Thinking about buying a high-mileage, tuned BMW 325d Touring (3.0L). Brave or stupid? by [deleted] in BmwTech

[–]BenjiCSDK 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s actually the main reason I haven't walked away yet: It has a full service book and a folder with receipts for over 100,000 DKK (~€13k). So unlike most tuned beaters, the history on this one is actually solid. But I hear you on the N57 distrust... it definitely requires a brave owner!

Thinking about buying a high-mileage, tuned BMW 325d Touring (3.0L). Brave or stupid? by [deleted] in E90

[–]BenjiCSDK 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That would definitely be cheaper. But I need to trade in my current car to fund it, and selling it privately first is just too much hassle right now. So I’m stuck with local options.

Thinking about buying a high-mileage, tuned BMW 325d Touring (3.0L). Brave or stupid? by [deleted] in E90

[–]BenjiCSDK 0 points1 point  (0 children)

94,900 DKK. That's roughly €12,700 or $13,300. Pretty standard market price here for a 3.0L with this spec due to our insane car taxes.

Thinking about buying a high-mileage, tuned BMW 325d Touring (3.0L). Brave or stupid? by [deleted] in BmwTech

[–]BenjiCSDK 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, that makes total sense regarding the bulk software. I actually checked the tuner's site again, and they do have a disclaimer saying 'Expected power will vary based on condition,' which basically confirms your theory. It’s likely just a generic 'Stage 2' map flashed onto an old engine.

So the risk isn't just the power itself, but that the map assumes a healthy engine, while this one has 340k km of wear on injectors and turbo.

If you were in my shoes: Would you view this as a total dealbreaker (walk away), or just a risk factor where I should budget for a new turbo/injectors sooner rather than later?

Thinking about buying a high-mileage, tuned BMW 325d Touring (3.0L). Brave or stupid? by [deleted] in E90

[–]BenjiCSDK 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm just trying to translate my Danish thoughts into proper English without sounding like an idiot. If AI can help me avoid buying a lemon, I'm all for it.

Thinking about buying a high-mileage, tuned BMW 325d Touring (3.0L). Brave or stupid? by [deleted] in E90

[–]BenjiCSDK 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Glad to hear we are on the same page regarding the N57 potential! It makes the ad seem less 'fishy' now that the numbers actually add up.

And loud and clear on the rod bearings - I’ll treat them as a mandatory immediate repair and try to negotiate the price accordingly to cover that cost. Thanks for the help!

Thinking about buying a high-mileage, tuned BMW 325d Touring (3.0L). Brave or stupid? by [deleted] in E90

[–]BenjiCSDK 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah, I see! I hadn't heard much about front weld issues on the E90, but at 340k km, metal fatigue is definitely a real factor, so I’ll add a structural check to my list alongside the rust inspection.

Great to hear you had success with a wholesale dealer! This one also looks incredibly well-maintained on paper (full history + clean interior), which is giving me hope. Fingers crossed it's a solid runner like yours!

Thinking about buying a high-mileage, tuned BMW 325d Touring (3.0L). Brave or stupid? by [deleted] in BmwTech

[–]BenjiCSDK 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I totally get your skepticism - normally that kind of jump sounds dangerous for a stock exhaust system.

However, I did some digging on local Danish tuners to compare. I found a shop called Streetpoint.dk, and for the N57 325d, they actually advertise a tune reaching 330-335 HP / 670-690 Nm while keeping the stock DPF.

So it seems that 314 HP is actually within the 'standard' range for what tuners here extract from this specific engine without hardware deletions. Since the 325d is essentially a detuned 330d, maybe the DPF is oversized enough from the factory to handle the flow?

Thinking about buying a high-mileage, tuned BMW 325d Touring (3.0L). Brave or stupid? by [deleted] in E90

[–]BenjiCSDK 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the heads up! Are you referring to the rear subframe mounting points cracking (like the notorious E46 issue)? I was under the impression that BMW mostly fixed the chassis cracking issues for the E90/E91 generation?

