I am looking to get either a 2002 325ci with 62k miles or a 2001 330i with 84k miles. How does the mpg compare between the two? Also, how long do these motors tend to last before they begin to have expensive problems? I can get the 330i for much less than the 325ci, is it worth spending the extra money to have less miles? They both are automatics and are clean inside and out.
thanks for the help, this will be my first car, i have always had jeeps and prerunners before this.
-Gatlan

it's worth spending the money to get the bigger engine and the better car especially if you're set on getting an automatic. go for the 330 whether its a 330i or a 330ci.

good luck.

is there a noticable difference in drive between the 325ci and the 330i other than more power? Does the coupe have any benefits in the area of handling?

is there a noticable difference in drive between the 325ci and the 330i other than more power? Does the coupe have any benefits in the area of handling?

no, coupe and sedan are very similar cars, only difference is more doors... weight is about the same, length roughly the same. if the difference is engines, i'd even pick a sedan over a coupe, but if a coupe is what i wanted, i'd hold out and wait for a 330ci.

no, coupe and sedan are very similar cars, only difference is more doors... weight is about the same, length roughly the same. if the difference is engines, i'd even pick a sedan over a coupe, but if a coupe is what i wanted, i'd hold out and wait for a 330ci.


the coupe and the sedan share only the mirors and door handles body wise ..
I know that the coupe is wider and lower and has a stiffer suspension thus has better handling than the sedan . The coupe always goes faster and handles better than its sedan counterpart even though bmw says otherwise ( for marketing reasons ) . the sedan is more comfortable though .
the coupe is much more beautifull but the m54 3L is a gem , wait for a 330ci , i have one .. the torque of that engine is just outstanding it makes my dads e36 328 feel like a 4 cyl car . the sound is great too .

well in the end 330>325 :(. MPG are very close not too much of a difference. I would prefer a sedan since you have more comfort space. Motor problems would be say way after 200k, however LCA etc start to break here and there.

go for the sedan you will be happy. Would be great if the 330 have the sports package which would be just as low as the coupe with the same amount of stiffness.

The reason i ask about the sedan is I found one at a dealer with 84k for $13,500. Is this a good pirce and is 84k not to many miles?
-Gatlan

Its a good deal, i know most dealers etc, sell those for about 15k+ so if you can try get it for 13k would be great.

It looks like I will have to spend around 15-16k for a 330ci, with the 330i I found being a decent deal. Do you think it would be smart to get the 330i and use the extra money for exhaust/intake or a suspension system later down the road?

It looks like I will have to spend around 15-16k for a 330ci, with the 330i I found being a decent deal. Do you think it would be smart to get the 330i and use the extra money for exhaust/intake or a suspension system later down the road?

get the 330i, find out if or when the LCA where replaced. If they weren't replace the money you saved, you would have enough to replace them and mod your car.

Get the 330, hands down

My girlfriend notices a difference in power between the 325 and 330 and she knows nothing about cars...

My girlfriend notices a difference in power between the 325 and 330 and she knows nothing about cars...
is this a 330 ZHP were talking about?:D

is this a 330 ZHP were talking about?:D

No, she has test driven a 325xi and a 330xi back to back and said: Why is this one so much faster? Then I try to explain the whole .5 litre thing and she starts looking confused.
She knows my car is faster than a 330 non zhp because I told her it was.. :)

haha lol

so it looks like i will be getting that 330i once i get my truck sold, hopefully this weekend, is there anything i should be suspicious of other than the LCA's, is it just the bushings that fail or the actual constuction of the arm?

