BMW 325i 2005-2013 used car review
The BMW 325i coupe is a sportier version of the popular 3-Series sedan.
The BMW 325i coupe is a sportier version of the popular 3-Series sedan. It handles very well and suits two passengers best.
The BMW 3-Series is most commonly a sports sedan with wagon, coupe and convertible versions also available. Our review coupe model offers some of the practical features of the sedan but with a more dynamic, sporty look. The 325i version offers a six-cylinder engine as compared to the more common 320i’s four-cylinder power plant.
Inside and out
The 325i coupe is slightly longer, lower and narrower than the sedan and wagon versions. Early E90 cars feature a more squared-off front-end design with large, wider headlights. All coupes and other models built from 2008 sport an updated appearance with a sleeker look to the nose and flush-fitted headlights.
The sides appear hollowed out in a style called “flame surfacing” by BMW when it was launched. The doors are longer than the sedan’s to allow for easier access to the back seat. The rear of the car has a narrower, smoother look than the sedan.
Our review vehicle had been imported from the UK and was not fitted with BMW’s “iDrive” infotainment system, which requires a different dashboard design. The gauges are huge and easy to read and have a metallic edge to them. A red trip computer and an information screen sit between the gauges.
In the centre console is the CD player stereo, again with a red screen, and the separate temperature controls for driver and passenger. The stereo and trip computer can also be controlled from the leather-wrapped steering wheel. A cruise control stalk sticks out from the steering column below the steering wheel.
The seats in our coupe are finished in durable leather. The front seats are soft and comfortable, but we were surprised that for a sports-orientated car they offer little side bolster to hold you in place when taking corners at pace.
The rear seats offer more side support, although they are compromised in a number of other ways. To access them you need to tilt and electrically slide the front seats forward, which can take some time. Legroom isn’t great and headroom is also a little short.
The 460-litre boot size is very impressive, just 30 litres less than the sedan. We think two large and three small suitcases will fit. The rear seatback can fold forward if you need slightly more capacity. The car uses run-flat tyres and does not carry a spare, so the space under the boot floor can be used to store smaller items.
On the road
The 325i features what was BMW’s hallmark for many years - a small-capacity, smooth six-cylinder petrol engine. Also available are a four-cylinder petrol engine, a high-performance six-cylinder turbo model, four and six-cylinder diesel, and high-performance eight-cylinder petrol in the range-topping M3 model.
The six-cylinder engine in our review vehicle produces 160kW and 270Nm of torque. It is capable of much more but BMW essentially restricts it to differentiate the model from the 330i.
Still, its performance is good and it has lots of low-down push away from the traffic lights and a lovely growl when pushed hard. A six-speed manual is available, although we think the six-speed automatic is better – it is very quick and smooth and can be shifted automatically using thumb paddles on the steering wheel
Despite ten years on the road, our review vehicle drives like a new car. The steering is quick and super responsive, the brakes stop the car very quickly and the grip is excellent. It’s the perfect car for a long trip on twisty roads. The downside is the road noise levels are a little high, possibly caused by the run-flat tyres.
You sit low in the 325i and the large rear pillar restricts backward vision significantly. Reversing cameras were optional on cars with the iDrive infotainment system. Parking sensors are common on New Zealand-new cars but less so on imports. Our review vehicle featured the sensors. Fitting a camera yourself costs from $50 or a professional will do it from $200.
The 325i has a reasonable tow rating for a medium-size coupe and is able to pull up to 1,600kg braked, a small to medium trailer boat.
Safety
RightCar shows the 325i (2005-2013) as having a five-star Used Car Safety Rating, based on real-world crash data. Standard safety specifications are high and include front, side and curtain airbags, electronic stability control, emergency brake assist and electronic brake force distribution.
ISOFIX child seat mounts are found on both rear seats. The front seat belts are automatically pushed forward to make them easy to grab by front seat passengers when you get in the car. This arm is a little flimsy so make sure it is working correctly when you check out any car.
Reliability
The 325i’s six-cylinder engine has a reasonable reputation for durability. It uses a timing chain which will not require regular replacement.
The high-pressure fuel pump was most likely replaced under recall when the car was new because it was known to fail and cause a sudden loss of power. The fuel injectors and coil packs are also prone to failure - both of which will cause rough running and increased fuel consumption. Replacing either can cost hundreds of dollars.
Costs for repairing and servicing the engine are made more expensive by its placement far back into the engine bay’s firewall. That was done to improve handling but makes access difficult if any work is needed.
Instances of headliner fabric separating from the ceiling are beginning to appear. Replacement costs start from a few hundred dollars and can rise if the affected area interferes with the curtain airbags.
Cost of ownership
The BMW 325i requires relatively infrequent services, every two years or 25,000km (whichever comes first). The car has a system that detects if the vehicle needs more frequent servicing - it will let you know through the information screen between the gauges. Service prices vary from $300 to $600 depending on the work required.
Over 14,000km of driving, RightCar estimates the car will cost $2,460 a year to run – low for the performance on offer. The 63-litre fuel tank will cost $126 to fill at $2 per litre and should take you 660km before the fuel light comes on.
A vehicle licence for the coupe costs $76.92 a year, with the car in the cheapest ACC levy group.
Trade Me Insurance estimates insurance for a 325i valued at $20,270 will cost $58.85* per month, $4 cheaper than a Mercedes-Benz CLK.
Buyers’ guide
The 325i is available on Trade Me from $7,500 to $27,000 for later and lower mileage vehicles. The coupe version is worth significantly more than the sedan or wagon and starts at $13,000.
The model arrived in New Zealand as a new car; there were also Japanese and United Kingdom imports. Specifications vary, though they mostly stick to the same basic format as other 3-Series models. The Standard model was not sold new in New Zealand.
Variants
- Standard – CD and MP3 player stereo, automatic headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, fabric seats, alloy wheels, manual air-conditioning.
- SE – Adds leather seats, cruise control, climate control air-conditioning and electric driver's seat with memory function.
- Innovations package - Adds heated front seats and BMW’s iDrive infotainment system, which includes an LCD screen controlled by a multifunction dial between the front seats, satellite navigation and parking sensors.
- Motorsport package – Adds sports seats and steering wheel, sports suspension, body kit, spoiler and 18-inch alloy wheels.
Timeline
- 2004 Launched globally
- 2005 Production of touring version begins
- 2006 Production of coupe and convertible versions begins
- 2008 Facelift with new bumpers, wing mirrors, headlights, bonnet, boot lid and grille
- 2011 Sedan replaced by new model
- 2012 Touring replaced by new model
- 2013 Coupe replaced by new model
Details
2007 BMW 325i coupe
$11,000 to $26,000 for models which have travelled 70,000 to 120,000km
3-litre six-cylinder, 160kW and 270Nm
Six-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Five-star Used Car Safety Rating
Variable depending on use
Run flat tyres
8.8-litres per 100km (claimed)
Premium
4510mm
1782mm
1395mm
1600kg (braked)
11m
This review covers the BMW 325i for model years 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Review vehicle supplied by Turners Cars.
*Our insurance estimates are based on a 35-year-old male with no accidents in the last two years, garaging the car in Mission Bay, Auckland. The car is not used for business and will cover 10,000km to 20,000km a year. We estimate with no option add-ons and $500 excess. Customise your estimate at Trade Me Insurance.
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