Car Model History

Four-door rear-wheel-drive sedan · 2.7-liter fuel-injected eta inline-six (121 hp / 170 lb-ft)

1986 BMW 325 Four-Door

BMW's 1986 U.S. literature lists the 325 four-door as a distinct eta-six configuration.

1986 BMW 3 Series (E30, second generation) — 316 coupe, front three-quarter view
Exact 1986 3 Series reference photograph; exact configuration not verified ·

Photo: “BMW 3-Series Coupé (E30) 316 (1986)” by Charles from Port Chester, New York / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.

Factory configuration

What this model is

Trim
325
Body style
Four-door rear-wheel-drive sedan
Engine
2.7-liter fuel-injected eta inline-six (121 hp / 170 lb-ft)
Transmission
5-speed manual or optional 4-speed automatic

Equipment groups and standalone options are not promoted into separate factory configurations.

Configuration-specific ownership

Maintenance for this exact configuration

These items are filtered to the engine, transmission, trim, and model-year applicability recorded for this configuration. Broad Amazon category searches are suppressed here; shopping links appear only beside catalog-backed part numbers.

Service desk

What this car needs & when

Use this as a service-planning checklist for 1986 BMW 325 Four-Door. Start with the interval, confirm which engine or configuration you have, then use an exact ordering reference when one is verified.

Service topics
10
Factory intervals
9
Fitment-scoped
10
Exact references
1

Before orderingIdentify your engine, options and build date.Part numbers and sizes can change within one model year. Shopping links appear only for catalog-backed references; still verify the listing against your vehicle before ordering.

  • Engine oil and filter

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1986 · M20 2.7L inline-six · 325e (E30) · United States · Exact 1986 325e record; other E30 engines, body styles, iX, and M3 configurations are not claimed.

    Published interval: 7,500 mi / 12,000 km / 6 months · Maximum guideline; service sooner when the on-board indicator calls for it.

    Source: BMW — 1986 325e (E30/M20) service-indicator schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · Service Intervals/Equivalent Mileage — Oil Service maximum; Indicated Engine Oil Service · checked

  • Inspection I

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1986 · M20 2.7L inline-six · 325e (E30) · United States · Exact 1986 325e record; other E30 engines, body styles, iX, and M3 configurations are not claimed.

    Published interval: 15,000 mi / 24,000 km / 12 months · Maximum guideline; alternate with Oil Service and Inspection II as indicated.

    Source: BMW — 1986 325e (E30/M20) service-indicator schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · Service Intervals/Equivalent Mileage — Inspection I maximum · checked

    Inspection II

    Applies to: 1986 · M20 2.7L inline-six · 325e (E30) · United States · Exact 1986 325e record; other E30 engines, body styles, iX, and M3 configurations are not claimed.

    Published interval: 30,000 mi / 48,000 km / 24 months · Maximum guideline; includes Inspection I plus the additional published tasks.

    Source: BMW — 1986 325e (E30/M20) service-indicator schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · Service Intervals/Equivalent Mileage — Inspection II maximum · checked

  • Brake fluid

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1986 · M20 2.7L inline-six · 325e (E30) · United States · Exact 1986 325e record; other E30 engines, body styles, iX, and M3 configurations are not claimed.

    Published interval: 12 months · BMW's archived Inspection I note recommends annual replacement.

    Source: BMW — 1986 325e (E30/M20) service-indicator schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · Indicated Inspection Service I — brake-fluid replacement note · checked

  • Automatic-transmission fluid, strainer, and gasket

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1986 · M20 2.7L inline-six · automatic · 325e (E30) · United States · Exact 1986 325e record; other E30 engines, body styles, iX, and M3 configurations are not claimed.

    Published interval: 15,000 mi / 24,000 km / 12 months · At Inspection I; maximum guideline and indicator may call sooner.

    Source: BMW — 1986 325e (E30/M20) service-indicator schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · Indicated Inspection Service I — automatic-transmission fluid/strainer/gasket · checked

    Manual-transmission fluid

    Applies to: 1986 · M20 2.7L inline-six · manual · 325e (E30) · United States · Exact 1986 325e record; other E30 engines, body styles, iX, and M3 configurations are not claimed.

    Published interval: 30,000 mi / 48,000 km / 24 months · At Inspection II; maximum guideline and indicator may call sooner.

    Source: BMW — 1986 325e (E30/M20) service-indicator schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · Indicated Inspection Service II — manual-transmission fluid · checked

  • Main fuel filter

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1986 · M20 2.7L inline-six · 325e (E30) · United States · Exact 1986 325e record; other E30 engines, body styles, iX, and M3 configurations are not claimed.

