The BMW 325i is a compact car built from 1987 to 2006 over 2 generations. Most were assembled in Germany — 100% of those on record. Engines offered: V6. Worth buying? It depends heavily on which year you buy at 3.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the 325i is
The BMW 325i is a compact car that BMW built from 1987 to 2006 — 20 model years. Our measurements put it at 2 generations, the current one starting in 2001. It has been offered with V6 power. Its closest siblings in the BMW range: M4, i8, M2.
Where the 325i is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 202 325is on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | WBA | 1987-2001 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a BMW VIN decide which of these 2 lines your 325i belongs to. What every character in a 325i VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a BMW 325i adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
325i generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the 325i's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the 325i that gives 2 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987-1989 | 449 cm | 257 cm | - | - | - |
| 2001-2005 | 447 cm | 273 cm | 1470 kg | -2 cm | - |
BMW 325i tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment 325i owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the BMW 325i have? Power & range
The BMW 325i is offered with 1 powertrain — 3L 6-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 1 for the BMW 325i, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.0L · 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | RWD | Premium |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The 325i by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the BMW 325i. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | 325i | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 56 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 426 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 3.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $1,496/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 212 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the BMW 325i?
The 325i is a compact car, built from 1987 to 2006 across 2 generations. Engines offered: V6.
Where is the BMW 325i made?
Across 202 cars in our records the split is: Germany (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the 325i have?
2 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2001. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car.
What is the BMW 325i warranty?
New models carry 4 years / 50,000 miles basic cover and 4 years / 50,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the 325i reliable?
It scores 3.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific 325i?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
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