Bmw Fans Come!

[Orefus]

I wana know about BMW's. Particulailry ones in the 90's. Im thinking of getting a 1994 325. I wana know how the names work with bmws, and what engine problems, ups, and downs come down to owning a bmw.

[Spastik_Roach]

a 325 means it has a 325cc engine, duh.

[SPN:DOC]

Not necessarily… for example, 318i and 318is post 1996 are 1.9L, 323i e36 is also a 2.5L but a weaker 2.5L than the 325i.

318i 1991-1996 = 1.8L inline 4 86kw (sedan only)
318is 91-96 = 1.8L inline 4 103kw (coupe’ only)


318i 96-98 = 1.9L inline 4 86kw (sedan only)
318is 91-99 = 1.9L inline 4 103kw (coupe only but in 1997 there was a limited edition in a sedan very few, its called the 318is signature edition)

320i 91-96 = 2.0 inline 6 110kw (sedan only)

325i 91-96 = 2.5L inline 6 141kw (sedan, coupe and convertible)

323i 96-98 = 2.5L inline 6 125kw (sedan only)

328i 96-98 = 2.8L inline 6 142kw (sedan, coupe and convertible)

M3 94-96 = 3.0L inline 6 210kw (European spec its more powerful that the US spec) ( coupe only available for the world but Europe had a sedan as well)

M3 96(feb onwards)-99 = inline 6 236kw (European spec its more powerful that the US spec) ( coupe and convertible)

Enough information??

[Spastik_Roach]

I was just taking the piss mate

[Dan Flynn]

Originally Posted by Spastik_Roach

a 325 means it has a 325cc engine, duh.

Which means an M3 is a masterpiece of microscopic engine design.

[SPN:DOC]

Originally Posted by Dan Flynn

Which means an M3 is a masterpiece of microscopic engine design.

it means all bmw are masterpices, 318cc 86kw , 325cc 141kw

[Orefus]

Originally Posted by Dan Flynn

Which means an M3 is a masterpiece of microscopic engine design.

lol good one

[McReis]

Originally Posted by Orefus

I wana know about BMW's. Particulailry ones in the 90's. Im thinking of getting a 1994 325. I wana know how the names work with bmws, and what engine problems, ups, and downs come down to owning a bmw.

The 325i E36 is a great car with nice handling, a sweet sounding in-line 6 and great power. It's a pretty strong and reliable engine, but since we're talking about a 11 year-old car, you have to be careful with what you'll be buying.
If the engine missfires on one cilinder or the iddle isn't completely clean, beware... It's usual for the engine to make some valve-noise. If it's not exagerated it's good.
If something make's you boubt about the state of the engine, take a specialist with you or just forget the car. A good one is a dream car. A bad one is a wallet drying nightmare. But after a good rebuild, the engine is good enough for another 200.000 miles or so.

Aside from the engine, beware of the electronics. Test everything you can, because electronic gizmos on a BMW can lead you to big bills.

I hope the one you looking at is ok. If so, you'll never regret the buy and you'll become a BMW addicted.
I'm admiting buying a 320i myself. If the 325 wasn't so thirsty in comparison, that would be my choice.

Good luck!

[Orefus]

thanks, its a 325, the I means inline right? Also, why would they make inlines instead of V?

[Coventrysucks]

Originally Posted by Orefus

why would they make inlines instead of V?

Smoothness

[Orefus]

from what ive heard they cost more to maintain than the v6, and dont put out as much power... does the 325 have a v6 version?

[McReis]

Originally Posted by Orefus

thanks, its a 325, the I means inline right? Also, why would they make inlines instead of V?

The I stands for injection and it somehow helps to distinguish the petrol versions from the diesel.
The in-line 6 as not disavantage when compared with the V6, except that it needs more space. 6 in-line engine sound way much better than the V6.
Apart from that, BMW has an heritage of fantastic 6 cylinder in-line engines. It's part of the BMW caracter and they are familiar with the architecture.

[DrGonzo]

Originally Posted by McReis

The 325i E36 is a great car with nice handling, a sweet sounding in-line 6 and great power. It's a pretty strong and reliable engine, but since we're talking about a 11 year-old car, you have to be careful with what you'll be buying.
If the engine missfires on one cilinder or the iddle isn't completely clean, beware... It's usual for the engine to make some valve-noise. If it's not exagerated it's good.
If something make's you boubt about the state of the engine, take a specialist with you or just forget the car. A good one is a dream car. A bad one is a wallet drying nightmare. But after a good rebuild, the engine is good enough for another 200.000 miles or so.

Aside from the engine, beware of the electronics. Test everything you can, because electronic gizmos on a BMW can lead you to big bills.

I hope the one you looking at is ok. If so, you'll never regret the buy and you'll become a BMW addicted.
I'm admiting buying a 320i myself. If the 325 wasn't so thirsty in comparison, that would be my choice.

Good luck!

I agree with everything you just said except the consumption part. The 320i actually drinks more than the 325i - reason being it has a lot less power/torque and requires more revs to get up to speed, wheras the 325i is a lot less effortless. I had a 320i for over 3 years. It was a good car, but the lack of power was really frustrating.

Orefus, check out sites such as www.bimmerforums.com and www.germantechnik.com for some good info on BMWs and good luck with the purchase.

[McReis]

Originally Posted by DrGonzo

I agree with everything you just said except the consumption part. The 320i actually drinks more than the 325i - reason being it has a lot less power/torque and requires more revs to get up to speed, wheras the 325i is a lot less effortless. I had a 320i for over 3 years. It was a good car, but the lack of power was really frustrating.

I obviously have to disagree. Althoug the reason you wrote down could make sense, it's far from true. It could be if both engines had the same power output and different capacity. But the 320i has less 42 BHP than the 325i.
Unless you made mods to your engine that explain the reason of a bigger thirst, that can't be true. Maybe the auto transmission in your car makes the difference when comparing to a manual 325.
I drove many 325, 323 and 320 BMW's and I know what each one drinks.

The 320i has "only" 150bhp. It's no rocket, but it's a very pleasant car. The engine sounds good and the driving is excellent. You know as well as me that cars are not just about power. Because if you made a switch from the BMW to that Ford, you know where the BMW wins points in comparison. Not on the power, for sure.

[DrGonzo]

Can't argue with you there (well, on the second paragraph anyway ).

As for power output, my car was stock engine wise except for a pod filter, but that made no difference to consumption or power (only to induction noise). It was an auto, and I compared to auto 325i - both VANOS 1994 models. I can also dig up a thread on another forum about 320i consumption in which an ex-BMW serviceman also agreed that the 320i is thirstier.

I have no idea what BMW claims on consumption figures - I would assume that they would be very similar or BMW's claim would be that the 320i isn't as thirsty but my first hand experience suggests otherwise.