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 1989 325I xDrive.
The 1989 BMW 325I xDrive, built on the E30 platform and equipped with an automatic four‑speed transmission, requires 4.5 qt of oil that meets API SJ specifications in viscosities of 15W‑40, 10W‑40 or 10W‑30, and delivers EPA‑rated 17 mpg city, 20 mpg highway and 18 mpg combined. Only eight owner complaints have been logged for this model year, with no recalls reported, and the predominant complaint area centers on vehicle speed control. Together, these details illustrate a relatively low‑complaint, early‑generation reliability profile that positions the 1989 xDrive as a well‑documented case within the E30 lineage for research purposes.
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 | 12129061869 |
| Front wiper blades | 61611387678 |
| Serpentine belt | 64551722991 alt 11511711091 |
| Thermostat | 11531710953 alt 11531265084 |
| Cabin air filter | 64311394093 |
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
| Overall length | 176.8 in |
| Overall width | 65 in |
| Overall height | 54.3 in |
| Wheelbase | 101.2 in |
| Curb weight | 2895 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 55.1 / 54.7 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 53/47 |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 17 / 20 / 18 mpg |
| Drivetrain | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive |
| Passenger volume | 81 cu ft |
| Cargo volume | 12 cu ft |
| Recommended fuel | Regular Gasoline |
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 | 1.4 Pints |
| 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 |
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.
Owner complaints about the 1989 BMW 325I xDrive lead in one area — the vehicle speed control, 2 of 8 reports (25%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 1 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the vehicle speed control pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.
All 8 complaints on record, top 7 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 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.
4.5 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 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 17 city / 20 highway / 18 combined mpg.