2000 BMW 3 Series SE 330D from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Pleasing

Faults:

Faulty air-con - wouldn't stop blowing when on auto. Sorted for 120 pounds (bmw).

Rear coil spring and front suspension arm - sorted for 150 pounds (bmw).

General Comments:

I picked up this 4 yr old saloon car with just 33k on the clock and 2 previous owners.

So far quite impressed. It corners like it's on rails.

Lots of torque and a real motorway cruiser. I go to Germany twice a year by car and it's built for cruising the motorways there.

Good mpg even when driven hard.

Crap in the snow though. Boot space limited.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 31st December, 2004

2000 BMW 3 Series 323Ci 2.5 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Excellent

Faults:

Failure of the remote control key, so unable to start the car. Purchasing a new one cost £50.

General Comments:

Very well built and put together.

Car feels heavy when accelerating.

Very comfortable motorway cruiser and quiet, supporting sports seats.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 12th September, 2004

2000 BMW 3 Series 323Ci 2.5 Liter from North America

Summary:

This is truly a daily driver with class for the driving enthusiast

Faults:

I've had factory problems with both door seals. They had to be replaced 3 times under warranty.

Rear deck lid that houses the license plate lights has broken loose from the body.

Some interior trim pieces have discolored unusually fast.

Front brake pads replaced at 62000 miles.

As a fairly conservative driving enthusiast I find it odd that the car is ready for a third set of OEM tires.

General Comments:

The 323Ci is incredibly agile. It's wicked fast off the line, with a nice engine tone, and has torque on demand -- even in 5th gear at highway speeds.

The car itself feels extremely safe and solid. I have had no problems with ambient rattles or other noises from loose parts.

The car is extremely comfortable for a 2dr sports coupe. It does pick up bumps thanks to stock 17" wheels and 225/R17 Z rated tires, but the traction and agility garnered is a suitable trade-off.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 27th April, 2004

3rd Jul 2004, 23:49

You can expect ZR rated tires to wear down incredibly quickly. If you are driving in a fairly spirited manner, you won't get more than 25,000 kms (approx 16,000 miles) out of them.

19th Aug 2004, 13:16

2000 323ci...90k miles & still going strong. Sure things have been replaced under warranty, and then after warranty. If you want to drive a European luxury car, you have to pay to maintain it... otherwise buy a KIA and dispose of it in a few years for next to nothing. Overall I would give it a rating of 8 out of 10.

It's the best handling car on the road!

2000 BMW 3 Series 330D SE 2.9 turbo diesel from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Economical pocket rocket

Faults:

A whining diff was replaced under warranty.

A dipped headlight bulb blew.

General Comments:

With the addition of a ECU tuning box this car can be increased to about 220BHP and 500NM of torque.

The economy gives me low 40MPG around town with 53MPG possible on a long run.

On a long run 600 miles between petrol stations is possible.

Rattles and creaks are in evidence in the cabin - mainly on the seats.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 21st May, 2003

22nd May 2003, 11:38

Nice car don't get me wrong, but how can anything costing almost 30 grand be described as a "pocket rocket"?

14th May 2006, 02:45

Also, don't you possibly mean Kilometers per gallon? I have yet to find a car (other than possibly a hybrid) that gets anywhere close to 50mpg.

15th May 2006, 21:08

In reply the above comment:

I'm not the original reviewer, but an economical Turbo-Diesel (NOT GAS!) engine should easily get 40-50MPG.

12th Jul 2006, 09:43

I own a 330d SE and have recorded 57 mpg, and have had 655 miles from one tank of fuel! Also 150 mph!

9th Sep 2007, 14:27

Almost all modern diesel cars do ~55 mpg.

2000 BMW 3 Series 323si 2.3 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

An expensive vehicle to buy, run and insure but worth every single penny!

Faults:

Original manual transmission over revving during gear changes. Dealer swapped for an automatic at no extra cost.

General Comments:

A car which carries a prestige value.

This coupe version with non-standard alloys always gets looks and admirers.

Incredible performance from the sports automatic gear-box means it can outrun all the boy racers!

Rear passenger leg-room slightly too small in the Coupe.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 25th April, 2001

7th Oct 2011, 23:00

A manual transmission cannot over rev, it has no throttle control. Your foot was doing the over revving. Good thing they gave you an automatic; you were probably murdering your clutch.