I know you guys may be biased, but with that in mind, I'm soliciting your honest opinion.

I have about $10K to spend, and it looks like I can get a 94 Bimmer 325i or a 97 Maxima for that amount (I was also considering an 95 Infiniti J30). I do not have any particular cars in mind, but after looking at the car ads, it looks like this is what I may find for the price I have to spend.

I would like something sport, and I've always love Bimmers, so my heart wants the 325, but I am afraid of a maintenance nightmare, and I know the Maximas are supposed to be very reliable (stylish as well)... plus I'll be getting a newer car for the same amount of money.... So it seems like the heart vs. the brain.

Any opinions or suggestions on what's best for my money (overall)... Again, I have no more than $10K to spend.

THANK YOU!

 

Test drive both and gather your own opinions.

 

For reliability and maintenance cost, I'll probably not buy cars other than Japaness ones, at least in the near future, too many stories heard. A little futher, I'll probably not buy cars other than Jap's big three, Honda, Nissan and Toyota.

 

BMW is a nice car and all. But the max has more power then the 3 series bimmers that ive driven (a 95 325). The inside of the max is more roomy and comfortable. As far as maintenance goes, maximas can be pricey for labor costs, but parts arent bad. But the Bimmer will get you on parts and labor and cost far more then the max. I say get yourself the newwer maxima (which probably has less miles, and will be able to make it to higher miles also). But i also think you should drive both and get what you like.

 

My ex-girlfriend drove the 325i...
it's slow. Get the Maxima. The interior of a 94 325i isn't all that either.

 

you said that you have no particular car in mind, and you 2want a newer car, so maybe a ford focus? Thats under 10k.

Real answer:

GET the max, better durability, tons of support in here, and i think they are a better deal for the money.

 

I drove a 94 BMW for 6 years. It is currently for sale due to the maintenance problems I have had with it. The cost will eat you alive. I agree with what the other guys here have said. The max is roomier and has more power. The BMW is nice but if reliablity is a factor don't go with a '93 or '94 BMW. Don't know what happened those years to BMW but those year model cars are not reliable at all. Within a 6 month period time I had to replace Blower Motor, Radiator and 2 computer chips at the cost of $700-$800 each fix. My mechanic said those years were just not made well and are not reliable as other year models. Now my husband has an '87 with 325K miles on it and it still runs like a top. We also have a '95 318ic and it runs great. So if you really have your heart set on a BMW try looking at years other than '93 or '94. Good Luck

 

I like you have always loved the bimmer. If I were ever to get a BMW it would have to be a 5 series....3 series is so small! reliability wise get a newer one or pre-90s one. They switched the engines during the early nineties...don't know which year it was and the reliability went to hell.

I now have a 97 max with 60K on it. Other than regular services, I have not needed to do anything to it...other than mods I wanted to do . It's fun! Get a 5sp!

 

I'm the same way! I always love BMW's...almost bought one after 2 maxima's that I had, 92 & 93...then after long debating, I decided because of beemer realiability vs maxima, I'd go once again with a maxima. Get yourself a Max, and not an athomatic, but definately a 5 speed ONLY!!!

 

Get the Max. The BMW is too old anyways.
Besides, we need details like miles, etc.

 

Bimmer..........I thought it was Bemmer? Just wondering?

 

i say go for the maxima.....the maintenence on the bimmer will break your back!! (hehehe- back pressure ) And on top of that....we're talking about an old german car(8-9 yrs) - big no no....get the newer maxima...you wont regret it BTW- what trim is the maxima?? GXE, SE, GLE???

 

Thanks guys, for all of your thoughts and comments...

When I said I have no specific cars in mind, I meant that, although I'm certain I want a Bimmer 325 or a Maxima (or the Infiniti), I have not begun the process of actually visiting dealers or responding to car ads etc.... So it may come down to the details (trim level, car condition, mileage etc) by the time I'm ready to buy (two weeks). For now, I've been doing research and soliciting opinions.

I've posted this message in several other forums (mostly Bimmer forums) and so far the response has been mixed, almost 50/50 (maybe that says something, considering most of the comments have actually come from the Bimmer forums).

I was hoping for a landslide of opinion in one direction, which would break the tie in my mind, but no luck

I suppose, so long as I get one for a good price, I'll be happy with either a Max or Bimmer.

Thanks Again,
and if you guys have any more comments, or if someone has any personal experience, as far as the maintenance and reliability of these cars go (in those year ranges), please throw in your input.

By the way, BMW cars are called "Bimmers", but BMW motorcycles are referred to as "Beamers"... kinda wierd, I know.

