OK guys,
I am looking at a e36 325is or a 95 2.8 A6 Quattro (I am also looking at a 95 525i but am not sure about it). I want the most reliable car that still has a little pep when I want it. I plan to do much of my work on my own (i.e. maintence and repairs) I was wondering what thoughts you might have to help me make my decsion. Any common problems? Dependability? How many miles will they last?
Thanks a lot for your input.

 

Kind of an apples oranges comparison. You've got a small car with a strong engine for its size with the 325 vs. a significantly larger, more comfortable/luxurious car with the least powerful of the different engines it came with in the A6.

A better comparison would be between a 525 vs. the A6. Or an A4 1.8T vs. the 325. The A4 would give you some tuning potential due to the turbo. I'll let other's flesh this out, but I think it important to point out the mis-match right up front.

 

Yeah, I am aware of the size difference, I am more concerned about the mechanical and reliability than the performance, sorry if I was confusing

 

I agree with SouthboroAudiGuy, you can not compare the two cars. We own an E36 325is bmw and a 00 2.8l a6 and they are completely different cars. I have only owned my A6 for about 2 or 3 months so reliability is unknown, but I can say over the last 6 or 7 years that we have had the 325 and the 224,000 that are on it now, it has been unbelievably reliable. We have done one clutch job, changed the O2 sensor, breaks of course, suspension work, radiator, muffler, headliner fell a year or so ago. In the 119,000 on my A6 I can guarantee a lot more work has been done based on the dealer service records. We both feel the A6 is a far nicer car though.

 

Ok would it help if we compared the A6 agianst the e34 525... I reallly am just trying to choose a car, I want it to be German, theres just something about them that I love. Anyways how does the Bimmer 525 compare to the A6 as far as maintence, reliability and longevity. By the way thanks for you input so far.

 

since the 525 would have the same engine as the 325 the A6 would be much faster. The 525 would be just as reliable as the 325 in the engine department. I would assume the 525 would be about the same in reliability as the 325.

 

I recently went from a e36 to a 2000 a6 2.7T. My e36 has 260,000 and shows no sign of quitting soon.My husband drives it now. I have had very few problems with it. I have only had the a6 for 4 months and already love the comfort of it. My only complaint about the e36 is that the interior quality was not great, but the important things, engine and transmission were great. Good luck with your purchase.

 

BIG factor here is where you live. If you spend a few months a year driving in the snow, the A6 is a no-brainer. Quattro has proven itself time and again as THE superior AWD system. BMW iXes are rare enough to command a pretty serious premium so comparing a 5XXix to an A6 is not valid -- the A6 will be a much greater value.