Faults:

Water pump at 50,000 miles... otherwise, in 11 years, nothing!

General Comments:

This has been a truly spectacular car. I've added a performance exhaust and computer chip to add horsepower. It really flies... and looks great with the top down.

With the top up, its style reminds you that it is eleven years old. The windows also rattle slightly when up.

Faults:

Motronic went crazy after a radio installation, engine sounded not nice at all :-(, after a reset of the motronic (=20sec job :-) ) car ran fine again.

General Comments:

Nice comfortable car, fuel consumption 9-10 liters/100km, goes very well, but the handling is not as great as on my previous car, a Opel Kadett C Coupe, driver feedback isn't that good, thus not sporty, (What the heck is this car's weight distribution???, and how much does it change when cornering?/craking??). In this field my previous car was a lot better, but counting everything, this one offers the better ride, go for it!!! It's cheap and fun!!

Faults:

Whining differential (replaced).

Wooden brakes (changed to Ferodo).

Leaking wash bottle (used silicon).

General Comments:

My old 323i used to take off from 4000 revs, this one takes off from 2000.

Very comfortable long distance high speed cruiser with room for the slightly larger essentials.

Faults:

Drainage bung behind the driver's seat in the floor needed replacing.

Super wide Carlos-fandango alloy wheels needed cleaning.

Slight oil leak from the front of the engine - suspected cam seal.

General Comments:

Enjoyable car to drive.

Slightly thirsty.

Faults:

Clutch.

Water pump.

Windscreen washers.

Headlamp washers.

General Comments:

A smashing car to drive and reasonable petrol consumption for the engine size.

Seats not very comfortable, but who cares!

Faults:

I warped and cracked the front discs three times in 20,000 miles. BMW badges in front wheel centres charred from heat. Rear damper mounts wore out. Nothing else.

General Comments:

For a car to be driven this hard and show such reliability is a compliment to BMW engineering. Braking system was uprated to 325i spec, OE vented discs/discs, to stop fading due to abuse. With the standard brakes, these cars have a 1.1G deceleration potential, stopping easily from 100 mph in 100 yards. With the uprated brakes it could do this far more times before fading. In the wet this car gripped like a leech, just get good tires. I recommend Goodyear Eagle NCT2 205/55 R15 for great wet/dry grip and very progressive at the limit.

Economical/reliable/great handling/low running costs.

Faults:

Every now and then the starter motor refuses to turn, and when it does it makes a crunching noise. Passenger electric window switch keeps failing, and the wipers often stick.

General Comments:

Good strong engine, goes on forever. Very comfy on long journeys. At 90,000 miles the car has no squeaks or rattles and is very smooth.

Faults:

Console lights on heater buttons have gone out, due to wires coming loose.

General Comments:

Great performance, spec and reliablity for a car of this age. Servicing prices can be expensive.

Faults:

One interior panel warped a little.

General Comments:

Best car I ever owned, I miss it. Wonderful handling. Suspension too stiff for long distances but great for the country. Slightly noisy but great fun.