anyone ever owned a mid 90's 3 series? have anything to say about them? i've kinda been peaking a either a 318 or a 325 but would like some input.

 

Well, I havn't owned one, but i've looked into it. I have owned other bmw's like e3's e10's and a e28 528e. I have also serviced friends bmw's 320i 325i and a 740.. I maintain that germans are nuts.

Be carfull about getting the first couple years of the 318, They had a bad head profile gasket deskign at first.

The auto tranny's in the bmw's of those years and since have been sold with "lifetime fluid" Even though they are basically just gm tranny's. So yeah they tend to die before one would expect since you can't even check the fluid and give it a good smell test. I would recomend a manual.

The cooling system had some problems, The radiator would usually last about 80k miles then the plastic holding tank bits would crack.. aftermarket companies sell all aluminum models for the e36's now. Also the water pump's in some of the mid 90's 6 cyl cars were sold with plastic impellars (to save weight) .. it is good to replace those with the later model metal impellared ones.

Be carefull of cars that have been heavily modified and mabee thrown around the streets by a kid like myself. There is a problem with the rear subframe mounts where when the suspension is tightened up like all the kids do these days. Then used for heavy track use. The metal around the rear subframe can crack and break. There is a fix for this, but as you can imagine it involves taking most of the rear of the car apart and welding some additional metal in.


That's about all I know. I'm a bmw fan, and i have to say that they are wonderfull car..... When they are running.

I was considering replacing my 97 acura 2.2 cl with a 328i as my daily car, but that seems like self torture. I still may get a 97 540 6 spd though, either that or a gun to shoot myself with.

http://www.roadfly.com/bmw/forums/ most of the forums here are fairly informative.

 

what other cars would you compare to a 325i? im thinking something fairly quick that gets decent mileage (atleast 20 mpg) and something kinda sporty. i kinda wanna go with an import and have ruled out the idea of a mustang (rather just get a newer one than a used one). i've looked into audi but i just don't like their styling oh and my budget is about $5Kish maybe a little more.

 

hmm, well audi has pretty much all the bmw problems plus their engines have timming belts instead of timming chains. um..

How about a volvo t5-r somtimes you can find those for for cheap, but they are kinda few and far between. Also they have all the euro type problems.. plus turbo problems. I don't know if i can reccomend anything from europe that is um.. more reliable.

The saab 900 is always an option,

But if you consider that I would also consider a honda prelude with a h22 in it (about the same hp as a 325).

Or mabee a nissan sentra se-r. I think you can find 2002 models for under 6.. i think. And they are pretty quick little cars.

 

Stapler123 I have also serviced friends bmw's 320i 325i and a 740.. I maintain that germans are nuts.

As a German- and a Bavarian at that, I'd have to agree. There's the German way of doing things...and the wrong way. This gets them in all sorts of trouble, since finding complicated solutions to simple problems is almost a national pastime.

The main thing to remember about a BMW, Mercedes, Volvo, Audi (eeew!), or any other higher-end European car is that they were designed for a high-end market. Operating and repair costs were not a consideration when the cars were designed, and this lack of concern over the ease/cost of servicing will affect the second, third, or fourth owner when the car depreciates into "affordable" status (not the 1st owner, who's probably leasing a new 5-Series as we speak).

The only exception to this rule is the C and E Class Mercedes, built before about 1994. Quite a few of those cars went into the commercial/fleet market. Operating costs, reliability, and durability were concerns, and as a result they may have been some of the most durable and reliable cars built on the planet...at least until Lexus came along.

 

i dunno thanks for the suggestions. im not really liking the older volvo stylings is the only thing. if money wasn't an issue i think i'd opt for a new mazda 6. now those are pretty sweet little cars. the saab and the honda are just too small. i don't know im sorta in the middle right now trying to figure out what i really should think about getting. but hey i still have a good 4 to 5 months to figure this out

 

How about Mercedes? I was born in Europe and I lived there until I was 15, so I pretty much grew up around luxury German cars. Mercedes was always the king (and still is), BMW and Audi are just followers.

 

But it was in 94 (the date polarbear mentioned) That mercedes decided they were spending to much money on putting the best of everything in the car. They are just now recovering from this.

That being said a family member of mine has a 1993 300e with over 200k on it and now sits at the airport in pheonix almost year round. The danged car won't die.

Also i would wonder if the c230 would fit his sporty criteria.

Side noe .. when it does come to euro cars I am highly biased twords bmw. Somthing about a grain of salt.

 

My aunt used to own an early 90's 3 series. Piece of junk. And whenever she would get it above 50mph, the whole car would start to shake from the speed, and wind.

 

I'm having a hard time buying that- I've driven a few of those over the years, and they're pretty solid at speed. I don't want to sound like I don't like BMW's, I just don't like older ones for people on a limited budget. They'll break the bank every time- seen it too often.

 

Can I throw my hat in the Volvo ring for reliability?
A Volvo wagon has to be one of the most practical and safest vehicles on the planet bar none.

As for reliabilty, a 6 cylinder manual BMW is pretty darn good, and far more enjoyable than a Volvo wagon. As Polarbear mentioned, pre '94 Merc's just go and go and go... Pity MB dropped the whole over-engineer philosiphy.

Smaller Euro cars (well the ones you guys see) are in general, more reliable than a similar vintage domestic car, its just when they do break down, they aren't overly cheap to fix.

My pick would be, for a fun reliable car, a manual 328i.
But the big question is, can you get a 328i for $5k over there?

 

i've seen a few 325i coupes go for right around $5k. like i said a few, with about 120,000 miles on them.

mercedez benz' are just too expensive even used. i want something fairly small and quick. not BIG (the old big ones are cheaper).

i have a co-worker who could honestly be a master mechanic if he wanted to and he works on VW and porche's constantly. he says he can do work on bmw's so i know who i would take it to if i got a 325 that broke. plus he's cheap as can be cause he just loves to work on vehicles.

 

I would snaffle the next 325i at that price then, providing: Its a manual, and it has an immaculate service record

 

Wow...that's a new one for me!

 

I will infect all of youse with my Aussism's. I will, I will, I will conquer all!!!

Now jjoel, are you sure you don't want a Pontiac GTO???