The BMW 325Ci Coupé was situated in the middle of the model range of the BMW 3 Series Coupés and was positioned between the BMW 320Ci and the BMW 330Ci. A production run of approximately 74,000 units manufactured made it the second most popular coupé in the series. It provided a sporty driving experience even though the six-cylinder inline engine with a displacement of 2.5 litres (M54B25) simultaneously offered lower fuel consumption than the 3.0 litre model (BMW 330Ci). The high-revving and smooth-running engine was fitted with Double VANOS, and like all models powered by M54 engines it was provided with an electronic accelerator pedal (instead of a cable). Special models powered by a particularly environmentally friendly M56 engine were supplied for a few US states. This meant that the BMW 325Ci Coupé was classified as a SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle).