93 325i

Ok. I am posting this message because I have a decision to make. Although
this 1993 325i 4 door automatic was given to me, I still have an opportunity
to trade it for another car. The other car is a 1996 Nissan Maxima. I know
that some of you are booing and hissing at the thought, but I have heard so
many things that can go wrong with the 325i it sort of has me worried. The
car has 171,000 miles on it and runs good, but one never knows what tomorrow
will bring. The following repairs have been done to the BMW:

New water pump with the metal impellars
All collant lines replaced (car overheated once a year and a half ago)
New fuel pump
Recent major tune-up
Fluids changed regularly
The usual nickel and dime stuff to go alongwith it

I have heard horror stories about the transmission and the weak front ends.
With 170k on it, what is the likelyhood this car will give me another 50k
out of it if I maintenance it well? Can anyone shed some light on the
automatic transmission and what I should expect in the wekks/days/years
ahead?

Also, the CD changer is not operable and was curious if I can simply swap
out the changer for an aftermarket one to take its place.

The body is clean and the interior is immaculate, but the plastic is not to
appealing, but same with the Nissan. I will also need to change the struts
soon given it leans a bit into turns compared to my friend's BMW of the same
model.

Anything in particular about the 1993 models? It knocks and pings a little
when it shifts gears despite the fact I use the 91 octane gas (Southern
California). Any advice or recommendations is greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

"Erik" > wrote in message
news:y8ZAd.11749$Q%4.7425@fed1read06...
> Ok. I am posting this message because I have a decision to make. Although
> this 1993 325i 4 door automatic was given to me, I still have an
opportunity
> to trade it for another car. The other car is a 1996 Nissan Maxima. I know
> that some of you are booing and hissing at the thought, but I have heard
so
> many things that can go wrong with the 325i it sort of has me worried. The
> car has 171,000 miles on it and runs good, but one never knows what
tomorrow
> will bring. The following repairs have been done to the BMW:
>
> New water pump with the metal impellars
> All collant lines replaced (car overheated once a year and a half ago)
> New fuel pump
> Recent major tune-up
> Fluids changed regularly
> The usual nickel and dime stuff to go alongwith it
>
> I have heard horror stories about the transmission and the weak front
ends.
> With 170k on it, what is the likelyhood this car will give me another 50k
> out of it if I maintenance it well? Can anyone shed some light on the
> automatic transmission and what I should expect in the wekks/days/years
> ahead?
>
> Also, the CD changer is not operable and was curious if I can simply swap
> out the changer for an aftermarket one to take its place.
>
> The body is clean and the interior is immaculate, but the plastic is not
to
> appealing, but same with the Nissan. I will also need to change the struts
> soon given it leans a bit into turns compared to my friend's BMW of the
same
> model.
>
> Anything in particular about the 1993 models? It knocks and pings a little
> when it shifts gears despite the fact I use the 91 octane gas (Southern
> California). Any advice or recommendations is greatly appreciated.
>
> Thank you.
>
>

Considering the car was given to you, what are you worrying about? No
offence intended but id keep the BMW, service it and see just how many miles
she will do before she finally dies.

Then go and buy another car you would like.

My 2 pence.

True on your two pence, however given my financial stability at this moment,
a major repair would be putting me well into the negative. My worry is that
a few thousand miles down the road I will be into some very serious repairs.
Can any tell me anything about my original post?