    Published interval: 30,000 mi / 48,000 km / 24 months · At Inspection II; maximum guideline and indicator may call sooner.

    Source: BMW — 1986 325e (E30/M20) service-indicator schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · Indicated Inspection Service II — main fuel-filter replacement · checked

  • Engine air filter

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1986 · M20 2.7L inline-six · 325e (E30) · United States · Exact 1986 325e record; other E30 engines, body styles, iX, and M3 configurations are not claimed.

    Published interval: 30,000 mi / 48,000 km / 24 months · At Inspection II; maximum guideline and indicator may call sooner.

    Source: BMW — 1986 325e (E30/M20) service-indicator schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · Indicated Inspection Service II — air-filter replacement · checked

  • Spark plugs

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1986 · M20 2.7L inline-six · 325e (E30) · United States · Exact 1986 325e record; other E30 engines, body styles, iX, and M3 configurations are not claimed.

    Published interval: 30,000 mi / 48,000 km / 24 months · At Inspection II; maximum guideline and indicator may call sooner.

    Source: BMW — 1986 325e (E30/M20) service-indicator schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · Indicated Inspection Service II — spark-plug replacement · checked

  • Engine coolant

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1986 · M20 2.7L inline-six · 325e (E30) · United States · Exact 1986 325e record; other E30 engines, body styles, iX, and M3 configurations are not claimed.

    Published interval: 24 months · BMW replacement recommendation in the Inspection II schedule.

    Source: BMW — 1986 325e (E30/M20) service-indicator schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · Indicated Inspection Service II — coolant replacement note · checked

  • Camshaft drive belt

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1986 · M20 2.7L inline-six · 325e (E30) · United States · Exact 1986 325e record; other E30 engines, body styles, iX, and M3 configurations are not claimed.

    Published interval: 50,000 mi / 48 months · Replace at every second Inspection II or the first inspection due after 50,000 miles, whichever comes first.

    Source: BMW — 1986 325e (E30/M20) service-indicator schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · Indicated Inspection Service II — 2.7L camshaft-drive-belt note · checked

  • Engine oil filter — catalog fitment

    Exact reference available

    Applies to: 1986 · United States

    2.7-liter fuel-injected eta inline-six (121 hp / 170 lb-ft) — K&N HP-2009

    K&N HP-2009

    Manufacturer-catalog replacement-part fitment only; it does not establish a BMW service interval. Confirm the VIN, production date, engine, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Applies to: 1986 · 2.7-liter fuel-injected eta inline-six (121 hp / 170 lb-ft) · 325 · United States · Exact model-year and engine-family catalog scope; verify VIN and production date before ordering.

    Source: K&N — BMW 325/325e/325i replacement oil-filter catalog · 1986 BMW 325-family 2.5L/2.7L gasoline — HP-2009 · checked

    Verified ordering references

    2.7-liter fuel-injected eta inline-six (121 hp / 170 lb-ft) — K&N HP-2009

    K&N HP-2009

    Manufacturer-catalog replacement-part fitment only; it does not establish a BMW service interval. Confirm the VIN, production date, engine, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Applies to: 1986 · 2.7-liter fuel-injected eta inline-six (121 hp / 170 lb-ft) · 325e · United States · Exact model-year and engine-family catalog scope; verify VIN and production date before ordering.

    Source: K&N — BMW 325/325e/325i replacement oil-filter catalog · 1986 BMW 325-family 2.5L/2.7L gasoline — HP-2009 · checked

    Verified ordering references

    2.7-liter fuel-injected eta inline-six (121 hp / 170 lb-ft) — K&N HP-2009

    K&N HP-2009

    Manufacturer-catalog replacement-part fitment only; it does not establish a BMW service interval. Confirm the VIN, production date, engine, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Applies to: 1986 · 2.7-liter fuel-injected eta inline-six (121 hp / 170 lb-ft) · 325es · United States · Exact model-year and engine-family catalog scope; verify VIN and production date before ordering.

    Source: K&N — BMW 325/325e/325i replacement oil-filter catalog · 1986 BMW 325-family 2.5L/2.7L gasoline — HP-2009 · checked

    Verified ordering references

Sources

  1. BMW of North America — 1986 325, 325e, and 325es sales brochure (preserved catalog scan)
  2. BMW Group Classic — BMW 325es (E30), U.S. model
  3. BMW of North America — second-generation 3 Series and 325e history

Other 1986 configurations

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