1984 BMW 3 Series

Sold as 318i, 325e, 325es

This page is a draft. It has not been approved yet, so read it with care.

What buyers say

Reputation: what owners and the press report

Sought after: The 325i and its 2.5-liter six All years

BMWBlog calls the 325i's engine the most sought after in the E30 range besides the M3, and super bulletproof. In an owner forum thread comparing the two sixes, three posters pick the 325i, one for its plastic bumpers, while one picks the 325e for daily driving and its fuel economy. Owners there report M20 sixes at 175,000, 178,000 and 195,000 miles.^1,2
Sought after: The 325iX for winter All years One source so far

BMWBlog calls the 325iX a great choice for anyone who plans to drive in winter weather.¹
Avoid: The 325e, if you want a sporty E30 All years Less sought after

BMWBlog says the 325e's low-revving engine, built for economy, is not very enthusiast focused, and it sells for less than the 318i and 318is. In an owner forum thread, a 325iX owner says the 325e is not all that bad for daily use and feels torquier in traffic.^1,2
Avoid: The four-speed automatic All years Less sought after One source so far

BMWBlog would not recommend buying one with the automatic, calling it very old and slow.¹

Every warning and recall for this generation, with a box to tick.