WhiteHArtMart Posted July 30, 2008 Report Share Posted July 30, 2008 After just about convincing myself to get a new A4 Avant TDI, I was passing my local BMW dealer today and saw a 325d Touring for sale - its a manual with just leather as an extra. Would have loved Bluetooth on it and wondered if it was available as a retro fit item?? Managed to have a quick test drive and while the gearbox wasn't exactly to my liking, I though the engine was amazing. Any thing I should look for and what do you think a fair price to pay from a main dealer is?? Ta in advance. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteHArtMart Posted July 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2008 Ooops - meant to add it is a '57' plate in Titanium Silver. Be grateful of any thoughts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 Yeah it is available, but better to source the parts from ebay.de as you can get the bluetooth controller hi for around €200 (£600+vat from dealer) and this will also allow you to retrofit the usb/ipod socket. How much is it up for?? It is a tricky one, the 325d can be tuned to pretty much the same as the 330d, they hold the torque back on the manual car a bit though, so it can be a pretty special car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davyk31 Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 Just take a look at the boot space as it isn't any bigger than the saloon. Is a bit more versatile though as its a hatch obviously but not that huge when you put buggies and all the kiddies things in. I found the boot a bit tight when my wife was using our 3 Touring for the family transport. Then bought an X3 which has a great boot and a big bonus is how much easier it is to put the kids into their seats. In the 3 you are reaching them down and also reaching into the seats which is a bit back breaking, on the X3 they are basically all on a level so you just set them into the seats. X3s are much better than the press they get and good value secondhand and the 3.0D is a flyer for its size! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_hargreaves Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 You could buy all the parts for BMW's built in system, but this is quite expensive even if you go down the ebay route. More commonly a Parrot system can be installed by the dealer for about £300ish, and they hide all the wires e.t.c and they'll have the control unit put in a very easy to reach place. Just below the central air vents, although this doesn't block them like a phone cradle might do. Also a parrot system will usaually be considered when you part-ex the car, unless you want to have it ripped out to have in your next car. Have the engine software remapped (E-Maps - Home - Performance car ECU chip tuning and mobile engine remaps) to match the power and torque that the 330d has, shouldn't be too expensive but even then the power from the 325d isn't bad at all. Manual versions you'll see less of but when you stick it into a high gear at low revs, they pull like a train. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteHArtMart Posted July 31, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 Thanks for the advice guys. Its up for £25,000 but I don't intend to pay that! Would really like the B/T built in so I may wait for another to arrive to perhaps just get a 320d Touring instead? I must admit, I am also considering the new A4 Avant also - can get a brand new 2.0 TDI S Line with Bluetooth, B&O Sound and front and back parking sensors for about £25,500. Ok its still not quite as good to drive, although better than before, but it offers massive load space! Decisions, decisions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 Hmmm, A4 vs 3 Series?? That's a tricky one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_hargreaves Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 The A4 looks better IMO, especially the S-Line. But for a drivers' car, you can't beat the BMW. The 320d is good but it just isn't a patch on the 6 cylinder models. You could just put in your enquiry with the boys at BMW and mention you want Bluetooth, and just see what comes up. Also mention what you're prepared to pay, and they'll most likely be able to twist the deal to achieve a sale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 I'm going to disagree with you on that one, as a drivers car the 4cyl ones are in a different class, the extra weight on the front of the 6cyl cars are a real hinderence. The difference between our 320d and my 335i was not subtle, and you are only talking 100kg, but it alters the handling drastically. Mine is remapped to around 220bhp and now does 0-60mph in 7 seconds, so it never feels slow, and that was coming from the tuned 335i with 365bhp. I bet you would not be able to go faster in my E91 round the twisties than you would in your E91 330d, and the only time you would pull away on the road is once over a 100mph and then it would be quite minimal. Remap the 325d to 280bhp though and you are getting into something else! The only 6cyl I would buy now is the 330i petrol, the facelift car, you get the weight advantage and it is pretty damned frugal too, plus it is quicker than the 335d. Don't write off a car because