1999 BMW 3 Series 318is review from South Africa
"Overpriced, overrated, underpowered, overserviced crap"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Radiator went bad. Left my ass stranded in the middle of some desolate African highway.
Gearbox, had to drive for 80 km's in second gear as it was the only one that worked.
Clutch, once again left me in the middle of nowhere. Thank God for tow trucks.
Air conditioning. Broken down twice. You try driving in Africa without it. It's great to have but kills what little power the car has drastically!
And lots and lots of little things.
General comments?
It handles very well for a sedan compared to most US models.
It is in my opinion drastically overpriced.
It's as fast as a door mat (do yourself a favour and get a 328, 330, or M3).
The service from JSN Motors in Johanesburg South Africa really really sucks, If you don't drive a 7 Series you might as well not exist).
Nice interior design.
If it wasn't for my 80,000 kilometer road warranty I'd be bankrupt. You could get a better deal for a heart transplant than the dealership will give you!
Makes my 99 Buick feel like the space shuttle.
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2001 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.9 Manual |
| Performance marks | 3/10 |
| Reliability marks | 4/10 |
| Comfort marks | 5/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 1/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | |
| Distance when acquired | 21000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 72000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Buick Century |
| Date of Entry | 19th April, 2001 |