1993 BMW 3 Series 325is review from North America

Almost immediately after purchase:

Rear brakes replaced.

O2 sensor for Check Engine light.

Valve cover gasket.

Most recent:

4 springs (2 on rear were broken)

Struts

All 4 ball-joints

Control arm bushings.

Still waiting:

Trailing arm bushings (driver side just failed)

This is without a doubt my favorite car that I have owned. I traded up from an 86 Accord that was limping along, and there really is no comparison. Even with worn suspension components, the ride was good, and a new front-end made it much better.

Now to get the rear done (RTAB makes the rear end fishtail on the bumps, and steers the car a bit randomly).

Other than that, there have been no running problems. I drive it to work and school 5-6 days a week, and it's never failed to do what I want it to do.

I average 26-27 MPG (the OBC is pretty accurate compared to hand-calculations), and the engine is very responsive. Passing slower vehicles is never a problem.

One of the best things about it is the value. I paid much less for this car than most people pay for much lesser cars. It is relatively easy to work on if you are mechanically inclined - I've done all the work myself - and parts are readily available. There are several Internet forums if you need technical assistance, or if you just want to show off your ride. I'll probably get another E36 for my son when he goes off to college in a few years.