wanting to buy a 325

[chumpy]

Hello, nice forum you have here!

I need some advice: my car just got destroyed in an accident (not my fault) and now I need to buy a car sometime soon. I live in Switzerland, Europe, and want a relatively cheap (cost + maintenance), reliable, rwd car. Hopefully a car with under 100 000km (63 000 miles) and worth under about $7000 (less would be better). I would like the car to remain somewhat practical, i.e. 4 seats. The car should be somewhat powerfull, 200-300 hp, possibly upgrading the car to reach a reliable power level. So basically, looking for a well rounded rwd car.

Naturally, BMW comes to mind. I have found a nice 325i from 1992 with about 60 000km. I would like to know waht kind of things I should look out for and what should have been changed for that number of km. The BMW are an obvious choice considering what I looking for, but I am worried about service costs and reliability since I plan on keeping this car for a while. Are there problems withthese cars, what can I expect to break/need replacement and how much will it cost.

What does the 325is have more than the 325i?

Thanks!

 

[andreyiv]

The 325is has actually less then 325i, 2 doors less that is, otherwise I am not sure there are any more differences for that year.

You mentioned you want 200-300 hp, I hope you do know that the 325 does not have that much, its just a tiny bit below 200 (189 I believe) and as will a lot of other people tell you, you will have to spend a pretty good amount on the car in order to gain just a few more hp so it usually is not worth it.

Things that break, hmm, well, the plastic impellar gives up easily on the water pump but at 60k I would think it is replaced already. I heard of radiator necks cracking, that would cause you to replace the whole thing, close to around 500 I think, if not a little more, for parts only that is. Rear sub-frame gives way if the car is heavily tracked but I don't think that comes early than around 80 or maybe even 100k miles. Hmm, if your going for the auto, people say they tend to break in between 80 and 120k miles so that would be costly (a few grand). Lower front suspension arms are a common faliure point for rough roads, no clue when that goes though, depends heavily on the type of road and driving style. On mine, the fan clutch went at around 100k miles, that was an easy fix, about 100 on ebay and did it myself. The OBC crystals (the display) tends to fail also, and I have no idea how soon, hasn't happened to me yet. I can't really think of anything else at this point but I would say you are pretty safe at 60k km, thats pretty low milage.

Edit: Almost forgot, good luck with the car and whatever you buy, enjoy it.

Anyone else has any ideas about common failure points?

 

[SKycity_BMW]

Common problems - E36

http://member.rivernet.com.au/btaylor/BMWText/technical/E36CommonProblems.html

 

[chumpy]

Thanks for the link SKycity_BMW, very useful.

I thought I had read somewhere that the is model, the sport model, came with an LSD and a few other things...Anyone know about this?

Now don't get me wrong, I love the bms, but it would seem to me that they do cost quite a bit to maintain (especially when the BMW garage does allthe maintenance) in comparison to a Japanese car. I know you can't really compare the two, I mean the ride comfort of the bm are incredible, but it does seem like quite a bit, no?

Thanks for the input!

 

[bmw555]

Thanks for the link SKycity_BMW, very useful.

I thought I had read somewhere that the is model, the sport model, came with an LSD and a few other things...Anyone know about this?

Now don't get me wrong, I love the bms, but it would seem to me that they do cost quite a bit to maintain (especially when the BMW garage does allthe maintenance) in comparison to a Japanese car. I know you can't really compare the two, I mean the ride comfort of the bm are incredible, but it does seem like quite a bit, no?

Thanks for the input!

Dude, they are costly to maintain, sounds like BMW is not for you

 

[andreyiv]

The iS stuff is for e30, the older 3 series. As far as I know, in the e36, the S only stands for two doors. You are right though, there is a sport package. The sport package has different seats, different wheels, a few different suspension parts and of course the beloved LSD. The wheels that come in the sport package on the 325 are the same wheels that come with the 328, thats why mine and bmw555's wheels are the same.

Hope I cleared up a few things.