1992 325i Is it a good car, what are the known def.....

[T4T2T]

I have the oppertunity to purchase a 1992 325i with 130k on it for $3000, It is in good shape, and drives well. The man selling it says that one coil is bad, and it needs new struts, but thats it. I misses pretty bad untill about 3000rpm's then its fine. i have never driven one before, and even with the miss, its damn quick, I loved it. I am a honda loyal customer, and love the reliability of them(my honda sure dont go like this bimmer though!)will the bmw hold up well or are they known to be problematic? Also could this miss be caused by something besides the coil.........like a head problem? I do all my own repair work, and was wondering about parts both new and used, are they expensive compared to other imports? Thanks!

[csieminski]

I'd highly recommend a 3-Series of any year, and any BMW fitted with the 2.5-liter inline-6 of the 325i you're looking at. Parts should be plentiful because these cars are, and although BMW parts are comparatively expensive (downright crazy in some cases) parts for my Acura have been more expensive than comparable BMW parts.

Doing your own maintenance will definitely save you plenty.

Hopefully others will post in regards to the specific issues the vehicle in question is experiencing.

[CarolinaE36er]

The 325i is a truely wonderful car. I myself am an owner of one. As far as replacing the springs, I've looked at upgrading to a Bilstien/H&R sport suspension for about $650 but if you want to stick with a stock-like suspension it'll be cheaper. Parts, like all imports are more expensive than domestic, but for the most part you can get parts for very reasonable prices. The things that CAN get pricey are the little things, ie the knob that turns on the headlights, and the illuminator on the gear select (automatic tranny) A couple of my favorite suppliers include: www.usedbmwparts.com , www.turnermotorsport.com , www.bmpdesign.com and www.bavauto.com