there is no bluetooth, it can be fitted, I can email you the install guide to do it, not a complicated job but the parts are expensive if buying new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irnbrukid Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 I'm going to disagree with you on that one, as a drivers car the 4cyl ones are in a different class, the extra weight on the front of the 6cyl cars are a real hinderence. The difference between our 320d and my 335i was not subtle, and you are only talking 100kg, but it alters the handling drastically. Mine is remapped to around 220bhp and now does 0-60mph in 7 seconds, so it never feels slow, and that was coming from the tuned 335i with 365bhp. I bet you would not be able to go faster in my E91 round the twisties than you would in your E91 330d, and the only time you would pull away on the road is once over a 100mph and then it would be quite minimal. Remap the 325d to 280bhp though and you are getting into something else! The only 6cyl I would buy now is the 330i petrol, the facelift car, you get the weight advantage and it is pretty damned frugal too, plus it is quicker than the 335d. Don't write off a car because there is no bluetooth, it can be fitted, I can email you the install guide to do it, not a complicated job but the parts are expensive if buying new. Stay off the beer. Dont think it's quicker just as fast (think it's german BMW site has 0-1000m .3 to the d) you mean and has that lovely engine. to OP And have you not tried the updated 177 320d bettter engine than the old more frugal etc. etc. but then it aint a 6cyl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 I thought the 330i felt quicker than the 335d, on the motorway the torque of the 335d made it the quicker car, but when haing fun you could keep more speed up in the 330i. I also meant to put I bet you could go just as quick in the remapped 320d as you could in the 330d on the twisties. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alastair_A3 Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 Although i havent driven a 335d i can fully appreciate what gizze says about a 320d keeping up with it on the twisties. Its not about power there its about handling and the 4 cylinder engines are considerably lighter. I pissed all over an E60 M5 in the twisties the otherday in my 180bhp caterham, and trust me.. he was trying! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteHArtMart Posted July 31, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 Have to say mapping a 325d to 280 bhp does sound interesting! Won't allow the lack of B/T to rule out any car after what you say Gizze - cheers! My only other concern will be as mentioned, the comparitively small load space compared to the A4 - will be taking the wife along to the BMW dealership at the weekend for her opinion! Time to get my sales technique practiced!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_hargreaves Posted August 1, 2008 Report Share Posted August 1, 2008 I thought the 330i felt quicker than the 335d, on the motorway the torque of the 335d made it the quicker car, but when haing fun you could keep more speed up in the 330i. I also meant to put I bet you could go just as quick in the remapped 320d as you could in the 330d on the twisties. I do agree that the 330i does feel quicker than a 335d, probably because the difference in horsepower is minimal and the immediacy and urgency of the revving petrol engine is just supreme. As for the 320d being as quick as my 330d i'm sure it is, I very rarely drive the 330 on twisty roads, it does 25,000 miles a year, primarily on the motorway. I haven't had mine remapped, could easily get around 300bhp out of it....I think. In which case I think a 330d may edge forward? I also think the 6 cylinder models are far better on the motorway than the 4 cylinder, hence why I bought it. I just can't live with the stock power and torque of a 320d, if I was going to remap it then yeh maybe i'd get the 320d. My twisty road stuff is done in the Z4, which is just in a different class. But a Caterham keeping up with an M5 isn't anything new. It weighs around 1.8 tonnes and has 507bhp, even though the guy driving may have been in 400bhp mode. That's why they call them "Cheap Thrills". How much does the Caterham weigh Alastair, 700kg or so? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alastair_A3 Posted August 1, 2008 Report Share Posted August 1, 2008 About 550kg!! :D Needless to say it goes like bloody stink Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazza_g Posted August 1, 2008 Report Share Posted August 1, 2008 About 550kg!! : is that with or without you in it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jirm Posted August 8, 2011 Report Share Posted August 8, 2011 Hey, I have one for sale at 265.000 SEK or £ 25.000. It has full leather, bluetooth, Nav Prof with harddrive, Stereo, CD, rails, rainsensor, cruise control with throttle/brake control, winter tyres on alu wheels (2 brand new tyres), electric trailer hook, black saphire metallic.... 22.000 miles / 36.000 km. Great mileage: 0,49 - 0,61 litres per 10km Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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