"Ash" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Erik" > wrote in message
> news:y8ZAd.11749$Q%4.7425@fed1read06...
>> Ok. I am posting this message because I have a decision to make. Although
>> this 1993 325i 4 door automatic was given to me, I still have an
> opportunity
>> to trade it for another car. The other car is a 1996 Nissan Maxima. I
>> know
>> that some of you are booing and hissing at the thought, but I have heard
> so
>> many things that can go wrong with the 325i it sort of has me worried.
>> The
>> car has 171,000 miles on it and runs good, but one never knows what
> tomorrow
>> will bring. The following repairs have been done to the BMW:
>>
>> New water pump with the metal impellars
>> All collant lines replaced (car overheated once a year and a half ago)
>> New fuel pump
>> Recent major tune-up
>> Fluids changed regularly
>> The usual nickel and dime stuff to go alongwith it
>>
>> I have heard horror stories about the transmission and the weak front
> ends.
>> With 170k on it, what is the likelyhood this car will give me another 50k
>> out of it if I maintenance it well? Can anyone shed some light on the
>> automatic transmission and what I should expect in the wekks/days/years
>> ahead?
>>
>> Also, the CD changer is not operable and was curious if I can simply swap
>> out the changer for an aftermarket one to take its place.
>>
>> The body is clean and the interior is immaculate, but the plastic is not
> to
>> appealing, but same with the Nissan. I will also need to change the
>> struts
>> soon given it leans a bit into turns compared to my friend's BMW of the
> same
>> model.
>>
>> Anything in particular about the 1993 models? It knocks and pings a
>> little
>> when it shifts gears despite the fact I use the 91 octane gas (Southern
>> California). Any advice or recommendations is greatly appreciated.
>>
>> Thank you.
>>
>>
>
> Considering the car was given to you, what are you worrying about? No
> offence intended but id keep the BMW, service it and see just how many
> miles
> she will do before she finally dies.
>
> Then go and buy another car you would like.
>
> My 2 pence.
>
>

> True on your two pence, however given my financial stability at this moment,
> a major repair would be putting me well into the negative. My worry is that
> a few thousand miles down the road I will be into some very serious repairs.
> Can any tell me anything about my original post?

Sounds like it'll need new shocks soon. See www.bavauto.com for parts
prices.

One of the big factors in owning a used BMW when you can't do the
repairs yourself is to find a GOOD local BMW specialist who's competent
and has sensible prices. This makes the difference between a money-pit
and a car with decent running costs. Using a "cheap" local mechanic with
little or no BMW experience means you're paying for him to learn about
your car, seen a few nice BMWs ruined by such people.

A 93 325i is fairly bullet proof in most areas and easy to work on. The
interior build quality standard is not up to the older models but
improved a lot after 1994. You can expect a few minor electrical
problems (electric windows, dashboard maybe) but generally it's a good
car. What makes a LOT of difference is buying one with a service history
that's been looked after.

--
Who needs a life when you've got Unix? :-)
Email: , John G.Burns B.Eng, Bonny Scotland
Web : http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk - The Ultimate BMW Homepage!
Need Sun or HP Unix kit? http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/unix.html

If you were to trade it in nw, surely you would get peanuts? You mention
your financial stability at the moment, if thats the case keep, it to trade
up will surely cost you 1000's, and who's to say a 10 yr old nissan will be
any more reliable ?

Tony

"John Burns" > wrote in message
...
>> True on your two pence, however given my financial stability at this
>> moment,
>> a major repair would be putting me well into the negative. My worry is
>> that
>> a few thousand miles down the road I will be into some very serious
>> repairs.
>> Can any tell me anything about my original post?
>
> Sounds like it'll need new shocks soon. See www.bavauto.com for parts
> prices.
>
> One of the big factors in owning a used BMW when you can't do the
> repairs yourself is to find a GOOD local BMW specialist who's competent
> and has sensible prices. This makes the difference between a money-pit
> and a car with decent running costs. Using a "cheap" local mechanic with
> little or no BMW experience means you're paying for him to learn about
> your car, seen a few nice BMWs ruined by such people.
>
> A 93 325i is fairly bullet proof in most areas and easy to work on. The
> interior build quality standard is not up to the older models but
> improved a lot after 1994. You can expect a few minor electrical
> problems (electric windows, dashboard maybe) but generally it's a good
> car. What makes a LOT of difference is buying one with a service history
> that's been looked after.
>
> --
> Who needs a life when you've got Unix? :-)
> Email: , John G.Burns B.Eng, Bonny Scotland
> Web : http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk - The Ultimate BMW Homepage!
> Need Sun or HP Unix kit? http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/unix.html

After speaking to many people today and having two mechanics go through this
car wit the 'white glove', I have determined this is for sure not the car
for me. Why did they build these cars (92's and 93's in particular) like
junk in comparison to the cars before and after them? I don't get it.
Consumer reports along with other places I checked out all have disuaded me
from keeping this pile of German scrap.

