The automotive industry is shifting its focus on building automobiles that achieve greater fuel economy and better emissions in an effort to reduce the damaging effects to the environment and the world as a whole. One of the most popular options that automakers are utilizing is diesel engines. Diesel engines can produce fewer emissions and achieve greater fuel economy than most hybrid or gasoline-powered models. BMW is one company that features a range of diesel engines and the 325d is one of them. It combines sport with efficient performance and the aftermarket car tuning team at Hartge has modified the car to make it even sportier without affecting its overall efficiency and emissions. The new 325d by Hartge features an engine tune tailored specifically for diesel, revamped the chassis for better handling, added new 3 piece wheels, and refined the exterior with new body work.
The 3.0-liter inline-six cylinder diesel engine used in the BMW 325d may not be a high-powered model that you'd take to the drag strip, but it does offer a decent amount of performance in stock form, as it generates 204 horsepower. So, the engineering team at Hartge designed a new software program specifically for the turbodiesel engine that altered the timing, ignition, fuel delivery, and other parameters to create more power without negatively affecting the fuel economy or carbon dioxide emissions. The software tune results in a total of 242 hp at 3950 RPM 394.54 lb-ft. of torque at 1,800 RPM being sent to each of the rear 3 piece wheels for quicker acceleration. The top speed limited is also removed and allows for the 325d to reach higher triple-digit speeds.
The team at Hartge also wanted to make the BMW 325d more dynamic on the road to go along with the added power boost. So, they upgraded the entire chassis of the coupe by installing a set of adjustable KW Variant 3 coilovers. The new coilovers lower the ride height by 25 mm and feature adjustable compression, bound, and rebound settings to allow the driver to tailor the setup for a given road or track. The factory rims and tires were removed and replaced with new forged 3 piece wheels in a staggered fitment. Hartge installed the new wheels in an 8.5 x 19 front and 10.0 x 20 rear setup with Pirelli sport tires to create a more powerful look.
The exterior of the BMW 325d was also given a new look thanks to carbon fiber body work that keeps weight to a minimum. The front bumper was outfitted with a new spoiler lip and side flics to generate downforce at high speeds. Each side of the car was equipped with new skirts that channel air around the rear 3 piece wheels for less drag. The rear is finished off with a subtle trunk spoiler for better rear-end stability.