1981 BMW 3 Series review from North America
"I love it, best car I've ever had"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Always fixing new oil leaks.
Four way flasher button is held in with a saftey pin.
Speedometer is 5 mph off.
Each valve is timed differently.
Fouls spark plugs every month.
It leakes SOMEWHERE that makes the glove box fill with water when it rains.
New starter.
New alternator.
Transmission got messed up cuz the last owner put 90 weight insted of trans fluid and than ignored the god awful sound the bearings made when under a load.
I changeed the timing chain, guide and gears.
New head gasket at about 260k.
New clutch at 130 and 245k.
So many new tires from all the burnouts.
Stereo system was replaced.
And the drivers door was missaliegned so I got suicide door covertion kits off the internet (realy cool)
Gas filter and other tune up stuff all the time.
General comments?
Its rear wheel drive so you can pitch the car sideways around turns with just a little throttle.
Handles great around turns, but with no downforce it gets shaky at about 115 mph.
It looks cool as hell, but the back seems a little fat to me.
Its black with red details (customized it myself for my girlfried) and now it is such a girls car and she can't drive worth a damn.
I won't say where, but I know a wrecking yard in oregon that has a ton of parts and I pulled a tranny for 90$!
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| Should be called "the disappointing driving machine" |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1981 |
| Year of manufacture | 1981 |
| First year of ownership | 2004 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2007 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.8 Manual |
| Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 8 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 10 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 240000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 345000 miles |
| Previous car | Toyota Corolla |
| Date of Entry | 21st September, 2007 |