BMW Sporty Diesel with Low Running Costs

Advantages: Good Resale value, sporty, comfortable, sleek
Disadvantages: Feels same as a much older model.

...I bought a 2004 model 320DSE recently and am pleased to report it is a nice executive car. The 320D range start with a basic model then the ES then the SE and then of course the Mtec Sport. The level of goodies you get with the car go up with each model but they all driver the same apart from the sports suspension on the Mtec. I decided the Se was probably the best value for myself with Climate control, electric windows , 6 speed manual gearbox, electric windows all round, and cd player advantages over the ES. This is the second BMW I have owned. the first being a 316 made in 92, and I must report it is amazingly similar to drive. The pedals are offset to the right slightly but this feels quite natural, the, the brakes are exellent, and the clutch is fairly light but has quite a long travel which I find takes a while to get used to...

lightheart 18.10.2007 · Read review
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Review of BMW 320d

320d - Potentially expensive failure

Advantages: Preformance, Economy, choice of trim, extras
Disadvantages: reliability - Expensive turbo failure, Rear Seat Space, Boot Space

...This is my first BMW, and I am sorry to say my last. The 320d has a reputation for turbo failure, which I believe applies only to pre July 2003 models. This failure can happen at any time regardless of service history and so cannot be predicted or circumvented and is a widely publicised failure amongst 320d owners on the internet!. The cost of repairing this vary between £2000 - £3000 and is not something which I would expect from a name like BMW. Other drawbacks include driver comfort, which is virtually non existant, after 15 mins in the drivers seat you rapidly experience another feature of the 320D - namely BMW "Numb Bum", which I must admit was not publicised in the brochure. The driving position is also somewhat strange. Both rear seat and boot space are limited and certainly not inline with the size of vehicle, and all BMW...

jamesey 30.05.2006 · Read review
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Review of BMW 320d

New facelifted 320D 1998cc 2002 model

Advantages: Performance, MPG, Quailty
Disadvantages: Rear cabin space, Small boot

...I ordered a 320D SE 1998cc 2002 model from my local BMW dealer in October 2001 for delivery in December 2001. I was impressed with the dealer (Dick Lovett), as the sales guy was not at all pushy but allowed me to take my time looking over the car and responded well to questions I raised. The first test drive I had was with the sales guy and lasted around 40 minutes, he then arranged for me to have the car for the whole day that weekend. This whole day test drive was excellent and really let me get know the car without any sales person around, and after that I was hooked and continue to purchase the car. The list of options available is huge and it took some time to decide what I wanted. This new car was to replace my company Astra and I purchased it myself using my companies opt out option. The car was ordered for December as my...

focus328 06.03.2002 · Read review
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Review of BMW 320d

BMW318iSE

Advantages: A prestigous car giving a feeling of safety and comfort. d
Disadvantages: Latest models not as well finished off as the earlier ones.

...My wife and I have owned a 3 series BMW since 1974. The first one was a 316i (1596cc)with manual gearbox. The car was completely reliable and very well made, and the paint finish was faultless. Servicing was every 6,000 miles, although perhaps more frequent than other cars at that time, the cost of the service was as cheap, perhaps cheaper than that of other foreign cars. The second BMW we bought, in August 1997, was a 318iSE (1796cc)with automatic gearbox, again completely reliable but the paint finish was showing signs of not being as well finished off as the previous model, especially around the wheel acrches, inner boot lid bonnet etc. The servicing intervals however were longer, every 8,000 miles and again the servicing price was competative, the BMW labour costs seemingly cheaper than those of a Ford garage. In September 2001 we...

ChoccyBoy 21.04.2003 · Read review
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Review of BMW 318i

BMW 320i soft top, A real drivers car.

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 BMW 320i 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...

thebigc1690 11.06.2007 · Read review
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Review of BMW 320i Convertible

Life with my BMW 320i Sport

Advantages: smart, comfortable, economic on fuel, quick
Disadvantages: A little conservative in looks, expensive to service

...As a new mum, I had to replace my beloved Mercedes SLK 2-seater with the more 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, you might pay from about £600 per year fully comp. It is a saloon and the four doors makes it easy enough to get my baby into the car seat. My first outing in the car proved a comfortable and enjoyable journey luckily. Leather seats and sports steering wheel made me feel at home. The steering wheel...

madamemilliecat 13.08.2005 · Read review
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Review of BMW 320i

Mediocre BMW

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 nothing special. No wonder they make versions with huge engines. First gear is set so low that it runs out of puff before you're going at anything more than walking pace...what was it designed for? Starting on vertical surfaces? and don't get me started on the clutch, which persistently overheats and gets all 'sticky'. While we're on the subject of overheating every BMW I've had has...

DrC 27.07.2000 · Read review
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Review of BMW 320i

My first diesel and was pleasantly surprise!

Advantages: Fuel economy is brilliant,over taking power great.
Disadvantages: A bit of turbo lag,and cabin vibration

...This is my first diesel car. I didnt know what to expect! The car is one year old,i never buy new always nearly new. That way you will get the benefit of all the optional extras plus any depriciation that occurred. My 320d SE Touring came with leather,rain sensor,xenon light,automatic ,6 cd and headlight washer. All these options cost around £4000,which would have boosted a new car price to around £29,000! I brought it for £22,950. A saving of nearly £6000. The automatic does slow the car down abit,but if you switch it to the steptonic mode it really goes. I was amazed at the mid range power of this car. The other day i did a naughty thing and decided to race a BMW 740i. I was expecting it to overtake me with no problem,so i put the it to steptonic and put my foot down.To my amazement the 320D was neck to neck with the 740i...

crazydriver 10.05.2004 · Read review
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Review of BMW 320d

Brilliant Marvellous Wonderful

Advantages: Great to drive, spacious, safe, reliable
Disadvantages: No rear windscreen wiper, small glove compartment

...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...

rd52169 17.07.2008 · Read review
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Review of BMW 320i

BMW 118D SE

Advantages: Great drive, fine balanced car
Disadvantages: Rear space poor and rear doors restrict access

...a keen driver and want a bit more oomph then I would highly recommend an engine remap. This takes the output of the engine up to 180bhp and torque up to 311nm and knocks spots off the 120d. This absolutely transforms the car. Many people believe, wrongly, that this compromises reliability, fuel consumption and will damage the engine. Totally untrue. It will be the best £350 you will ever spend. I was also suprised by the extras that were on the SE spec. Audi and VW charge for many of the optional extras that appear as standard on the SE spec, so whilst price may seem steep, when all extras added up, not a lot in it, plus BMW are open to negociations, despite what they want you to believe. As for fuel consumption? let me say that a 170 mile trip via motorway saw me average 50.9 mpg. Yes, I did take it easy, but arrived very refreshed...

pharmacy123 20.09.2007 · Read review
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Review of BMW118d