325i Vs 535i

[tollytuff]

hello all.

looking for some opinions from anyone who has owned/driven both the e30 325 (that will be all of you!) and the e34 535i, which i currently own. i have been thinking of a change for a while and have always liked the e30s. i appreciate its not going to be as quick as my 5 series but maybe more fun to drive?

most importantly the 5 series really has been utterly reliable, is the e30 the same? are they as bomb proof? they were made at the same time so i was hoping they were. are the engines capable of 200k and upwards? also, ive been driving an automatic for 5 years now and would happily continue (so lazy!), so is the auto-box on a 325 any good?

all opinions appreciated.

cheers
tt

[Simon13]

a 325i will be the same performance wise, if not a touch quicker

1200kgs 170bhp vs 1600kgs 218bhp!

in auto they are great 325's. They will also do the milege if u look after it

[sideways_kyeway]

Well the bhp per tonne is around 140bhp/t for a 325i and 136bhp/t for a 535i...
As for driving them.....
I have found that an e30 is alot more responsive and controllable on the limit.... and the 5series is good no doubt up to the limit but not nice on the limit and after you pass the limit....
Just my personal view, i am sure that many others will go the other way because of that endless torque of the 3.5....

[E30BeemerLad]

never driven a 535, but I think you will feel the 535 has a bit more of a solid feel to it than the 325 e30. Feels much more of a car than the E30. Not saying E30's are poorly built at all, quite the opposite, but they are not really comparable in my opinion.

535 is more cruiser that could get up and party when it needs to, E30 325 auto is similar but a bit more lively through the twisties. Both cars use the ZF box and are pretty similar in characteristics.

If your 535 is getting shabby in the bodywork dept then get a nice 325 with a cooked engine and drop the 3.5 lump in OK so you won't do the job in an afternoon but the results should be well worth it.

[320Touring]

as E30BeemerLad says, its really "horses for courses"...

Need a cruiser that can mix it with all the E-class driving prats in the fast lane? e34 535i every time.

Its smooth and refined
Makes a Chieftan Tank look as if it has Shonky Build Quality
M30 lump pulls like a train, and is more than happy with 700 miles a day

Need a car that will scare scoobies on a back road? e30 325i!

It handles like the proverbial dog's bits
Responsive and managable
Decent build quality (not e34 but much better than similar scoobies or honda's)
M20 lump is a bit of a belter-screamer beyond 4k rpm and a silky smooth cruiser below.


that said, the e34 can still handle itself on backroads too-even though its physical size can scare tractors

[chip-3door]

Need a car that will scare scoobies on a back road? e30 325i!

It handles like the proverbial dog's bits

Do you REALLY believe that?
Have you ever actually driven a scooby? i personally am not really a fan of them, mainy becuase I cant stand the chav image they have and how common they are etc, but the way they take B roads is absolutely awesome, no 325 is going to come close to a well driven middle of the range scooby like an RA, or even a WRX for that matter.

[M5pilot]

Scoobies are very good cars and the only reason they are disliked by some is as chip-3door puts it - chav image.

No way a 325i will keep up with on on the twisties! It wil out handle and out drag a 325i. Only a very good 2.7 will outdrag a "standard" scooby.

Modified Scoob?.....forget it!

[320Touring]

Scoobies are very good cars and the only reason they are disliked by some is as chip-3door puts it - chav image.

No way a 325i will keep up with on on the twisties! It wil out handle and out drag a 325i. Only a very good 2.7 will outdrag a "standard" scooby.

Modified Scoob?.....forget it!

did I say it was a turbo? what about a 1.6 gl

[stevetigger]

But the point being made is "I would rather drive a 325i down the twisties over a scobby!"

Remember CHIP, the thread is about 325 vs 535 not scooby vs 325...Your taking a thread off topic again CHIP. I have told you about this already!

[OllieB]

Bit condescending steve,

It was actually 320Touring that made the Scooby comment....

[Ziggy]

The only way a 325i is gonna scare a scooby (& nobody who's got a non-turbo $hitter calls them that :p) is by losing it in front of em.

Doesn't mean the 325i isn't more fun to drive (at relatively sensible speeds!), much nicer inside, etc etc etc though! Very different cars with very different strengths.

Aaanyway... 535i is different too - you've just got to decide which'll suit you best. If you really like 'lazy' driving, maybe the 535i is for you? Sounds like you want a change though, so I say go for it! Bet you'll love it ;)

& Steve, are you trying really hard to make yourself unpopular or something?!

[tollytuff]

thanks for your comments guys. i'm surprised that the 325i has so much power to give. im definately going to get a drive in one to see how it feels.

it actually sounds like im going to need both the e34 and an e30!

the best thing about the e34 is the fact that it 'pulls like a train' as 320Touring says. so im looking for a car that gives me the same enjoyment as the 535 has, but i have to say on small country lanes theres only so far ive been willing to push my right foot. it gets going very quickly so all thats left to do is brake a bit lively before entering a hedge!

the styling on the e30, i think, is actually a bit nicer than an e34 too... decisions decisions......
cheers tt

[OllieB]

I'm pretty sure a well sorted 325i is gonna keep up with a 535i without sweating too much on most roads. My sport pulls really well in 3rd and 4th gear and will keep on pulling well in excess of the motorway speed limit. Probably.

