1982 BMW 3 Series 320i review from North America
"A reliable, solid sporty car - not made out of cheap steel!!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Replaced the alternator (after 18 years of use!)
Replaced the exhaust.
Rebuilt the transmission (before I bought it).
Replaced the radiator.
AC dead.. pitched the dead weight and use the sunroof instead!
General comments?
Reliable but underpowered. Auto trans will self destruct if revved too high in neutral or park. The trans has been rebuilt before I bought it - so far so good.
Excellent handling. No power steering - great feel at highway speeds - crap for parallel parking.
Parts are inexpensive - if you don't buy from BMW.
Built like a small tank - a real car. Check for rust underneath front fenders - bad spot but can be fixed.
All in all a great car. Gas mileage is OK, drive over 3500 rpm and it really sucks the fuel (the engine goes up to 5000 rpm easily!)- and you should run premium!
If you want an inexpensive European car with decent reliability and handling I recommend it. Look for a 5 speed model - is better geared - better performance.
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| First year of ownership | 1998 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2000 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.8l Automatic |
| Performance marks | 7/10 |
| Reliability marks | 9/10 |
| Comfort marks | 9/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 9/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 130000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 170000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Chrevrolet Cavalier |
| Date of Entry | 16th September, 2000 |