Doesn't matter. Get the best specimen you can find, whether 325 or 328. You say there are taxes and insurance issues with the 328, this would tend to drive me towards the 325 if the costs to own a 328 are high.

I think your question is really about the smaller of the new engine vs. the larger of the old engine. I don't think the engines are really different sizes, but I'd have to check on that to be sure.

 

Hey, thank you all for your answers and your help. Keep them coming.

...I don't think the engines are really different sizes, but I'd have to check on that to be sure.

Displacement is different: 2.8 liters vs. 2.5 liters.

328i aand 323i are known to have sub frame issues

So, coupes are not prone to rear subframe issues? I didn't know that....

328! The power difference is noticeable. The 328i feels more torquey in lower rpm's. Having a 328i also has more downsides though compared to the "updated" 325i. For instance, many 328's have only asc not dsc. 328's use only 1 stage airbags and thus limit you on the kinds of steering wheels you retrofit. I'm not saying anything I just listed is really a big deal, they are just a few things I have noticed over the course of owning mine. There are some advantages too, I believe the 328 gets a slightly more aggressive front fascia than the 325i and I think the 328ci comes with m68's as well...if you like those. The 328i also has the lower boosted steering rack which many prefer for its added feel of the road. Anyway, having bought a 328i if i could do it again I would buy a 330i, but it sounds like you said that wasn't an option. Good luck finding a car!

Intersting thoughts on steering wheel. As unimportant as it sounds, I really like three spoke round airbag M steering wheel...and it is kind of a hendicap to know that your car will never have one of those. That would be one of few interior mods I'd love to do to e46, along with ZHP shift knob and maybe black cube trim instead of, let's say, wood. On the other hand, one could connect only the first stage and wonder "what if..."

M68's and 135M's are one of the most beautiful wheels for e46, IMHO...

 

328i aand 323i are known to have sub frame issues

 

328! The power difference is noticeable. The 328i feels more torquey in lower rpm's. Having a 328i also has more downsides though compared to the "updated" 325i. For instance, many 328's have only asc not dsc. 328's use only 1 stage airbags and thus limit you on the kinds of steering wheels you retrofit. I'm not saying anything I just listed is really a big deal, they are just a few things I have noticed over the course of owning mine. There are some advantages too, I believe the 328 gets a slightly more aggressive front fascia than the 325i and I think the 328ci comes with m68's as well...if you like those. The 328i also has the lower boosted steering rack which many prefer for its added feel of the road. Anyway, having bought a 328i if i could do it again I would buy a 330i, but it sounds like you said that wasn't an option. Good luck finding a car!

 

MY 328i has passenger side curb view option.

 

whoops didnt know that! I took it out. What year is yours?

 

You can hookup a M3 steering wheel (even if it has a 2 stage airbag...you just don't connect the 2nd stage since there is no connector for it...).

Get the 328...you'll be happier.

 

Get a 325Ci and don't look back, the little bit of power you gain with the 328Ci isn't enough of a compensation to offset it negatives: older, sub-frame issues are more likely (but still very possible even on the 325Ci) and well you said the rest.

 

get a 325ci and don't look back, the little bit of power you gain with the 328ci isn't enough of a compensation to offset it negatives: Older, sub-frame issues are more likely (but still very possible even on the 325ci) and well you said the rest.

+1

 

Power aside (and there is a difference) I would be inclined to push you towards the 325

 

M52 will give you more power from software upgrade than with the m54. I got the shark injector for my 323i and it made a Noticeable difference, I have a friend who got a shark injector for his 325 and it really didn't do much. I'd say go with the 328i.

 

So, I am looking for a pre-facelift coupe, and I am still debating 325ci, 328ci or 330ci. Well, I would go for 330ci obviously, but there are a few problems in my particular case: first, it's pretty rare here where I live, and because it is rare, the price is a bit higher so it's out of my price range, and because it is a newer car, that adds to it's price a bit more (comparing to, let's say 328ci), So let's say 330ci is not an option for a moment.

Pros and cons (and questions) in my particular case:

325ci
- It's obviously a newer car (as a whole)
- M54 is more modern engine. Q: How much better than M52TU?
- Annual registration costs+insurance are "bearable" in my country, for the 2.5 liter engine. For the 2.8 liters they are ALMOST unbearable (same as with 3.0L).
- Note: I won't be doing ANY engine mods, except maybe ebay headers and possibly some software, but that would happen a few years down the road. Same applies if I buy 328ci.

328ci
- It would be an older car/higher mileage (not necessarily, but probably)
- Possible problems with rear subframe ripping, if older than 04(?)/2000. I had that on my e36, and altho it didn't cost me that much to repair it, it was PITA, and I am NOT going through that again.
- 328ci would be easier to find with stuff that I'm going for - sport pkg + full leather or cloth/leather combo and xenons, simply because there are more 328ci's than 325ci's here where I live.
- Power of M52B28TU is the same as M54B25, but torque is higher. Q: Is that really that important and noticable? Does M54 "compensates" it (to some extent) because it's more modern?

I'm not going to mod any of the engine. I won't track the car. It would be my daily driver, as my e36 is, but it wouldn't be a beater. I have another car as my "around the city" beater and "winter beater". Altho I drive my e36 almost every day, it's basicly my second car, as I use my other car for "beating".

What would you do? Wait for a good 325ci...or go for a higher torque of 328ci...or it doesn't matter and whichever has lower mileage + sport/leather/xenons is better option...or something else? Thanks for reading and for your help.

To answer your questions: No, M54 doesnt compensate the power for being a little more modern.
328 has more torque and it REALLY shows, but seeing that you wont mod it nor do you care about power, I'd still recommend 325.
Main differences between M52 and M54 is that M54 has a drive-by-wire throttle when M52 uses good old cable.
But this isnt bad nor good. Anyway i would try to get the newest car possible, so in this case 325ci.

Subframe failure is prone to ALL E46s as well as M3, so dont let that scare you.
As long as you dont get an automatic , you'll be fine.

 

Interesting answers from all of you, thank you very much.

If I overlay all of your answers, I get this:

- 328Ci is "torquer" (sp?), more power can be felt (altho the power, numerically, is the same), all-in-all difference CAN be felt.

- 325Ci is recomended simply because it's a newer car (less mileage)

- Rear subframe issues, don't worry about it, it can happen to anyone.

- If one particular car is all that I want from it (package, options, milage, general condition), it doesn't matter if it's 2.5 or 2.8 - go for it.

I really thought that only older cars were prone to this subframe issues. I even found statistics somwhere (maybe even on this site) where like > 90% subframe issues were on cars which had build date up till month/2000, and like <10% after month/2000 (where month=April, I THINK).

And no, no, automatic is not an option. No offence to auto guys, but I'd rather ride a bike. ("bike" as in "bicycle").