Used 1999 BMW 3 Series Sedan Consumer Reviews
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Great old second car
Bought my 99 323i in September of 2012 with around 150k miles on it. I have the automatic base model which doesn't include power seats or fog lamps. But has every other option such as leather and sunroof. Got it for around $5,200 with a 1yr unlimited mile warranty. Bought as a second car to keep the miles down on my 2011 VW Passat. Starter began to stick when weather turned really cold and was replaced at local BMW dealer under warranty ($750 bill) also had an issue with the left turn signal blinking continuously even when it wasn't engaged ($350 parts and labor). Overall not bad for a car bought cheap and is 14yrs old. Drives like a dream. A little thirsty on gas for a 6 cyl engine.
Good Until...
I have to say I was pleased with all aspects of my 1999 323i untill recently and coincidently when the balance of the warranty ran out. That was when the "fun" began or around 50K. So far I have had the air conditioner repaired twice, brakes done a couple of times and now the transmission is slipping at 80K, which according to the dealer costs $3500 to start, which I will not repair. However, until recently, I really had no problems to speak of that were truly serious. The sunroof was a major area of difficulty and had to be repaired twice. Overall I love the car, but I do not think I would buy another one due to the high costs of frequent repairs. Great if you have the $$$ to fix.
- 328i ConvertibleMSRP: $10,800215 mi away
- 328i ConvertibleMSRP: $10,800215 mi away
- 323i ConvertibleMSRP: $30,495308 mi away
328i
Long story short. I wound up with this car by accident. I thought that I was buying something nice and boring and maintenance free... Itt ain't. These (I bought one for my daughter) things take some TLC; but if you stay away from the dealers and do your own work, they're no more expensive than a Pontiac(got the bills from my wife's dealer). E46 - watch out for the cooling system. Radiators and water pumps are plastic and die after 8-9 years. Keep up the "routine" maintenance religiously. Find a reasonably priced source of parts.
The Ultimate TRASHY Screaming Machine
I always had very good impression of BMWs, but everything changed since I actually bought one. On an unfortunate day I bought a used 99 BMW 323i with 70K miles, got it inspected by a BMW dealer who said "This car is really good, buy it". Then it started costing me almost $1000/- every month on some trashy problems keep on occurring. Worst part is it has no warranty on it. It started running sluggish, CHECK ENGINE light keep coming and dealer has been fixing some thing or other every time it comes on and still it comes almost every 2 weeks with a new problem. Now I'm going to trade it in that for a much more reliable car.
Ultimate driving machine
Best first car I've ever owned! Always reliable! People complain of the price to maintain BMW's sometimes. Yes, it is just a little bit more, but I'd rather pay that extra bit to have a vehicle that drives and looks great. Of course it's not a higher end BMW, but it is a BMW and a great starter BMW to have!
Reliable
We bought this the first year out and besides the window regulator not working and being replace a few time it has been a great car. I have looked to replace it and unless I spend over 30k is performs and gets better gas MPG then the new cars of it size. I get 20 around town and 30 on the hwy. I will drive it until it dies.
New car
I have always enjoyed BMWs, I drove my first one back in 04 when my mom gave me a hand-me-down 325i 94. It was a great car for a just out of high school kid to have. I now drive an E46 99 and this is by far an excellent vehicle. The fact that these cars are very electronically sophisticated makes it almost imperative that they be taken to an authorized BMW tech for service every time the engine light comes on and for all tune ups. These cars are very fragile and not as durable as others.
Still Great
99 323i with premium and cold weather. 113k miles and still handles and runs strong. You have to get comfortable with maint - these cars need lots of love. Always check the maint records and get to know a good mechanic. Great cars!!
Open your wallet
I bought this car new in 1999 and have averaged 15000 miles per year. The car is great to drive, but has had numerous reliability issues - air conditioner replaced, all four power window motors / actuators replaced (2 replaced twice), minor fluid leaks, front suspension components replaced, thermostat replaced twice, four sets of headlights, etc. In addition to reliabilty issues - maintenance is exorbitant. The dealer wanted $1,200 for brakes, $250 for a new battery, $600 for inspections, etc. Parts are special, so you can't just go out and buy them at Pep Boys. As a car, the BMW is only marginally better than the G35 and TL, but the ownership experience is worse than the Japanese.
