2005 BMW 3 Series 325 Convertible review from North America
"Still a good car, but less of an obvious leader"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Roof operation extremely noisy.
Temperamental "Automatic" windshield wipers.
Rain gushes through open window at soft roof juncture.
General comments?
Lots of new gadgets, such as parking radar, swivel rear view side mirror etc, but the quality construction and the craftsmanship have gone down. Still a safe car with good, if expensive, performance, but not as reliable as in the past.
A recent discussion with a BMW headquarters manager revealed a little known secret, i.e. reportedly the fact that many US bound cars are now made in South Africa, in a plant where Quality Control may not be as rigorous as in Germany.
At a time when Mercedes has undergone massive quality and image problems, but has addressed them successfully (says the NY Times on July 10, 2005), BMW might be inspired to take note before its image is really tarnished.
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| Model Year | 2005 |
| First year of ownership | 2005 |
| Engine and transmission | Automatic |
| Performance marks | 7/10 |
| Reliability marks | 8/10 |
| Comfort marks | 6/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 7/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 20 miles |
| Most recent distance | 3000 miles |
| Previous car | BMW 3 Series |
| Date of Entry | 11th July, 2005 |