[R99]

I recently sold my 2014 F56 MINI and the whole point of selling the car was to release some £££ per month and reduce the fuel bill whilst buying something that was family friendly - so enter the next car a BMW 325d Touring.

The car is a 2010 LCI model and has a great spec:

3.0 M57 engine with 198 PS / 400 NM
Black Sapphire Metalic
Dakota / Black Oyster Leather (which is essentially cream leather)
Heated Seats
Electric Folding Mirrors
Panoramic Sunroof
Auto Dip Interior Mirror
Storage Package
Adaptive Xenons
Rain Sensor
Auto Lights
Light Package
High Beam Assist
BMW Professional Navigation
Darkened Rear Glass
PDC Rear

Plans at this stage are fairly low key:

19x8.5 & 19x9.5 CSL reps in matt gunmetal
135i 6 pot / 2 pot brake conversion
Explore fitting a combox for better functions on the nav
Alpine Audio upgrade with Logic7 subs

I've only got a couple of photos of the car so far, but I'll get some more once I've had a chance

[makkan00]

Such a beauty. Nice specs. Sometimes I regret selling my E91 330D

[No 6]

Nice Wagon and great spec

That front end shot make me think about doing an LCI conversion on mine!

Look forward to the updates on this one.

[Kali]

Originally Posted by No 6

That front end shot make me think about doing an LCI conversion on mine!

That's exactly what I thought as well!


Also, love the car mate and E91s LCI do look the best in black IMO.

[Tim G]

Lovely car. You made a very similar step to me, I sold my 120d for the 325d E91 lci earlier this year. I thought the spec on mine was good, but you've pretty much got everything!

Did you deliberately get one with the M57 (as opposed to the N57) engine out of interest?

[tetsuo111]

Congratulations! She's a beauty, easy on the eyes, and agile too. Enjoy!

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by Tim G

Lovely car. You made a very similar step to me, I sold my 120d for the 325d E91 lci earlier this year. I thought the spec on mine was good, but you've pretty much got everything!

Did you deliberately get one with the M57 (as opposed to the N57) engine out of interest?

Confused me. Why did bmw keep M57 in Feb 2010 car

[R99]

Originally Posted by makkan00

Such a beauty. Nice specs. Sometimes I regret selling my E91 330D

Thanks man - may have to pick your brains about combo / coding in the future as I know nothing about what I need!!

Originally Posted by No 6

Nice Wagon and great spec

That front end shot make me think about doing an LCI conversion on mine!

Look forward to the updates on this one.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Kali

That's exactly what I thought as well!


Also, love the car mate and E91s LCI do look the best in black IMO.

Thanks, very happy with the car

Originally Posted by Tim G

Lovely car. You made a very similar step to me, I sold my 120d for the 325d E91 lci earlier this year. I thought the spec on mine was good, but you've pretty much got everything!

Did you deliberately get one with the M57 (as opposed to the N57) engine out of interest?

I tried to hold out for a great spec to try and avoid the need to change things, as I've promised myself I wont change too much on this car!

Not too sure about the M57 v N57 until you mentioned it, so no deffo not an intentional decision to get the M57. Are there many differences?

Originally Posted by tetsuo111

Congratulations! She's a beauty, easy on the eyes, and agile too. Enjoy!

Again, thanks!

Originally Posted by makkan00

Confused me. Why did bmw keep M57 in Feb 2010 car

Its a M57D30U2 according to the VIN, is it odd to find a 2010 with this engine?

[Tim G]

IIRC The M57 was fitted in the 325d until around Feb 2010. I have no idea why as the rest of the lci models gained the N series engine from the facelift in 2007/2008.

The research that I did on various diesel engined 3 series before buying mine (I have a late 2009 325d with the M57D30U2) led me to believe that many of the N47 cars suffer the dreaded cam chain/ guide problems. The N57 essentially has the same potential for problems (although doesn't seem to suffer it so commonly).

