Used 2000 BMW 3 Series Coupe Consumer Reviews
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BEWARE FRAME Issue on all E46 models BEFORE You Buy
I've owned 7 BMW's, 3-E46s and have only learned recently that all E46s had a Class Action law suit for a defective frame build. I just bought my 323ci 6 months ago & after an inspection was told my frame is cracked and in need of repair. BMW initially told me they weren't going to offer any assistance until I mentioned litigation and now they are "determining" what they'll do if anything beyond what I was told thus far. I bought this car because I know the 3-series very well and have come to depend on BMW's brand but NEVER would've bought the car, without a detailed frame inspection at least, had I known about this immense problem. The Repair is about DOUBLE what the car is worth.
Loving my 328Ci
After owning a 95 318ti that had 220k miles on it and ran flawlessly, I knew i had to buy another BMW. I got a helrot red one with black leather interior and a 5 speed manual trans. I absolutely love this car. It's got good power for daily driving and sports driving too.
- 323Ci ConvertibleMSRP: $7,999467 mi away
- 323Ci ConvertibleMSRP: $5,999608 mi away
- 323i SedanMSRP: $3,999619 mi away
Into my 9th year now
I originally owned this car. With Sport Package. I gave it Michelin Pilot sport tires. Do oil change every 7k miles and had the engine opened up to seal a leak, the repair man said it is darn clean engine at 130k miles now. Learn to fix and replace some parts yourself and the car is reliably solid.
The Ultimate driving machine..its true
This car is far from a machine-- in my heart, its better than a best friend. It performs excellent, amazing car to drive and race. I have often encountered cars(men) that want to compete, and I spank them every time from start. Other than it being very fast, its so responsive, it handles perfectly, I drove this car cross country 4 times, pushed it to the max, these cars like to be driven, that's for sure. I couldn't believe how comfortable it is, everything inside is designed intuitively. I've owned, lexus, benz, and volvo, I like this one the best. The car is worth every penny, parts will always have to be replaced and yes they are pricey, but they don't break often.
They don't come better at this price
I am coming up on 11 years (145K miles) with this vehicle. I am still impressed every time I get in (shared with the wife). This car is fun to drive, is spirited enough and gets nearly 30 MPG around town. Never have had any reliability issues (still has the original plugs and clutch). I still like the way it looks and I'll drive it until ...
one problem after another after 100K miles
Almost like clockwork, after she hit 100K miles things started malfunctioning. First the blower resistor ($280), then the "no reverse" transmission ($3600). What's next? Repairs are more than the car's market value.
Back in a 3 series coupe
My first BMW was a 325is. Now I am back in a 328ci and I love this car. I have all the bells and whistles except Nav. Bought it with 80k miles on it and it now has 98k. No problems as I am meticulous with maintaining the car. Great to drive hwy or in the twistys. Engine could use some more juice but the new cars have addressed this. BMW should drop HK as a vendor and call Bose. Love the car plan on keeping it another 100k miles. No problems and I do much of the work myself so I know when things are going wrong. Dealer is great while under warranty but find a quality local shop that you can depend on to keep cost down on maintenance.
Buyer beware
I would recommend this car to no one, I bought mine last year with 40,000 miles. It was like it was brand new, then I heard a banging noise under the car. The frame of the car had come apart its a little known design flaw. I ended up paying $4700 to get it fixed. The car has always run great, handles great, but you would expect more from BMW then for it to fall a apart at 50000 miles. So buyer beware.
DO NOT BUY THIS CAR
Love the car. This car has way too many repairs. Transmission problems 5000, windows 350 cooling system 1600 sensors 300+ cracked head 4000 and on and on. This car is so unreliable? The reviews are either great car or terrible car. What is their problem? They just can't make the car 100% ??
Wow!!!
I have owned a 2000 328ci for about a year & have put about 12,000 miles on it (120k on vehicle total). This car is a dream. Have not had any problems & get people inquiring about it almost daily. The styling is so wonderful that people always ask if it's new and it's 8 years old! I think I'm hooked. BMW all the way from here on out. Also found that parts on the vehicle are no more expensive than your average Chevy or Ford. NOW THE LABOR AT A BMW DEALER, that's a different story but there are several repair shops in my area that specialize in foreign repairs. Only thing I had replaced is the cam positioning sensor which was 75 bucks & 1 hr labor ($65) to install at a local service shop.
323CI
This is an okay car, but I would not buy another one. I could write a book on the small problems I have had with this car over the las few years. But I can say the engine is one tough son of a gun.
