... We have a 07 plate BMW 320i SE automatic in Montego blue. The 20 means it has a 2 litre engine, and the i means it is petrol rather than diesel. Getting this car was not my choice, I wanted a Ford Mondeo but my husband wanted this car and after much pestering I relented. Not that I have any ... Read review
BMW 3 Series - Saloon - Rear (RWD) - 6 Speed Manual, 6 Speed Automatic - 1995 cc - Max Speed: 130 mph - 143 bhp - Petrol - Available Trims: M Sport, Sport, SE, ES
BMW 1 Series - Hatchback - Rear (RWD) - 6 Speed Automatic, 6 Speed Manual - 1995 cc - Max Speed: 127 mph - 122 bhp - Petrol - Available Trims: M Sport, Sport, SE, ES
BMW 3 Series - Saloon - Rear (RWD) - 6 Speed Automatic, 6 Speed Manual - 2993 cc - Max Speed: 155 mph - 245 bhp - Diesel - Available Trims: M Sport, Sport, SE
BMW 3 Series - Saloon - Rear (RWD) - 6 Speed Manual, 6 Speed Automatic - 1995 cc - Max Speed: 140, 143 mph - 163, 177 bhp - Diesel - Available Trims: ES, SE, Sport, M Sport
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Advantages: Great to drive, spacious, safe, reliable Disadvantages: No rear windscreen wiper, small glove compartment
...We have a 07 plate BMW 320i SE automatic in Montego blue. The 20 means it has a 2 litre engine, and the i means it is petrol rather than diesel. Getting this car was not my choice, I wanted a Ford Mondeo but my husband wanted this car and after much pestering I relented. Not that I have any complaints, it is a great car.
Why did we choose it?
The BMW 3 series is a highly rated car and had won lots of best buy awards ... ...considers the best car in its class. Top Gear gave it 5 stars, so did Whatcar? where it is a best buy both new and used (and was their car of the year in 2006). Which? gave it 4 stars and a best buy award. All these people can't be wrong and the fact it is so highly regarded helped in the decision making process. We also considered the Mazda 6 but I found the seats to be too hard but otherwise we liked it, the Mercedes C class but it felt like a ... more
We have had our car for just over a year now so it seems a good time to write a review about it. We have a 07 plate BMW 320i SE automatic in Montego blue. The 20 means it has a 2 litre engine, and the i means it is petrol rather than diesel. Getting this car was not my choice, I wanted a Ford Mondeo but my husband wanted this car and after much pestering I relented. Not that I have any complaints, it is a great car.
Why did we choose it?
The BMW 3 series is a highly rated car and had won lots of best buy awards and 5 star ratings for motoring journalists, and is generally considers the best car in its class. Top Gear gave it 5 stars, so did Whatcar? where it is a best buy both new and used (and was their car of the year in 2006). Which? gave it 4 stars and a best buy award. All these people can't be wrong and the fact it is so highly regarded helped in the decision making process. We also considered the Mazda 6 but I found the seats to be too hard but otherwise we liked it, the Mercedes C class but it felt like a boat to drive and was as unresponsive as the 206, the Audi A4 but I didn't like the interior, it was really cheap and poorly put together. We couldn't have the Ford Mondeo as my Husband has issues with owning a Ford and living in Essex (don't ask). In his mind there was only one car we could possibly get and after as test drive I agreed. We paid £23,000 for it and I think we got a very good deal (RRP was nearer to £27,000).
Features
The 3 series (basic model) comes with the following as standard (sorry for the list, best skip this paragraph): remote central locking, power steering, driver and passenger and side airbags, dynamic stability control (anti-lock brakes, automatic stability control, cornering brake control, dynamic traction control, and electronic brake-force distribution), immobiliser and alarm, manual air-con, alloy wheels, first aid kit and warning triangle, front and rear fog lights, run flat tyres and tyre puncture warning system, cup holders, electric windows, start/stop button, and CD player.
We decided to go for the SE rather than the basic ES model. With the SE we also got: cruise control, rear parking sensor, automatic air con, auto dimming rear view mirror, and multi function controls for steering wheel. Of course on top of this there is a huge list of extras you can have e.g. sat nav, leather seats. We opted for sports seats, splitting rear seats, metallic paint, and of course the automatic gearbox.
Safety
One of the most important factors in choosing a car for me was its safety rating. Having watched an article of Top Gear as few years ago where they crashed cars with different Euro NCAP ratings at 40 mph (I think) I was shocked at the difference between them. The 3 series has a 5 star Euro NCAP rating for adults, the highest you can get, and this is very reassuring in case the unthinkable may happen.
