1990 325i vs 92-94accord help me out here

[mt.biker]

Alright I'm looking to buy another car (the RL will still be around, no worries) but i want someone small, light and faster then the RL. I also want something sportier, and something i can tweak.

A friend of mine john is a bmw fan and is in the process of talking a a 325i and restoring it. He currently owns a 325ci convertable that hes bored out to a 3.0l engine and that thing flys.

The one he would be selling me is a 1990 325i blue, with crossed drilled rotors, spolier (bmw's) and side kit. He says he'd be willing to sell it to me for $6500 CAD or $4000 USD it currently has 140,000km or 87,500miles on her. I've started up the car and even though its been sitting for the last year (before he bought it) it just jumped to life and sounded great. There has to be some work done to it and he would be doing all that before i get it. Its currently in his cousins body shop getting a dent fixed. Not to mention he has all the service records as hes the 2nd owner.

now the question is do i stick with Honda and try to get something sporty from them or do i get the BMW? I've been doing my research and these things stick to the road .85g and 0-60mph in 7.7 and 1/4mile in 15.5s i think. So right of the bat i like the sounds of it, not to mention i might bore it out to a 3.0L which would bring the times down into the 6's.

Also if i go with the BMW people are warning me about the cost of maintaining them. I have heard that dealerships charge alot for regular service but i've heard that with the right tools they are easier to work on then hondas.

so lets here it people.

[juvenile]

If you have the money, I'd say get the BMW! Those are nicer cars.
Honda is nice too, but I like those 325's! :yes:

[a96710]

I'd also say go with the BMW. Maintanence is spendy on those too. I'd think a Honda would be easier to work on yourself than a BMW

[juvenile]

Originally posted by a96710
I'd also say go with the BMW. Maintanence is spendy on those too. I'd think a Honda would be easier to work on yourself than a BMW
Isn't that kind of a contradiction? :confused:

[a96710]

Also if i go with the BMW people are warning me about the cost of maintaining them. I have heard that dealerships charge alot for regular service but i've heard that with the right tools they are easier to work on then hondas

I was just stating that I agree with part of that statment. That BMWs are spendy to work on....and that I don't agree that a BMW would be easier to work on youfself than a Honda would be

[a96710]

Oops...didn't quote that right

[juvenile]

Oh ok. It sounded a bit confusing the way you phrased it before!

[ebpda9]

my friend has a 94 325i and the car is nice sticks to the road, but i looked under the hood and couldn't find the damn plugs. Also he has to take tha car to the dealership for every other oil change to have the ECU reset otherwise light will come on on his dash. for the front wheels he went with some 215 wheels and those things leave mark on the inner fenders. i wouldn't get a beemer to mod on, but i'd take one to keep stock. did i mention that one night he had trouble keeping up with me at over 100mph ?

[ShEaNy]

well im a hardcore honda fan..i say honda..prolly could mod it easier...and might be less expensive to fix...compared to a beemer...

[firstgeardude]

very hard decision... um first off u gotta take both cars out for a spin and see what each can do.... the major advantage of the bmw is that its RWD... meaning more fun.... i am a fan of both cars so i really dunno...

[mt.biker]

Originally posted by hondaman-iac
my friend has a 94 325i and the car is nice sticks to the road, but i looked under the hood and couldn't find the damn plugs. Also he has to take tha car to the dealership for every other oil change to have the ECU reset otherwise light will come on on his dash. for the front wheels he went with some 215 wheels and those things leave mark on the inner fenders. i wouldn't get a beemer to mod on, but i'd take one to keep stock. did i mention that one night he had trouble keeping up with me at over 100mph ?
am i missing something here? was this a one time problem with the 100mph cause these cars should have no trouble getting to 130mph

[ebpda9]

Originally posted by mt.biker
am i missing something here? was this a one time problem with the 100mph cause these cars should have no trouble getting to 130mph

no he has this problem everytime he follows me.

[spoogenet]

The 325's aren't too slow or too fast. A 330 is pretty quick and has much nicer torque. If you can bore it out to a 3.0 that would be quite handy when trying to have fun.

The bimmers are expensive for maintenance at the dealer just like any other German car.

The big advantages I see to the BMW:

* RWD
* style
* RWD
* torque
* RWD

It won't be the most fuel efficient car on the road, but it should be more fun in the snow and ice than a FWD car. :yes:

b

[mt.biker]

why isn't it as fuel effecient?

[juvenile]

He's comparing it to a 1.6 or 1.8 Honda I think

[94_AcCoRd_EX]

Originally posted by spoogenet
The bimmers are expensive for maintenance at the dealer just like any other German car.

Yeah, German parts are very expensive. It took thousands of dollars to fix up my GTi well after it had problems. Simple things cost a lot of money. Definitly something to take into consideration.

[mt.biker]

Originally posted by juvenile
He's comparing it to a 1.6 or 1.8 Honda I think

i've heard something about this before but i'm really not sure what hes geting at.

[94_AcCoRd_EX]

Originally posted by mt.biker
i've heard something about this before but i'm really not sure what hes geting at.

The 3.0 will eat more gas is all he's saying.

[mt.biker]

Originally posted by 94_AcCoRd_EX
The 3.0 will eat more gas is all he's saying.
blah not to worried about that right now i'm drivin a 3.5 and i got no issues with it going down to a 2.5 or 3.0l will do just fine... i thought it might have something to do with gear ratios

[spoogenet]

Originally posted by mt.biker
why isn't it as fuel effecient?

:doh:

I was thinking as compared to a little 4 banger Honda, not the 3.5 RL. Yeah, compared to the 3.5 RL it should be similar or better.

The newer 325's are rated at 29/20 for a manual. The 330 is rated at 30/21 for manual. Woo I have a hard time believing 30/21 for the 330 on the highway. My Accord will get the rated 32 on the highway, but when I've been driving a 330 on the highway it's only getting 26 according to the car, I didn't have it long enough to really judge the mileage, but a buddy of mine with one claims 18-20 city and 26-27 highway.

The gears are a little short, though. At 80 it pulls well over 3k on the tach whereas the Honda is almost right on 3. No wonder, 5th gear is 1.00 on the 330, usually 4th gear is supposed to be 1.00. I know on the Accord 4th is like 0.98 but 5th is well lower than 1.

b

[ChrisCantSkate]

if you just want a sporty fun car BMW, if you want something to mod, i'd look into nissan or toyota. a mr-2 turbo (91-95 style) would be an absolute blast. mid engine rear drive, turbo charged

[ShEaNy]

arent the MK1's supercharged? or i must be thinking something else...

[ChrisCantSkate]

if the mk1's(not good with toyota chasis codes) are the OLD mr2's then yes, they came supercharged. the newer looking ones are turbocharged, and are almost handle like an exotic