Tell me about the 2005 325 ci

[njcardsfan]

I currently have a 1998 328ci with 130,000 miles on it. I see a 2005 325 ci on Craiglist that looks great. How will it compare with my car? Same thing? Better? Worse? Thanks in advance for your help.

[JDStrickland]

Better? Worse? Or, just different?

[njcardsfan]

I read some old threads and what I've seen so far is that the E46 is better on the highway, faster, quieter. It's heavier? My 328 ci is certainly noisy. I'd love a quieter car when the top is up. Any other thoughts about this?

[JDStrickland]

The E46 top is not as noisey. The window is glass instead of plastic. There is a rear window defogger (heater) built into the glass.

I'm not sure you want to go from the 328 to a newer 325, but you should be happy moving from the 328 to the newer 330.

[njcardsfan]

Is the 325 less impressive? It's a 325 ci that's for sale, not a 330.

[MParallel]

Why don't you ask in the E90 section.

[njcardsfan]

Isn't a 2005 325 ci an E46?

[JDStrickland]

Isn't a 2005 325 ci an E46?
Yes it is.

[sjpgoalie]

The E46 top is not as noisey. The window is glass instead of plastic. There is a rear window defogger (heater) built into the glass.

I'm not sure you want to go from the 328 to a newer 325, but you should be happy moving from the 328 to the newer 330.

The OP has a vert and he is looking at an e46 325ci. Are you looking at an e46 coupe or vert? Honestly, not a lot of difference between a 325 and a 328. And the e90 330 is slow as well. They're both M52s, one is slightly smaller with dual vanos, one is .3l bigger and has single vanos. Either way, they're both going to be pretty darn slow if the e46 is a vert, as well. I felt the M52B25tu from the e46 was much smoother than previous S/M52's I'd driven. I've had two 2.5l e46s and an e36 328is, which is a coupe, and another e36 with an S52 in it. The 2.5 out of the e46 felt the smoothest and I drove that car to nearly 200k before I got in an accident. Still felt like it had 0 miles on it. I'm not a fan of vert's, but if I were to an e46 one, the engine size wouldn't be a deciding factor between a 328 and 325. The 328/330 has a ZF trans that shifts a little heavier and is a little clicky, the 323/325s have getrags that feel a little smoother, but can't take as much torque. Either way, if you're not supercharging the car, don't worry about that either. In terms of drive-ability and comfort, e46s all the way. Maint. is better on them, too. Never had e46s break as much as e36s. Both my e46s were built at the end of 1998 as well.

[MParallel]

Isn't a 2005 325 ci an E46?

Oh snap! Well still the wrong section ;)