'92 325i vs '95 Nissan Maxima SE

[Speedy2k]

Hi...

1992 BMW 325i / 1995 Nissan Maxima SE
both for about the same price

I am looking at both these cars and can't decide which one to get.

I would like to know which car is faster.

1995 Nissan Maxima SE 4dr sedan:
190 hp @ 5600rpm
190 torque @ 5600rpm
3010lbs


Both cars are 5spd

[Stockman]

honestly I might go with the newer maxima

the old e36s had some problems.. and you woudlnt have vanos on it..

the maximas steering I think sucks.. and its fwd.. otherwise its pretty nice

[Speedy2k]

Hmm
What are some of the problems the earlier E36s have?

And what is vanos?

[Stockman]

VANOS is basically a superior form of vtec... to make it simple

the waterpumps would go out.. radiator crack.. subframe would rip on some of them

Keep in mind I am listing the worst of the bad things about the car.. I am sure maximas also have their problems.. I just dont know them

You need to drive both yourself...

[Stylin]

Personally I would go with the newer Maxima.. a 1992 car is a decade old!

[Speedy2k]

Yeah I realize its old but thats the only E36 BMW I can afford I only have 10,000 CDN (~6600 USD) saved up.

And I really like the way the E36 325i looks like and the performance etc.

Damn hard decisions...

[Stockman]

keep in mind...
you cant get an extended warranty on a 92 bmw... you can on the maxima... if money is a major concern... I caution you against getting an old bmw which WILL have problems

[ChrisFL]

These guys are right, I hate to admit it. I got a 92 325i. All I could afford though, so...
Although the VANOS thing I disagree with. It helps, but from driving both VANOS & NON-VANOS, I never mind not having it on the engine. Given I have an exhaust and chip though.
My car's over ten yrs old now (prod. 7/91 - one of da first)
I've had subframe failure (broke my friggin heart and embarresses me to say it) and had to replace thermostat & shocks and dimmer switch. Besides that, nothing else major.Only things I do just 'cause I'm anal about perfection.

If I had to do it again though, I'd still take this bimmer. It is a solid car and worth the headaches.

BTW, here's my car. I think she's held up pretty well

edit: Forgot about the waterpump. The below post reminded me!
(It was replaced before I purchased the car)

[QuestMCoupe]

Get the 325. I have a 92 and the only problem I had was the water pump go out which happens to 92-95's if I'm not mistaken. Other than that, the car is great. There are endless possibilites for that car. Go with the Bimmer.

[Speedy2k]

Thanks for the replies

The last two replies lifted my spirits a bit heh... I really want a BMW but wouldn't buy one if I am looking at tons of repairs. And fixing up a BMW isn't going to cheap.

ChrisFL: How much was it to fix the "subframe failure" ?

[ChrisFL]

Cost two grand to do it right. The guys's really good, although we got in a fight last time I was in FL for his employees shoddy work ethic but that's another story...

The sub-frame failure a un-noticable thing on the car now, but I always worry about it and get it the welded area checked every time my mech. sees it.
Getting an x-brace before any problems will help here.

See,in my situation, the previous owner of my car abused it pretty good. I'm almost positive of this. And it's got Eibach Sportlines on it (VERY stiff) I purchased it w/ the damage. Felt like a f'ing moron but learned a valuable lesson for future bimmer purchases.
As long as the 3'er your looking at is relativly satock, get an xbrace, sway bars, and med-stiff suspension and you should be alright.
BTW, this sub-frame stuff isn't exclusive to 92's. I've heard of cars up to 95 M's with similar stuff happening. BMW knows this will happen, but it is our fault since we mess with the suspension.

[Speedy2k]

I will definately look and try to spot any signs of mods or anything like that. I will not buy a car if it was modified, because then I know it was abused.

[Stylin]

Originally posted by Speedy2k
I will definately look and try to spot any signs of mods or anything like that. I will not buy a car if it was modified, because then I know it was abused.

Never!!!! My car isnt abused.... its my baby!

