1991 BMW 3 Series 318i review from North America
"The best sports car for under $30,000"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Power steering rack has leaked since I purchased the car.
The bushings in the lower control arms have gone bad requiring the replacement of the entire arm.
General comments?
This is probably the best purchase that I have ever made. I made the purchase from a friend about a year ago and I will own a BMW the rest of my life. This car has made a serious impression on me.
The first thing I noticed was the cars ability to handle. I had purchased the car that day and needed to run some errands. I took the back roads because the interstates were a mess. As I was driving down a local road I came upon a sudden turn that I had forgotten about. I stood on the brakes and turned the wheel as quickly as I could thinking that there was no escaping disaster. In a flash the car responded flawlessly. Taking me into the turn that had a warning sign of 25 m.p.h. at nearly 65 m.p.h.! I was stunned and a little shaken up so I decided to stop for a moment. I got out looked around and then decided to do it again.
Since then I have been pleasantly surprised with the performance taking down the back roads any chance I get.
Thank you BMW for creating such an inexpensive and fun to drive car!
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| First year of ownership | 2002 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.8L 4 Cylinder / Gas Manual |
| Performance marks | 8/10 |
| Reliability marks | 9/10 |
| Comfort marks | 7/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 8/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 6/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 121000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 139000 miles |
| Previous car | Audi 90 |
| Date of Entry | 1st July, 2003 |