Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
| Every 30,000 mi | Oxygen Sensor (replace) |
Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1986 325I.
The 1986 BMW 325I, built on the E30 chassis, takes 4.3 quarts of engine oil with permissible viscosities of 20W‑50, 15W‑50 or 10W‑50 API SL. Owner feedback for this model year shows a total of ten complaints, with visibility issues leading the list and three recalls recorded. When viewed against the broader 1990‑2012 complaint record for the 325I line—where complaints peaked at 155 in 2001 and fell to a low of just one in 2000—the 1986 example’s modest tally places it early in the model’s reliability trajectory, suggesting a comparatively trouble‑free start to the series.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.
From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 11421707779. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.
| Engine oil filter | 11421707779 |
| Engine air filter | 13721720861 |
| Fuel filter | 13321268231 |
| Spark plug | 12121279599 |
| Front wiper blades | 61611387678 |
| Serpentine belt | 11511711091 alt 32421706597 |
| Thermostat | 11531710953 alt 11531265084 |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the 325I of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 325 325es Coupe 2.7L I-6 | 8.60 sec | 16.40 sec | 121 hp | RWD |
| 1986 | 325 325e Sedan 2.7L I-6 | 9.30 sec | 16.90 sec | 121 hp | RWD |
| 1985 | 325 325e Sedan 2.7L I-6 | 9.20 sec | 16.60 sec | 121 hp | RWD |
| 1987 | 325 325is Coupe 2.5L I-6 | 7.40 sec | 15.60 sec | 168 hp | RWD |
| 1987 | 325 325i Convertible 2.5L I-6 | 7.70 sec | 15.70 sec | 168 hp | RWD |
| 1987 | 325 325i Convertible 2.5L I-6 | 8.90 sec | 16.10 sec | 168 hp | RWD |
| 1988 | 325 325is Coupe 2.5L I-6 | 7.10 sec | 15.40 sec | 168 hp | RWD |
| 1988 | 325 325is Coupe 2.5L I-6 | 7.50 sec | 15.70 sec | 168 hp | RWD |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 4.3 qt of 20W-50 / 15W-50 / 10W-50 API SL engine oil, GL-5 in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid.
| Brake Fluid | DOT 4 |
| Differential Gear Oil | GL-5 |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 3.6 Pints |
| Engine Coolant | ETHYLENE GLYCOL |
| Engine Oil | 20W-50 · API · 15W-50 · 10W-50 · 5W-30 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 4.3 qt |
| Power Steering Fluid | ATF |
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
| Every 30,000 mi | Oxygen Sensor (replace) |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 1986 BMW 325I lists eight documented complaint categories, with Visibility accounting for three entries, Engine & Engine Cooling and Equipment each at two, and Engine at one. In the federal record that begins in 1990, complaint volumes fluctuate dramatically, peaking at 155 in 2001 and hitting zero in 1999 and 2000, indicating a non‑monotonic trend across the generation. The 1986 model’s single crash complaint and zero fire complaints are lower than the 86‑complaint peak in 1992 and the one crash complaint recorded in 2011, suggesting comparatively modest incident reporting for that year. Because no federal entries exist for 1986, we cannot directly benchmark its complaint rate against the surrounding years, only note that its recorded issue counts are fewer than the later spikes. Consequently, from a risk‑based purchasing standpoint, the 1986 model appears to have experienced fewer reported federal complaints than many later model years, making it a relatively safer used option.
All 10 complaints on record, top 6 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
THE MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT RESULTS IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND A RESULTING INCREASE IN SYSTEM PRESSURE. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A THERMOSTATIC BYPASS VALVE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO CONTROL COOLANT TEMPERATURE IN THE HEATER CORE. ALSO, A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP WILL BE INSTALLED, TO…
BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH COULD OVERHEAT, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO MELTING OF PLASTIC INTERNAL PARTS IN AREA OF ELECTRICAL CONTACTS. Remedy: REPLACE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH REVISED SWITCH WITH INCREASED ELECTRICAL LOAD CAPACITY.
Showing 1 of 1 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| B510819 | 2024-01-16 | Electrical System | The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met. |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
4.3 qt of 14 degrees F TO 122 degrees F: 20W-50 API SL OR GREATER, -4 degrees F TO 104 degrees F: 15W-50 API SL, -22 degrees F TO 68 degrees F: 10W-50 API SL OR GREATER, -40 degrees F TO 23 degrees F: 5W-30 API SL OR GREATER, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.