Hello,
I thinking of buying a E36 N reg 325TD. Are they any good? Do you know how it is performance wise and if it is reliable?
Please help. I'm new to these cars.
Jon
Is BMW 325 TD any good?
Moderator: martauto
They're not a bad old smoker but nowhere near the class or refinement of the modern BMW diesels. The standard TD (115bhp) is not particularly quick (0-60 about 12 secs). As Drowningman says the intercooled TDS (143bhp) is the E36 diesel of choice and does 0-60 in just over 10 secs. As far as I know they're pretty reliable and you don't hear about as many blown turbos on the older BMW diesels compared to the current lot.
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zimmerbimmer1
- BMW Parts Meister
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I agree go for the TDS more power get it chipped and you will suprise a few sporty cars yet still retain minimum 30+ mpg
Too many reports I've read say don't touch the earlier diesels.
Chipping these engines or tuning them results in big expensive engine failure... So the reports say...
Chipping these engines or tuning them results in big expensive engine failure... So the reports say...
Currently slumming it in an E46 Touring
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e30bmlover
- Ac Schnitzer prophet
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the 325td couldnt pull the skin off of a rice pudding.
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fozzymandeus
- E30 Zone Regular
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At least you weren't looking at a 318tds. That's a mean weapon and no mistake. 
As said earlier, I wouldn't bother with a diesel 3er before the E46. Either early or late 320d is decent enough. Bit of a repmobile though.
As said earlier, I wouldn't bother with a diesel 3er before the E46. Either early or late 320d is decent enough. Bit of a repmobile though.
Last edited by fozzymandeus on Thu Jul 26, 2007 10:12 am, edited 1 time in total.
my old manager had one which he had chipped, it went very, very well, his was only a k reg 325td,
also heard that someone else bought one which the revs kept hunting(up & down) which drove lovely until 4 months later when the diesel pump went and he got a bill for £1400 from first diesels.
also heard that someone else bought one which the revs kept hunting(up & down) which drove lovely until 4 months later when the diesel pump went and he got a bill for £1400 from first diesels.
Yep, but the gains weren't huge. I'd personally be reluctant to remap a car of this age. The best thing about them is, barring the pump, they're cheap to run and ultra reliable. The modern BMW diesel is fine whilst its new and under warranty but a money pit waiting to happen once they pass 100K.Blitz wrote:Can they be chipped or remaped?
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fozzymandeus
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I've heard very scary things about 320d turbochargers and engines running on their oil and totally ruining themselves... more worrying than the old nikasil problem IMO!darkchild wrote: Yep, but the gains weren't huge. I'd personally be reluctant to remap a car of this age. The best thing about them is, barring the pump, they're cheap to run and ultra reliable. The modern BMW diesel is fine whilst its new and under warranty but a money pit waiting to happen once they pass 100K.
Agreed. I think most of it is down to BMW's ridiculous servicing schedule for diesels. Quite simply they need more regular maintenance than they currently get. The old motto of letting the turbo cool down after a run, rather than switching the engine off, would help as well.fozzymandeus wrote:I've heard very scary things about 320d turbochargers and engines running on their oil and totally ruining themselves... more worrying than the old nikasil problem IMO!darkchild wrote: Yep, but the gains weren't huge. I'd personally be reluctant to remap a car of this age. The best thing about them is, barring the pump, they're cheap to run and ultra reliable. The modern BMW diesel is fine whilst its new and under warranty but a money pit waiting to happen once they pass 100K.