Faults:

Slow drivers window, worn front discs. Wheel speed sensor broken, stereo packed up, climate control panel not working. All of the above was sorted under warranty (apart from the discs) by the main dealer. They even put in a top of the range Pioneer stereo. BMW dealers are great!

General Comments:

Silky straight six. Slow to sixty, good midrange and fine 133mph top end. For me, the car still looks awesome, sounds lovely and handles great with RWD. Dealer servicing too bloody expensive. Should have got a 323 for better 0-60.

Faults:

Central locking on one door (twice!) & a dashboard bulb.

General Comments:

Well made, great driving position & dash layout but is let down by an underpowered engine.

Faults:

Air-con leaked.

Faulty central locks.

Mal-aligned door windows creak on bumpy roads.

Lots of rattles for a premium German brand.

General Comments:

DISLIKES: Uncomfortable cabin due to noise, engine vibration, harshness, tyre noise. Ineffective heating-ventilation system. Cost-cutting build quality. Body structure below average in terms of solidity -- chassis creaks on rough roads. Grabby clutch.

LIKES: mileage, paintjob, dealer support, ease of repairs.

Faults:

Electric mirror adjustment broken - fixed under warranty.

General Comments:

Comfortable car to drive, feels solid. Average levels of equipment. In UK, air-con is an expensive extra. Good resale value.

Faults:

B-pillar trim tape peels off if the weather is hot. BMW issued a Technical Service Bulletin to fix this - tape removed completely and area painted by dealer.

Inside of headlight cover fogs up in wet weather.

Exhaust developed a hole within six months of purchase - replaced by dealer.

General Comments:

It's fun to drive but could do with slightly more power. BMW servicing is expensive.

Faults:

Water ingress (slight) into rear footwell. Headlights fogging up in wet weather.

Faults:

Wipers failed once. Loose connection fixed by dealer. Problem hasn't recurred.

General Comments:

LIKES:

Reliability, build quality, comfort.

Good refinement at motorway speeds for a 4-cyl. engine.

DISLIKES:

Pedal layout precludes heel-and-toe gearchanging.

Prone to slight transmission shunt.

Sony radio - good sound but ludicrously fiddly controls. Should have gone for a proper BMW one instead.

Faults:

Water seal on driver's door, makes whistling noise.

General Comments:

An expensive hatchback. Surprised by the above build error. Great sound system.

Good handling, average comfort. Not worth its expensive price. 3 series too common now.