Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
| Every 50,000 mi | Oxygen Sensor (replace) · Timing Belt (inspect) |
Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1991 325i.
The 1991 BMW 325i is classified as a passenger car equipped with a four-speed automatic transmission and EPA-rated at 15/17/15 mpg, with routine service calling for 4.5 quarts of 15W-40, 10W-40, or 10W-30 API SJ oil. Within the model’s documented 1990–2012 lifespan, this specific model year generated only eleven total owner complaints. That figure sits well below the 155 complaints peak recorded for 2001 and above the single complaint logged for 2000, positioning the 1991 vintage as a relatively stable entry in the series history despite three recalls and air bags constituting the top reported concern.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
| Overall length | 175.6 in |
| Overall width | 65 in |
| Overall height | 53.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 101.2 in |
| Curb weight | 3056 lb |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 15 / 17 / 15 mpg |
| Drivetrain | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Recommended fuel | Premium Gasoline |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 325 325i Sedan 2.5L I-6 | 6.90 sec | 15.30 sec | 189 hp | RWD |
| 1992 | 325 325is Coupe 2.5L I-6 | 7.60 sec | 15.80 sec | 189 hp | RWD |
| 1992 | 325 325i Sedan 2.5L I-6 | 8.00 sec | 16.20 sec | 189 hp | RWD |
| 1994 | 325 325i Convertible 2.5L I-6 | 7.30 sec | 15.90 sec | 189 hp | RWD |
| 1995 | 325 325i Convertible (Sport) 2.5L I-6 | 7.90 sec | 16.00 sec | 189 hp | RWD |
| 1995 | 325 325i Sedan 2.5L I-6 | 8.00 sec | 16.10 sec | 189 hp | RWD |
| 1995 | 325 325i Convertible 2.5L I-6 | 9.10 sec | 17.00 sec | 189 hp | RWD |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 4.5 qt of 15W-40 / 10W-40 / 10W-30 API SJ 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 | 15W-40 · API · 10W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 4.5 qt |
| Power Steering Fluid | ATF |
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
| Every 50,000 mi | Oxygen Sensor (replace) · Timing Belt (inspect) |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 1991 BMW 325i sits at the quiet front edge of this generation's federal record, with 11 complaints and 3 recalls — nearly identical to the 1990 model year (13 complaints, 2 recalls) and dramatically cleaner than the 1992 model year, which spikes to 86 complaints and 10 recalls. Complaint areas for the target year are evenly distributed across Air Bags, Service Brakes Hydraulic, and Engine & Engine Cooling (2 each), with 3 crash complaints and 1 fire complaint reported, though the data does not specify root causes for any of these. The generation's trend is clear: 1990–1991 represent a low-complaint baseline, 1992–1993 mark a significant escalation, and 1994–1995 show an uneven but generally elevated level of federal activity. The 1991 model year's 2 investigations match the generation's peak (shared only with 1992), which is a modest caution flag, but its TSB count of 10 equals 1990 and exceeds every subsequent year through 1994, suggesting BMW was actively issuing service guidance without the complaint volume that drove later years. **Bottom line: the 1991 model year is one of the stronger years in this generation to purchase used, offering the lowest complaint volume alongside 1990 and positioned well before the quality concerns that defined 1992–1993.**
All 11 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.
Showing 5 of 10 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. |
| SI B63 02 08 | 2008-05-01 | Exterior Lighting | REAR BULB FAILURE. MODEL E92 (3 SERIES COUPE) VEHICLES PRODUCED UP TO JANUARY 21, 2008… |
| SI B11 13 07 | 2008-04-01 | Engine And Engine Cooling | N54 RATTLE NOISE FROM TURBOCHARGER AREA. MODELS E90, E92 AND E93 (3 SERIES) 335I AND… |
| SI B12 01 08 | 2008-01-01 | Engine And Engine Cooling | N52 EDK THROTTLE JAMMING FAULTS 2D09, 2CED AND 2CEC. MODEL E90 AND E91 (3 SERIES) AND E60… |
| 120405 | 2006-03-01 | Engine And Engine Cooling | CHECK ENGINE LAMP ILLUMINATED AND/OR VEHICLE OVERHEATS. BMW E90 (3 SERIES) ALL E90 (3… |
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.
4.5 qt of HIGH PERFORMANCE MINERAL OILS: ABOVE 5 degrees F: 15W-40 API SJ, SL OR SM, -5 degreesF TO 68 degrees F: 10W-40 API SJ, SL OR SM, 5 degreesF TO 50 degrees F: 10W-30 API SJ, SL OR SM, BELOW 50 degrees F: 5W-30 API SJ, SL OR SM, BELOW 32 degrees F:, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 15 city / 17 highway / 15 combined mpg.