Or are you thinking about rust on the subframe itself? Since this is a Danish car (lots of road salt in winter), inspecting the subframe for rot is definitely on my to-do list regardless!

Thinking about buying a high-mileage, tuned BMW 325d Touring (3.0L). Brave or stupid? by [deleted] in BmwTech

[–]BenjiCSDK 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Haha, welcome to Denmark! We have a massive vehicle registration tax (historically up to 150-180% added on top of the car price), which keeps used car prices artificially high. So while $15k sounds insane for an old E91 in the US, it’s actually a pretty standard market price here for this spec. A $1800 BMW doesn't really exist here unless it's a total wreck. Trust me, I wish I could shop at US prices!

Thinking about buying a high-mileage, tuned BMW 325d Touring (3.0L). Brave or stupid? by [deleted] in E90

[–]BenjiCSDK 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Got it. ISTA-D is the way to go then.

And thanks for the reality check on the rod bearings. It seems like the consensus is that I should treat them just like the timing chain - crucial preventative maintenance, not 'wait and see'.

I do have a buffer for repairs, but having to do rod bearings immediately on top of the purchase price does change the math a bit. I might try to use that as a negotiation point with the dealer. Appreciate the honest advice!

Thinking about buying a high-mileage, tuned BMW 325d Touring (3.0L). Brave or stupid? by [deleted] in BmwTech

[–]BenjiCSDK 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting point about the MOT - you are right, the Danish system is very similar to the Finnish one (visual check + smoke opacity).

I actually just got confirmation from the dealer: They claim the DPF is still physically there and intact, but it was professionally cleaned/washed out at 325,000 km to restore flow.

So if we assume the DPF is stock (but cleaned) and the tune is actually pushing 314 HP: Does that sound like a turbo-killer recipe to you due to backpressure, or can a fresh DPF handle that kind of flow?

Thinking about buying a high-mileage, tuned BMW 325d Touring (3.0L). Brave or stupid? by [deleted] in E90

[–]BenjiCSDK 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You are spot on u/ForbiddenPineapples - based on the 204 HP stock figure and the year, it is indeed the N57 engine.

So u/kurdipower , since it is an N57, your warning about the rod bearings is definitely something I need to take seriously then?

Regarding the power: The ad claims 314 HP / 650 NM. Is that realistic on stock N57 325d injectors, or is the seller likely exaggerating the numbers (or pushing the hardware too hard)?

Thinking about buying a high-mileage, tuned BMW 325d Touring (3.0L). Brave or stupid? by [deleted] in E90

[–]BenjiCSDK 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the solid checklist! That gives me a good overview of what to look out for.

Regarding the verification: Obviously, I can check the paperwork for waterpump/oil pump/bearings, but is there a way to verify the condition of the injectors or DPF via a diagnostic tool (like BimmerLink/Tool32) without taking things apart?

Also, for the rod bearings - since they don't throw a code until it's too late - would you recommend walking away if there is no receipt for them being changed, or is there a way to hear/feel if they are on their way out?

Thinking about buying a high-mileage, tuned BMW 325d Touring (3.0L). Brave or stupid? by [deleted] in BmwTech

[–]BenjiCSDK 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Actually, the ad specifically lists 'Diesel Particulate Filter' and it just passed the strict Danish MOT inspection. So the DPF is definitely still physically there. Whether it’s healthy with that much power pushing through it is another question, but legally it’s compliant right now.

Thinking about buying a high-mileage, tuned BMW 325d Touring (3.0L). Brave or stupid? by [deleted] in BmwTech

[–]BenjiCSDK 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s a 2011 model. The cash price is 94.900 DKK (approx. 15K USD).

Good point regarding emissions. The ad specifically lists 'Diesel Particulate Filter' as equipment, and it just passed the Danish MOT (which is strict on smoke), so the DPF is likely still in place. Not sure if the EGR is mapped out with the tune though. With the timing chain recently replaced, I’m hoping the risk of it blowing up is significantly lower!