Upgrading my daily from a 325e to a 325i...Worth the sacrifice?

[Gary Yogurt]

So I've been daily driving a very nice (automatic) '86 325e for about two years, with my ultimate goal being to sort everything out, swap in a manual, and install a Conforti chip. I do enjoy the MPG on long trips and the transmission has been annoying but bulletproof so far. (I'm at 140,000.)

It's looking like I might have the opportunity to buy a 325i manual with similar mileage.

I have done a ton of work to my current ride and as much as it will pain me to part with it, I ultimately want a more responsive, manual transmission car. Questions:

With the same attention I've given to my 325e, is a 325i going to be just as reliable as a long-distance driver if I need to say, drive from Baltimore to Montreal?

If I'm not driving like a maniac in a well-kept 325i, what can I expect for highway mileage? I'm looking for real, calculated numbers. I know it varies, but I see drivers claiming anywhere from 22-30.

So, what are the real-world numbers people are getting in a stock 325i?

Anyone else a former 325e owner that's now driving a 325i? Any regrets? Thanks guys!

[TurboJake]

140k is barely past teething.

MY 325i's original UNOPENED engine is at 508k, and I drive her hard. Take care of it, and it will take care of you. Well over 200k is extremely common If you keep up with maintenence. The manual is widely accepted with a whole lot of evidence to back up that it is more reliable. But the auto's are pretty stout too if you don't beat on it.

It depends on your setup. I consistently pull 27MPG average with outside temps over 55, and 23mpg when under. Miller WAR chip, MAF conversion, Bosch Gen III 14lb/hr injectors, wide open exhaust, 3.64 LSD, and good maintenence. Bone stock you could expect 21-25 for a healthy m20.

I had both at one point as a curiosity. 325i hands down

[ST1G]

Do it. I loved my eta, but after getting an i, I would never go back.

[henryki]

I'd say keep the e but definitely swap the manual into it, I drive a 90 325i with a 5 speed and a 3.73 LSD, at 70 I'm at 3,000 rpm and at 80 3,500. I still pull a solid 20-25 mpg's even with 19 lb injectors and a tune.

My odometer stopped at 136,292 and the PO said he daily drove it for about 5 years with the odometer stopped then as well. So my guess is that the car has at least 250,000 miles on it. It burns a little oil on start up if parked on a hill, but I've never had an issue with reliability minus the one time my water pump decided to become a coolant drain and dump all my coolant on my driveway. And I beat the hell out of that M20 and it runs like a champ!

But now, the heater core decided to start leaking, literally yesterday, so I bypassed it for now until I have time to swap a good one in..

[Restoman]

I say keep both. The E no matter how nice will not get much mony back in your pocket, so why split with it?

[Gary Yogurt]

I say keep both. The E no matter how nice will not get much mony back in your pocket, so why split with it?

I'm not sure if I could afford the upkeep or have the time to look after two E30s and keep both cars where I want them, mechanically speaking. Ideally, I'd love to give the "e" to my wife. Definitely something to consider but I'd like to spare myself the stress.

[Nick_S]

Thought about swapping it? An M50 swap is very straightforward or if you want to keep with an M20, you could probably find a good running M20 and G260 for cheaper than buying another car.

[frolf]

MY 325i's original UNOPENED engine is at 508k, and I drive her hard.

It depends on your setup. I consistently pull 27MPG average with outside temps over 55, and 23mpg when under. Miller WAR chip, MAF conversion, Bosch Gen III 14lb/hr injectors, wide open exhaust, 3.64 LSD, and good maintenence.

This sounds fantastic!

[socalife]

Do an m50 swap, more reliable and better performance with good mpg if you shift early and install a lsd that is <3.45

[Gary Yogurt]

Thought about swapping it? An M50 swap is very straightforward or if you want to keep with an M20, you could probably find a good running M20 and G260 for cheaper than buying another car.

Yeah, I have. Putting a G260 in was my plan until I came across the 325i. It's in great shape and maintained at a similar level as my 325e. Super fun health issues limit my lifting to 30lbs so major projects take forever and capable friends willing to spend an entire weekend with my car are hard to come by. (And I don't trust any shops enough to justify spending money to have it done.)

Also, thanks for the great responses so far everyone.

[TimKninja]

On my original M20B25 that had 263k on it and hauled like a freight train, Id get 25MPG no matter how hard i beat it.

Id say go for it!

[ELVA164]

My car has just under 150k on it, bone stock, and my calculated mixed mileage is in my sig. I'd say with my 3.73 rear end I get more like 25mpg on extended highway trips, but I could do better at 65mph instead of 70 (or 80 instead of 70;) ). It's not hard to do, just do some research on fuel-efficient driving techniques and don't keep the motor below 2,000rpm unless you want to foul spark plugs.

Edit: I did replace the fuel injectors with the 17lb M50 ones, I'd say my averages are in the 28-29 range with some "fun time" mixed in. I did almost as well with the originals, though.

[estoguy]

Do the tranny swap. My almost 2 year average in my Eta is 7.6L/100 KM. That's combined driving, all seasons. During warmer months, I can get it pretty consistently below 7.5.

[ELVA164]

7.5L/100km is a bit above 31mpg, just for clarity.

I don't mind sacrificing a couple mpg for all those revs, though... :nice:

[whitebulat22]

Surprisingly after having a friend own an auto eta for a long time (now we both own sticks) and recently installing a MarkD chip in mine I'm not sure how much a manual does for it. As in, it now has a powerband starting at 1300 rpm but still backs off near the redline, making the extra gears less useful than expected. Before the chip it torqued down low but now that is literally the most fun rev section in the car.

I haven't driven an I but breaking through that 5300 rpm barrier with authority has to feel amazing. As a torquey cruiser a chipped eta is excellent. If the I is a good deal it will be more fun for blasting. They are so expensive though (4k premium over eta generally when I looked) that someone could probably be paid to rebuild and swap in an I motor + g260 in your car at the same overall cost.

Whatever decision seems best I hope it works out well for you.