2000 323ci bled my bank account
I inheirited a 2000 BMW 323 ci that was a low mileage car. It had all the bells and whistles to boot. Initially I thought it was a fairly distictive car until all of the EXPENSIVE problems crept up. With only 25,000 on the odometer I had to replace so many things it was just ghastly! Sunroof problems, A/C ventilation (electrical) problems, window motor failure, suspension bushings, oil leaks, auto transmission problems and the interior began falling apart. After living with this car for a couple of years I tired of its stiff ride, road noise, creaks and rattles, stiff steering and spongy brake pedal. Also the hard seats were the worst I ever sat in, game me back aches. BMW=WAY OVERRATED!
Fantastic Car!
Bought my 323 with 60k miles on the clock. The car has been fantastic. Yes it's underpowered relative to the 330--but that's why it costs less! The car is still quick--esp. when it gets in the heart of the rev's, and it handles like--well, like a BMW should. The ergonomics of this car (the E46) are a huge step forward from the E36.
Expensive to Own
I bought my 2000 coupe with very low mileage (33k) from the dealer. It previously had one owner. I love the drive, the comfort, and the feel of a BMW. But, beware! In one year I've been back to the dealer for a failed alternator, rotors, brakes, tires, a/c failure, moldings are loose etc. I've spent close to 3k in one year just on upkeep and I've heard it only gets worse. If you really want a BMW, just lease it so everything is covered, otherwise, you will be incurring lots of debt. If you doubt, ask mechanics at different body shops and they will share their experiences.
car of our dreams?
We bought a 2000 BMW 5 months ago. The road handling of the car is like no other, it is superior in hugging the road and leaves the driver a powerful feeling of being in control. The car has also been in the shop 4 times. The engine is very underpowered and stalls on hills. The electric mirrors broke, moon roof broke, bushings went, control arms had to be replaced, water leaks in door, shifter knob fell off and numerous other problems. The dealer says this is inherent in these cars and can do nothing for us. The car, in our opinion, is unsafe and a "lemon".
Great car
I bought this car new when first released in 1999 and the only problem I've had is with the sunroof shade. I've had the panel and tracks replaced twice. The car is mechancially sound, rides great even without the sport pkg. Harmon Kardon stereo system is great although after a near accident, the CD player skips on bumpy roads. Exceptional gas mileage. Comfortable and fun to drive.
2 years in the life of the 2000 323Ci
If you are considering the 323Ci, please get the sports package w/17 in. rims..makes this car look AWESOME! The ride and handling make this car truly fun to drive, although it does lack power, then again, I could not justify the extra $8K for 20 more horses in the 328 model. Despite buying one of the least expensive models (only upgrades were HK stereo, sports pack, and CD) friends always guess I paid $10K more than I did.
I love my 328ci
We all have our priorities and I like to spend my money on cars. You won't find another car which has this level of luxury & handling combined. The resale value is low which is why people like me can afford it. M52 engines have one big problem, around 100k kms you will need to replace all the parts used by the cooling system. Otherwise you'll be making lots of trips over the next year or 10k kms. If you love BMWs' combination of luxury & handling then you wouldn't mind spending money on cars.
16 years later...
Bought this from my daughter for next to nothing because it had NO trade in value. It was always breaking on her and not reliable. It is the same with me. 16 years , 111,003 miles today and has another 4000.00 dollar repair on the horizon. I am convinced nothing from germany is worth owning after 2 years. (Except a Porsche, which i also spend too much on but enjoy) So it will leave our family and end our relationship with German cars. Repair bills ARE a factor to consider. Before I traded this car off, I fixed it, still got nothing for it on trade. Never a Mercedes or BMW.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Fun sporty car
This car is a lot of fun to drive. It has great power and control, nice features as well. It is somewhat expensive to maintain, but that's true for most European cars.
2000 323CI
Best Car I've owned, fun to drive such a quality made machine. Bit underpowered of the line but the sports handling and suspension makes up for it. Since I live in Chicago, I purchased Bridgestone winter tires and given the weight breakdown it handles and rides better in the snow than my Jeep Wrangler. It's definitely a car for all seasons...
value of Certified Pre-owned
the certified pre-owned warrenty sold me as I travel extensively. The car is a sheer joy to drive...still making me smile each day after a year of ownership
Wow, the whole package!
This car is, in a nutshell, the best all around package you can get for the money. It has great handling, steering, acceleration, and surprisingly good gas mileage. The coupe is especially fun considering it's standard sport suspension and lower vehicle height.
