Faults:

The timing chain is the most critical failure.

The plastic timing chain guides can break, causing metallic noises (humming) and potentially leading to catastrophic engine failure. Luckily, I replaced the chain ahead of schedule, so nothing serious happened.

The electric water pump and thermostat often fail, causing overheating.

Sensor failures (such as the IBS battery), side mirrors that do not retract, and electronic modules.

General Comments:

My wife had recently bought a 2008 320D, which was really comfortable and a joy to drive, even with 192,000 km on the odometer when we bought it. I was impressed that it was in such good condition after so many kilometers, so I was looking for something similar for myself.

The 2012 model was the first of the F30 series. The first thing that caught my eye was the color: Imperial Blue with a Dakota leather interior. A very nice combination. The overall design and style of this BMW were fantastic, and it was slightly larger than the E90. It had a few small scratches on the left rear fender, but you had to look very closely to notice them.

The car handles excellently and feels great; the 2.0-liter twin-scroll turbo engine feels as smooth as any 6-cylinder engine I've ever driven, and the 8-speed transmission was also very smooth.

Mine is the Luxury Line trim, and it has some nice features, like power seats with memory for the driver and passenger, a sunroof, and adaptive driving modes, but it didn't have a rearview camera or anything fancy. That said, it did have rear parking sensors with a graphic display that worked pretty well for me. In fact, it was less well-equipped than my wife's E90 320D Executive.

I bought it 8 years ago and considering the price, I got a very good deal.

The ride and handling are good on paved roads, but driving on secondary roads I began to understand the comments about the stiff suspension. The 18-inch run-flat tires transmitted every bump directly! Sometimes, going over a small pothole, it felt like the front end was going to lose control, but that hasn't happened, and I've driven over some pretty big bumps over the years. The suspension has held up well without any issues, but the E90, with 16-inch wheels, is more comfortable on secondary roads.

Wind noise at high speeds on motorways and dual carriageways is certainly noticeable, and run-flat tires are typically noisy as well. But it's not so bothersome as to prevent you from hearing yourself speak; it's simply more noticeable than you might expect from a high-end luxury vehicle.

I've always had the maintenance done by an independent mechanic, so it hasn't been very expensive. I haven't had any major bills either. There was a problem with the paint on the front bumper, which was blistering and peeling, but the dealership fixed it.

I mainly drive on the motorway to work, so my average fuel consumption is about 6.8 liters per 100 kilometers. Overall, it's been a fairly economical vehicle.

I've already put over 180,000 km on it and I don't notice any difference compared to the day I bought it. A very reliable car, as well as luxurious and of great quality.

Faults:

Small oil leak.

Air con re gas.

Brake grind, just needed new pads.

Wheel wobble, balanced wheels plus checked alignment, sorted now.

General Comments:

I have never enjoyed a car soo much as I have in the last few years with this 3 series coupe.

Stunning to look at and drive. My car is black with 19 inch wheels.

Interior oozes quality. After nearly 13 years this car is as good as new inside and out! Very comfortable and visibility is good.

The car is amazing to drive. Handling is perfect. Clutch and gearbox are smooth. The 318 has a 2.0 petrol engine. It strikes a fine balance between power and economy. You want all out performance? Get the M3. You want good mpg? Get a diesel. Otherwise, this 2.0 petrol engine will satisfy most drivers who just want to cruise and have the occasional bit of fun on a twisty country road.

Be aware these are expensive cars to fix if anything major goes wrong, BMW are expensive. But luckily I bought a genuinely looked after car from a reputable used dealer. Do your research and buy carefully, these cars are over a decade old now.