Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:16:18 +0000
Reply-To: rubatoguy@COMCAST.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Todd Last <rubatoguy@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Advice on BMW project car (NVC)
I (my wife) has a '93 325I and I don't consider them any more difficult to work on than the Vanagon. They do have their quirks that make you utter "Crazy German Engineers!!!"
(Like having to drop the suspension to change the oil pan gasket)
My experience is that it is easy for repairs to end up cost a pretty penny. If not regulalry maintained, it can take a few thousand to get things right if you are using a shop. I think this is why you can get them so cheap - it is easy to spend more on repairs than the value of the car. However, if maintained, they are great runners.
Also, I am not sure what year you are looking at, but the M50 motor has a few items (plastic waterpump) that should be upgraded to the metal one. The plastic radiator has a habit of breaking at the left upper hose inlet. As does the plastic waterpump housing. The rear shock upper mounts have a habit of breaking. The automatic in these (if equipped) is a GM unit and is a definate weak spot.
A great motor, powerful, fun to drive (for a 4-door) and we average about 26mpg even with my leadfoot wife driving.
Check out the technical list at Pelican parts.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/forumdisplay.php?f=215
regards,
Todd
-------------- Original message --------------
From: Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
> hi.
> are the miles really high on it ?
> price is right , go for it.
> expect parts for it to be expensive, that it'll be hard to work on until
> you get used to it, and that special tools might be needed sometimes.
> I consider them delicate. A far, far better new car than an old car.
> Shame too - 12 to 15 years old and it's on the 500 dollar or less list
> already.
> Someone likely drove it as though it was a Toyota or a Ford. - ie.
> .........mostly 'just drove' it.
>
> but then maybe it was well cared for and this has just this one simple
> problem.
> in any case, it'll be a great experience.
> scott
> the 3 series BMW is a legendary car btw .........a regular 325i is not
> the hot model like an M version.............but they are legendary among
> mid-size sports sedans. Likely even totally clamped out it will have
> outstanding handling and balance.
>
> it'll be a steep learning curve too possibly bedore you understand the
> car from a mechanical and electronics repair point of view.
> I just get the shop manual, join a yahoo group or two, and get spare
> fuel injectioni compenents out of pick-n-pull junkyards............until
> I have a 'whole infratstructure' to support a particular car project
> like this one.
> before you know it ............lol................there'll be a parts
> car you want !
>
> They are such good cars they can be additive- but they are demanding
> financially to own and repair, generally speaking.
> Read some road tests on the 325i - they always rave about it.
> scott
> www.turbovans.com
>
> ok ok if you don't want it, it'll take it -
> - no, no no ! I have way too many cars and vanagons already !
> If the engine blows on it, see if you can get a diesel inline six out of
> the 5 series car that came with a TD engine, if you are a compression
> ignition kinda guy.
>
>
>
>
> Ryan wrote:
> > Taking advantage of a friday here....
> >
> > Got a line on a mid 90's BMW 325i with a supposedly bad head gasket,
> > all I
> > know is that it can move under it's own power and I checked it out on the
> > outside and the body is in pretty good shape and the interior isn't bad
> > either. Supposedly the chick wants $500 but may take considerably less.
> > ($$ probs) My wife is hot to have a BMW and she seems enthusiastic over
> > this project. This wouldn' t be for bread and butter transportation.
> > What
> > cha y'all think?
> >
> > What are some good samba/vwvortex like resources for these cars? Oh yeah
> > she'd not even advertising the car for sale.
> >
> >
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