1998 BMW 3 Series Review | Edmunds.com
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1998 BMW 3 Series

 
 
 
Edmunds Review (62) MPG
 
 
BMW 3 Series Features and Specs

Features & Specs

  • Engine 1.9 L Inline 4-cylinder
  • Drivetrain Rear Wheel Drive
  • Transmission 5-speed Manual
  • Horse Power 138 hp @ 6000 rpm
  • Fuel Economy 20/29 mpg
  • Bluetooth No
  • Navigation No
  • Heated Seats No
See All Features & Specs
 

Review of the 1998 BMW 3 Series

  • Info is not yet available.

  • Safety

  • Pros

    One of our all-time favorite cars. Carves turns faster than your dad carves Thanksgiving turkey.

  • Cons

    Price is a bit steep. Interior is a bit cramped.

  • What's New for 1998

    BMW swaps out the four-cylinder engine in the 318 coupe and convertible for a 168-horsepower 2.5-liter inline six -- these cars become…

 
What Others Are Saying

Customer Reviews

  Average Consumer Rating (62 total reviews)

Great

by on
Vehicle: 1998 BMW 3 Series 323i 2dr Convertible

This is actually my first car, and I love it. It's fun, and has been reliable. The car is quick, and can corner great. The only bad thing is the cup holder, which is the only thing in suggested improvements. The bits are a bit expensive, such as the dash lights. This isn't just great because it's my first car, one of the cars in the house is much faster and is for wheel drive. Not a whole not of trunk space, but I can fit my guitar in it, and really anything I need to fit in it. The back seats also lack a bit of leg room. Nothing I can say is bad about this car, so I do recommend this.


1 of 1 people found this review helpful

210,000 miles on factory clutch

by on
Vehicle: 1998 BMW 3 Series 323is 2dr Coupe

The BMW 323is (chassis code: E36) is a very reliable automobile with exceptional fuel-sipping properties. Naturally you'll have to replace some parts along the way, however they are not as expensive as most would have you believe. Most repairs can be done by even the most novice of home mechanics. The cooling system should be overhauled every 60-80k miles but even with OEM parts the whole task should cost the DIYer no more than $350-400 (radiator, thermostat, water pump, hoses, etc.). The engine is brilliant and I still see 27 MPG as my overall avg. As mentioned in the title, I am currently at 210,000 miles and still on the factory clutch! I will keep this car for at least another 100k.


5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Very reliable owner must have

by on
Vehicle: 1998 BMW 3 Series 318i 4dr Sedan

With out a doubt the BMW e36 M40 engines are a very reliable engine. These cars require routine maintenance such as oil changes with synthetic oil, oxygen sensor replacement every 30,000 - 60,000 miles for best fuel air mixture ratio and mpg performance. The cooling systems are prone to wear due to plastic BMW OEM parts however, replacing the thermostat, water pump and radiator with full metal parts is highly suggested. BMW parts for the E36 series are relatively inexpensive and can be found on the internet comparable to the price of Honda, or Toyota parts. I bought my 1998 BMW 318I in August of 2012 with 176,000 miles. I have not had any mechanical issues with it. I do my own maintainence


 
 
 
Gas Mileage

EPA-Rated MPG

  • 20
  • cty
/
  • 29
  • highway
Calculate Yearly Fuel Costs
 

Other 3 Series Years

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Full 1998 BMW 3 Series Review

What's New for 1998

BMW swaps out the four-cylinder engine in the 318 coupe and convertible for a 168-horsepower 2.5-liter inline six -- these cars become the 323is coupe and 323i convertible (why it's "323" and not "325," we'll never know). Meanwhile, the 318i sedan and 318ti hatchback continue on unchanged. All cars get standard side airbags this year, except the 318ti, on which they are optional.

Talk About The 1998 3 Series

1998 BMW 3 Series Discussions See all Started By

nyccarguy
nyccarguy
05-31-2013
Entry Level Luxury Performance Sedans
Gotcha. No offense taken. I used to always think the newer is better while having respect to what a previous model was & that people who complained that an older generation of is far superior to...

riez
riez
06-07-2003
Good, Bad Or Ugly - Current And Future Styling Trends Of Bmw
indiana97... If you like introduction and production data, check out Jeremy Walton's book, BMW 3 Series Enthusiast's Companion (Bentley Publishers, 2001). Per it, the first 3 Series (E21) was "...

shipo
shipo
03-09-2003
Bmw 5-series Sedans
Hmmm, first off, there is only a 209 pound difference between the 330i and the 530i, so any performance difference will be undetectable by your "Butt Dyno". ;-)...


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