1993 BMW 325IS problems
Owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA about the 1993 BMW 325IS. Cooling system is the most reported problem area, at 19% of complaints. After that come lighting (19%) and body & structure (15%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 27 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Cooling system 19% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 1 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 3 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 93,000 miles 11 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 0 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 0 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 0 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 0 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 9 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 0 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 1 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 1 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 11 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 93,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 1 complaint mentions a crash; 3 injuries reported.
It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Vehicle overheated and when the consumer raised the hood to check the radiator the top flange of the composite radiator broke off under the pressure of the overheating system and sprayed the consumer with scalding coolant causing severe burn injuries (attorney for consumer), the defect was possibly related to recall campaign #93v-015 and 98v-178. *mjs
The passenger side seat belt will not latch properly. The locking mechanisim is not catching so the latch fails to lock.
Consumer went through a car wash. At the end when pressing the accelerator engine was slow and power gone, also, when starting to go through an intersection, power failed. Washed car at home same thing happened , but less. Went back to car wash and vehicle had to be pushed out. Consumer waited for parts to dry. Dealership said the drain hose got clogged, and the water got into the computer component and vehicle would not start for three days.
Puchased with email and verbal guarantee no problems with car. Have valid consumer complaints against same dealer with misrepresentation of veh.(s) purchased. 1: TCM light on. Veh. Will not shift. Occurred 2nd day of ownership. Dealer denies. 2: lights were non-functional upon arrival to dealer. Had "detailer" rewire (4 hours). Brake failure light still on computer. 3: dealer ordered and promised pass. Window motor. Replaced 2 relays while at dealer. Did not repair. Refuses to send motor for functional window.
The rear subframe mount points have ripped in at least one place from the unibody resulting in not being able to safely drive the car. I caught it early so no injury has resulted. This is a common (unacceptable) problem with these cars (BMW e36).
Other model years of the 325IS
- 1995
- 1994
- 1993
- 1992
- 1991