e36 325TDS...

[pete69zx]

Anyone run an e36 325TDS?

Im curious about how many miles to a full tank you get?

I see that the fuel capacity is 62ltrs, is this correct?

Im seriously considering one of these & would do a deal on my 1998 318iS 4 door.

Regards,
Pete.

[pacerpete]

Don't bother, similar fuel consumption and really big bills when it goes pear shaped, and it will !

[e36boy]

Am i right in thinking that these are the same engine as in the e34 525 tds............My dad had the 525 tds e34 from new and put about 140k miles on it and it never missed a beat, Cant help you on fuel consumption though coz it was years ago when he had it.

[darkchild]

Don't bother, similar fuel consumption and really big bills when it goes pear shaped, and it will !

As above, not particularly economical, average performance and when the diesel pump goes you may as well ditch the car.

[neilofla]

I think it is the same M51 engine in both 325 and 525; tds variant is 143bhp/200lb/ft. I ran a e34 525tds touring for a while a few years ago, got between 33 and 42 mpg iirc (thats caning it to being gentle with it) and a 62L fuel tank sounds right. The torque made it a very easy car to drive hundreds of miles at a time, much less grating than the e30 318is I have now. Very solid drive, and handles well for a heavy car. Like the lads above say, the diesel fuel pump is a potential disaster, so be careful, I've no idea how to check how much life is left in the pump though.

If it were me, I'd look for an e46 320d that has had a turbo replaced. even the early ones put out 136bhp/200lb/ft and 45 to 50mpg easily. modern diesels are streets ahead. Plus they're a much tighter and refined drive than the e34. Maybe you're tired of your e36 318is, but you might regret losing some of the sharpness if you got a 2.5L diesel, they are a heavy lump to have hanging over the front axle

best of luck anyway

[pete69zx]

Thanks for all the advice guys.

I also drivew an e39 530d Sport Auto, & it goes like a rocket!

It's the torque that i miss from the diesel lupms that makes me wanna ditch the e36 318iS.

You have to wind it all the way up to get anything to actually happen, lol.

I reckon they will be also about 30MPG it total (same as my iS).

I have just been away from petrol for a while now & the only way im gonna get torque that i want without the fuel bills is diesel.

I hear what your all saying about the diesl pump as my e39 pump went & took the engine with it!

Regards,
Pete.

[neilofla]

I know what you mean about the torque, even thou my e30 is fairly light, the M42 is a typical 16V engine, really only fun at 4500rpm+!

From having driven the older and newer diesels from bmw, I'd really try to go for a later common rail type diesel if possible. The e36 diesel isn't nearly as smooth as your e39.

All that said, if you have a good deal on a e36 325tds, the fuel pump seems to be the only major thing that does go wrong with it. The one I drove had 100k hard miles put on it before I was anywhere near it, and it still ran very well. Plus, what other engine will let you get the tail out at 3000rpm and still give 40+mpg ?!

[kam-325i]

Ive got the 95 325td, 195,000 miles.....Still running sweet......

I get around 35Mpg around town and about 45Mpg on the motorways.....

[pete69zx]

The fuel consumption figures are a little different from 325td to 325tds, right?

Regards,
Pete.

[neilofla]

I think so, but kam-325i's figures are close enough to what I remember getting from the tds engine, so there can't be much in it. I reckon the extra 25hp is reason enough to pick the tds over the td.

From what I've heard/read about the engine, the intercoolers and turbos are fairly reliable too

[DanThe]

A bloke that just bought some metric wheels off me reckons 40-45mpg from his 525tds on a run

[pacerpete]

The fact he has just bought some metric wheels is reason enough to question his sanity and everything else !

[darkchild]

A bloke that just bought some metric wheels off me reckons 40-45mpg from his 525tds on a run

Somebody paid for metrics????