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March, 2024

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Any NS'ers have BMW 325i from late 90's-mid 2000's???

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Turd.Ferguson
Posts: 1437 - Karma: 2,713
Hey Guys im looking at a 04 BMW 325i and I need some help with my decision.

How much does maintenance run?

Fun to drive (Screw around in)?

Have you done any aftermarket work to it? If so, what did you do?

+K for serious answers
Feb 17 2014 9:44AM
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Skittle.
Posts: 2537 - Karma: 718
expensive to repair? yes. Fun to drive? yes.
Feb 17 2014 9:59AM
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Turd.Ferguson
Posts: 1437 - Karma: 2,713
what have you had to repair. my mom was tellng me whe had an 05 station wagon new and after her 3rd $1000+ repair she dropped it
Feb 17 2014 10:12AM
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Charlie_Kelly
Posts: 11953 - Karma: 12,296
Well that's what you're gonna get with any german car. repairs are expensive.

Then again if you maintain it they can run for a long time. I own a vw and in the two years I've owned it I've dropped $2,000 in maintenance. It is now at 175,XXX and running strong. Bimmers are the same way just gotta take car of them.
Feb 17 2014 10:58AM
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shorty_T
Posts: 2725 - Karma: 761
I used to have a 1990 325i and I loved that car. Got great milage and was super fun to drive. Even after the fuel pump, oil pump and pan and pretty much the entire bottom portion of the engine was ripped out by a large boulder on a mountain road, she ran until I turned the key off. Then she died. :(
Get the car.
Only downside; not much space for ski or bike equipment.
Feb 17 2014 11:52AM
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Randy_Quench
Posts: 5447 - Karma: 4,342
fun of driving aside, take into consideration that a RWD car isn't ideal for ski commuting.
Feb 17 2014 12:00PM
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KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
Why? Cars are the stupidest things to buy f your going to spend a serious chunk of cash on.

For the price of that bmw, you can get a much better and reliable car. Unless you are buying it for track use or to mod, no one is impressed with your old shitty bmw.
Feb 17 2014 12:26PM
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Turd.Ferguson
Posts: 1437 - Karma: 2,713
u mad hans?
Feb 17 2014 12:59PM
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Turd.Ferguson
Posts: 1437 - Karma: 2,713
thinking about droppin some cash on a rack. then ill just plasti dip the hood and the rims replace some small shit and make it loud.

my plan
Feb 17 2014 1:00PM
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TallTeeNation
Posts: 903 - Karma: 340
325 xi 2003 love it to death, fun car looks nice, just expensive to repair. we need to make a cheap BMW custom thread ( what parts look cool plastadipped etc )
Feb 17 2014 4:40PM
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LiquorLanch
Posts: 1909 - Karma: 1,046
What's been some of the issues you've had with that repair wise? Also, how is insurance on it?
Feb 17 2014 4:42PM
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catsRjerks
Posts: 291 - Karma: 1,162

personal experience: avoid beamers

just from my experience, others may differ

Feb 17 2014 6:18PM
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Kimmler
Posts: 1316 - Karma: 625
i owned a 2002 bmw 325xi for 2 years and it was the most reliable car i have owned. Repairs were minimal and if you know how to look around for parts and find a local mechanic not that expensive. They're really easy to work on compared to other luxury cars. if you're at all handy with tools you can do a lot yourself. Traded the car for a 2002 audi s4 and it was the worst decision i've ever made, wish i would've kept the bimmer.
Feb 17 2014 6:31PM
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Kimmler
Posts: 1316 - Karma: 625
sorry for the double post, but i feel like people who claim that bimmers are expensive to repair/maintain just don't know how to do it right. Any car is gonna be expensive to repair if you take it to the dealer or an expensive mechanic but if you buy your own parts and find a reliable local mechanic i don't think they're any more expensive to own than most other cars.
Feb 17 2014 6:33PM
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first_rodeo
Posts: 2383 - Karma: 7,764
2004 331xi
GOING ON 300K drives same as new we are trying to get 500k
its fucking dumb how much they are to repair tho
Feb 17 2014 6:38PM
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catsRjerks
Posts: 291 - Karma: 1,162

It's parts that cost more, regardless of whether you pay someone to fix it or you doing it yourself... and you're just talking the mechanics of the car i'm assuming, the main problem I and a couple of people I know are the electrics... if you're getting an old bmw, you'll run into some problems regarding electrics (these things can usually be overlooked depending on whether you're willing to put up with them or not)

Feb 17 2014 6:45PM
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Turd.Ferguson
Posts: 1437 - Karma: 2,713
lulz i was just search around and the most common parts plati dipped are hoods rims added spoilers and shit like that
Feb 17 2014 9:00PM
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SwaggyP
Posts: 79 - Karma: 151
I've got a 1990 325i the thing rips, flow master, intake lowered and a necessity is a strut stregnthener. A pipe going from the two strut mounts, struts on these go quick. Go for horse power don't buy stupid expensive shit for looks.
Feb 17 2014 9:11PM
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penguiin
Posts: 1444 - Karma: 561
They really aren't that expensive to maintain as long as you don't go to the dealer to get work done or buy parts.

First of all, the e30 and e36 community is huge so buying used parts or findings parts at online retailers isn't hard at all and there are millions of DIY threads for maintenance.

Second, the engines last forever. I had an e30 with 400k miles on it still running strong and the only maintenance needed was a head gasket and timing belt. The e36 m50/m52 engines run forever as well and they have a timing chain so you literally don't have to do a thing to them.

Buy an e36 and call it quits man. Motor runs forever, handles great, good gas mileage, plenty of people in the community to help you out if you ever need it.

ps. Forums are your best friend.


And all this is coming from an e30 guy with an s50 swap (e36 m3 motor).
Feb 17 2014 9:20PM
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howlongcanausern
Posts: 4982 - Karma: 1,737
what's the point of an awd beamer?
Feb 17 2014 9:24PM
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TallTeeNation
Posts: 903 - Karma: 340
Car has way to many sensors, every summer at least two go bad.
Feb 18 2014 3:28PM
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HitTheJim
Posts: 787 - Karma: 399
They're fun, comfortable, beautiful cars you can rip year round. What more could you want?
Feb 18 2014 3:35PM
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