Faults:

I had to replace the water pump, cost me about $200. I also had the timing belt brake at 110K miles (I thought the previous owner had changed it before I bought it, so it was just a misunderstanding), and that cost me $1600. I had the front control arm and front bearing replaced for $400. A/C compressor failed at 90K miles. I also replaced the rear shocks at 120K miles, and the front ones will need to be replaced soon.

General Comments:

I definitely have loved having this car. It's not a cheap car to maintain. Parts aren't really all that expensive, but labor is. I guess if you want a car like this, be ready to pay the maintenance costs. It is really fun to drive, though. To me it has been well worth it.

Faults:

Clutch release bearing was totally worn - replaced, and threw in a new clutch too.

Replaced all 4 shocks/struts.

Installed "Powerstroke" cross-drilled front rotors. Padgid pads.

Replaced the water pump and timing belt - watch for a loose timing belt tightener!! A loose tightener results in poor timing, fuel economy, overall performance, and oil consumption!

Cleaned the intake manifold and fuel injectors. Recommend blowing Penzoil FI cleaner through the injectors with a bicycle hand pump, while applying 12V DC to the injector. Runs like new!

General Comments:

Solid, solid car! I love it because I can work on it myself. Even if you have to pay someone to fix it for you, it's still a great car for the money. Rear wheel drive, in-line six, 175HP... you can't get that in a new car for less than $40,000. But you can get a nice used 325 for under $10,000 and put a lotta love into it... (and it will be returned).

Faults:

Air conditioning out of order.

Driver's seat is broken.

Oil consumption.

General Comments:

Great fun driving this car. It was tuned by Schnitzer in Germany and is extremely fast. 4 wheel drive touring version.

Faults:

I rescued the car from an abusive owner and have had to do maintenance that should have been done at 60K miles. Replaced front control arms, struts, mounting plates, rear shocks and mounts, all wheel bearings and passenger side outer axle bearing. The real bugger of a problem was an elusive and massive trunk leak. It's fixed now, but I lost the CD changer and the jack to water damage.

General Comments:

I love this car and have named it "Lara." It gets looks just about everywhere I go (brilliant rot color), and handles like a dream.

I took it to the Utah Salt Flats and drove on the Bonneville Race track. The car reached 135mph before I finally chickened out. The engine is stock, no modifications yet, and it zooms around town like it's running on NOS. And the cornering is superb. I have fish tailed only to straighten out as the limited slip kicked in and saved my butt.

I have driven the car from Seattle to Key West and from there to Connecticut, and I have to say the seats are less comfortable than granite.

The BMW dealers are patient and always help me when I come in with my neurotic search for the little pieces of the car that have no impact on looks or performance, but are just missing.

BT.