Faults:

A couple of vacuum lines gave out at 250k. Looked to be original.

Fuel pressure regulator failed at 260k.

Paint on roof and hood was oxidized pretty badly by the time I purchased her.

Throttle body coolant passage needed a new gasket at 270k.

Coil failed at 275k.

General Comments:

$1600 from a previous owner who had spent a ton of money maintaining her for years.

Even at 247k (time of purchase), I was stunned at how tight she drove. Just felt really solid.

Original motor was super dry. No seepage around any of the gaskets.

By far one of the easiest cars to work on yourself. Really straightforward quality engineering. I leaked coolant for months from the throttle body... months! Never overheated.

Even drove a few thousand miles with a bad O2 sensor (not advisable), and still caused no detrimental effects. Just a noticeable decrease in MPG, and failed a smog test.

Faults:

Front axles! - $800 (could have been worse)

Radiator - $250.

Heater control valve - (coolant on my feet - took some time to sleuth)

Water in the trunk from bad seal around antennae.

Thermostat.

Power-steering hoses leaking.

Cruise.

Power window and mirrors.

Shocks (I know it's a maintenance item, but $120 for the cheapest front shock!)

Oil leak.

General Comments:

Buying this car was a mistake and I will never buy without a pre-purchase inspection again! It was obviously abused early on, so many of the problems above aren't "quirky, quality" things for me to complain about. However... the cost to repair them was insane! I had gotten so far into this car within a month of owning it that my head was spinning.

It is absolutely true about how well these IX's perform in the snow. The car handles like it's on rails and performs amazing (5sp is MUCH better than auto). You won't be disappointed with its performance.

These AWD BMW's are more expensive to maintain than the 2WD ones - don't kid yourself. Find one that has been well taken care of, get a pre-purchase inspection, and be meticulous about maintenance and you'll have a great car. Don't buy a stinker like I did and $3000 of mechanic bills later regret it.

Faults:

Radiator has cracked and leaked coolant. Required replacement.

Air conditioning clutch seized. I removed the v-belt that connected it to the rest of the engine. Zero dollar service cost. I have no air conditioning now, but in Canada, that's not a very big problem at all.

General Comments:

The performance of this car is excellent especially when considering how inexpensive it was to purchase used (in very good condition.) This classic BMW is very agile, and the factory M-Technik sport suspension (which is standard on the S models) allows it to corner in a very flat manner with minimal body roll. The suspension is not plush however, it is tuned for performance. The car is also very fast for the money (0-100km/h in 7.4 seconds with a maximum speed of 215km/h.) Throttle response is excellent and the engine shows no hesitation whatsoever. The engine loves to rev. The rear-wheel drive layout is excellent in dry and rainy weather, but it does requires you to remain focused while driving in snow.

The car does not leak any oil (or any other fluids.)

The exterior of the vehicle is representative of the styling in Germany during the period (1984-1990.) The design is timeless. The car's body is lean, taut, functional and businesslike. Exterior rust is non-existent. Fit and finish is on-par with cars ten years newer. Everything is well engineered.

The interior is ergonomic and very business-like, with everything placed where it should be. The sport seats (which are based on a Recaro design) are very good, with lots of side bolstering. The temperature gauge is temperamental during start up, but it stabilizes and gives a correct reading once the engine warms up (I haven't diagnosed the problem.)

The steering is direct and well weighted. It is not watered down whatsoever.

The most startling thing about this car to me is the visibility from the driver's seat. Front, side and rear visibility is incredible, most likely due to the large greenhouse and low door line. The blind spots in this vehicle are minutely small.

The manual shifter is unfortunately sloppy and has a lot of excess play and travel, but this is due to worn-out plastic bushings. In original condition, the shifter is faultless. Replacement of these parts costs a reasonable amount.

The clutch is great, and it is weighted nicely (it doesn't feel like you're stepping on a marshmallow.) It also has great pedal feel; you can tell exactly where the clutch engages and disengages.

The timing belt (it is actually a belt, not a chain) must be replaced every 60,000km, or you risk serious damage to your engine. The cost of replacement is about $280 Canadian at my local BMW dealership. It would most likely cost less at an independent garage. This is the car's only serious issue.

If you're looking for an inexpensive, reliable, agile, classic German sports sedan, this is your best bet.