difference between 323 nad 325

blk325i · 03-17-2009, 02:52 PM

it's the same engine(2.5 I6) but specs show the 323 has 170hp and 181tq and the 325 has 184 hp and 175tq. what's different on the engines?

maxevo · 03-17-2009, 03:31 PM

The difference between the engine is only 14hp which can easily be gained back by pulley kit, an intake and the Shark injector software. They are both 2.5 double vanos engines

Driven both cars ... and i can tell you that the 323 is more fun to drive due to the higher trq ratio

Accelleration 0-60 is exactly the same...performance is identical in terms of speed/handling/etc. The 323 will take better to bolt ons mods. vs the 325

Horsepower: 170 / 184 (+14 for 325)
Torque: 181 / 175 (+6 for 323)

325 has +14hp and 323 has +6 torque.
323 is about 100lbs lighter(amounts to +10hp) so the acceleration is exactly same. Handling/braking might be a tad bit better in 323 since it is 100lbs lighter.

Otherwise they are exactly same.

Also 325 has a drive by wire throttle vs direct linkage in 323. (I prefer direct linkage, I think it is more responsive)

Shark gives +17hp +21ft/lbs torque in 323 which is quite good

Nick_V · 03-17-2009, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxevo

Driven both cars ... and i can tell you that the 323 is more fun to drive due to the higher trq ratio

I have too, and if you ask me, a vanos e36 325is blows them both away. I doubt if it's actually faster, but it definitely feels like it. E36 has more feel and spirit, whereas E46 feels more insulated and disconnected from what's going on. My buddy's 323Ci felt downright slow when I drove it, and my other buddy's 325i (with sport package) still was nowhere near the car that the E36 325is is. But I've never driven a 330i/Ci, so maybe that's the one to have....

**T.Dot_E30** · 03-17-2009, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxevo

Handling/braking might be a tad bit better in 323 since it is 100lbs lighter.

325s have slightly bigger brakes. (300X22 vs. 323's 286X22)

323s fit 15'' (Good for smaller cheaper winters) whereas the 325s require 16''.

Dado 540 · 03-17-2009, 04:41 PM

Just get a Hyundai, it will beat them both

Mikeee46coup · 03-17-2009, 04:42 PM

The difference is a wash, unless you Shark the 323ci (as Maxevo said) then the 323ci is the beter buy.

Also be weary of subframe tears on early models, very common with the early E46's which are mostly 323's.

BabyHerc · 03-17-2009, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikeee46coup

The difference is a wash, unless you Shark the 323ci (as Maxevo said) then the 323ci is the beter buy.

Also be weary of subframe tears on early models, very common with the early E46's which are mostly 323's.

Can you elaborate on the the subframe tear topic? I have a 2000 323i and your comment haqs me concerned. How do I know if my subframe is good? How do I know if it's no good? WTF is a subframe anyway, and what does it do? Thanks!

Nick_V · 03-17-2009, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BabyHerc

Can you elaborate on the the subframe tear topic? I have a 2000 323i and your comment haqs me concerned. How do I know if my subframe is good? How do I know if it's no good? WTF is a subframe anyway, and what does it do? Thanks!

if your car is street driven, then I don't think you need to worry too much. The issue, as I understand it, is mainly with cars used on the track. The extreme torsional forces associated with track driving, in some cases, can cause the rear suspension mounts to tear away from the subframe. Apparently BMW blames it on a bad batch of steel during late E36/ early E46 production. I'm not claiming to be an expert on this by any means, but that's the jist of it. If you're really worried, I'm pretty sure Turner Motorsport sells reinforcement kits.

TNation · 03-17-2009, 10:59 PM

^ that's exactly it, BMW has blamed it on steel issues. And you can get it reinforced, but Nick, there's been plenty of non-tracked early E46's that had that subframe tear.

bimsport · 03-17-2009, 11:32 PM

my 323 just had that subframe tear, street driven, never on track.
had reinforcement done at bimmersport, very good price since they have their own reinforcement kit. just give Charlie a call, they can lift your bimmer and tell you right away if there is damage.

Nick_V · 03-18-2009, 04:00 PM

wow, I stand corrected. Must be pretty frickin weak down there. I would never think that normal street driving would be stressful enough to cause that kind of damage, but I guess as rust sets in a bit over the years things could escalate pretty quickly. That, or these 'street' incidents are a result of cars being beaten on. Either way, that sucks.