36k AND STILL GOING 323ci
I have to say that except for a few minor bugs, my 323ci has been problem free. The only issues I have had is a sunroof that was tempermental. It didnt want to open on occasion. My only other real complaint is this car produces a ton of break dust. You cant drive more than 50 miles and the wheels look terrible. The sport suspension comes on the coupe and it drives in rails.. VERY SPORTY. The Harmon Cardon stereo is a must have also. I have added the Dinan Performance Chip, and Dinan Cold Air induction, and AC Schitzer Exhaust to my car. It added about 30 HP and makes it sound like a M3. Very throaty sound.. IM IN LOVE!!
Pay the Piper
BMW sure has their act together in terms of building a car that performs flawlessly, is a gas to drive and is comfortable on any length trip. I've driven up to 12 hours at a pop in my 328 and get out feeling great. The engine is increadbly responsive and the handling is impeccable. I've driven it for nearly 37,000 miles and the driving experience has been excellent.Unfortunately, BMW doens't seem to know how to build a reliable car. I've had problems with door lock mechanisms (couldn't get in the car), the throttle body (car quit on the interstate at 80 mph), the door trim and now it needs $1000 worth of front end work (control arms, control arm bushings and front stabilizer link).
Fun but flawed
I bought this new and I only have 31K on the car now. I have the 5 speed and it is fun to drive, brakes well, handles excellent with the sport package. Gas Mileage is quite good at 25 city/hwy mix and 31 hwy. It still looks nice too. The problem is reliability. Some problems fixed under warranty but others I had to pay out of pocket. Also strange failure of the intake cam sensor which causes the car to stall at a stop. That was $300. Now the interior trim around the passenger door is falling downward. I guess I have to glue it back or something. None of the problems I had were atypical or surprising to the mechanics. If you buy one, expect extra maintenance cost as part of the deal
Great car.
Great performance car, outstanding handling, sweet ride quality,
Buy this Car
While the 323ci does not brag on large horsepower figures - this car provides plenty of entertainment. In everyday driving situations, when 120 mph is either stupid or impossible, this car takes care of the driver nicely. Plenty of power is available when needed, and this care handles great. It is always fun to drive and average miles per gallon for all driving is 27.5.
The best car on the market in this niche
The BMW motto in America is "the ultimate driving machine", in Europe - "the pleasure of motoring". Both quite accurately describe this particular car. I don't know any other car in this category that would compare to a BMW Coupe.
Fun car...
The car handles unbelievable, power is fantastic. This car is going to be hard to improve on.
Love the car
I recently purchased a used 323CI with the sport and premium packages and approximately 40k miles. It is a lot of fun to drive and is very comfortable and functional inside.
Love My 3-series Coupe..Glitches and All
I bought my 2000 # series coupe in Feb 2003 with 28,000 miles on it. In general, I love the car. It looks great, has comfy front seats, handles well on dry pavement, and gets awesome gas mileage. My complaints include lousy brakes - I've had them replaced once and they still pull the car to right and severe hydroplaning in rainy conditions.
Love it but problems
Have put 85000 miles on it since 01/00. Mostly highway. Need to repaint ($1475) bumper, hood, front of fenders, not so much from stone chips but from tiny white speckels from worn away paint. BMW provided parts(I the labor $271) at 69000 to rebuild the front steering.Under warranty replaced front rotors and pads, trunk lock twice, power moonroof once, wood trim on driver handle (now cracked again). Love my Harmom/Kardon sound.
new car
great car, built well
328Ci - 4 stellar years and counting...!
Fantastic combination of luxury and performance. Solid as a rock in all driving conditions - makes you a better driver than youreally are by rewarding you with razor-sharp handling, but being balanced and forgiving enough to allow you to correct mistakes. ...And it looks as good as it drives!
My Beamer Rocks!
I leased mine used with 15K miles. I've only had it for 5 months and have absolutely no complaints. It's a great looking car, with excellent handling, acceleration, and braking. Whenever I drive I feel like I'm on the racetrack. Watch out for tickets! It maneuvers from lane to lane on the highway with ease and it corners perfectly.
2000 328Ci
The car is an excellent mixture of performance and comfort. Build quality is quite high and any problems - only minor - have been addressed without question by any of the dealerships we have used. Despite the rear wheel drive, this car has never had issues with snow or rain driving no matter how icy or snowy our alley side garage has become. The interior is smart and functional while the exterior is still one of the best looking around with elements appearing in many other cars.
328Ci - 4 stellar years and counting...!
Fantastic combination of luxury and performance. Solid as a rock in all driving conditions - makes you a better driver than youreally are by rewarding you with razor-sharp handling, but being balanced and forgiving enough to allow you to correct mistakes. ...And it looks as good as it drives!
