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Sedans BMW 3-Series BMW 3-Series Maintenance and Repair
4446 messages, Last post on Nov 29, 2009 at 12:04 PM
You are in the BMW 3-Series Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
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Replying to: backy (Jan 31, 2009 7:32 pm) |
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I'm interested in buying a used BMW 3 series, somewhere in the 1998 year range. I'm curious as to what I'm looking at when getting into the mechanics of the car, and what it's going to need from me. Would anyone be interested in giving me some tips? I'd appreciate any information you can give me. What known common mechanical problems are there? What is the price range for repairs on these vehicles? Would something that is normally a $250 repair cost me $500? Will I need to take this ONLY to a BMW specialist? Basically, I realize that owning a BMW is obviously going to be an expense higher than something such as a Honda, but I'm wanting to get a general idea of what that expense is actually going to be, and if I want to get myself into that or not. I'm seeing the common asking price for used 3 series 1998 BMWs at roughly $5500-$6000 (autotrader.com)....
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Replying to: realpunksgt (Feb 12, 2009 7:14 pm) I bought my 87 '325 when it was 12 years old (back in 1999), so a little older than what you're looking for. In the past 9 years, I've spent around $4500 on maintenance and repairs, with me doing most of the work. Besides brake pads and rotors, tune ups, headlights, that sort of stuff, the two major things I had done was the timing belt and water pump replaced and the lower control arms replaced, which were done by a private mechanic who I have used over the years and does good work. If every thing I had done myself I had done by a dealer or my mechanic, I'm sure that $4500 would have been more like $9K or $10K.
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Replying to: srs_49 (Feb 13, 2009 3:07 am) I'm just wondering what people's mechanical experience with the car is. Like I said, I don't expect many issues at all from the 3 series; from what I've heard it's a very good car (by comparison, I've heard that the 5 series has many cosmetic faults, depending on the year). I'm just making the double check. Thanks.
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Replying to: realpunksgt (Feb 13, 2009 9:44 am)
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Replying to: roadburner (Feb 13, 2009 5:01 pm) I know the dealer or rather I've had my two BMWs serviced with them. What kind of yearly upkeep (beyond oil changes) will an e90 require? I haven't owned an out-of-warranty car since 2001. And that car which I had for 7 years was grossly mistreated by me, always receiving reactionary repairs instead of preventative maintenance.
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Replying to: blueguydotcom (Feb 15, 2009 11:05 pm) 
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Replying to: kyfdx (Feb 16, 2009 6:27 am) ya know, blueguy, they've only gotten heavier and softer.
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Replying to: blueguydotcom (Feb 15, 2009 11:05 pm) Well, I'd change the brake fluid every two years, and the coolant every four(even though BMW doesn't call for it. As for mileage related services, I'd change the transmission and final drive oil every 50K. If you keep it past 100K I'd throw in a new fuel filter along with new plugs. As for everything else, I'd just go by the book.
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Replying to: qbrozen (Feb 16, 2009 6:37 am) A used 3 might be a better deal than a new leased 3 - depends on expected maintenance costs v. depreciation. FWIW, I've found the 325/328 with 17s to be a better ride than the 330i/335i with 18s. I simply can't get used to the way 18 inch RFTs skip on the roads of San Diego. 
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