[xxdaBMWnMBxx]

Hi everyone, i am planning to buy a 325i, it's 2007 model, with 86000km driven, priced at $39990 AUD.
May i ask if it is a good price?

(I am also considering a 2007 325i but with only 50000km driven, however, it's silver in color, so i do not really like it.)

1) May i ask for all the 325i owners here that, if it does a matter of a 325i be driven for 86000km?

2) I have a question with the rims as well, it claims to be 17", however, when i look at the tyres information, it said to be 255/35 R18, so, it's actually 18"? or it is actually 17" but for the tyres, it gotta be R18 due to the run flat technology?

3) And what are the common problems in 325i? (so that i could be aware of it when i am hunting for my 325i)

4) What would be the possible problems with such a high odometer?


btw, i am financing the car, so, the car will be driven for the next 4-5 yeas.

thank you for every helpful advise.

Cheers

[Stuart@BMRAutowerkes]

1. Way too hard to tell from the limited information given. At the end of the day there are 325s out there with much higher KMs so in general, 86,000kms isn't that high
2. The wheels and tyres will either be 17inch or 18inch. You can't have mixed wheels/tyre sizes. Look on the sidewall of the tyres and it will tell you the size.
3. Faulty valvetronic lifters (loud ticking noise at idle). Infrequent servicing leading to dirty oil and sludge building up.
4. Not too much at the moment, it really depends on how the car is driven. Maybe brakes will need to be replaced, the transmission could probably use a service, some of the older N52s also experienced low pressure fuel pump issues.

[xxdaBMWnMBxx]

Originally Posted by bmroxm5

1. Way too hard to tell from the limited information given. At the end of the day there are 325s out there with much higher KMs so in general, 86,000kms isn't that high
2. The wheels and tyres will either be 17inch or 18inch. You can't have mixed wheels/tyre sizes. Look on the sidewall of the tyres and it will tell you the size.
3. Faulty valvetronic lifters (loud ticking noise at idle). Infrequent servicing leading to dirty oil and sludge building up.
4. Not too much at the moment, it really depends on how the car is driven. Maybe brakes will need to be replaced, the transmission could probably use a service, some of the older N52s also experienced low pressure fuel pump issues.

Thanks a lot BMROXM

The vehicle is 2007, auto, black, with BMW 18" black rims, kind of white interior leather trim, it said to have individual door sills, and individual steering wheel?

oh, ok, so as long as the tyres said it is R18, then i can just ignore the description. I was only wonder if the extra thickness of the run flat tyres due to its reinforced component will have an impact on the rims' size.

so, if there is ticking noise at idle, it reflects a faulty valvetronic lifters? is this an expensive repair, like thousands of dollars? or just a repair of few hundreds?

For dirty oil and sludge building up, is it possible to remove these by performing regular service in the future? or will the engine be ruined already and be a permanent damage?

the car is 2nd hand, so, i have no idea how it is driven, i just want to know if there is any common problem and how to check them when i perform a test drive.

btw, as far as i know, BMW is using a chain but not timing belt which typically be replaced at 100k, so, i wish the service at 100k wont be very expensive? (it's 86k now, so, 100k will be coming up soon.)

and, for fuel wise, it claims to be 9L/100km, but in real life examples, what are the 325i owner's records? i am expecting to be 10-10.5L/100km subject to proper maintenence.....is it possible?

Sorry for asking so much, but buying an european car, i would like to ask more questions, particular in relation to the maintenence of the vehicle, and be aware of the potential problems, and how serious it would be, as well as the prospective repair costs before i go buying it as i aim to drive it for a couple of years. (i currently drive a madza 6, 86000km, and i just go having regular service and was not too worry about its maintenence. it's a 2nd hand car too, and i have no idea of how the previous owner maintains it, but as a japanese car, i have a thought like the maintenence costs wont be too high, whereas BMW, where possible, i want to perform a more in depth analysis.)

thanks a lot.