 

i, too, was looking for a 325i/maxima when i was buying a car a year ago...i drove the 325i and LOVED it, but a few things kept me from getting one...I am 6'2" and like to sit VERY far back, the bimmer will not allow you to do this, so if you are tall, and like to sit back, you won't be able to. the bimmer had nice power, but not great. it drove quitenice, i liked the gearbox/tranny and clutch. it also made a nice exhaust tone. when i started driving maximas, i knew that i would't get a bimmer...the max is much more roomy, i could sit exactly where i wanted..it is much quicker and looks nice as well...maintenance has been ok so far, unlike my neighbor with a 325i, he has dumped lots of money already in his....

 

If I had a lot of money to throw around I'd get a Bimmer, but only the M class ones The rest don't seem worth the price tag. If you're funds are restricted, as mine are, I think you get more bang for your buck with Maximas and you'll never have to spend a penny on labor cause all the answers to your mechanical problems are right here

 

although i like bmw's more... I'd still get the maxima in this case. Simply because the BMW is less reliable, it's also 3 years older then the max, will probably have higher miles, more problems. it's smaller, not as fast, interior is ugly too like someone said, why go through all of that?



For the Money, the maxima is a better car overall.

 

Well, my mom has got a 97 and one of my friends has a 92 325i so I can give you a comparison. I'm 6 4 so interior comfort is definetely an issue with the bimmer. My friend lets me drive his whenever I want and I can go as fast as I want , and its fine for that but for a trip over 20 or so minutes kills my legs. I've been 3 hours straight in her car and never gotten a cramp like I do in his car. So comfort will go to the maxima. Performance, well, he's got a stock max beat easily. All I know of for sure is that he's got a chip and some sort of exhaust, and that thing hauls. It's so much fun going around corners at high speeds and just drifting around turns. I haven't raced him in either mine or my moms car, but from the butt-dyno, he could probably beat it. Reliability, I dont really know, but his has got 160k on it and runs perfect. So if you are looking for a more performance oriented car, I would go with the BMW. But if you want something with not only performance, but comfort, go with the maxima. Oh yeah, and get a 5 speed if you can

 

I've owned a 91 BMW and a 97 Maxima.

The BMW was unreliable and a money pit. Parts are unbelievably expense. Before you buy, price a set of plug wires. I got this from the mechanics that worked on it:

What does BMW stand for? Break My Wallet!

I didn't find that very amusing so I sold the car.

My 97 Maxima with 31,000 miles has never been back to the dealer. No problems, just general maintenance. My only complaint would be the quality of the paint.

The only way to own a BMW is to lease a new one and ditch it before the warranty runs out.

 

If you're a die hard driving freak, get the BMW. If you want performance and reliability, get the Max. Like my login says, I really want one, but can't put up with the reliabilty issues right now, so I have a 97 SE for a while. BTW, the E36's are electrical nightmares and right now there seems to be a really high rate of rear sub-frame failures on some models. Something to think about.

 

Give me an "M"
("M!!!")
Give me an "A"
("A!!")
Give me an "X"
("X!!!")
Give me an ... oh you get the idea ... get a maxima

 

Just a note from an outside party,
while not having owned a Nissan or unfortunately never having driven a maxima, I have owned 2 BMW's, a 1974 Bavaria 3.0s(predecessor to the 5 series) and currently a 93 318i. The 74 made it to 488k miles with nothing but standard replacements(ie clutch, brakes.) Engine ran fine. The 318i was run pretty hard before I got it, but it's holding up fine, since I take care of it. I'd be willing to bet if you took care of the BMW and the maxima well, they'd both cost you about the same.
Now about the maxima outrunning the BMW, yea, it would. It comes stock with a higher Differential. The 325i comes stock with a 3.15:1 non-limited slip differential. I'm not sure what exactly the Maxima's is, but I believe it's higher than that. Lot of other cars are.
Biggest difference would be the difference in frontwheel drive and rearwheel drive. Just a preference there. Obvious handling differences are inheirent in the two different styles.
-j

 

Tough choice. I would probably go with the max though. I think in the long run you will be happier. Now if it was an M3, that might be a different story.

 

easier to drift a rear wheel drive car ...

 

Get the Max especially if its a SE!

 

buy my maxima going for $70 000 flat

 

oh yea rice not included

 

does that mean youre taking all the stickers off ?

 

Man I loved those Bavarias! The classic look! My dad had one too. They are bullet proof! Did you know the engine design was based on aircraft engines in the 2nd world war?....well that's what I was told, but that would explain their reliability.

BBBUUUUUUUUUUTTT, they don't make them the way they used to!