[ChrisFL]

Yea, the guy I bought the car from said the same thing though Stylin, but I believe you.
However, whatever you do Speedy, get the car checked out by a mechanic of your choosing. There's really no way of knowing w/o doing this.

Btw, link over to DTMPower - a similar thread over there with good info on the 92.
Differences between 92 and 93 325i's

[Oxcart 1]

Originally posted by Stockman
honestly I might go with the newer maxima

the old e36s had some problems.. and you woudlnt have vanos on it..

the maximas steering I think sucks.. and its fwd.. otherwise its pretty nice

oh no...No vanos isn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be, my sister had a 95325is and my 92 is faster then hers was. The 92 motor is also more likely to come back from and over rev than the new BMW motors (as I have heard), and if you get a chip for 200 bucks in it then you won't have a damn problem. I have a 92 E36 and wouldn't trade it for a 98 328I.
Stockman have you even driven a 92 325i?

[Oxcart 1]

My car has been in teh Red once since I have owned it, and that was the time the water pump went out.

I will not buy a car if it was modified, because then I know it was abused.

***********************

Originally posted by ChrisFL
These guys are right, I hate to admit it. I got a 92 325i. All I could afford though, so...
Although the VANOS thing I disagree with. It helps, but from driving both VANOS & NON-VANOS, I never mind not having it on the engine. Given I have an exhaust and chip though.
My car's over ten yrs old now (prod. 7/91 - one of da first)
I've had subframe failure (broke my friggin heart and embarresses me to say it) and had to replace thermostat & shocks and dimmer switch. Besides that, nothing else major.Only things I do just 'cause I'm anal about perfection.

If I had to do it again though, I'd still take this bimmer. It is a solid car and worth the headaches.

BTW, here's my car. I think she's held up pretty well

edit: Forgot about the waterpump. The below post reminded me!
(It was replaced before I purchased the car)

Where do your sway bars connect? 6/91 here

[JimBob]

I owned a 1994 Nissan Maxima GXE a year or so ago and had only minor problems: 1)Nissan used timing belts for awhile, which suck. 2) Two power window motors went out. The handling on the GXE was rather boat-like, especially compared to my 328; there really is no comparison. If I had kept it, 17" wheels and lowering(spings/shocks) would have been required, squealing around every 30mph turn is embarassing. Other than that the Maxima was a solid car, with all the bells and whistles I could want.

[Stockman]

Originally posted by Oxcart 1
Stockman have you even driven a 92 325i?

Yep... I was minutes away from buying it too... same color as yours.. absolutly perfect interior... but.. there may have been something wrong with it? it felt really slow -- was an automatic though




---

I owned a 1994 Nissan Maxima GXE a year or so ago and had only minor problems: 1)Nissan used timing belts for awhile, which suck. 2) Two power window motors went out. The handling on the GXE was rather boat-like, especially compared to my 328; there really is no comparison. If I had kept it, 17" wheels and lowering(spings/shocks) would have been required, squealing around every 30mph turn is embarassing. Other than that the Maxima was a solid car, with all the bells and whistles I could want.


lol... I know exactly what you are talking about for most of that... I feel the maxima is a nice car to be a passenger in.. but I just dont like the steering/handling at all.. the brake feel I didnt like..

[cleoent]

If you like to drive buy the bmw. If you just want a car to cruise on you can't go wrong with either. The two cars are completley different driving experiences. I've driven a maxima and a bmw and my choice any day of the week would be a bmw. But you have to let your wallet have a say in the matter.

