about to buy a bmw

[Deamers87ford]

hey guys im about to buy a 88 bmw 325i 5spd 2dr i dont no anything about bmw's does anyone have one or can teach me anything about them?
thanks

 

[scotts90ranger]

all I know about beamers is they are $$$ to maintain, and little stuff likes to come up...

 

[adsm08]

all I know about beamers is they are $$$ to maintain, and little stuff likes to come up...

Just like all german cars.

 

[shane96ranger]

My brother has owned 3 of them......a 96 328i, an 2003/4 325i, and now a 2004 M3. He sold the 325i to my Dad now. They are quite expensive to fix and maintain. Even an oil change costs more because it takes a cartridge filter. My Dad has had several issues with his, I can only remember the rear window motors and the thermostat for the fan.....damn near everything for them is a dealer only item. I can guarantee my Dad won't buy another one. My brother however, is enthralled in the things. His M3 is quick as hell for a straight 6 (333 hp), and it has the SMG transmission which is trip to drive; no clutch pedal, but it has a clutch.

I will say the things handle like no other, especially the M3.

 

[darkspork]

Those older BMWs are tanks, they will run for a very long time if they are well maintained. That being said, gas mileage with the straight 6 really sucks.

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

I had a 88 or 89,been a while back,325i convertible and loved it.
Ran the hell outta that little car for 3 years.
Had to change the water pump,only thing that ever broke.I will have another one!

 

[badmts]

asking for trouble

DON"T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!!! I am a service writer and unless YOU are a good TECH you will pay DEARLY to fix one - good brake job is $500 bucks 'cause the rotors wear so fast and the pads have sensors in them-most take 6-8 quarts of oil and a crazy $12 filter! Alot of German cars with automatics DON"T EVEN come with dipsticks for the trannys so you are going to MISTER BMW for a trans. service. Alot (read that as MOST) of the scheduled maintaince was never done becase, hey its new /newer and really doesen't HAVE to HAVE all that expensive dealer maintaince does it? I am not a hater I am a realist-if you must have a BIMMER (please remember BIMMERS are cars and BEEMERS are bikes !!!) get a low mileage unit lease return that was serviced at the SELLING DEALER - they are awesome but there is NO FREE LUNCH !

 

[adsm08]

I will say the things handle like no other, especially the M3.

Sorry to say, but my Ranger has run mountain and winding road courses with M3s and kept faster speeds through the turns. Handling isn't all about the car. It's a lot about the driver too.


If you want to get into a BMW that "handles like no other" you have to get into the 5 series.

 

[shane96ranger]

Sorry to say, but my Ranger has run mountain and winding road courses with M3s and kept faster speeds through the turns.

Sorry dude, I'm calling BS on this.

Your Ranger can do this?

 

[mhughes165]

i can make a properly lowered ranger do everything a newer stock m3 will do. thats about it, now a modded m3, thats a different story

 

[adsm08]

Sorry dude, I'm calling BS on this.

Your Ranger can do this?

No no no no no. That is a race course. I am talking about switch backs up the side of a mountain and back down the other side. And yes, she did.

She won't do it these days, but it's more because she's starting to not like climbing rather than a loss of handling ability. I might point out that my 78 Omega out-handled the Ranger at that, as long as the tank was full. Proportioning valve was stuck, rear brakes locked up if there wasn't enough weight over the rear axle.

I can think of one interchange ramp on my old commute home, the Ranger got a bit squirrely through the turn around 75ish. The Omega would run it at 90 (I think, that speedo was laid out identical to the Ranger's and ended at 85 MPH) without any issues. I tried not to get that car up any faster because around there when you get pulled over the cops didn't like to hear "No officer, I don't know how fast I was going. My speedo ended at least 15 MPH ago."

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

Sorry guys.........But there is no way in hell a Ranger stock or with a jet engine straped to its ass with super glue on the tires will out corner a M3 let alone a 5 series.
Sorry to be debbie downer on Christmas but you guys have lost your freakin mind!

A M3 isnt stock............Thats why its called a M3.

 

[adsm08]

And I'm saying that the BMW 3 series cars, stock or modded, are not really anything special. They are front heavy for the suspension once you cram those 6 cyl engines in the front, and it makes them unable to do the +80* switchbacks any faster than a well-driven Ranger.


A 5 series would spank me and any vehicle I have ever owned, except MAYBE, my sister's old Volvo 850. And even then I'd have to do some engine work just for it to be able to keep up in the power department.

 

[shane96ranger]

And I'm saying that the BMW 3 series cars, stock or modded, are not really anything special. They are front heavy for the suspension once you cram those 6 cyl engines in the front, and it makes them unable to do the +80* switchbacks any faster than a well-driven Ranger.

Sorry dude, no way is a Ranger going to out handle an M3. These things have one of the best weight ratios (50/50) you will find. The Ranger's tires have a lot of sidewall and an average of a 15 inch wheel. My brothers M3 has 20's on the front and 22's on the back. The Ranger has no weight in the rear. I really really fail to see how you can claim your Ranger can beat an M3 on a race course. I fail to see why there would be a difference between switchbacks and a race course. You see, I drive a Ranger every day and I have actually driven an M3. I can tell you there is no way my Ranger is going to come close to the M3's handling capabilities. If your claims were true, why don't I ever see any Rangers on road courses?

I suppose you could say it's a matter of opinion. But I'm pretty sure if you were to take a poll, the Ranger ain't coming out on top. Question.....do you think you could out handle the 2011 Mustang in your Ranger?

Oh, and to the OP......I'm sorry to thread jack. When you get yours, I'm sure you will concur.....even a regular 3 series will out handle a Ranger.

Merry Christmas

 

[Funnyman141]

this is why I love the 80's bimmers

http://jalopnik.com/5497042/how-a-500-craigslist-car-beat-400k-rally-racers

that and their very cool.