QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

Exhibit 32

Section 1350 Certifications
Chief Executive Officer

        Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as created by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the undersigned officer of Beckman Coulter, Inc. (the "Company") hereby certifies, to such officer's knowledge, that:

(i)

the accompanying Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the period ended December 31, 2004 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and



(ii)

the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

        The foregoing certification is being furnished solely to accompany the Report pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, and is not being filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.

Date: February 18, 2005

/s/  JOHN P. WAREHAM John P. Wareham
Chairman of the Board, and
Chief Executive Officer

Chief Financial Officer

        Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as created by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the undersigned officer of Beckman Coulter, Inc. (the "Company") hereby certifies, to such officer's knowledge, that:

(i)

the accompanying Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the period ended December 31, 2004 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and



(ii)

the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

        The foregoing certification is being furnished solely to accompany the Report pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, and is not being filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.

Date: February 18, 2005

/s/  JAMES T. GLOVER James T. Glover
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

QuickLinks

Exhibit 32

Section 1350 Certifications Chief Executive Officer
Chief Financial Officer