[dc516]

i also had the subframe problem =(
i bought my car for 6500.....3000 my parents, 500 my sister, 3000 me, total spent on the car counting the car is 12,000......had the fuel pump clunk out on me 2 weeks ago, 220 and 30 mins to drop in a new one myself. my window is fucking up on me right now, the door panels are coming lose....but yeah. my friend has a 99 maxima SE auto....its friggin quick, we raced one, when my car had its differential held on by 1 outta the 4 bolts(surbframe problem), hahha, and not warmed up, he took off 1st, but from 0-50 he had one car length, it was 2 days after i got my car, and about 4 hours in stick.

its not a cheap car to keep, the maxima will be cheaper. the maxima engine used to be one of the top 10 engines i believe

water pump...i wouldnt know, i believe its been replaced, i hit 130,000 miles last week.

i want a rematch with the max.....now that i know how to take off in my car. the maxima is a nice ass car, i kinda wanted to get a 5 speed SE and get rid of my car forawhile...just the front wheel drive kills any thought of me getting it, along with any other front wheel drive car

PS the subframe problem can occur on any car...modded or not, ive heard stock cars having the problem. and also from this local tuning shop that does euro cars they say the 92 is one of the best to mod, the least restrictions, the least detuned motor outta all the 325's, they also have a more aggressive cam to make up for not having vanos.

[fourfa]

<i>VANOS is basically a superior form of vtec... to make it simple </i>

not at all... VTEC is a much better system, VANOS is a very mild treatment comparatively.

and Eibach Sportlines are not very stiff, compared to most of the aftermarket springs on the market. in fact they're probably the softest.

[Stylin]

Originally posted by fourfa
<i>VANOS is basically a superior form of vtec... to make it simple </i>

not at all... VTEC is a much better system, VANOS is a very mild treatment comparatively.

and Eibach Sportlines are not very stiff, compared to most of the aftermarket springs on the market. in fact they're probably the softest.

Yup on both...

[bajan boi]

Before I had my bimmer, I had a 95 Max, 5 spd, SE, all option except heated seats & mirrors. Nice car, very nice highway ride. I've taken numerous road trips, the furthest being Martha's Vineyard in the Max and it is a joy on the open road. Steering is a little mushy and the stock suspension is waay too soft for winding roads. The Max pulls really hard from down low and is whisper quiet. The max has a much better stereo (I had the Bose option). Max gets better gas milage. Huge trunk: can fit a couple of dead bodies, or in my case, a stroller and a full load of groceries. Max has a moonroof (glass panel) while 325 has a sunroof

You never will kill your starter motor in the 325 cause you know when it is running (unlike the max where you have to glance at the tach). The thing positively roars (my car is nicknamed the Dragon). The 325 comes alive above 3k (really a dog under that) and has much better handling. The seats in the bimmer keep you in place better than the Max - you slide about across the leather. The Bimmer is a nice size, not toobig (I prefer smaller cars). Bimmer is RWD. Bimmer makes you smile.

Both aree nice cars. WHy did I get rid of my Max for an older car? Ask my ex wife (she stole it and I never saw it again). Needed a car that was sporty, 4 door and 5 spd & affordable. Not too many options for me back then...

[Stockman]

Let me redo my statement

Honda has vtec which is simply a different set of lobes it switches to at like 5000?rpms on the intake valves only to make it slightly more aggressive.. On a 4 cyl low displacement engine it really doesnt do much good. You gain like what? 10hp at 8000rpms...

If you look at all the tuned high power hondas.. they drop the vtec because its rather pointless



with BMW's double vanos the timing of the intake and exhaust cams are continuously variable throughout the majority of the rpm range. Not 1 predefined set. basically it improves torque delivery across the whole rev range
And with BMW's use of it on a 6 and 8 cyl theres more power to get out... BMW doesnt put it on the 4 cyl.. hmm I wonder why.. :12:


Hell.. Toyota's version is better then hondas... Toyotas is pretty much the same as BMW's single VANOS



BMW Vanos - inlet, continuous
BMW Double Vanos - inlet and exhaust, continuous
Honda vtec - inlet, preset cam lobes
Toyota VVT-i - inlet, continuous

I will stand behind my original quote. :

[Stylin]

Honda has the I-Vtec now right? Isnt that both intake and exhaust timing now?? Honda's Vtec is also electronically controlled very variable adjusting timing where VANOS is mechanically stuck. Isnt the S2000 also a Vtec?