Is BMW 325 TD any good?

[JOGA]

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

[darkchild]

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.

[d1mmy]

I think there was a article/buying guide in Total or PBMW not to long ago.

May check the old issues when next in the lot

[Gortour]

As said, get the TDS not the TD, my friend has the TDS, and my 318i auto E30 is quicker...
His economy is much better than mine though.

[zimmerbimmer1]

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

[Gortour]

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...

[JOGA]

Looked at the car today. Wasn't what I expected. So back to browsing for me

[e30bmlover]

the 325td couldnt pull the skin off of a rice pudding.

[Gortour]

I would have to agree knowing how the TDS goes...
That's pretty gutless too.

[Gortour]

My mate has an auto TDS, whether it's changing up at the wrong times I don't know. The TDS is definately slower off the line, but is OK when it's wound up.

[fozzymandeus]

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.

[bmwowner]

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.

[bmwowner]

where is the motor, i'd have a sniff at it?

[Blitz]

Can they be chipped or remaped?

[darkchild]

Can they be chipped or remaped?

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.

[fozzymandeus]

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.

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]

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.

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!

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.