[deeebo8452]

Hi Guys

My budget is around the £10,000 mark and I want a 3 Series Auto Diesel 3.0L M Sport.

The new F30's are out of this price range so I am looking at the E90's. Therefore I am looking at the 325d and 330d. I understand the N57 engines are better than the M57 which came out >2010.

I have seen the following two adverts and wanted your opinion on both please:

- BMW 325d N57 Auto 2010 M Sport 60k Leathers SatNav £10,949 http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...sc&fromSA=true
- BMW 330d N57 Auto 2011 M Sport 66k Leather SatNAv £10,990 http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...sc&fromSA=true

1. Would you go for the 325d or 330d? I have been told there is option to remap the 325d to around 300bhp for £400
2. What are common issues with the 325d and 330d? Anything I should look out for when I go to view?
3. Is the 3 Series big enough for a pram in the boot and generally for baby use
4. Anyone know how much remapping would be elsewhere to get idea of average prices?

Thanks.

[Rustymage]

I'd always gravitate towards the 330.

Luckily from the pictures alone I'd go with the better spec'd 330. Not only that but it's from a BMW dealer so it should give you a better fall back if anything goes wrong.

Anthony

[makkan00]

Its a no brainer to go for 330d which has xenon.
Xenon is MUST imo.

If baby pram is on your to do list, I would strongly suggest you to consider e91. E90 boot is just about okish for pram.

[deeebo8452]

Unfortunately the 330d had sold so I went with the 325d which is to be delivered tomorrow. It looks like they are not Xenons and I noticed the halo rings were yellow.

Am I able to change the halo colour to white using something like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E90-E9...4AAOSw-CpYB0L9

Or is there anything else you would recommend. In terms of halogen to xenon conversion, does that involve actually changing the headlamp unit as opposed to a simple bulb? What are the main differences between the halogon vs xenon. The xenons have the lens right rather than the halogens which just reflect off the silver backing?

[Jeff123]

That car looks pretty much immaculate to me. I have the same model, but early 2012. I have read that it re-maps to c300bhp, but i would see how you go on with the "modest" 204bhp to start with. The engine feels bullet-proof, the faster you go, the better it seems to take it.

I try to use the power when i can, but with the grid-locked roads and speed cameras (not to mention the sneaky bastards hiding with laser guns), if you want to put your foot down, opportunities are rare.

I can get 50mpg with very careful driving on a run, but mid 40's is the norm. Around towns its 36mpg.

The boot is quite deceptive in terms of space, you will be OK with a pram - but not a lot else!

[bazz780]

That e90 lci was a fair price for approved used

[Adam1990]

Originally Posted by deeebo8452

Unfortunately the 330d had sold so I went with the 325d which is to be delivered tomorrow. It looks like they are not Xenons and I noticed the halo rings were yellow.

Am I able to change the halo colour to white using something like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E90-E9...4AAOSw-CpYB0L9

Or is there anything else you would recommend. In terms of halogen to xenon conversion, does that involve actually changing the headlamp unit as opposed to a simple bulb? What are the main differences between the halogon vs xenon. The xenons have the lens right rather than the halogens which just reflect off the silver backing?

For the headlights you have 3 options really

Cheapest:Put up with the halogens and just buy the brightest bulbs you can find.

Middle option:Buy a set of depo projector headlights and have bi-xenon projectors installed.

Most expensive/most work option: Do a full xenon retrofit.

For my previous car (118d with halogens) I soon realised that night driving wasn't fun because BMW's halogens seam IMO to be the worst headlights for night driving. I quickly done a lot of research into xenon retro fits.... but the bill was looking to be roughly £1000 if all went well.

I soon discovered a company that upgrade/mod headlights which I contacted about the most affordable/easy option. They advised me to buy a set of depo headlights, send them to them and they would install bi-xenon projectors and upgrade the halo rings.

The results where brilliant, so much so I'm actually think it is possible that my modded headlights might be better than my current e91's factory xenons.

[deeebo8452]

Originally Posted by Adam1990

For the headlights you have 3 options really

Cheapest:Put up with the halogens and just buy the brightest bulbs you can find.

Middle option:Buy a set of depo projector headlights and have bi-xenon projectors installed.

Most expensive/most work option: Do a full xenon retrofit.

For my previous car (118d with halogens) I soon realised that night driving wasn't fun because BMW's halogens seam IMO to be the worst headlights for night driving. I quickly done a lot of research into xenon retro fits.... but the bill was looking to be roughly £1000 if all went well.

I soon discovered a company that upgrade/mod headlights which I contacted about the most affordable/easy option. They advised me to buy a set of depo headlights, send them to them and they would install bi-xenon projectors and upgrade the halo rings.

The results where brilliant, so much so I'm actually think it is possible that my modded headlights might be better than my current e91's factory xenons.

Thanks adam1990...can i ask how much the depo lights were and how much the company charged?

[MsportFury]

Originally Posted by Jeff123

That car looks pretty much immaculate to me. I have the same model, but early 2012. I have read that it re-maps to c300bhp, but i would see how you go on with the "modest" 204bhp to start with. The engine feels bullet-proof, the faster you go, the better it seems to take it.

I try to use the power when i can, but with the grid-locked roads and speed cameras (not to mention the sneaky bastards hiding with laser guns), if you want to put your foot down, opportunities are rare.

I can get 50mpg with very careful driving on a run, but mid 40's is the norm. Around towns its 36mpg.

The boot is quite deceptive in terms of space, you will be OK with a pram - but not a lot else!

I'd love to know your secret, i'm getting 26mpg on average in my 325d

[Thermobaric]

26mpg in a 325d can't be right. I get 30mpg in my 325i.

[Jeff123]

Originally Posted by MsportFury

I'd love to know your secret, i'm getting 26mpg on average in my 325d

Its no secret and i reckon that my MPG is pretty much the norm for the car reading what others have said. In fact the 330d is pretty similar and the 335d not a great deal less.

[MsportFury]

Originally Posted by Thermobaric

26mpg in a 325d can't be right. I get 30mpg in my 325i.

Maybe I need to reset my OBD!