[xxdaBMWnMBxx]

oh, btw, how could i test if there is a low pressure fuel pump?
i guess the fuel pump would be an expensive item to be replaced..

[QLD]

You sound like a man on a tight budget... therefore I recommend staying away from a 5 year old BMW with no clear past history.

You don't want to be in debt for a car.. and then more debt for repairs, IMHO.

[DR-JEKL]

$40k is getting you close to a 335i also!

There are a couple of 335i coupes in the low $40's you may wish to consider?

[kaitan]

Originally Posted by DR-JEKL

$40k is getting you close to a 335i also!

There are a couple of 335i coupes in the low $40's you may wish to consider?

Yesss well said I was gonna say that there are couple of 335 around that price range?? In fact in K's a 07 with 100k on the clock is considered as not high. It's just that people like lower K's but If the K's are genuinely highway K than I much rather get the genuine Highway K's vs low K's but city driving.

There are tell tale signs of genuine high K's
1. Chips on bonnet,windscreen.
2. Possible the service book on longer interval such as 25-30k service vs every 10k service

[DR-JEKL]

Im confident you could get this one for $40-41k:

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/d...5&sort=default

Low kays, and in great condition!

[ReyT]

Originally Posted by kaitan

2. Possible the service book on longer interval such as 25-30k service vs every 10k service

My car is purely highway driving but i service it every 5-10k km! (oil change mostly).

+1 to 335i if you can stretch for it IMO, otherwise you may regret it

ps. also a perthie !

[xxdaBMWnMBxx]

Originally Posted by ReyT

My car is purely highway driving but i service it every 5-10k km! (oil change mostly).

+1 to 335i if you can stretch for it IMO, otherwise you may regret it

ps. also a perthie !

Hi there,

May i ask how's your 325i fuel consumption?

and for 335i, i surely like it, but considering the fuel costs, and the extra care/more potential problems with its turbo, it seems like a 325i a better choice?

[xxdaBMWnMBxx]

Originally Posted by QLD

You sound like a man on a tight budget... therefore I recommend staying away from a 5 year old BMW with no clear past history.

You don't want to be in debt for a car.. and then more debt for repairs, IMHO.

hmm, well, yeah, i will finance the car instead of paying a one off payment for $40k, i did manage to buy a car with less than $25k before, but i wouldnt have so much cash on hand nowadays since i have given most of my money to my parents in overseas.

for the car itself, repayment is fine, but i surely want to avoid the repair costs where possible, i know repair is expected in 2nd hand cars.

So, i try to get more knowledge about the 325i, any potential problems so that i could try to avoid them.

[ReyT]

Originally Posted by chichichibo

Hi there,

May i ask how's your 325i fuel consumption?

and for 335i, i surely like it, but considering the fuel costs, and the extra care/more potential problems with its turbo, it seems like a 325i a better choice?

i have got a 135i not a 325i but personally the gains outweigh the potential problem, my car is FBO and *touch wood* nothing has gone wrong with it!

fuel wise not sure what the 325i do but 135/335i owner get about 11-12.5L/100KM

[xxdaBMWnMBxx]

Originally Posted by ReyT

i have got a 135i not a 325i but personally the gains outweigh the potential problem, my car is FBO and *touch wood* nothing has gone wrong with it!

fuel wise not sure what the 325i do but 135/335i owner get about 11-12.5L/100KM

Thanks!!!
but may i ask, what if the trip computer reflects a 14-15L/100km?
what makes this happen? I knew it might due to the city driving, or due to the car's age......but i am more concern if there is any damage on the parts.....
is it a permanent damage to the engine?
if i do encounter such a situation, is there any way i can do in order to keep the fuel consumption back to normal?
(i have tested drive one recently, but its computer reflects such a huge figures..........and that scares me......and i reject the deal as i am afraid of the fuel consumption.....)
is it posssible that a well maintain in the future can reduce the fuel consumption back to normal (such as 10L/100km)?

