| Model year | 1983 |
| Year of manufacture | 1983 |
| First year of ownership | 2009 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2009 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.8 Manual |
| Performance marks | 4 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 8 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) |
5.7 / 10
|
| Distance when acquired | 212000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 213000 miles |
| Previous car | Honda Civic |
Summary:
The original tuner car
Faults:
About everything. Replaced all vacuum lines, rebuilt all brakes, complete tune up, replaced exhaust. This thing needs paint and seats.
General Comments:
I love this car. It's fun to drive, sticks to the road like glue, and sounds great.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 10th September, 2009
| Year of manufacture | 1983 |
| First year of ownership | 1998 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2000 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.8 K-jetronic Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 6 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 6 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 4 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 6 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) |
6.0 / 10
|
| Distance when acquired | 95088 miles |
| Most recent distance | 125050 miles |
| Previous car | Chevrolet C10 |
Summary:
Hot as a two dollar pistol
Faults:
The head gasket blew, requiring expensive replacement.
Water pump failed.
Starter died, then new starter had defective solenoid.
Pressure accumulator blew, requiring replacement.
Front end bushings needed replacement.
General Comments:
I really, really loved this very temperamental, moody machine. When it ran, it ran like a rocket. When it broke down, it left you with maniacal feelings of despair and anger. But what a rush it was!
The elegantly dated shape of the car is eye catching. I love the shark nosed front end, and the tall greenhouse so reminiscent of the groovy European sedans of that era.
The engine is incredible, taching up to a shrieking, banshee wail around 5000. Just loved that sound! Mechanically at least, the motor is bulletproof. I've seen 320i's with 200 and 300 thousand miles on the original block. And cornering was wild; it would rocket through the tightest turns. But the automatic transmission is not the right choice for this car; if I was looking for one, I'd find one with the Getrag 5 speed. You need to be able to wind this motor up for performance.
Build quality was very good, but there were lots of little "glitchy" things, like the plastic glove box straps that routinely break (lousy engineering), or the too-fragile door panels, and the less-than-supportive seats. And don't ever try to do hard driving on a hot day; BMW's just don't seem to handle the heat very well. Still, despite the many bruised knuckles, no-starts, and overheats, I would do it all again.
A final warning: the 320i is an old car now, requiring a lot of it's owner. Despite their great qualities, this is not a beginner's car. It reminds me of a guy who said that there are two kinds of people who own old Bimmers: BMW mechanics, and those who wish they were.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 7th July, 2001
I own an 1982 BMW 320i and I am 17 years old. I have a problem with the comment about this not being a beginners car. I received this car with one minor dent in the hood of the car and the rest of the body straight, excellent interior. I received this car for the price of $1,000 U.S. dollars and since owning it I have only had to replace the clutch with a stage II clutch, replaced the brakes/senors/hose lines all the way around, new tires, new head and rear lamps. I have had problems with the A/C failing to work along with the heat and living here in the NW the heat is a must have. The only real downside I see for the ownership of this car is the fact shes pushing almost 213K, and the front bushings are making sounds and I am going to have to make a stop to also get new struts and rebalanced, but other than that she still is pushing, which is a great sign.