Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations we investigate the process of formation of the spatially ordered phase in a system of strongly interacting dipolar molecules. The molecular model consists of ellipsoidal or rod-like molecules interacting via the site-site Lennard-Jones and the dipole-dipole potential. The calculations were performed for a range of densities along a liquid state isotherm. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.