BMW 1.9 Z3 Roadster

Advantages: Great for hot, sunny days and posing, great build quality
Disadvantages: Attracts unwanted attention, NOT a sports car

...If you want a BMW Z3 then do not go for the 1.9 version. The small engine, although provides some torque, is not up to the job to power a heavy 2 seater roadster. I bought a 1997 model in blue, with 65,000 miles on the clock for £8,000 back in April 2006. After changing jobs I fancied a change in car. I had always wanted a small two seater convertible and had considered the MX-5 and MGF. Although I like the look of both of these cars they are a bit.....well...... ponzy. I wanted a 'mans' convertible. Unfortunately the SLK, Z4 etc were way beyond my budget, as was the Z3 - or so I thought..... When I saw the Z3 I had to have a drive in it. It was a bright and sunny day, not too hot since it was April, but the rag top brigade were out in force. The Z3 felt sluggish, but then I had just gotten rid of my 240bhp twin entry turbo...

yackers1 12.03.2007 · Read review
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Review of BMW Z3 Roadster 

BMW 1 series as an everyday family car

Advantages: Plenty. Residual values are also truely astonishing!
Disadvantages: The rear doors - they don't open very wide and it's hard to manage getting very young children and the elderly in and out

...My wife and I have had our fair share of cars over the past 5 years or so - about 12 in total - and each one was very different to its predecessor. For example, we went from a Ford Escort to a Peugeot 206; a BMW Z3 to a VW Golf; from a LandRover Discovery to Porsche 911; and from a BMW 330d Sport to a Fiant Punto Mia (1.2). Most recent ly we changed from a BMW X3 to a BMW 116i Sport. If asked to choose which of all the cars we have owned I would recommend the most, I would say that depended to whom the recommendation was being made; however, if like us you have a young family and an active lifestyle, although you might imagine the versatility of a 4x4 such as the Discovery would be a good bet to get my vote, I would honestly have to say that, pound for pound, the 1 series has been the best buy by far. Let's start with the most...

Blackdog23 21.06.2006 · Read review
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Review of BMW 116i

BMW Sytner Chigwell

Advantages: Great customer service, aparently no matter who you are.
Disadvantages: Services can be a bit pricey, but not as bad as you would think.

...I have visited BMW Sytner a few times over the last 3-4 years & I have to say, they have the best customer service i have experienced at any dealership, bar none. I am not your typical kind of guy you would see in a BMW showroom, I am 27 years old but look like I am 17, I probably go there looking a bit rag tag aswell (I think i do it on purpose, i am not fond of face value). But I always feel that they treat me with the same courtesy as all of their customers I have been to Sytner for 3 series parts a few times & no matter how small the problem, the staff are always very helpful & polite. They took their time to track down some E36 washers I could have probably got anywhere & smiled at me when i thought they would charge me for it!, lol. Specifically, i find parts prices are not that bad at all compared to mercedes or renault. I...

krslim 23.04.2009 · Read review
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Review of BMW

Halliwell Jones Chester (BMW) - Give Them A Wide Berth

Advantages: Some pretty cars to look at in the showroom
Disadvantages: Poor after-sales, the ability to 'create' problems with your car (then refuse to accept liabilty)

...(or even interim) service had not been completed at this time. So, here we have a car which is almost 3 years old, with no evidence that the previous owner had the car serviced by BMW, and knowing this information BMW decide only to check the brakes. I know from experience that even Vauxhall dealers would undertake a full (or at least the service that was due based on the vehicle's age) in this situation. They also explained that the fluid levels were not checked during this service, which makes me wonder why I even bothered taking it for a service at all. I could have checked the brakes. The dealer therefore refused to accept negligence on their part, since they wouldn't have even opened the bonnet during the service(!), and argued that they would levy a 1 hour minimum labour charge to subsequently look at the car, since it was now out...

thpba3 19.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of BMW

BMW 120d - The only 1 Series??

Advantages: Well built, rear wheel drive, excellent handling, fast, good fuel economy
Disadvantages: expensive to buy and fix, run flat tyres as standard

...Having had several test drives across more or less the full range of 1 Series', trying to establish which version I am likely to buy, I can honestly say that for me there is only one choice! Whilst all are put together to the high standards we have come to expect from BMW over time, I can't help but feel that the price difference in models presents you with a bargain when looking to the 120d. The 118d is a good car in itself, but the difference in grunt received from the extra £800 of going a model up is well worth it. Granted, the majority of what follows is not 'standard' equipment on the car, but when is it ever with BMW?? The m-tech extras are again worth the extra money, as the handling, looks and performance are so greatly refined that you'd be forgiven for thinking you'd bought a sports car. The six speed gear box is...