I pay with a smile
I enjoy this car so much. I actually enjoy sending in my loan payment. It has the best of so many things that make it luxurious and fun to drive. After all these years, it drives like new and there is not any squeaks to let you know it's tired. The service at the dealer is unbelievably fantastic. I can't imagine driving any make other than BMW.
323i update with 115k miles
Here's an update since my last posting 17k miles ago. I discovered my independent BMW mechanic is a liar,(I followed up on his work). I don't trust dealers either. I have learned to do all maintenance myself. I still have the airbag light on, but will be replacing my seat belt tensioners/buckle and resetting airbag light, apparently this is a common problem to air bag lights coming on. Here is what I have done to the car so far at 100k miles, all done by myself. Replaced all 4 oxygen sensors. Changed out the Automatic transmission lifetime oil with the same,
'99 BMW - Great Car In Indy
I purchased my used '99 BMW 323i (32,000 miles)in Indianapolis, Indiana in the Spring of 2005. Very sharp looking car - titanium gray / black leather interior. Excellent handling and performance. This entry-level sports car hugs the road and drives fantastic. No major issues ...
323I with Sports Package
This car sticks to the road, handling curves and turns very easily. the acceleration is perfect for passing but not for racing. the car is very smooth and luxurious inside. one should consider the 2.8L 328i if you want a faster car. the sports package and the harman kardon upgrade are awesome on the 323i. the sports package provdes the sports suspension which in turn makes for a smoother ride and better looking car. the stereo upgrade provides 200watts of pure bass. it has the volume and track changing controls on the steering wheel as well as cruise control. i'm glad i choses the 323i over the acura cl and tl type s.
Shoud Have Been Better
Door window rattles other door window stuck and had to be repaired, breaks wine, wear out at 20k, and leave black dust on wheels. Hesitation in hot weather almost got me killed several times. Driver seat cover replaced under warranty at 20k. I'm getting the full Euro-car experience :-), I'll get a Japanise one next time.
Never Again!
After owning this car for over 5 years I can honestly say it is the most unreliable & expensive to repair vehicle I've ever had. Everything that could go wrong has and at a huge cost to repair. Anyone thinking of buying one of these cars should think again! I've endured complete brake replacements every 15K miles, had to replace almost the entire front suspension (worn ball joints can not be replaced by themselves), the mass air flow sensor, all 6 ignition coils, cam shaft sensor and a whole host of other "should be reliable" electronic components have failed. If someone gives you one of these cars - sell it!
DC 328... pretty but costly....
I've owned this 328 for 6 years now and I have 153k on it. I've redone the transmission, tons of pads, clutch, fog light bulbs and about to do the entire front susp/rear susp.. It will always start and remains sexy but it will dig in your pocket... I'd get rid of it were it not paid for.. I love bimmers but you gotta pay to play in this world... Find a guy u can trust to do your repairs and I'll help... I've got the sports package and it helps... Car could use more power.. It's a tank... The car has heart but like most pretty faces ends up costing more than it's worth.
Great Santa Cruz Mountain Commuter
I just bought this car as my wife's 1st car. She is arriving soon from Thailand and has never driven a car. I wanted something fun but safe & reliable. I bought the car for $7,500, 83K miles and put about $500 more into new bushings, hoses, belts, and fluid changes etc. The car is a lot of fun and quite a bit of fun to drive. The body and interior are flawless, mechanically it is very sound. My regular mechanics ordered the dealer parts and made the repairs I needed cheaply. This is a fun and cheap little car. I have read all the crying and hand wringing on this site but I have been lucky. It needed an alignment and bushings as stated but nothing else major. I'll follow up if it implodes...
Disappointed
I'm disappointed with the number of problems that I have experienced since buying the BMW 323i. I was expecting more based upon the reputation. I like the car, it's fun to drive, but I'm in the dealership for repairs every few months....broken window glides, defective interior light, body molding coming off the exterior, battery failure. Beware.
