Faults:

Rear suspension making "clonking" noises (suspect rear void bushes).

At idle, car wobbles (suspect idle speed incorrectly set: have already cleaned injectors).

General Comments:

Bought the car as a mile-muncher and it has performed faultlessly since I bought it. Returns 45+ mpg on motorway runs, but nearer 30mpg around town.

Extremely comfortable car with excellent ergonomics and superb driving position. Great boot space and can carry 4 adults in true comfort. I have previously owned a 325 Coupe and a 328 Coupe, so ownership of a rare GTV V6 Turbo has taught me to return to German engineering! BMWs are mechanically sound, however,minor electrical faults (such as switches) are quite common with age (but show me an older car that doesn't throw up faults over time?). I can highly recommend the 325 TDS, it's a great motorway car and will complete galactic mileages if given minimal care. I won't be buying another Alfa!

Faults:

Water pump. This is a typical fault as the impeller is plastic, but the shaft is metal. The impeller cracks and does not rotate properly in the shaft.

Radiator leak.

Viscous coupling on the cooling fan.

Air lock in the cooling system.

Thermostat.

Basically, everything to do with the cooling system packed up within the first 3 months of ownership. However, since this was all fixed it has been totally and utterly reliable.

General Comments:

The addition of 17" alloys have made it look great and handle even better, but at the expensive of ride quality. It tram-lines badly.

Faults:

The instrument cluster had to be replaced. We bought a refurbished one with a six-month warranty for less than $200.

Lower windshield trim was replaced.

All clips for driver's side door exterior trim replaced.

The sunroof started rattling for no apparent reason.

The brake light switch was replaced.

Nothing major has gone wrong.

General Comments:

This has been a terrific car. I am a college student who has no time for a car that is going to hand me problems. This car still looks brand new in every way. It looks terrific in black/black with the 16-inch Z3 wheels. The only original options on mine are the power tilt/slide sunroof and the fog lights. Everything else needed is standard however. It has one-touch windows all the way around which is a huge convenience. It has nifty climate controls, six speakers, and outside temperature display. The lighting system is nice with its fading effects and the map lights are designed not to blind one at night. The girls dig the lighted vanity mirrors that don't shine right in your face too.

Everything is so solid on this car. There are no loose trim pieces, no rattles except the occasional sunroof rattle that can temporarily be fixed by opening/shutting it again. Everything works as it should. I now see why these cars cost so much, they are what Mercedes-Benz used to be. I will purchase another BMW when I finish college, and hopefully I can also keep this one as I think it will last forever and it is cheap to maintain.