Proximus 17.01.2007 · Read review
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Review of BMW 120d

BMW Approved used car warranty in doubt

Advantages: I have seen none to date
Disadvantages: A BMW approved used car from a main dealer proved to be a nightmare

...Two months ago, I purchased a BMW 323ci convertible from Vines of Guildford who are BMW main dealers. The car is 8 years old and had just over 47000 miles on the clock. It was sold with a BMW used car warranty but with certain exclusions due to its age, explained to me after I had paid a deposit on it. In the last couple of weeks, knocking noises have started coming from the engine which have progressively got worse. I've owned three BMWs and I know these cars well but I've never had one do that before. Very worried I checked the service history booklet 'Evidence of maintenance work' that came with the car and this is what I found ... 09/05/2000 Pre-delivery check No running-in check at 1250 miles 20/11/2002 Oil service at 12632 miles (6 months late) 05/05/2005 Oil/Inspection 1 and 2 at 21055 miles (1 year late) And then no...

cravenh 09.11.2008 (24.11.2008) · Read review
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Review of BMW

Advantage BMW

Advantages: A good all rounder and relatively cheap to run.
Disadvantages: None.

...an oil service, then an inspection 1, then an oil service and finally an inspection 2 in that order. The oil service is just that, a change of oil and filter and a general check over the whole car. The inspection 1 is a more thorough maintenance visit and inspection 2 is the big one. BMW dealers offer 4Plus servicing on cars over 4 years old and it offers a discount of 10%. For my own part I always use main dealers for servicing as they know the car and carry most spares. Faults It’s a sad fact of life that all things mechanical will have faults. My 5 Series has done 67,000 miles, in that time, a rear wheel bearing has been changed, a occupancy sensor for the front passenger seat has been renewed and the gearbox oil cooler has also been changed. My local dealer also renewed a rear suspension component because it had a worn bush...

Shekera 20.10.2001 · Read review
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Review of BMW 523i

BMW Hexagon is poor

Advantages: convenient N London location
Disadvantages: unresponsive staff, expensive

...Hexagon BMW are hopeless. I had my car serviced at the Kentish Town site in December and they ordered a part for me that needed to be fitted. Have tried to contact the service contact (AR) there on 3 separate occasions during January to get the work done - he won't call back. No-one else I have spoken to seems to have any idea what is going on with this repair. I also visited their sales showroom on great north road recently to look at swapping my 7-series for a newer one, but hardly anyone around to help and the one youngster there had limited interest as he said that they were cutting jobs. BMW Park Lane is owned by BMW and I think I'll stick with them going forward....

m1000 14.01.2009 · Read review
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Review of BMW

HR Owen Heathrow BMW & MINI

Advantages: Exceptional Offers - Fantastic Service and Competency of all within the business
Disadvantages: -

...I recently had my vehicle serviced at HR Owen Heathrow BMW in West Drayton and found the overall experience brilliant. I have had numerous BMW's and been to many dealerships but I found them to be very professional and thorough. The pricing was competitive and they advised me on all the extra items my car needed after carrying out a FREE Maintenance Check. The one thing I found unique about them was they offered me a Service While I Fly facility. I dropped my car off to the dealership and the courtesy bus took me straight to the airport for my business flight. When I returned, they collected me, had the car waiting done and cleaned and I killed two birds with one stone. My car was serviced and the storage/parking charges were a damn site chepaer than all the NCP's etc... around the airport. In a nutshell the service was superb...

fashthebash 05.07.2006 · Read review
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Review of BMW

BMW 330 CI - Ultimate Driving Machine?

Advantages: Fast, silky engine, good looks.
Disadvantages: Expensive to buy, boot could be bigger

...right foot you will certainly scoff fuel, and leave large amounts of rubber on the road. The SE specification car is identical to the sport underneath, (sport spec if just cosmetic) but is a bit softer mainly due to 17" wheels. I have updraded these to the MV1 Sport wheels which have hardened the ride, but increased the grip considerably, which I would reccommend. Servicing is not as expensive as the brand would suggest. The variable service indication allows 15,500 or 2 years whichever is sooner. It does adjust to differing driving styles, and if you drive with too much spirit too often, which I did at the beginning, it needed a service at around 10-12,000 which I thought was pretty excellent. I have to also mention the quality of this machine. For example my car has covered 35,000 miles and is still on the original discs...

honeygmonster 23.07.2009 (27.07.2009) · Read review
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Review of BMW 330Ci