2002 BMW 3 Series 320d SE from UK and Ireland - Comments

So far no major problems have arisen.

Niggling faults include:

- a badly fitting glove-box door which need a good slam to close it; and.

- wind noise coming past the door seal on the driver's side.

The diesel engine is a delight and sounds more like a petrol.

I am getting approximately 45 mpg.

Passenger space is relatively limited and the ride choppy over some surfaces.

Boot space is pathetic and drop down rear seats aren't standard. They are a 3250 option. Very mean.

So too is the extra £95 charged for colour coded door handles. Nothing comes cheap with a BMW.

The standard interior on the SE model is still very functional and rather gloomy.

The trip computer is nice touch and provides lots of entertainment.

I wish the same could be said for the climate control which takes too long to clear mist from the windows. Why can't a car this price have an electrically heated front windscreen which comes as standard on a Mondeo!

I have one of these, and I get 45mpg round town and 55-58 on a run.

Boot and passenger space are as good as an A4 or C-class in my opinion. If you need space for the family, get a 5-Series.

I agree that BMW are not cheap - but I think they are good value for money when you consider all the little extras they have that Ford/Vauxhall/Puggy don't give you.

I find that the climate control clears the windows fine. It's just that when you switch it off they mist up badly within seconds. Ford's QuickClear windscreens are good at keeping the mist at bay - it's just a pity that you cannot see through the glass for all of the heating elements!

Overall, the 320d is an absolute corker - far better than any of it's competitors. Nothing else will give you the same performance and economy in the same package at any price level. If you're in the market for a motor like this - just go and buy one - you won't regret it.

You are joking about getting little extra's with you're BMW, everything is a cost option and well over priced, still nice cars if they didn't have such bad driver image.

I have come from a 320D (2001 model) to an Audi A4 2.5TDI. I did like the BMW, but it cannot really touch the Audi for interior quality or exterior look / presence. The A4 is beautifully put together whereas in parts the Beemer feels a bit basic and spartan. Also, if I recall correctly everything except the most basic kit is an expensive option on the 3 series. Having had both cars I would have to say the A4 is a much better all round package - and better value. It cannot match the BMW for steering feel and the smile factor on a twisty road, but elsewhere it is ahead.

I would say the image is actually the biggest negative of what is probably a pleasant, nicely finished and very capable car.

Image-wise, the 3 series is the new Ford Sierra. Regularly seen being driven flat out along lane 3 of the motorway by cheap suited salesmen with fake Rolex watches, tailgating anyone who dares venture into its path in a frenzy of main beam flashing, and visible by the hundreds on any 40 mile motorway journey.

Like I said, the 3 series is probably a cracking car, but the image is probably the best reason NOT to buy one.

"Nothing else will give you the same performance and economy in the same package at any price level."

I'm sorry, but what a load of tripe!

Well each to his own I personally love the 320d beemer name me somethink as good in fuel/performance and overall servicing costs. OK everyone is barking on about fit and finish on the beemers what about the new audi drivers who have complaints or the vw drivers the ford drivers at the end of the day I suppose its how many complaints are brought up against each badge maybe we should have a league table.

In a recent Which? report, Ford came out towards the top (beaten only by some of the Japanese marques), and the Focus also came out top in the ADAC reliability survey in Germany last year. I wouldn't normally mention this in a BMW review, but the chap above asked the question. League tables do exist, but they don't necessarily show the results you might expect.

Mercedes did appallingly in both the Which? report and the Top Gear survey last year! VW/Audi didn't fare too well either. I believe BMW are one of the best of the "premium" brands, but they are still less reliable and more prone to faults than far cheaper cars.

My 320 d se is excellent. I will agree that the boot space is akward sometimes, and it does take a while to demist. However the only reason that it does not have a heated front screen is due to ford holding the cards!!! I get 49mpg out of mine (i have checked) nearly 700miles to a full tank. Mid range power is excellent.

As a very satisfied diesel mondeo owner, I felt I had to comment about the heating elements comment in this review. Ford's standard QuickClear windscreen is a brilliant gadget (especially in winter) which I would now not be without. The heating elements are so barely visible, it is not reasonable to suggest that they impare vision at all! My girlfriend drove the mondeo for over 6 months before she even noticed the elements were there! I was reading this review because I was considering taking the plunge to a BMW later this year, but I'm starting to feel that it's the little touches like this that are *missing* from these so-called premium marques.

I have a 320 diesel (facelift) and it is a fantastic car for any driver (handling, power, etc) but I have had a couple of niggles such as the turbo going at about 80k and I have been told that is not unusual, luckily BMW sorted this out for me as goodwill.

However recently I had a mondeo for a weekend, 130 BHP with the 6 speed box and I was very surprised with it. It had the power and was nice to drive (not as good as the bmw on country lanes though, but very few cars will).

I agree with all the comments about options on BMWs, if the cheapest superminis have got decent cup holders why don't the £20k+ cars?

Two colleagues at work have 320d's, and both have suffered turbo failures (snapped shafts) - one at 80k and the other at just 55k. Both cars were meticulously maintained from new by BMW dealers, and both were cared for by their respective keepers.

In both cases, BMW were on the case and had the cars sorted in no time at all. You cannot fault the way this company looks after its customers. However, they were very cagey when asked how common this problem is and what causes it, but one dealer tech let on that some revised firmware should prevent it reoccurring and something to do with harmonic resonance causing metal fatigue. Surely this "upgrade" should be happening as a matter of course, not just when the turbo pops.

Despite the excellent support, surely it would be preferable for such an expensive car not to have such major failures at such relatively small mileages. It does make a bit of a mockery of the whole "German engineering" thing when the £12,000 Focus diesels we have on our fleet get mercilessly abused by junior reps, or beaten to death as pool cars, often skip services, yet never fail to rack up 100-120,000 miles with any more than one or two trivial faults to report.

I would expect more from BMW.

I have experiences the same with BMW 320D Turbo. My car came out on the end of 2004.

Merely 40k she has made and turbo stated giving problem.

BMW service center has to change the turbo.

I am very surprised by BMW engineering expensive Euro 25K.

My last car was a Focus TDCL and it had done 185,000 miles when I sold it, I've now got a 320DSE and the Turbo has gone at 110,000 miles, I'm very disappointed after consulting the dealers who say this is a regular fault. Come on BMW get your act together.

I too had a Turbo fail at 78k this is an extremely common fault with 320d 2001-2003 and there are other common problems such as the air flow meter and fuel pumps. I would personally no buy one or these early face lift 320ds and stick to petrol - the turbo failure can easily cost £1.5K+ to repair.

I've got a 320d 02 plate and the turbo has just gone. BMW are fixing it at my cost at the moment; don't know if it has caused further damage yet. Had turbo d's by peugeot renault and skoda and all did twice the miles and not skipped a beat. Do not buy a BMW TD unless you have £3000 spare to fix it WHEN (not if) the turbo goes. If you need further proof google "power loss bmw 320d" and read the tales of woe; I wish I had before I bought. You live and learn! Would I buy another BMW? Don't be daft! I'd go to the car auction with £400 pound and buy something a bit more reliable!!!