1994 BMW 3 Series 320i review from South Africa
"Great blend of qualities at a bargain price"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Water pump imploded shortly after I bought the car. With it I replaced the radiator and the thermostat as closer inspection revealed they were also on their way.
Replaced the front crankshaft seal and the tappet cover gasket to stop an oil leak -- both were relatively minor repairs.
General comments?
I love the way the car looks. I love the way it handles. I love the way it sounds. It's quite an amazing car, considering it's a 4 door saloon and it's now 10 years old.
Somebody once said that the real measure of how good a car is is whether you could live with it for the rest of your life. I could definitely keep my 320i forever, and I'll be happy with it.
The car generously rewards sporty driving -- maybe that's why so many people drive them hard! It's a pleasure to work the manual gearbox, listen to the free revving engine and feel the build up of G-forces in a corner. It returns between 20 and 30 mpg depending on your driving, it's totally in your control.
Even though it's 10 years old, I love looking at it and after having it for a year I always look forward to driving it. I never thought BMW's were worth it however now I see why so many people like them. The only thing I would recommend to prospective buyers is to test drive a 325i if they want more straight line speed, if they can afford the extra cost (mainly in insurance premiums, fuel is more or less the same).
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| First year of ownership | 2003 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.0 inline 6, petrol Manual |
| Performance marks | 8/10 |
| Reliability marks | 9/10 |
| Comfort marks | 10/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 233000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 265000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Volkswagen Jetta |
| Date of Entry | 4th May, 2004 |