Ultimate Driving Experience?
Certainly a fun car to drive. Problem has been leaky door seal - 6 times to fix and still leaking; snap in steering wheel on abrupt braking; sunroof shade derailing; bad clutch; vibrating brakes...given these things it takes the polish off the driving luster. Does BMW really expect to compete with these type of problems?
Truly "The Ultimate Driving Machine"!
If you have the money to spend, and tend to drive with only one more person, this is the car for you! Back seat space is a little limited but then again IT IS A COUPE! Drove the car from South Florida to Northern Virginia without getting back problems or growing tired. Smooth, quiet and very comfortable (with the sport seats)!
One Beautiful Bavarian
This vehicle was one of the best investments I have ever made. BMWs keep their value so well. My car still performs and looks like it is brand new. This car is in mint condition and it has 45,000 miles on it. The engine still performs when you push it and the suspension and ride quality is second to none.
Not exactly perfect
This car had 1/4 mile on it when I picked it up. Xeon headlights have been completely replaced 6 times. The auto-adjusting driver and passenger window hieght is newer correct, so your windows leak. Electrical system sucks. My friends 3 series behaves the same way. Don't buy the car unless you get the sports suspension and 17 inch rims. You'll hate the ride with the 15/16 inch rims.
BEST COUPE OUT NOW?
THIS IS A MAGNIFICENT PIECE OF ART...I THINK ITS A LITTLE ON THE SLOWER SIDE,THE 5 SERIES I HAD A WAS A LITTLE FASTER,ALTHOUGH ITS A SLEEK COMFORTABLE VEHICLE I THINK THE DESIGN IS GREAT AND IT MOVES VERY QUIETLY AND SMOOTHLY A LITTLE ROUGH ON BUMPS (WELL IM IN NY SO THATS NORMAL)IF YOUR LOOKING FOR A NICE COUPE THIS IS THE ONE.
My Take on early E46 productions
We bought this car used at 30K on it. Very good condition at the time. Several warranty works were done to it even before we had got it. Did not get that info until I took it for another warranty work. Now, transmission is out at only 64.5K on it, 2 Years after we had it. We are BMW devotees and do own other BMWs classic to modern. But this one has pushed us to the limit. To boot to that, BMW N.A is not a help at all. That 800 number is a joke, the staff is untrained & unqualified. Bottom lin is that BMW is not what it was used ot be. A car company with great reputation and great cars is in demise. No customer support, no reliable production. I will probably end up not buying another one.
The ultimate driving machine??
Great looking car i was fortunate enough that my parents bought me a black one for my bday with 29,000. Dont feel very classy with squeaky brakes (31,000 miles) yes i drive my bmw hard but then again it's "the ultimate driving machine" it's made to be driven and looked at. BMW work on your brake quality
One of the best designed cars
I've had my 2000 328Ci coupe for about 1 month now, and have taken it from 26,500 miles to 27,500. I love this car; BMW has managed to engineer a vehicle that still beats every competitor more than 4 years after its introduction. Quality seems very good, the driving dynamics are every bit BMW, the engine is more powerful than its numbers would indicate, and the interior finishings are well done, with high quality wood and leather on the premium package car. Overall, I have a few minor issues with the car, but overall, I am thrilled with it every time I drive it and wouldn't consider anything else, new or used, at the price I paid.
Very Satisfied, but
Overall, the performance, roadhandling, and drivability of this model BMW is outstanding. Also, the interior design and comfort is all you could ask for from this size vehicle. The one disappointment is its poor road handling on snowy roads. My car came with 17" low profile all-season tires that track very poorly on snowy roads. Snow tires are a must in winter environments. Another negative impact of cold weather on my BMW's engine is about a 20% reduction in gas mileage.
E46
Fun, Fun, Fun !!! Don't bother looking at any other car :)
Overpriced and unreliable
I purchased this car brand new in 2000 and can honestly say that this has been the most expensive and poorly designed vehicle I've ever owned. I've had the following issues: suspension issues (control arms - 2 times!), HVAC, ignition switch, windown regulators, power steering pump, radio, horns, speakers go bad and require replacement. Latest issues: camshaft sensor, amplifier, and another power window regulator. Stay away from BMW. BMW North America doesn't care about their customers either. After warranty expires, DUMP THIS CAR.
It really is a value.
When you consider what this car has and does, plus the sheer good looks and safety, it's more than worth the cash. I've experienced no problems at all, and the dealership is amazing. I'm back in the BMW camp for good this time.