[stevetigger]

Bit condescending steve,

It was actually 320Touring that made the Scooby comment....

I know but then CHIP was trying to get a bite!

[Ziggy]

Just give it a go Where 'bouts are you? I'm sure there'll be a meet near you, or a zoner living nearby who'll take you out in their car...

[pf525sport]

I have never driven a 535 (is it the sport version) but I would hazard a guess that the e30 will handle better regardless due to its size & weight-if I remember rightly a m50 powered 535 gives 211bhp which is 19bhp more than a 525 but I am not sure how that compares against the e30 bhp figure for the old m20 engine ?

Personally although I Love E34's I would really prefer an E30 its just harder to cram my family in it.

Paul

[M5pilot]

E34's are simply amazingly built cars and alot of fun to drive especially in M5 format.

The 535i has a slightly lazy engine and the suspension is soft. 535i Sport manual is wicked and is about the same as a 325i in grunt until about 60 mph where the 535i will have the advantage.

Handling all depends on how good the suspension is. The E34 is very well balanced and very forgiving - even bad drivers like me can go round bends very fast!

[tollytuff]

no its just a 535i. but it does have sports-suspension so its quite lively and very firm, even a bit hard. its superb around cornors. it feels a bit heavy round town but the noise it makes when the right foot is pushed is very sweet. [/url]

[Fushion_Julz]

I used to have an E34 530i SE(M30) (with sports suspension, too), have driven a 535i and now have a 325i SE

The E34 was a lovely car to drive...so long as you weren't expecting to chuck it around small B-roads...

The M30 530i produced 188bhp plus loads of torque, the M30 535i produces around 210bhp and even more torque whereas my 325i (before being chipped) produced around 170bhp and not quite so much torque.
However, it is a lot smaller and lighter, but the suspension on the E30 isn't as developed as that on the E34...

If you want to do ultra hi mileages in total comfort and superb reliability, then you want an E34..If you want a more sporting car, then the E30 is the ticket!

My SE, though, isn't anywhere near as well equipped or designed ergonomically as the E34 SE.
Another factor is the insurance on the E30 325iSE (not sport) is higher than on any M30 engined E34 (again, not sports)

[A1BMW325iSport]

i have a 535i sport auto, its a great cruiser, much more comfortable than my 325i my 535i has a chip and filter, and is pretty quick, i haven't had a chance to take them both out with my dad and test yet as my 325 is still being restored but i would say they are about level performance wise up to about 60/70 then the 535 has the edge

[mk1chopper]

Why not upgrade to an e34 M5, you can pick up the early 3.5 version at good prices, and then your getting both the comfort and extras that the e34 has to offer over the e30, and a very fast car, and a great handeling car.

[sideways_kyeway]

Scoobies are very good cars and the only reason they are disliked by some is as chip-3door puts it - chav image.

No way a 325i will keep up with on on the twisties! It wil out handle and out drag a 325i. Only a very good 2.7 will outdrag a "standard" scooby.

Modified Scoob?.....forget it!

Depends on the driver of each car....... not the car itself...

[Simon]

I don't normally get taken in to these my cars faster threads etc, but I had a good race with a scooby once over a long mountain pass near me, it's straight uphill (and I mean a hill!!) for about 2 miles, with one sharp bend in the middle, which you should be doing 110 before the bend, and I was behind him, granted I could never have overtaken him, but the gap wasn't getting any bigger! I was quite suprised.

Forgot to say this was in my old sport.

[Andy335Touring]

E34 is better built and more solid feeling than the E30(interior wise going from an E34 to an E30 is like going from a BMW into a Ford/Vauxhall ! ), quieter, faster corners can be taken with more confidence especially in the wet, can be made to handle very well and will only lose out to the E30 in tight 2nd gear corners, it has better brakes and from 3rd gear on wards it will beat a 325.

Can you tell i miss my old 535 LOL

[jonb]

Need a car that will scare scoobies on a back road? e30 325i!

It handles like the proverbial dog's bits

Do you REALLY believe that?
Have you ever actually driven a scooby? i personally am not really a fan of them, mainy becuase I cant stand the chav image .

chip

did i just hear you call another vehicle a chav chariot? how would you class a yellow "cossie" then.

as for the 325/535i debate.

not claiming to be an expert but the 535i is a bit quicker in the straight line. but its a boat on the twisties, the sport models handle slightly better. a 325 with some billys handles fairly nice.

the e34 is very refind. i really nice motor to drive, but most are just dogs now. they went down the ranks years back, and can now be purchased from council types on ebay with no tax or test for about Ԛ£200. sad really.

anyone driven an e28 535i?

it will rape a 325 on the straight. they really are very rapid. about 1300kg"s and 220bhp.

[gareth]

i can only compare the E30 325i to the E34 525i sport (M50) and i reckon the handling is about the same at speed but the E30 is better at lower speeds. the E34 is a superbly built car and does make a E30 feel a lot cheaper, but then it was!

i don't know what the heavier 535i is like but the lighter lump in sport format is great.

to get somewhere i'd take the E34, to have a play i'd take the E30.

the E34 is a lot more car for your money.