2000 - 2003 BMW 3 Series.Any good?

byrne28

Im looking to buy a 3 series but have heard mixed reports on them, some say they are great and others say they are very expensive to repair if you have to, any opinions on them

Alanstrainor

what are we talking about here? A 316i? a 335i? 320d? All will have different things to look out for

byrne28

looking at a 316i id say

veetwin

byrne28 wrote: »

looking at a 316i id say

Buy a Mondeo or Focus. It will be nicer to drive, cheaper to buy and insure and be better equipped. Also reliable and cheap to service. Seriously if you want a 3 series you need to be looking at at least a 2 litre and preferably a 6 cylinder. There is no point otherwise.

Cosmo K

veetwin wrote: »

Buy a Mondeo or Focus. It will be nicer to drive, cheaper to buy and insure and be better equipped. Also reliable and cheap to service. Seriously if you want a 3 series you need to be looking at at least a 2 litre and preferably a 6 cylinder. There is no point otherwise.

A Mondeo is nicer to drive?! While I agree with you, that a 316 is definitely underpowered, a 318 with a 143 bhp Valvetronic engine (they came out in 2001 afaik) ist actually really nice to drive. Yes its more expensive to buy then a Mondeo, but I don't think it would be more expensive to insure.

I wouldn't go for a 6 cylinder petrol engine, they are baged as 2 ltr, but the engine is actually a 2.2 ltr, more expensive to tax, and hard to sell on in Ireland, as its over 2 ltr.

shovelsfc

splash out on a 5 series, go on, ya live only once!!!!

shovelsfc

Im dreaming of having a 5 series in 5-10 years time....dreaming

veetwin

Cosmo K wrote: »

A Mondeo is nicer to drive?! While I agree with you, that a 316 is definitely underpowered, a 318 with a 143 bhp Valvetronic engine (they came out in 2001 afaik) ist actually really nice to drive. Yes its more expensive to buy then a Mondeo, but I don't think it would be more expensive to insure.

Yes in my opinion a any Mondeo is nicer to drive than a 316. Hence my advice about going for at least a 2 litre.

Cosmo K

veetwin wrote: »

Yes in my opinion a any Mondeo is nicer to drive than a 316. Hence my advice about going for at least a 2 litre.

Did I recommend a 316?

JHMEG

Cosmo K wrote: »

A Mondeo is nicer to drive?! While I agree with you, that a 316 is definitely underpowered, a 318 with a 143 bhp Valvetronic engine (they came out in 2001 afaik)

I've driven that 318 extensively and was disappointed by it. The two Fords would be nicer drives alright.

byrne28

i kind of had my heart set on the 3 series, hadnt considered a ford at all really, anyone know what the A4 s are like to drive

Cosmo K

JHMEG wrote: »

I've driven that 318 extensively and was disappointed by it

Sure you were.............

Zube

Cosmo K wrote: »

Sure you were.............

That is not very constructive.

robtri

imho....

in the 3 series range for those years, the 316 is underpowered which lets it down a lot, but it is still a reasonable car, and I would personally rate it higher than a focus.... mondeo is a different story...

the 318 is nice car, it is a bit slow to get going, but a nice car, comfortable car to drive, it won't blow you away, but if you aren't used to driving higher power to weight ratio'd cars, you won't be disapointed.

any of the 6 cyclinders 3 series are a real pleasure to drive and my favourite of them is the 328....a good combination of everything....

dudara

robtri wrote: »

the 318 is nice car, it is a bit slow to get going, but a nice car, comfortable car to drive, it won't blow you away, but if you aren't used to driving higher power to weight ratio'd cars, you won't be disapointed.

Spot on. The 318 is comfortable but a little sluggish in low gears. The early early E46 (i.e. 2000 or so) models only have 118 bhp but it will be lovely to drive on the motorway/dual carriageways. Cruise control would be a nice extra if you can get a car with it.

In short, if you've test driven some and you like them, then go for it. You can step up to the next level when you're ready.

Bluefoam

Also test drive an alfa 159, there are a few 1.8 petrols and 1.9 diesels available to main dealers at the moment. Far better spec than the 318 and more poke tpo, especially the diesel.
Don't knock em till you try em