3 years and going
Fun to drive. Long drive feel like they take half the time. Very reliable, very durable. Gives a drive a lot of confidence. Dealership service has been good too.
Ultimate Commuting Machine
One fun car! Brake dust keeps you busy cleaning every weekend. Covered maintenance was awesome. Uncovered maintenance a bit expensive. Brake job quoted as $1200 by dealer, did it myself for $220 worth of rotors. Main mechanical problem was the typical control arm bushings @$600. In dash CD has problems ejecting. Adding CD changer in trunk solved that. Stereo is weak on Bass end. Haven't had window regulator problems others describe. Maintenance still a lot cheaper than my wife's Taurus. Overall, very happy.
BMW the cost of Luxury and repairs
The car now has 98K miles. I had a few problems with the car since I've owned it. My Air bag light came on around 80K miles. Diagnosis is a faulty Air bag computer, cost is $500. North American BMW will not assist in any way since warranty is not valid. Sunroof acts up by not closing as it should. I have found that this car needs alot of pampering to make it run problematic free. I have a toyota and no problems. Not sure if I would recommend one. I'll probably buy a Porsche or Mercedes next time.
The Ultimate Driving Machine
EVERYTHING. THE VEHICLE IS MAGNIFICANT. I WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE WHO CAN AFFORD IT. LOL. I HAVE WANTED ONE SINCE I HAVE BEEN 8; NOW I AM 20 AND I OWN ONE! IT IS SO MUCH FUN TO DRIVE I WANT TO DRIVE IT 24/7. THE FEEL OF BEING IN SO MUCH CONTROL IS MAGNIFICANT AND IT HAS A DRIVE LIKE NO OTHER! IT IS TRULY THE ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE!
Now I understand...
My first BMW. I will have a very hard time buying a different manuf now. I'm spoiled. The fit and finish of this car is top notch. I keep discovering many little things that most manuf just slap on, but with the bmw someone has put a lot of thought into the design and function. A blast to drive. A great balance of power, handling, and comfort.
my baby
THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT ON IMPULSE FOR A DATE OVER TWO YEARS AGO, I HAVE NOT REGRETTED IT FOR ONE MOMENT.THE CAR HAS STARTED FIRST TIME EVERY TIME EVEN WHEN NOT USED FOR 2 OR 3 WEEK'S.TO DRIVE ANY OTHER CAR MAKE'S ME REALIZE HOW AMAZING MY CAR IS, MY NEXT CAR WILL BE A BMW.
EXCELLENT PEICE OF MOVING MACHINE!!!!
I bought this car jan 25, 2002 since then i drove 10k miles so far, most of them are long drives. this car drives dream. excellent & exceptional handling. impeccable driving manners. very sporty. 0-60 miles in 6.6 sec! fantastic & beautiful external look. simple & wonderful & luxury internal look. these are the pluses. Minuses: It SUCKS in snow (RWD). i currently live in michigan, it performs really really bad in michigan snow. mileage/gallen is less, also premium fuel (expensive). maintenance are really expensive, i did a level 2 service and brake pads changed for 1500$.
Good entry level BMW
Good overall car, look great, beautiful interior. Save money on the Harmom/Kardon Systems its not worth it. The hesitant while the car is hot almost got me hit couple time.
It's a BMW
It's what you'd expect from BMW. Outstanding build quality, great gas mileage, fun to drive, and reliability. Bought it used in 2003, and was very impressed. Great styling inside and out. With a little more power, this BMW would be perfect!
Soooo Delicious . . .
I just bought my pre-owned 1999 323i Sedan, and I could not be more happy about my purchase. The car is gorgeous inside and out. The ride is incredibly smooth and the automatic acceleration has power and control. I just sold my 2001 Honda Prelude for this car, and I am MUCH more content with the Bimmer. My friends can finally ride in my car in style and comfort. EXCELLENT BUY!
