320 or 325. Is there much difference in performance...

[batleyrhino]

I'm finding it hard to get hold of the dream 325 cabby, and I was wondering if those who have had or have both a 320 and 325 can tell me a bit about the difference in performance. I'm not looking to go out racing, or be leaving piles of rubber at traffic lights, but would like a decent bit of poke when needed.

I'm thinking that the extra 40 or so horses between the B20 and B25would make quite a difference to the car even though many of them have probably escaped over the years.

320's seem to be a bit more available, and I'm guessing might be a bit less thrashed although I'm not sure.

Any thoughts?

[sunnyr83]

Simply put; Yes there is a huge difference!

[The_Diddler]

I think a 320 in cab form would be a nice cruising car, they are silky smooth, there is a difference in performance, however they return about the same mpg......

[Grrrmachine]

I've gone from 320 to 325 - MASSIVE difference. However, a decent 325 lump (the M20B25 engine) can be bought for a few hundred on here and swapping the engine is plug-and-play, so if you find a good 320i then it won't cost much to upgrade it.

[daimlerman]

If the engine range had run 316i,320i and 325i,the 320i would have it's natural place in the pecking order.
318i had the biggest engine permitted when the cars were new with regard to company car taxation classes at the time....

320i has a very short stroke,'over square' is the best description,this makes it very free revving and very smooth in it's power delivery.It also means that it delivers less torque at low engine speeds compared to either the long stroke 318 or it's bigger brother,the 325. So it needs to be above 3000rpm to deliver it's best performance,which you have to pay for at the fuel pumps.
Due to the grunt being at the upper end of the rev range,320i came with a fairly low diff ratio at 4:1,compared to 325i at 3:93/3:73/3:64.

A manual 320i cabbie will make a very pleasant summer touring car,as long as you are not in any hurry!

[aimlessrock]

I have a 320i Cabby and i find it more than quick enough, its not particularly thirsty (only drive it in the summer), comfortable and smooth.

Sure the extra 40+ bhp of the 325i would be nice, but i cant see the point in driving a cabby fast or hard as the flex in the body is very noticeable at speed.

That said engine swaps as advsied above are cheap enough.

[Captain_Birdseye]

320's probably get thrashed just as much to get the power out of them.