2000 BMW 3 Series 323i review from North America
"Overpriced and under-equipped"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Sunroof acts strangely. Sometimes the close direction will end up tilting the glass, open will close it, and when it does this it may cease to function for several minutes. Once I had to force it down. Dealer has no idea.
CD player failed to eject CDs. Replaced under warranty. New unit is doing the same thing after 6 months.
Headlights develop small, unsightly cracks in front of the low-beams, allowing moisture inside. Replaced under warranty. Problem has returned. Warranty has expired.
Fuel tank sensor went bad. Replaced by dealer.
Developing transmission problems in the form of rushing noises accellerating from zero, and brushing noises at any speed while on throttle. Noises getting louder as time goes by.
General comments?
This car turns heads, but once inside is uninspiring and an ergonomic nightmare. There's a long list of complaints, but my review won't get posted with an exhaustive rant. Needless to say, it took them 30 years to finally put the window switches on the driver-side armrest.
Like all BMWs they feel solid. I think they took it a bit too far with with this one. It's ultra-heavy and slow - my 1993 318i handled much better and had better take-off with the 5-spd manual.
If you're reading this because you're considering a 3-Series, make sure you go for the 328i of this model year and get decent seats.
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| Great car, a little pricey on repairs, but worth it in the long run |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Model year | 2000 |
| Year of manufacture | 2000 |
| First year of ownership | 2004 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2005 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.5L I-6 Semi-Automatic |
| Performance marks | 5 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 5 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 3 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 3 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 3 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 28000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 63000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Lexus GS300 |
| Date of Entry | 1st June, 2005 |