

From what I've read a standard 325d has 204bhp whilst a standard 330d has 245bhp, is that right? Yet both when remapped would achieve ~300bhp although the 325d is approx 40bhp less to start with before remap?

[deeebo8452]

Originally Posted by Aragorn30d

The newer 330d N57 also has a bit more power than the old M57N2 version, which helps some way to closing the gap to the 335d.

From what year/month are the newer 330d N57 engines...after late 2008?

[deeebo8452]

Originally Posted by BirdsEye

Personally, I would drive a 330D and a 330i and see which engine you prefer, then look to buy the best car you can find in your budget. A remapped diesel will be quicker than the 330i though. I looked and waited and decided to just get the 335D because if I bought a 330D I'd always have wanted the 'better' model.

Generally speaking is it only worthwhile remapping diesel engines...petrol engine gains through a remap are no way near as impressive?

[Pumper]

Originally Posted by deeebo8452

Generally speaking is it only worthwhile remapping diesel engines...petrol engine gains through a remap are no way near as impressive?

The F3x 320i can be mapped to ~190kw from the stock 135kw, while 328i to ~210kw from 180kw. The E9x line 325i and 330i can't be mapped as these don't have turbos, while 335i can be mapped to 265-270kw from stock 225kw as these are turbocharged.

[B3NPM]

Originally Posted by deeebo8452

Is that to say the 325d remaps better than the 330d? I would have thought that a remapped 330d would have considerably more bhp than a remapped 325d

From what I've read a standard 325d has 204bhp whilst a standard 330d has 245bhp, is that right? Yet both when remapped would achieve ~300bhp although the 325d is approx 40bhp less to start with before remap?

The later N57 325d and 330d are exactly the same hardware/engine wise, they just have a different standard map, hence they remap up to the same figure.

With the older M57 engines the 325d had different injectors and a few other bits different to the 330d so a remap alone could not take them both to the same bhp.

I guess BMW decided it was cheaper to make one engine than two and just stick a couple of different maps on them.

Main reason I bought my N57 325d.... Will remap it one day

[russ9898]

Originally Posted by B3NPM

The later N57 325d and 330d are exactly the same hardware/engine wise, they just have a different standard map, hence they remap up to the same figure.

With the older M57 engines the 325d had different injectors and a few other bits different to the 330d so a remap alone could not take them both to the same bhp.

I guess BMW decided it was cheaper to make one engine than two and just stick a couple of different maps on them.

Main reason I bought my N57 325d.... Will remap it one day

Exactly as this man said. Basically a 325d can see getting on for a 50% BHP increase from a map...staggering really. Prob one of the highest gains percentage wise to be had from a stage one remap across the board.

[mrbubba]

You pay less tax on a 325d as well I think?

[deeebo8452]

What about dpf, swirl flaps, maf, egr problems on the lci 325d and 330d? My previous 320d pre lci 2007 had major issues. Do these have such similar well known issues?

Given i wouldnt do much mileage, how frequent and for how many miles would i have to take the 325d or 330d on a motorway run to keep the dpf clean and regenerated? Once a month london to watford and back via m1 which is about 20 miles there and back?

[russ9898]

Originally Posted by mrbubba

You pay less tax on a 325d as well I think?

Tax is £180 on the 325, I believe it is in excess of £200 on the 330

[russ9898]

Originally Posted by deeebo8452

What about dpf, swirl flaps, maf, egr problems on the lci 325d and 330d? My previous 320d pre lci 2007 had major issues. Do these have such similar well known issues?

Given i wouldnt do much mileage, how frequent and for how many miles would i have to take the 325d or 330d on a motorway run to keep the dpf clean and regenerated? Once a month london to watford and back via m1 which is about 20 miles there and back?

Unsure on the swirl flap situation. I've read that autos have them but manuals don't but that is just what I've read on here.

As for the DPF I've had my car since November 14 and not had a dpf warning yet nor do I do much in the way of motorway driving

[Rialas]

Originally Posted by russ9898

Tax is £180 on the 325, I believe it is in excess of £200 on the 330

It shouldn't really be a deciding factor as the difference seems minimal (a days worth of petrol?). I paid £290 for my 335i great value imo. My wife's road tax is double with nowhere near the performance of the 335.

[deeebo8452]

Originally Posted by Rialas

It shouldn't really be a deciding factor as the difference seems minimal (a days worth of petrol?). I paid £290 for my 335i great value imo. My wife's road tax is double with nowhere near the performance of the 335.

I come from having been paying over £500 road tax on my R8 so similarly road tax cost isnt a deciding factor for me.