Rear subframe..

check window regulators roll them all down and up. it may have the orginal battery too so that could go out.

with the window regulators, do they do something in particular that could warm me that they may be going out soon? The rear subframe is the part that has been prone to cracking? Is it hard to miss when there is a problem?

with the window regulators, do they do something in particular that could warm me that they may be going out soon? The rear subframe is the part that has been prone to cracking? Is it hard to miss when there is a problem?

when you roll down the window you will notice how slow it goes, and you will here crackling noise. mine has been crackling, but yet hasn't failed, but i know it will soon :(.

second questoin yes.

if it does end up cracking (subframe) bmw will repair it for free.

well that is good to know about the subframe. So i guessing that those seem to be the main issues I need to worry about? And if they windows work wierd at all i will try to get them to take care of it before hand, or drop the price enough for me to get them fixed.

if the windows seem suspicious then tell them that you know that each regulator cost $120 plus labor, which in reality its $90 and you can do it yourself ;)

so just pull their string.

ok so that isnt to bad, i thought i had read that somewhere they were like 450? I guess that was for something else

And is it the bushings that fail on the LCAs or the actual arm?

ok so that isnt to bad, i thought i had read that somewhere they were like 450? I guess that was for something else

And is it the bushings that fail on the LCAs or the actual arm?

the dealer might charge you that much, but there is DIY threads on how to replace them. It will cost you $90+ plus time.

LCA- you would have to replace the whole arm and bushing.
the arm comes with ball joints.

I replace them myself and got Meyle arms 150 each(better quality with full metal ball joints) and Heavy duty bushing for $90.

cost me $430 to do it myself.

I know Im late to chime in but after reading all this the 330 is the way to go and the money you save you should save, not for mods right away wait a bit then mod, all sounds good though good luck!

ok, ya i will do everything myself on it. I work on prerunners a lot. Thanks a lot for the help and hopefully my truck sells this weekend so that i can go up and get the 330i.
thanks again
-gatlan

np man, and once you have 15 posts and have the 330i we expect some pics.

ok so that isnt to bad, i thought i had read that somewhere they were like 450? I guess that was for something else

And is it the bushings that fail on the LCAs or the actual arm?
Dealer window regs are about 450 to fix

I just looked up the oem parts for the window reg. and its around 100 bucks plus shipping and it is something you could do yourself right?

I say go for the 330, more rare, faster, not too much of a chance in gas but what do I know

The reason i ask about the sedan is I found one at a dealer with 84k for $13,500. Is this a good pirce and is 84k not to many miles?
-Gatlan
Thats a pretty good deal. I bought my '01 325ci with 108k miles for $11k

ill sell u a 2002 325ci with 82,000 miles. its silver with black leather. excellent condition inside and out. its manual, clear corners and tails, m3 shift knob..beautiful car..im selling it for $13,000

txbimmer304, could you post some pics of yours?

Also, i forgot to ask earlier, but how are the auto trannies on these, im not sure how this one has been taken care of since it is at a dealer. Anything to worry about on the auto tranny at 84K?

ya ill take some pics tomm

glad to hear your buying a BMW you'll like it. stock to stock the 330i hands down.

by the way the only E46 that is stiffer than a sedan with a solid back seat is the M3 and its by like 3% so if want to track it hard go for the four doors.

I just looked up the oem parts for the window reg. and its around 100 bucks plus shipping and it is something you could do yourself right?

YES

Coupes have a few advantages over sedans. For me, since I'm tall and I sit with the seat fairly far back, its easier to get in. When driving with the window down, I don't have the B-pillar right next to me, so I can more easily rest my arm on the window sill and also not have air blasted off the pillar onto my head.

Still, I'd take a 330 sedan over a 325 coupe. Both engines will last forever, at least compared to the automatic transmission. A friend just bought a used e46 and a large majority in the 80k plus range had some sort of trans issue.

and the auto tranny's are around 3k plus installation right? I'll have to check the one out on the 330i, because that is not something i want to buy right away.

and the auto tranny's are around 3k plus installation right? I'll have to check the one out on the 330i, because that is not something i want to buy right away.

330 has the ZF-french made
323,325.328 has the GM -

ZF is better build, so dont be worried about the tranny. You should be okai. Dont hesitate on a great deal.