1997 BMW 3 Series 318i review from North America
"BMW reliability and prestige for less"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Display on radio failed to light. Repaired it myself.
Seatbelt sensor failed, replaced under certified preowned warranty.
Squeak developed in clutch mechanism. Dealer replaced clutch master cylinder under warranty.
Cooling system thermostat stuck open. Replaced it myself.
General comments?
As you can see, there have been no major problems with this car.
With the traction control and snow tires, I have no problems driving it all winter in Colorado.
The car handles great and accelerates adequately. I wouldn't mind a bit more horsepower, but as a daily driver it is fine. I also get 28.5 mpg commuting in city traffic and up to 34 mpg on the highway.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1997 |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.9 liter gas Manual |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 8 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 9 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 52000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 83000 miles |
| Previous car | Isuzu Rodeo |
| Date of Entry | 19th September, 2003 |