And this kind of abnormal fuel consumption happened to my previous cars as well.....

Thanks in advanced....

[QLD]

Originally Posted by chichichibo

....that scares me......and i reject the deal as i am afraid of the fuel consumption.....)

I think a 320D is best for you.

Power and economy wrapped up into one package.

[rayz]

Originally Posted by QLD

I think a 320D is best for you.

Power and economy wrapped up into one package.

+1.

Looks like you're concerned the additional repair/maintenance costs stack up and fuel consumption. That comes with every used car and going for higher cc engines. Check the log book for service history, parts changed etc. If you're still concerned, bring it to a BMW indie to do a inspection.

Re: fuel consumption, it depends on whether the trip computer's been reset recently, that would usually register a high fuel usage and gradually goes down as you dive more. For me, I'm getting average 12l city driving/short trips and get down to about 11l if I head out to the country.

[ReyT]

Originally Posted by chichichibo

Thanks!!!
but may i ask, what if the trip computer reflects a 14-15L/100km?
what makes this happen? I knew it might due to the city driving, or due to the car's age......but i am more concern if there is any damage on the parts.....
is it a permanent damage to the engine?
if i do encounter such a situation, is there any way i can do in order to keep the fuel consumption back to normal?
(i have tested drive one recently, but its computer reflects such a huge figures..........and that scares me......and i reject the deal as i am afraid of the fuel consumption.....)
is it posssible that a well maintain in the future can reduce the fuel consumption back to normal (such as 10L/100km)?

And this kind of abnormal fuel consumption happened to my previous cars as well.....

Thanks in advanced....

cant help u in regards to fuel consumption and its correlation to damaged part!

The consumption will depend on how much of a heavy foot you have.

[John_01]

86,000 isn't that high, but without servicing records its doesn't seem too appealing. I would expect better if the asking price is 40k.

Normal issues with 325i is the exhaust lifter problem in Pre-2008 cars. The valve train makes a rattling sound with the engine at idle. All E90/E92 cars have varying amounts of noise from the valve-train. My 325i is 2009 and has an revised engine, but its still not what I consider quiet. VANOS camshaft system causes problems in older generation 3 series, but I haven't heard of it being an issue on the E90.

Other people have issues with oil leaks. Transmission faults happen from time to time. All of them are very expensive to repair. Other problems are just the normal things like failed catalytic converters, faulty power windows etc. Sometimes the suspension may need work close to 100,000km especially the front control arms start to become loose.

[kaitan]

I'm getting 12-13ltr/100km on a 335i Heavy footed too

[Scootah]

I changed from a 325 earlier in the year , around town depending on driving style was getting 9 - 11 ltrs per 100kms

in 335 now and most times fuel average 10 -12 ltrs per 100 - car has tune and DP's

So all in all not a lot of difference in consumption , but light years of difference in terms of power

[John_01]

The 335i will probably give slightly better economy in typical driving conditions. My 325i never goes under 12 litre/100k in city driving. The additional cost of the turbo engine is mostly in speeding tickets.

[suff]

Seriously.. why do people care so much about fuel economy? Unless your doing 30,000+km a year the difference in running costs is pitiful when compared to the cost of the car.

As your in Perth, come up to West Perth one day and take my 335i out for a drive, or I am sure Rey will take you out in his 135i, I am sure that either car will convince you that the extra 7-8k you will spend on a X35i will be worth it!

[ReyT]

Originally Posted by suff

Seriously.. why do people car so much about fuel economy? Unless your doing 30,000+km a year the difference in running costs is pitiful when compared to the cost of the car.

As your in Perth, come up to West Perth one day and take my 335i out for a drive, or I am sure Rey will take you out in his 135i, I am sure that either car will convince you that the extra 7-8k you will spend on a X35i will be worth it!

+1! I am at Morley if you are keen