Driving
The car is great to drive. On country lane B roads it is great fun, it is sharp and responsive and you really feel in control. It also copes with motorway speeds extremely well, at 70 mph you get the feeling the car isn't even trying. The car is a very good long distance cruiser. The car is very quiet, even on the motorway there is not a lot of road noise.
The handling is very good and the steering is responsive. From what I can gather with my basic knowledge of cars (gleamed mainly from Top Gear) the stiffer suspension and taut chassis means the car is doesn't suffer from body roll as much as a softer suspension car (the 206 was shocking for body roll) and handles well through corners. This basically means when I am in the passenger seat and my husband is driving, generally far too fast, he doesn't get shouted at as much. The car is rear wheel drive which might also have something to do with how good the handling is, but this is a bit beyond me. The rear parking sensors make parking very easy considering it is a large car, it has a good turning circle and the car is easy to manoeuvre. Proven by the fact my husband hasn't crashed into any concrete pillars yet.
Automatic
The automatic gear box is very good, there is no noticeable lag between putting your foot down and the car responding, unlike in some other autos (e.g. the 206). When using the step down function (basically slam foot to floor and car changes down a gear to give more power) it really goes. It is by no means slow and sluggish and is a joy to drive.
Tyres
I think I am right in saying that all BMW's come with run flat tyres these days. Run flats are specially designed tyres with reinforced side walls so that they can support the weight of the car even at very low pressure, which means that you can continue driving even if you have a puncture, albeit no faster than 50 mph or further than 150 miles. The run flat tyres mean that the ride is firm but still comfortable, but I like the security that they offer. I know that even if I get a flat tyre I won't be stuck by the side of the road somewhere, but will be able to continue with my journey. Having had a tyre go at 70mph on a dual carriageway in the middle of nowhere at night in my last car this is very reassuring. Also because the tyres wont suddenly lose pressure and deform there is less risk of an accident occurring because of a puncture.
As there is no need for a spare tyre this means that there is more space in the boot. If you do get a puncture the car gives a warning bong and displays the run flat symbol. This has happened a few times, most of the times the pressure in one the tyres was a bit low (1.5 rather than 2.0) and just needed topping up. Once we had a huge nail embedded in the rear tyre. In a normal tyre this would have meant we wouldn't have been able to drive the car but because of the run flats we were able to drive to the garage to have it looked at (and to work and back for a day, topping the tyre up before each journey).
I have heard people complain about the car tramlining which seems to be caused by the bridgestone tyres. I have not experienced this problem and I am not sure what they are even on about.
Bong
The car bongs at you for everything, which can get rather annoying. Bong, warning ice, yes I know, it's bloody snowing. A few times it has bonged to tell me that the front passenger isn't wearing their seat belt when no-one is sat there, just my handbag and shopping. The only way to shut it up is to fasten the seat belt or it bongs every second. Either that or put the bags on floor. On the plus side it bongs to tell you that you are low on windscreen wash, oil, petrol etc which is really useful. The on board computer also tells you your average speed, average fuel consumption, outside temperature, and how many miles you have left.
The looks
I think the car looks very masculine and aggressive, something my husband likes but I don't think it is very pretty. I got to choose the colour and plumped for a lovely metallic blue, but the rest of the colour options are rather boring, basically dull colours and shades of grey.
Inside
The inside is a bit blunt, the dash board is angular and straightforward. The glove box is tiny. You can just about fit the manual it there but maps don't fit. I guess it really is just for gloves. The nets on the backs of the front seats are also tiny, I can only get one map in each. The compartment between the front seats is large, and has a can cooler in it and an auxiliary input socket for mp3 players to connect too. Overall storage space is adequate.
One rather exciting thing is that you don't get a traditional key but a key fob and a start/stop button. To start the car you put the key fob in the slot and press the star/stop button. Even I found this exciting, very James Bond.
The driving position is very good. Before this we had a Peugeot 206 (awful car, wasn't my choice) and the driving position was shocking. I am 5"10, tall for a woman but this is average height for a man, and I had to have the seat as far back as it would go. With the seat this far back I found that the steering wheel (which adjusts only up and down) was too far away. For short journeys it was liveable but for longer trips it was very uncomfortable. This isn't a problem with the BMW. The seat is fully adjustable, as well as moving up and down and forward and back, it can be tilted and of course the seat back can be adjusted. The steering wheel too is fully adjustable, both up and down and forward and back (think it's called reach and rake). The seats are comfortable and supportive.
