1988 BMW 3 Series 320i SE 2 door saloon review from UK and Ireland
"Reliable performance saloon"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Clutch master cylinder (common fault).
Driver's seat adjustment mechanism (another common fault).
Service indicator batteries (again, a common fault).
General comments?
Excellent drive, the BMW is in a class of its own. The six cylinder engine is responsive at higher revs, and sedate at low, but torquey enough not to labour in high gears around town.
The interior and seats are a driver's paradise, apart from the quirky adjusters that go wrong from time to time.
Fuel economy is not too bad for a performance saloon, but isn't something that would make the Green party smile.
Just one word of caution: Keep it serviced. M20 engines don't like old oil, and the injection system is quirky if left with an old air filter. The spray bar inside the rocker cover must not be knocked when adjusting tappets, or the cam will be starved of oil in places.
141,000 miles on a BMW is just run in. Service history is more important.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2000 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.0 6 cyl MP EFI Manual |
| Performance marks | 8/10 |
| Reliability marks | 8/10 |
| Comfort marks | 9/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 7/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 6/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 136000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 141000 miles |
| Previous car | Ford Escort |
| Date of Entry | 29th September, 2000 |