2.5Si or 3.0Si

[highflyer79]

Evening all

What would people prefer to go for on the Si’s? I’d been angling over 3.0Si for a while, seen a few around the 90k mark for similar prices to 2.5Si with say 50k miles. I take it being more sought after the 3Si keeps the prices up. So then my mind thinks should o just go for the 2.5 and have lower mileage. (Convertibles)

Cheers.

 

[Mr Tidy]

I don't know how many 2.5 Sis came to the UK, but there were only 963 3.0Si Roadsters so they are quite rare which is probably what keeps the prices higher.

I suppose it depends if you want that bit of extra performance. I wouldn't be too worried about 90K miles on the N52 engine - my 330i has the same engine and runs really well after 123K miles. It replaced a 325i with the N52 that had done 139K and still ran fine, I just wanted a bit more performance - but a 3 Series is a fair bit heavier than a Z4!

Only you know which compromise you can live with.

 

[Zedebee]

Frankly there’s not much in it price wise. If you’re in two minds now and you buy a 2.5Si, you’ll always wish you held out for a 3.0Si. If you buy a 3.0Si, you won’t have the same concern.

 

[deltasierra]

The 2.5si is lively enough for most with up to 218 hp, the 3.0si has 268hp and a lot more torque so you will notice the difference, it also has many options as standard. Obviously the 3.0 is the premium choice and you will pay more, however these cars are 15yrs + so buy on condition.
By todays standards they are not especially fast, but if you want a soft top roadster they are a good choice

 

[Barty]

Price may be higher but so is the performance; knowing that would just always be a factor if I’d owned a 2.5. Extremely low mileage at this point says less to me than a properly serviced and maintained car. They’re made to be driven, so putting some more miles on an already used car is less of an issue. The N52 can go to the moon and back, mines currently about to cross over onto 120.000 miles and still going strong

 

[davep10000]

I had exactly the same discussion a couple of years back, and with my budget, went for a lowish mileage 2.5si over a high mileage 3.0si.
Dont regret the decision, as the N52 engine is superb.
Being New to BMW's, I was quite surprised how much you need to rev the N52 to get the power (when pushing on, it now spends most time above 4000rpm - just lovely!).
Personal choice, but probably best advice is to try and get to drive (or at least sit in) both, maybe by joining an organised run, and hitching a ride.

 

[coldel]

I had an E86 3.0si with 60k miles on it and then bought an E85 3.0si with 115k miles on it and to be honest you are hard pressed to notice the difference in terms of engine delivery. There is a real obsession over mileage, these engines are good for 150k+ miles if well maintained. I would personally go the higher mile 3.0si and enjoy the full capability of the N52.

 

[highflyer79]

Thank you for all your replies. My heart was saying 3.0. But I kept niggling at the back. Also do any of you think that non oem suspension would devalue the car at all?

 

[coldel]

Anything aftermarket generally doesn't add value to the car, you wouldn't pay extra for it but it does depend what it is. Certainly a Pierburg water pump is a very nice thing to have on the car rather than the original one for example

If you showed the two ads you are looking at it is easier to make a call on it.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Thank you for all your replies. My heart was saying 3.0. But I kept niggling at the back. Also do any of you think that non oem suspension would devalue the car at all?

I suppose if you went for a 2.5Si you'd be forever wondering what you had missed out on!

Depending on what suspension had been fitted it may be a bonus, because even at 50K miles the OE bits are likely to be past their best.

 

[highflyer79]

Thank you for all your replies. My heart was saying 3.0. But I kept niggling at the back. Also do any of you think that non oem suspension would devalue the car at all?

I suppose if you went for a 2.5Si you'd be forever wondering what you had missed out on!

Depending on what suspension had been fitted it may be a bonus, because even at 50K miles the OE bits are likely to be past their best.

The suspension is a H&R set up and have just seen that you have that Mr Tidy. How do you find it?

 

[TOMGREEN413]

3.0 all the way :driving:

 

[Mr Tidy]

The suspension is a H&R set up and have just seen that you have that Mr Tidy. How do you find it?

Well it depends what H & R kit the car has because they make lowering springs and height adjustable coil-overs.

I don't know about the lowering springs but the coil-overs on my MC are very stiff on UK potholed roads, although they're fantastic if you manage to find a smooth bit of tarmac!

But there could well be a difference in how their offerings work on Ms compared to other models.

Sorry if that isn't too helpful but I don't want to offer an opinion on things I haven't tried!

 

[Roberltd2]

In defence of the 2.5si, the fuel economy should be better than the 3.0si I would imagine - I get 38 mpg from mine mostly on a daily commute.
Also, the power is pretty much the same as the non si 3.0L engine. So in a sense it's got the best of both worlds, and maybe lower insurance cover costs as well?

 

[sars]

I wanted a 3.0Si but was after a specific colour, Phoenix Yellow, and a 2.5Si came up at a great price and so I got that. I certainly don't regret buying it and it was an absolute joy to own and one of the best cars I've owned. The one thing I didn't like was an exhaust resonance at 70 mph and I always wondered if the 3.0si was better.

 

[Mr Tidy]

I had an E86 3.0si with 60k miles on it and then bought an E85 3.0si with 115k miles on it and to be honest you are hard pressed to notice the difference in terms of engine delivery.

I missed this earlier but I'd agree based on my experience.

My first E86 had done 54K when I got it and my second had done 91K when I sold it and I really didn't notice any difference in how they performed.

As far as economy is concerned over the 7,000 miles I did in my 325i compared to the 16,000 I've done in my 330i there has been less than 1 mpg difference. And my E86s were both within 1 mpg of them, despite getting driven a bit more enthusiastically! (I'm one of those sad people who keeps an Excel spreadsheet). :roll:

 

[coldel]

It really depends on the suspension done OP, if you post the car up we can help a lot more

If they have thrown springs onto OEM shocks then it could cause problems, depends on the spring rate and condition of the OEM shocks. If they have gone the full matched coilover route, it would depend on the type of coilovers you have there as they come in different specs and models.

Generally I have found that springs on OEM springs create a harder ride (as they tend to lower the car) and will increase wear and tear. I put some on a previous car and the front top mounts failed twice in the space of 18 months. Cause of coincidence, who knows.

But generally I wouldnt be paying extra for a car because the current owner is pointing as some aftermarket springs, in answer to your original question.

 

[Abbas]

As others have said, I wouldn't focus on mileage too much and instead look at service history, maintenance work done, and just overall ownership. I know when I was looking for my E86, there was some with very low mileage at dealerships and charging ALOT, so you'd expect them to be pristine but the MOT history was salty as f and so was the service history. Sometimes having a high number of previous owners isn't always a bad thing either, as one way you can look at it is that every owner bought it for a bit, spared no expense, babied it and then sold it on. Rather than one owner who didn't really care all that much and kept it for 15 years.

This video may also help as he compares the 2.5 and 3.0 > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh5noZ6HBGE

 

[coldel]

Note that video is not comparing the SI versions which are significantly different.

 

[True-Blue]

I’ve owned both, 3.0Si all day long…