1998 BMW 3 Series Reviews - Page 3 of 7

28th Jan 2013, 15:39

The check engine light is usually O2 sensor related. Did you have that replaced also? Keep in mind there's a pre cat and a post cat sensor.

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1998 BMW 3 Series 318 ti 1.9 petrol from UK and Ireland

Model year	1998
Year of manufacture	1998
First year of ownership	2000
Engine and transmission	1.9 petrol Manual
Performance marks	5 / 10
Reliability marks	8 / 10
Comfort marks	6 / 10
Dealer Service marks	9 / 10
Running Costs (higher is cheaper)	8 / 10
Overall marks (average of all marks)	7.2 / 10
Distance when acquired	10000 miles
Most recent distance	40000 miles
Previous car	Rover - Austin 400

Summary:

Will always be the "poor man's BMW" but if you get to own a beamer, for the price of a normal car

Faults:

Absolutely nothing, apart from the battery, and even this was cheap to replace.

General Comments:

Inside trim was pretty cheap with a plastic feel.

Performance was poor for a 1.9 M sports pack model. I am told that the passenger comfort level was low, but I never spent time in the back so I wouldn't know.

Ride was not the most comfortable in the world, but still bearable from a driver's point of view.

I was pleased with it overall, especially as it is cheap to own and run.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 13th March, 2006

1998 BMW 3 Series SE 323i from UK and Ireland

Year of manufacture	1998
First year of ownership	2004
Most recent year of ownership	2004
Engine and transmission	323i Automatic
Performance marks	9 / 10
Reliability marks	10 / 10
Comfort marks	10 / 10
Dealer Service marks	8 / 10
Running Costs (higher is cheaper)	6 / 10
Overall marks (average of all marks)	8.6 / 10
Distance when acquired	88000 miles
Most recent distance	92000 miles
Previous car	Vauxhall Astra

Summary:

Power, comfort and the feeling of owning one of the best cars to ever come out of Germany

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

I have an E46 (Current model 1998-2004) and it's six years old, but still drives better that my last 3 new Vauxhall cars.

The 2.5 is a very powerful engine and I get about 40MPG on the motorway.

Cream leather is absolute luxury and looks fantastic.

The auto-dimming rear view mirror is good idea.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 9th November, 2004

1998 BMW 3 Series 318 iS 1.9 4 cylinder 140BHP from UK and Ireland

Year of manufacture	1998
First year of ownership	2001
Most recent year of ownership	2003
Engine and transmission	1.9 4 cylinder 140BHP Manual
Performance marks	6 / 10
Reliability marks	9 / 10
Comfort marks	9 / 10
Dealer Service marks	6 / 10
Running Costs (higher is cheaper)	5 / 10
Overall marks (average of all marks)	7.0 / 10
Distance when acquired	35000 miles
Most recent distance	75000 miles
Previous car	Rover - Austin 800

Summary:

Good quality reliable motor

Faults:

Catalytic converter failed. Replaced under warranty.

Nothing else I can think of failed on the car! It just worked, time and time again. Even when the battery was flat after an ex left the lights on for a day!! She still started 1st time!

General Comments:

Handled well, great fun, but a little twitchy in the wet (which is what we want). Not so good in the snow/ice, but still never got stuck (driving in Scotland during winter included.

Practical and quite cheap to run however the interior could have been a little more interesting, too much black plastic.

Not a fire breathing 911 beater, but a nice cruiser and fun on the back roads.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 9th June, 2004