"apk1" > wrote in message
...
> If you were to trade it in nw, surely you would get peanuts? You mention
> your financial stability at the moment, if thats the case keep, it to
> trade up will surely cost you 1000's, and who's to say a 10 yr old nissan
> will be any more reliable ?
>
> Tony
>
> "John Burns" > wrote in message
> ...
>>> True on your two pence, however given my financial stability at this
>>> moment,
>>> a major repair would be putting me well into the negative. My worry is
>>> that
>>> a few thousand miles down the road I will be into some very serious
>>> repairs.
>>> Can any tell me anything about my original post?
>>
>> Sounds like it'll need new shocks soon. See www.bavauto.com for parts
>> prices.
>>
>> One of the big factors in owning a used BMW when you can't do the
>> repairs yourself is to find a GOOD local BMW specialist who's competent
>> and has sensible prices. This makes the difference between a money-pit
>> and a car with decent running costs. Using a "cheap" local mechanic with
>> little or no BMW experience means you're paying for him to learn about
>> your car, seen a few nice BMWs ruined by such people.
>>
>> A 93 325i is fairly bullet proof in most areas and easy to work on. The
>> interior build quality standard is not up to the older models but
>> improved a lot after 1994. You can expect a few minor electrical
>> problems (electric windows, dashboard maybe) but generally it's a good
>> car. What makes a LOT of difference is buying one with a service history
>> that's been looked after.
>>
>> --
>> Who needs a life when you've got Unix? :-)
>> Email: , John G.Burns B.Eng, Bonny Scotland
>> Web : http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk - The Ultimate BMW Homepage!
>> Need Sun or HP Unix kit? http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/unix.html
>
>

"Erik" > wrote in message
news:r9iBd.15658$Q%4.1293@fed1read06...
> After speaking to many people today and having two mechanics go through
> this car wit the 'white glove', I have determined this is for sure not the
> car for me. Why did they build these cars (92's and 93's in particular)
> like junk in comparison to the cars before and after them? I don't get it.
> Consumer reports along with other places I checked out all have disuaded
> me from keeping this pile of German scrap.
>

Troll

Why couldn't you just have said that your reasearch has made you decide to
not take the car, instead of smear it with your assertion that it is a pile
of scrap?

"Jeff Strickland" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Erik" > wrote in message
> news:r9iBd.15658$Q%4.1293@fed1read06...
>> After speaking to many people today and having two mechanics go through
>> this car wit the 'white glove', I have determined this is for sure not
>> the car for me. Why did they build these cars (92's and 93's in
>> particular) like junk in comparison to the cars before and after them? I
>> don't get it. Consumer reports along with other places I checked out all
>> have disuaded me from keeping this pile of German scrap.
>>
>
> Troll
>
> Why couldn't you just have said that your reasearch has made you decide to
> not take the car, instead of smear it with your assertion that it is a
> pile of scrap?

Because he was being honest about it all along? Is that so hard to believe?

I have owned three BMW's - fewer than some, more than most. All of them
have been unreliable, and expensive to repair. I chalked it up to age
and/or mileage (they had both) until I bought a Z3 that's only 4 years old,
and already has failures that other cars wouldn't start to see until much
later, if ever.

So, I agree with Erik's assessment: If you find expensive repairs difficult
to justify, and lack the space, the time, the tools and/or the aptitude for
doing the work yourself, then avoid older BMW's like the Plague. Buy an
older Nissan, Toyota or Honda, and drive happily, safely, reliably and
inexpensively - though perhaps not quickly. Not only do they hold their
value; but they're cheap to insure and require little or no repairs, aside
from maintenance items like oil, mufflers and brakes.

I've owned my 1994 Honda Accord coupe for 8 years now, and it is still 100%
reliable. My '92 Honda Civic VX (a former commercial vehicle) has 150,000
miles on the odometer, and zero mechanical problems. Runs like a top, gets
through snow like a champ. They're a little bit sporty, and a whole lotta
practicality.

By contrast my 2000 BMW Z3 is drop-dead gorgeous and a blast to drive; but
reliable it ain't. After less than 2 months of ownership, I already have a
bad thermostat, bad HCV valve, malfunctioning gauges, malfunctioning dash
indicators, and had to repair a nasty rattle. Recently, I drove 350 miles
in sub-zero weather without any heater due to the HCV failure. I've never
had a heater fail like that in 25 years of driving old, high-mileage cars of
all makes and types. That's just unacceptable for a 4-year-old car, IMO.

Like I always say: BMW's are easy to repair, but you get to repair them
often ;-)

R