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#1
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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. |
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#2
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"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. |
#3
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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. > > |
#4
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> 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 |
#5
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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 |
#6
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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 > > |
#7
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"Erik" > wrote in message news:r9iBd.15658$Q%4.1293@fed1read06... > After speaking to many people today and having two mechanics go through > this car wit the 'white glove', I have determined this is for sure not the > car for me. Why did they build these cars (92's and 93's in particular) > like junk in comparison to the cars before and after them? I don't get it. > Consumer reports along with other places I checked out all have disuaded > me from keeping this pile of German scrap. > Troll Why couldn't you just have said that your reasearch has made you decide to not take the car, instead of smear it with your assertion that it is a pile of scrap? |
#8
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"Jeff Strickland" > wrote in message ... > > "Erik" > wrote in message > news:r9iBd.15658$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 |
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