Is This BMW 325i Worth Fixing?

If you love the car...restore it.
If you merely like it, just keep it in running order.
Del

Dear Del the cat

Thanks for your reply...

Actually I love most of the BMW cars, but I am hesitating, I do not now what to do.

Some times I tell my self, "lets build the car and keep it", my friends tell me to do not spend any more, just buy another better situation car.

Any way, Thanks again Del the cat.

Some of us will remember our first car as well as their first girl.

There is a normal desire to want to treat the new car like a princess, even if she may have a spotted past. Generally these cars hold up well in the used car market place, so that maintaining it is not always a loosing proposition. Most times upgrading a car is only worth it if you are enjoying the car. This is not to be confused with maintaining the car. For example, replacing worn out shocks and struts is maintenance. Upgrading the same components to better ones is well, upgrading. I have a similar car, and it does indeed reward the driver. Perhaps it would be worth it to do some repairs and upgrades on the 325 while you hone your driving and mechanical skills. That will leave you in a better position to choose the right 7 series to purchase in the future, while allowing you a higher trade value on the 3, if sold private. Good luck.

Except for the sun roof not working and the recliner portion of the driver seat our old 94, 325i is still running strong. The kids use it when their car is in the shop being serviced and it's cheaper on gas then my truck.
Just never really cared for the comfort. Too bumpy! not enough cush.

hi,

remember that whatever takes money away from your pocket is a liability. The question that could determine the answer to your question is, will the car help you save more time and money? if no, dispose of it, if yes, well you can go on with it. Good luck Stanley from Nigeria

Dear Guys

Good Morning,,,

I am writing this subject as my first post in the forum. I have just bought my first car just one week before. It is an old BMW325i,1992 model. It is not in very good conditions, but I am using it as a temporary case until I got my dream BMW7Series.

My question is, that the car as a I mentioned before, it needs huge effort to repair most of it, Is it worth-able to spend money and time to make it in good conditions, or shall I keep it as it is until I got another car?

Thanks in advance

Ahmed

Instrumentation Engineer, Sales & Service

From my understanding (scary eh?), BMW parts can be quite pricey... So if it were mine, it would really depend on which of the parts are in need of replacement.

Are the repairs mostly cosmetic? If so keep the car, and drive er til she dies.

Are repairs to the major systems needed? Engine, transmission, brakes, suspension etc can get to be more expensive than the car may be worth if they need any major work done.

Really you need to have the vehicle evaluated, and weigh the cost of repairs vs. the value of the car, and the projected remaining life of the vehicle.

Worth? No.

But, what about the love that a man feels for his car? Priceless...

If it is not a case of love, maybe the car value is less than the price of the needed repairs. It may be even expensive just to keep runing, as also been said, if you are about to repair engine, transmission, etc.

Also depends on your current financial condition. In my case for example, I had to refurbish my small ford fiesta in the beggining of this year. It took me about 20% or more of the price of the car in the useds market. So why did I do that? Because the price of the repair is something like two or three monthly payments of a new car with a similar size. So, until I am able to get something better, I'll keep it running.

Maybe its the same case on you.

BTW, a BMW 325i? Nice ride, anyway. I'd love to get one. But here in my place they end up in this age in really bad conditions, and are really expensive to keep. Better get a national built car with more generic spare parts available.

This may sound corny, but the only way to tell if the car is worth fixing is to know what you paid for it and what it could be sold for when it fixed.

Our family has a fleet of five BMWs. Currently it consists of a 1985 325e, 1989 325i, 1999 328i, 2001 330 Xi and a 2003 R 1150 RT motorcycle and is subject to change at moment's notice. All of them present their own unique needs and repair cycles. Keeping them going at an economical rate involves considerably more than hauling it to the dealer when something isn't right. I often have to track down good quality used or aftermarket parts because the BMW list prices border on obscene for some parts in Canada (Signal light switch for the 85 325e is $428 PLUS TAXES).

Yes, you need to love them and the way they drive to do the work. I have shop manuals for all of them and over time have built up a network of reliable service and parts suppliers and use them regularly. I try to go to the shop only for items that I can't do myself like electronic diagnostics or machine shop procedures (darn broken shock mounts!!).

Years ago I had to develop a standard by which I felt I was getting good value for the money I've had to spend on my"old BMWs". What I decided was that if I ever had a year where I spent more than the equivalent of six car payments on repairs, not maintenance, it was time for a new car. I haven't done that yet. I have bought different cars because of tax reasons or high mileage, but not for excessive repair costs.

The result is that only you can decide if your BMW is worth fixing or just manintaining, all we can do is offer an opinion based on our own experiences and in this case mine have mostly been positive.

As others have stated, this is a good car to hone your mechanical skills on and get used to BMW systems. When you get your 7 car, you will need them just as much as with the 3 car. All BMWs need TLC and lots of it.

Rebuilding the front A frame can cost over $5k

http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/1992-to-1998-bmw-325i-328i-323i-6.htm

Thank you all guys for your replys

I really enjoyed reading them...

Run it as it is until you buy your dream car. Then make it a restore project.

Best of both worlds!

Interesting...

About 20 years ago an acquaintance of a neighbor set about a project to purchase a BMW from a wrecking yard and proceed to restore it to a dependable condition for less than $2000. This did occur, yes with careful attention and bargain hunting he did manage to repair that clunker which when it came from the wrecker was in seeming hopeless condition.

An international magazine article was written of this experiment at the time.

Having known of this and he drove that car for years afterward, I think you may realize a benefit from your proposed endeavor.

Freind had several collector cars parked behind his moms house in Cocoa Beach, she was spending a few months in N.C., he got a call one night the City Commission passed a law about how many vechiles could be stored on your property. By the time he got down the the next day 3 City Commissionser had akeady driven off 4 of his cars. We caught them when they came back for more.

We took the cars back. No we did not waterboard.

Don't do it. A better one might turn up and you'll lose all interest in cars. If you love her get married and keep paying for your dream car. No, I was never a petrol head, Ky.

SILENTT87

I don't like to sound negative, but I fear that the initial and on going repairs to this car will prolong or prevent your real dream from being fulfilled. Your best bet, as others have advised, is to treat this like a temporary investment (a car can not love you back even if you love it). Have a trusted, experienced mechanic who know the history of this series (and is not starving for work) evaluate it and advise you if the repairs are worth the investment and what the likelihood is that other repairs will be needed for the period you intend to keep it. Your best choice might well be sell this car and get a lower cost/maintainable car until you can get the 7 series you really want.