I think the leg room for passengers in the rear is more than adequate. I have seen some reviews (whatcar?) where they say the head room in the back is a bit lacking if you are over 6", but unless you plan to have basketball players in the back a lot it is not a problem. I have sat in the back and had plenty of head room, and leg room. Not an issue, plenty of space.
The boot is huge, it has 460 litres of space. We also opted for the splitting rear seats so there is the potential for even more space. The only slight problem is the size of the opening, it isn't very large. So while you can get a lot of small boxes in the boot, big ones won't fit through the opening. The reason for the small opening is to give the car more strength.
Fuel Consumption
Fuel consumption is very good for a 2 litre large car. The official stats say that it will do 31.7 mpg in urban areas, and 55.4 in extra-urban (motorways) with a combined of 43.5 mpg. The figures for the manual gearbox are a couple mpg higher. We mainly drive in urban settings, basically around town and the car is currently showing our average mpg as 32.4.
General
We have had the car for 14 months and have never had a problem with it. It is coming up to its first service (18,000 miles) so don't know how much servicing costs. The car is well built, it feels solid which makes me feel very safe. The quality of the trim is very good, nothing has broken yet. BMW's also tend to be very reliable cars
Depreciation isn't that bad as the car is desirable and so holds its value well. After 3 years and 36,000 mile its resale value is 50% of the original cost, which is the best for large cars (Audi A4 is also 50% but for comparison Vauxhall Vectra is 29% and Peugeot 407 is 33%, figures from Which?).
My only complaint about the car is that there is no back windscreen wiper. I find this really annoying and don't understand why there isn't one.
General Stats
The car is in insurance group 14, which is about £550 a year. It's CO2 rating is 190 g/km and car tax is £210 a year (according to the V5C, the figure on BMW's website is 156 g/km, don't understand). The 0-60 speed is 8.9 seconds and it has 170 bhp. It is in the lower 20% tax band for company cars.
Summary
This is really a very good car. Wonderful to drive, responsive but also fairly economical, it is spacious, dependable and also safe. Yes they tend to be more expensive than the other cars in its class, but you get what you pay for and it holds its value well. It isn't the prettiest of cars but I am rather fond of it.
I bought my 1988 E30 320i from a dodgy looking bloke in south norwood. It was dark, a bit wet, and a friday night in October. I needed cheap wheels fast after destroying my mercedes 190e.
So. The car. One of the shocks was shot, the heater blower motor didn't work, the windows were manual, the engine had a nasty top end rattle, it had done 104k and it stank of fags. I paid £500 for it, one of my sillier moments, but I was desperate.
The drive home ... ...dip, but rather nicely the autobox was excellent. Smooth shifts in and out of every gear at every speed.
The following morning I saw it in the light. I wasn't impressed. I then saw the interior in the light, and realised it was more basic than a 1984 Golf. Good stero though, once I'd wired it in. Even better when I got the proper cage on it so it didn't fall out onto my knee every time I accelerated.
I only drove that car for 6 weeks, but it felt ...
robachamings1 27.01.2005
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of BMW 320i
Advantages: A higher class boy racer's car Disadvantages: The engine is an under performer
I've owned a BMW 320iSE L-reg for the last three years and I have to say that my experience with it has been mediocre at best. Prior to owning this car I owned a 525iSE (F reg) and it was absoloutely fantastic...the sort of car that dreams are made of. Unfortunately all things come to an end and I had to sell it. By purchasing a 3-series I thought I was buying more of the same however this was not so. Even with a 2-litre engine the performance is ... ...the subject of overheating every BMW I've had has suffered to a greater or lesser degree with this. Yes, it looks good, no there aren't any annoying rattles so the interior quality could be described as above average. Yes, in three years the car has never failed to start, ever but for the price that's not enough. The car has also suffered persistently with squeaky brakes, which the local dealer has described as a 'feature'of the 3-series- honestly ...
DrC 27.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of BMW 320i
Advantages: smart, comfortable, economic on fuel, quick Disadvantages: A little conservative in looks, expensive to service
...child-friendly BMW. Obviously the BMW had a lot to measure up to. Some of the key stats then - it is a V6 2000cc engine, which means I get similar brake horse power to the 323i Sport - 170bhp compared to 186 bhp (but you wouldn't notice and it is about £3,000 cheaper). 0-60 in about 8-9 seconds, but more importantly they have discs, on the 17" alloys, all round so brakes 60-0 in about 3 secs. The insurance group is 17, but depending on your circumstances, ... ...to fix, but our local BMW dealer guarantees the smell won't come back within 6 months. They pour a disinfectant into the condenser to kill the bacteria that makes the smell.