The best, but not perfect
Near flawless execution of style, comfort, and performance... and it's just plain fun to drive. If you have never owned a BMW, it's better in just about every way. The imperfection came when my wife hit a curb with the left front wheel at a slow speed and 3 airbags went off and $3500.00 later I had my car back. It took the dealer several tries to get the airbag light to stay off
my 323i 4dr 5spd
I just got this car last month with 42K miles. I got it for $21,000.00 at a Mercedes-benz dealer here in Los Angeles. Put in a 19" ACS wheel wraped in a Perelli tires, Starge III H&R Springs, Clear Corners and Red/Clear Taillamps. So far the car is running great, love that 5spd!! Only problem was the engine light went on one week after i bought the car. took it to a BMW Dealership and got it done free of charge..the problem has something to do with some sensor at the engine.
dream car
the car rocks. I'll never drive anything else. the most fun you can have with your clothes on.
Certified Great!
I was in hell during the initial part of the test drive... you know when the dealer has to drive it off the lot. I couldn't wait to take the wheel, and when I finally did, I fell madly in love with the performance and handling. I love everything about this car. Although the symbols on the interior controls take some getting used to, I find them very easy to use after a couple of months together. My wife gave what I feel is a great compliment when she said it was "easy to drive." It takes care of the mundane things and keeps me safe, yet it doesn't over think for me. I still have control.
Im never leaving BMW Family
Over all I cant beblieve I was missing this for 23yrs of driving. I will never deprive myself like that again with that driving expierence again
Ultimate Driving Machine
Rock solid handling, performance, safety and reliability. The handling/comfort balance is terriffic (BMW's base suspension embarrasses many 'sport' suspensions), the interior is very logical and well laid out and the styling is typical BMW timeless. I always chuckle at the SUV-types explaining the need for 4 wheel drive in Washington DC, while I drive my rear- wheel wundercar all winter long in Minnesota without drama and without giving up that perfect 50/50 balance. "All-season" tires are marketing bologna. I do run winter tires on my bimmer (and on my front- drive Passat for that matter)
There's only one...
I purchased this car used a little over 2 years ago. I've had the "usual" repairs reported by most drivers - window motors, control arms and bushings - but this seems to be a standard problem that all owners have to deal with. If you're willing to put up with a high(er) maintenance car you won't ever want to drive anything else. It handles like a dream and holds the road like no other car I've driven.
near perfect, but not quite
Certified inspection must've been forgotten, is in dealership for the third time getting worked on. Nothing major - speaker, seatbelt noise, alignment, rain-sensor, two-freak- electrical-events, some suspension squeaks, missing rear-view mirror trim. Other than all than, it is truly an incredible car. 5-speed and Sports Package are a must! Have driven w/o and not worth the dough. But with them the car is simply an extension of you as you fly on down the road.
Only one complaint...
After 3 years, only only complaint - and it is a BIG one - is that the left bolster of the sport driver seat is always uncomfortably pushing on my thigh. I must either pull my foot forward so that my thigh/knee are above the bolster, and thus not in the way, or keep my thigh on the bolster, where I become so uncomfortable in only 5-10 minutes, I must find a new position. If I straighten my left leg "within" the seat (to the right of the left bolster), my feet are in each other's way and I can't properly/safely operate the brake and accelerator pedals. BMW, why did you cram the sport seat into such a tight cockpit like this?
ultimate driving machine
Great car with all the fun to drive as expected by BMW. handling is outstanding power is good, not as snappy as my wrx but smoother. drives like on rails in all road conditions.
'99 BMW 328i Review
After owning a sport packaged 5 spd 328i for more than three years now, I believe I can offer an experienced rating of this vehicle. Having spent 39K and change not including taxes on a series that started out at 27K I had high (and justified) expectations. All were met. A sport packaged 328i 5 spd delivers all the performance, fun, and practicality anyone could want from a "sedan". The car looked good, had no build quality issues, and only three minor recalls that were handled quickly. I'm now waiting for an M3 that I've just ordered, and I know I will enjoy the new car very much, but even this new coupe will not provide the user friendly broad range of qualities that the 328
54k miles
I've been driving this thing for 3 years now and I don't plan to switch! It's easy to take this car for granted until you've driven something else. BMW's handling is amazing.. it gives me so much confidence on the road. You get an excellent feel for the road and the steering is firm. Handles great in the dry but I've had some problems in the wet. Then again, my tires were old. Although this car is pretty quick, it doesn't have as much power as I'd like. Next car will be more performance oriented (Probably an M3). It's almost 2005 and this car is still better than most cars on the streets. Excellent ballance of performance, comfort, and functionaly
Excellent car!!!!!