As I wanted an lci car, but with an M series engine, the only option that retained this with the lci facelift was the 325d.

From memory, I think the trade off of having the M rather than N is slightly less power and efficiency ...

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by Tim G

IIRC The M57 was fitted in the 325d until around Feb 2010. I have no idea why as the rest of the lci models gained the N series engine from the facelift in 2007/2008.

The research that I did on various diesel engined 3 series before buying mine (I have a late 2009 325d with the M57D30U2) led me to believe that many of the N47 cars suffer the dreaded cam chain/ guide problems. The N57 essentially has the same potential for problems (although doesn't seem to suffer it so commonly).

As I wanted an lci car, but with an M series engine, the only option that retained this with the lci facelift was the 325d.

From memory, I think the trade off of having the M rather than N is slightly less power and efficiency ...

This. Basically we know most of the problems on M57 so it is easier to keep an eye. Also, I have heard one car which had timing chain snapped on m57 which was on 150K.

N57 is more efficient with more power and 325 has similar engine to 330d. So if you buy N57 325, you can get it remapped and car will be as fast as 330d. That leaves you with smaller brakes though.
N57 owners have reported timing chain rattles and I have seen two N57 with snapped timing chains. One was on 90K though.

I think good thing is that people start buying 325d as most of the time this variant of E9x appears to be ignored / undermined. Good luck both of you and hope you get trouble free motoring out of it.

[Dann]

Have you done the 6pot upgrade or is that for the future?
I'd be interested to see how easy and costly it turns out

[R99]

Not done the 135i 6 piston / 2 piston brake upgrade yet - debating whether or not just to bite the bullet and buy the yellow BMWP versions from the dealers - but they are around £1.6k (although can be bought from Germany brand new for £1.3k)

The other option is to buy the grey calipers from a 135i and order the 3 series specific discs up from the dealers.

I bought a delivery mileage set of front and rear 135i calipers a couple of years ago for a mere £550 back when I had my 1 series diesel, but prices for these brakes seem to have rocketed in the last few years!!!

Used sets of front calipers are going for £750!!!!!

[R99]

Well, things look like they will be moving along faster than expected with the mods - I have managed to secure a set of 135i Brembo calipers (6 piston fronts / 2 piston rears)

Just need to order the BMWP drilled / slotted front & rear discs and then I'll get them fitted! Although they are coming in at £475 from the dealers, so may have to consider aftermarket??

[R99]

Quick update!

My bargain Brembo's have arrived!

£500 delivered for these and now I've cleaned them, they look in great shape. There are a few stone chips which could do with being touched in, but in unsure of the paint code for these? Does anyone know?

Few pics:







Will order some new discs & pads in the next few days from the dealers and hopefully get these on ASAP. The pads in the calipers look OK, but don't think it's a great idea to fit new discs with used pads!

In other news I should hopefully be getting a full gloss black interior trim set, which should finish off the interior nicely

[richk84]

I think I have seen these on ebay. I'm pretty sure they are the performance brakes but have been refurbed, they usually come in phoenix yellow

[Aragorn30d]

they're the same arent they? 135i and BMW performance?

[Dann]

I thought the BMWP ones were bigger.
The 6 pots on the 135i aren't very big.

[Digitalize]

Fairly sure they're BMWP.

[R99]

The BMWP & 135i calipers are the same - the BMWP kit comes with drilled discs though, while the 135i has plain.

These weren't on eBay though, they were from a breakers yard who didn't have a clue - hence the £500 price tag!!

[tasn1]

Awesome! It's going to be a mean machine...

[BarrySt]

Not sure I understood your comment; "combox for better functions on the nav"? Since I have the model with Combox and unsure that it offers me anything on the nav system (or anywhere else actually, but that could be me not exploring more)

Very nicely prepared car incidentally

Barry

[Theivz]

brakes look gorgeous - cant wait to see em fitted