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 1990 325i.
The 1990 BMW 325i is a passenger car equipped with a 4.5-quart engine requiring 15W-40, 10W-40, or 10W-30 API SJ oil, and it achieves EPA fuel economy of 16 city, 21 highway, and 18 combined mpg through its automatic 4-speed transmission. With 13 total owner complaints—the most common concerning Vehicle Speed Control—and two recalls, this model year sits within a broader complaint history spanning 1990 to 2012, where the highest complaint count reached 155 in 2001 and the lowest was just one in 2000. This places the 1990 model year in a relatively stable position within the model's reliability history, indicating fewer reported issues than later peak years but not the absolute lowest complaint count.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
| Overall length | 170.1 in |
| Overall width | 65 in |
| Overall height | 54.3 in |
| Wheelbase | 101.2 in |
| Curb weight | 2822 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 55.1 / 54.7 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 53/47 |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 16 / 21 / 18 mpg |
| Drivetrain | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Recommended fuel | Regular 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 1990 BMW 325i enters the federal record with 13 complaints, 2 recalls, and 1 investigation, counts that are markedly lower than the spikes seen in 1992 (86 complaints, 10 recalls), 1995 (71 complaints, 6 recalls), and 2001 (155 complaints, 6 recalls). The year-by-year trajectory shows modest filing volumes in the earliest years before pronounced escalations in both complaints and recalls, placing 1990 near the floor of the documented arc. For this model year, the highest complaint counts fall under Vehicle Speed Control and Air Bags, with three crash-related complaints and zero fire complaints recorded, though the data does not specify root causes. Because its federal footprint is comparatively minimal and it avoids the complaint and recall surges of later years, the 1990 325i stands out as a relatively favorable used-car prospect within this dataset, provided the specific example has been well maintained.
All 13 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 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 16 city / 21 highway / 18 combined mpg.