I got my 99 4 dr 323 from a dealership and have been nothing but pleased. I put some 17" m3 wheels on it! If the engine light comes on it is usually only a loose gas cap.
Great car spoiled by Reliability Issues
I bought the BMW 3 series new in 1999. The car drives incredibly well; however, the reliability is far below competing japanese makes and maintenance costs border on the obscene. In the 84k I've had the car, I've replaced all of the window motors, changed the AC compressor (twice), replaced parts of the front suspension, repaired several fluid leaks and replaced the thermostat (twice). In addition, a new battery was $250, since you can't go to WalMart and buy a battery. The dealer wanted $1,200 for a normal brake service and over $1,000 to change the belts (I went elsewhere, but still expensive).
2.25 year update
Last 22k miles have been great. Only issues have been expensive dealer maintenance. I solved that with an independant shop who does the work for half the price. Also, have had all four window regulators replaced under CPO warranty ($50 ded.). Car still drives like a dream. Fast, fun, near flawless, stellar gas mileage. Great handling in snow with Blizzacks. Hope to keep it 300k miles!
Who Knew???
Tiring of my '93 MX-6 LS with all the trimmings, most of which no longer worked, I knew I wanted a luxury/sport thing. Test drove the 328i with the sport package and knew I had to have the car. I have NEVER been as awed by the performance of a vehicle as I was by this. My jaw hurt for days from smiling too much...
Best 3 Series Ever
Best car in this price range. BMW is the Ultimate Driving Experience!
BMW in Kauai
This is the everyday commuter/shopper/beach car on the North Shore. Very reliable with only small problems (seat belt retractor, windshield washer nozzle). Excellent mileage with only routine service.
1999 323i with sports package
I purchased this car via the Euro Delivery program. I saved about 4k off the typical selling price, and had a wonderful time driving for a couple of weeks in Germany. It is the best car I have ever owned. It is still fun, 4 years after I bought it, to drive to the store to pick up milk or whatever. It gets excellent gas mileage, is rock solid at 50k miles, with no repairs, and my three sons fit in the back seat with no problem. It is extremely safe; I have avoided several accidents because of the combination of excellent visibility and manuverability. The sports package is excellent and a bargain. Great car!
Good Car If You Can Afford It
My dad purchased this car for me in May. I had it inspected and they said it was in above average condition. Since I bought it I've had to replace the expansion tank for $300, Power Steering Pump and Hoses $1000, oil change for $160 and other hoses for $500. This is come to be expected of an 11 year old car. The brakes and brake pads have been fixed but constantly squeak and my lighter and car door lock button are broken. I've had the car inspected and the tires aligned but my car ALWAYS pulls! Other than those issues the car is good to drive, although it is TERRIBLE on gas. I am quite fond of the car but if I have a repair over $500 again, I'm selling it!
Not Happy!
After my 3Yr warranty expired, the reliablity problems are gaining momentum. Got a $CDN 5000 repair bill to replace/fix belts, valves, shock mounts, brakes, trailing arm bushing and the list goes on. Aufwiedersehen BMW, I am buying the 04 Acura TL3.2
1999 328iA
I purchased my 1999 328ia, steel blue from Century BMW in Greenville, SC. I traded in my 97 318ia for a newer model. I drive approximately 40,000 miles a year and have put over 65,000 miles on this car since I got it. Even with close to 85,000 miles on it, it still out performs everything that I come across and have test drove. I looked at everything including Jags, Acura, Lexus, you name and I test drove it and nothing can close to BMW. Great gas mileage and extremely comfortable seats for those long trips. Only thing that could be improved is more trunk storage since I travel so much, I could use a little extra space. Looking at an X-5 4.4 next.