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Petrolhead
When it comes to a car that appeals to many people and is also reasonably affordable, the BMW 3 Series is often mentioned. This model has an incredibly strong appeal to almost everyone who has anything to do with cars. Even more than a smooth-running Golf and often even more than the brand with the star.
Marco de Leeuw from Susteren has been the happy owner of a 2009 325d for ten years now, which has now exceeded half a million. To say Marco is a petrolhead would be an understatement. He is really very impressed by the car phenomenon. “Besides my work, cars are my big hobby. “I just didn’t make it my job, but maybe I should have,” laughs the Limburger, who works for a world-famous technology company.
Meat in the tub
Today we have a real BMW 325d on the bridge. It was first put into operation in 2009 and is now fifteen years old. In January 2013 the BMW was imported and registered in the Netherlands, with Marco being the first and so far only Dutch owner. Marco bought it from a young car entrepreneur who brought it with him from Luxembourg, where the car was “leased” during its first years of life.
At the time the car weighed almost one and a half tons on the clock and Marco has driven it towards half a million in recent years. The new asking price was more than sixty grand. The engine is actually right: in-line six, 197 hp/400 Nm on the rear wheels and a nice six-speed gearbox within easy reach for driver Marco. In contrast to the six-cylinder petrol engine, the torque is available quickly from 1,300 rpm. And the consumption? “If I drive correctly, I can do 1 in 18,” says Marco. Of course a nice figure.
Where does this fascination for cars come from and where does this admiration for the 3 Series come from? “The 3 is a car as a car should be: four doors and a trunk. In addition, the rear wheels provide propulsion and the front wheels provide steering. BMW has perfected this so that the car is also fun to drive. For me the picture is complete,” explains Marco. For Marco, driving is as natural as eating, drinking and sleeping. His interest in four-wheelers is very broad. Since the brand runs in the family, Mazda also has above-average interest. “A beautiful brand that dares to be idiosyncratic, but has also always built cars of very good quality,” says Marco. The 58-year-old enthusiast has three pieces of this brand in his garage. “A red Mazda 1000 C from 1973 like we had at home back then, a classic Mazda 323 from 1977 in a rare five-door version and my favorite, a Mazda RX-7 from 1979. Yes, with a rotary engine.” It is clear that In addition to his passion for driving, Marco also has a heart for special technology. He also plays a role on the board of the Hadi Mazda Club.
Six in a row
Back to the BMW. The fifteen-year-old 325d is simply hard to beat. Even Judge Joep, who is known for his critical eye, is of this opinion. For the German brand, the bar at Carrec is even higher, as they get many of them into the workshop for maintenance, repairs or adjustments to the chassis or tires. This means they know the 3 Series inside and out. Joep is positive after the test drive. “I can tell that this car is doing well, that attention and time has been given to it,” he says, and that’s even more common today. That also has something to do with the in-line six-cylinder at the front.
Unfortunately we come across an oil leak on the bridge near Carrec. This is a setback, even for Marco, who is closely watching the entire inspection. “Not so much that you have to worry immediately, but you have to do something with it,” explains Joep. There are some fresh traces of oil near the vacuum pump and fuel filter. And although the 325d drives wonderfully, the tester has something to complain about: there are vibrations and noises on the move. “It’s due to an engine mount and the front wishbone rubbers that are worn out.” Something needs to be done to get close to perfection again. Furthermore, the list remains limited on the infamous yellow sticky note. For a car of this age with more than half a million examples, it’s a beautiful 3 Series, that’s for sure.
Subdued happy
Owner Marco is reasonably satisfied. Modest? Yes, because anyone who takes a look at the maintenance history will see that it is meticulously precise. And in fact every comment is one too many. But the bottom line is that he is also proud because Joep is not that generous with compliments.
So just keep driving, right? “I’ll work on Joep’s list. On the one hand, this is a hobby car, but one that I use a lot and often because I have it to enjoy driving. If you want that, it has to be absolutely right,” says Marco. There is no way to get in between.
Owner BMW 325d
Name: Marco de Leeuw
Year of construction: 1965
Place of residence: Susteren
Occupation: Financier at a technology company
First car: Toyota Corolla 30
Previous car: Volvo S60 2.4 D Edition II
What would you like to change in your car?: “Install heated seats.”
What was your longest trip with this car? “To Italy.”
Maintenance history
This is just a small excerpt from the long list of maintenance tasks:
- 140,236 4 new tires
- 155.175 Removable trailer hitch
- 202.865 6 Replace glow plugs
- 211.305 Rear left mounting disc and blocks
- 218.270 Replace deflection pulley on generator
- 276,794 Clutch complete
- 277.206 Empty particle filter
- 322,987 Chair Repair
- 342,357 4 new Vredesteins – 54621 km with the old one
- 359,982 Bumper Repair
- 418,588 Windshield replacement
- 430,700 discs and blocks completely replaced
- 432.219 Replace rear shock absorber
- 440.427 Front shock absorbers replaced
- 481.578 Replace alternator, V-belt, belt tensioner
- 494,414 two new xenon lamps
- 495.904 Frame above the windshield
- 500,996 Hardy discs and intermediate shaft bearings
- 512.845 Clutch and flywheel complete
- 517.101 Air conditioning failure
- 528,000 MULF2 repaired
- 557.616 Bumper and bumper grille replaced including painting
- 559.611 base plate
- 577,926 driver mat
What is wrong with that?
- The shifter has some play
- There is strong engine vibration, a set of new (original) engine mounts could help
- The car jerks when braking suddenly because the rubber on the front wishbones is worn out
- The left windshield wiper doesn’t move far enough to the left
- The vacuum pump sweats some oil
- An intercooler hose connection is sweating
- The rear differential rubber is cracked
- There is play at the top right rear wishbone
- Diesel is leaking from the fuel filter
De mening van Carrec Technocenter
“You can see in everything how much love and love has been put into this BMW 3 Series.” It was serviced on time and is immaculate inside and out. Of course we like to see it that way. You will enjoy it for years to come. Nice car. “Hats off to the car and its owner.”
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