mpg
- Thread starter iffy
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Actually believe it or not, the 3.0 engine gets better fuel economy than the 2.5 engine. Seemingly so, the 3.0 depending upon the year tends to be more reliable than the 2.5 which has been rather quirky for the 03 and 04 model years... I had a 325i and got 25mpg highway and with the 330i I get around 30mpg highway and haven't had any problems whatsoever. In terms of reliability I would say neither engine has the advantage, but the 3.0 is more powerful, efficient and refined than that 2.5 engine.
www.fueleconomy.gov list them as follows:
2005 BMW 325 Auto 21 City 30 Highway
Man 20 29
2005 BMW 330 Auto 20 29
Man 20 30
Not enough difference to make any difference.
2005 BMW 325 Auto 21 City 30 Highway
Man 20 29
2005 BMW 330 Auto 20 29
Man 20 30
Not enough difference to make any difference.
In terms of initial customer satisfaction for the first 6 months (me being the customer 
....my 2004 325it was totally, completely problem free. Both my 2004 330cics had their fair share of issues. The first 330cic was so bad, I negotiated a "buyback deal" with BMWNA. So for me...the 325 proved to be the workhorse.
With that being said, both 330cics yielded better fuel mileage (and fun).
Good Luck, and keep us posted.
....my 2004 325it was totally, completely problem free. Both my 2004 330cics had their fair share of issues. The first 330cic was so bad, I negotiated a "buyback deal" with BMWNA. So for me...the 325 proved to be the workhorse.With that being said, both 330cics yielded better fuel mileage (and fun).
Good Luck, and keep us posted.
The posted fuel economy isn't really accurate, I have heard and my own experience enforces that the 2.5 is more thirsty than the 3.0 engine. If you want a more efficient refined engine, that gets better fuel economy the 3.0 is the one to go with,
iffy: As for transmissions, if you're using it as a commuter get the steptronic, if you wanna have fun go with the manual. You are buying it new right? If it's a used one remember BMW had loads of problems with their auto transmissions in 03 and early 04, not all of these transmission swaps and repairs were performed by stellar techs.
this all gettin pretty complicating. i aint buyin the car new. i am looking for a 00/01 model in the E46 range. To tell the truth, the brief drive i had of the steptronic model was pleasing. But i want reliability, so what now, manual or auto? what sort of problems did bm have with there transmission? also, when buying a 330ci what should i buy watching out for?
I'm guessing it's cuz the 2.5 requires more gas to get adequate performance. It's perfectly adequate for tooling along. However, many 325 owners live in areas that are pretty wealthy and thus are surrounded by other luxury cars. Luxury cars are getting some REALLY powerful engines nowadays and I suspect 325 owners have to gas it more just to keep up, thus causing worse gas mileage than the more powerful 330 owners. If you're in an area with tons of 4 bangers (like I suspect you are in jolly ol England), then you prolly won't have to gas it so much and will get about the same gas mileage as the typical 330 owner.
Tranny (automatic only) really only had problems for 3 series cars built towards the end of the 03 model year and all of 04 pretty much. If you're looking at 00/01, you're fine with either tranny.
I will suggest you get the 3.0L if at all possible. I dunno how the insurance/taxes affect cars at the 3.0L displacement level, but performance wise, that's the best car. The 325 is close enough to the 328 that the 328 might not be worth the premium. The 330 is worth it tho. Least in America where the insurance is barely different.
Tranny (automatic only) really only had problems for 3 series cars built towards the end of the 03 model year and all of 04 pretty much. If you're looking at 00/01, you're fine with either tranny.
I will suggest you get the 3.0L if at all possible. I dunno how the insurance/taxes affect cars at the 3.0L displacement level, but performance wise, that's the best car. The 325 is close enough to the 328 that the 328 might not be worth the premium. The 330 is worth it tho. Least in America where the insurance is barely different.
Actually I'm getting the gas mileage figure from normal city and highway driving, obviously pushing the car to 4k rpm+ lowers the gas mileage. Cruising the car at 80 the 330i gets 30+ mpg the 325i got 25-26mpg. City driving in the 325i got me 10mpg while the 330i gets 14-15mpg, and I tend to accelerate the 330i from the stoplight more than I did with the 325i. This is ofcourse before I got fed up with it and floored it 10 times a day. But as for 325i owners pushing the car harder thus consuming more fuel it makes sense.
Also the transmission problem was ALL 2003's and early 2004's. My 330i was built 3/04 and doesn't have the problem, if I remember correctly March of 04 is when BMW finally sorted things out.
Also the transmission problem was ALL 2003's and early 2004's. My 330i was built 3/04 and doesn't have the problem, if I remember correctly March of 04 is when BMW finally sorted things out.
My 2001 325i manual gets 23 in city and 28 on the highway. My 1995 318i auto gets 21 city and 30 on the highway.
Note: If you aren't checking the mpg between fillups you aren't checking the actual mpg. Just an observation that many people (that i talk to anyway) don't seem to know how to check their mpg.
Note: If you aren't checking the mpg between fillups you aren't checking the actual mpg. Just an observation that many people (that i talk to anyway) don't seem to know how to check their mpg.