1980 BMW 3 Series 320iS review from North America
"A rickety old high performance machine"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The head gasket blew, but this was not surprising since the car had well over 175000 miles at the time. Repair bill for the head gasket was $600.
Previous owner lowered the car 2 inches, causing the rear tires to wear out quickly.
General comments?
Showed signs of it's age often.
Limited slip differential is fun on rain slicked roads.
Was extremely reliable, once the head gasket was fixed.
This car only had a 4 speed transmission, but could still hit triple digit speeds easily.
Recommended Reviews:
  | 1981 - 3 Series 320I 2.0 Bored from a 1.8 block Very Fast, Clean and Reliable |
| Should be called "the disappointing driving machine" |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| First year of ownership | 1998 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2000 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.0 Liter Manual |
| Performance marks | 7/10 |
| Reliability marks | 7/10 |
| Comfort marks | 7/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 6/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 169000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 180000 miles |
| Previous car | Volkswagen Rabbit |
| Date of Entry | 14th January, 2003 |