I would recommend that you go for Sport version since looks better with spoilers on the front. I also hear that the Sport versions are easier to sell if you need to. The list price for this car is normally around £25,000 - 30,000 with the all the extras we have. Go to the dealer ...
madamemilliecat 13.08.2005
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of BMW 320i
Advantages: Cheap, fun, image Disadvantages: expensive if it goes wrong, tricky in wet
I have a theory when buying cars, you should either may a lot and get a new or nearly car, or buy cheap, and get a disposable banger, the midpoint is the danger area, you can fork out a fair bit of cash, but still be left with a pup. Not being loaded I usually go for the later option. This doesn't necessarily mean motoring has to be boring though, I've just bought a 1987 320i for £900 which has been very reliable, looks good, and still has a good ... ...novelty these days, although you do have to be careful in the wet not to put the power down too quickly or else the back end comes round to meet you. The sraight 6 engine is silky smooth, although not much happens at low revs, the power tends to kick in around 4000. The economy tends to depend on how the car is driven, press on and the juice will disappear quickly, but if you drive more slowly good economy is possible.
Build quality is as good as ...
gshughes 26.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of BMW 320i
Advantages: Quality, Handling, Engine, Image Disadvantages: Lack of extras, Parts Can Be Expensive
...speeds, 4000rpm+ the distinctive 6-cylinder BMW engine roar brings a smile to your face. Then the car is very capable of keeping up with the GTIs and faster cars on the road at medium to high speed, but don't embarrass yourself off the lights. Fuel economy is quite impressive for a straight six, unless you push the engine(which is quite hard not to do). The MPG dial gives you an education of what really drains fuel. The gearbox is very smooth and ... ...changes in the road. BMW have done an excellent job here.
The interior of my car is not leather, but still of a good quality. Except for a few things. The steering wheel is not leather. My car lacks a lot of kit like Traction Control, Air Con, Adjustable steering column, etc. Fair enough, I may not have the top of the range model but I have heard from many other owners that a lot of these features are not very common on most mk3s. The alpine stereo ...
jenk85 05.02.2005
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of BMW 320i
Advantages: style, class, powerful and built to last. Disadvantages: replacement parts can be expensive.
As a qualified mechanic and the owner of god knows how many cars over the years I have decided the time has come to do an automobile review and what better to review than my one time pride and joy sadly no longer with me my BMW320i convertible.
I bought my BMW in 2003 it was 2 years old and set me back around 12 thousand pounds which was roughly half the cost of buying a new one and was at the time a very good deal. I fell in love with the car after one test drive and just had to have it. Although there have been many different versions of the 320i over the years with very different specs the one I bought was pretty top of the range and had the majority of extras available. I am of course reviewing the car from my own personal opinion so this review will contain information on the extras my BMW had but do not expect to find these ...
Advantages: build quality and overall performance Disadvantages: sound system, bmw service costs
I have owned my bmw 3 series for a year now and thought a review of its overall performance would be helpful. when i bought the car i was delighted with the quality of finish for a middle of the range car, one of the things i always notice is the secure clonk you get when shutting the doors, you feel like there is something solid surrounding you. second to this was the lovely straight 6 engine, it pulls beautifully even with 75 thousand miles on the clock. it is lovely and smooth with plenty of power to play around with in the corners and straights. the suspension if firm yet still suitable for long spells of cruising on motorways. steering is perfect, moderately heavy compared to a 5 series but very direct, you can put the car where you want it confidently, there is no juddering through corners at higher speed and the suspension ...
Advantages: Performance and comfort on motorways Disadvantages: A great attraction for little yobs to key it; very bumpy ride around town
This is not my car but my son's. After doing a lot of research, he set his heart on a 2003 BMW320Cd in dark blue, nothing else would do. As he's on tour in Afghanistan, I'm looking after it for him for the next few months.
It's certainly a stunning looking car and polishes up well. I've only driven it a few times and still haven't got used to all of the gizzmos, such of which I've yet to find. Performance is superb with lots of acceleration, and at motorway speeds, it's very quiet. Steering is good and seats are very comfy ansd supportive. What don't I like about it? Well the car seems to be fitted with 18" alloy wheels and extremely low profile tyres - 225/40ZR18 at the front and 225/40ZR18 at the rear. Whilst these might look very nice to the boy racers, the ride is very firm, OK on smooth motorways but bloody awful around town ...
Messerschmitt 09.01.2008
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of BMW 320i Coupé
