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Used 2002 BMW 3 Series Consumer Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
342 reviews

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4.88 out of 5 stars

So far, So good

scott6364, 05/28/2013
2002 BMW 3 Series 325xi AWD 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 5M)
14 of 14 people found this review helpful

Recently bought a 2002 BMW 325xi as a commuting car for future winter use. Love the looks, handling and value for what I paid for it. Previous owner took great care with this BMW. Looks showroom new and clean. No tears, or wear in the interior and the outside looks new. I cannot compare the gas mileage with what my Saab 9-3 gets, as there is no comparing the 2. But for overall handling, BMW has my Saab beat. Of course front wheel drive to all wheel drive makes a difference, but that was to be expected. I took it today up a canyon highway with many turns and elevations. Did not miss a beat on anything. The car corners like it is on rails, and I was totally blown away by how good this car is

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3.5 out of 5 stars

My Mother In Law Was Right. Darn it.

Jaybear, 11/09/2008
2002 BMW 3 Series 330i Rwd 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl 5M)
13 of 13 people found this review helpful

My mother in law had a bad experience with a BMW in the 1980s, and told me that "BMW" stood for "Break My Wallet" when I drove home my beautiful brand new 2002 330i. Well, she was right. In addition to expensive regular maintenance costs, I paid a staggering $10,000 in post-warranty repairs, including a replacement transmission, broken driver's side window motor, radiator leak, tire rims that mysteriously cracked, headlight control switch, and seat motor. When the car worked, it was gorgeous and fun to drive, but not nearly worth the obscene repair costs. Adding insult to injury, my mother in law's judgment was correct, and I just traded in my BMW and then bought a Lexus like she did.

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4 out of 5 stars

Fun to drive, repairs necessary when older

tigeryox, 06/03/2015
updated 12/05/2016
2002 BMW 3 Series 330Ci Rwd 2dr Convertible (3.0L 6cyl 5M)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful

I've owned a 2002 330Ci Convertible with 88K miles since new. It's definitely a fun car to drive, especially with the top down in good weather. Having said that, it does need some repairs which I thought was more than expected for the mileage or age: - Replaced lower control arm (LCA) bushings - Replaced both LCAs due to one bad ball joint - The dome of the strut towers deformed, common for the E46. Added a $10 reinforcement plate for each - Replaced both broken rear springs, common for the E46 - Passenger seat occupancy sensor broke Update: turns out the airbag control module has fried itself for no apparent reason. A replacement module needs to be reprogrammed for the specific model (to accommodate for the different number and position of airbags) - Convertible top inner lining torn due to warped plastic inserts If I weren't my own mechanic, these items could be expensive.

Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
3 out of 5 stars
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4.38 out of 5 stars

2002 BMW 325i

mikhiett, 03/01/2014
2002 BMW 3 Series 325i Rwd 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 5M)
15 of 16 people found this review helpful

I have owned my car for 1 year, 2 months now. I have Oriental Blue paint, black tinted windows, gray leather interior, and 17" optional rims. Automatic M/S transmission. Xenon headlights that light up the entire road. Excellent gas mileage. This car accelerates fast, looks good, sounds good, and has been very reliable with 126k miles. I bought this car with 116k miles. I changed the oil with a special Belgium imported synthetic oil 10k ago. The only expenses I have had are 4 new tires, control arm bushing, valve cover gasket, coolant hose, and fuel pump relay; all total cost under $1500 including tire price, parts, and shop labor. This car is definitely a keeper.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

2002 BMW 330xi

ed, 05/01/2002
2002 BMW 3 Series 330xi AWD 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl 5M)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful

This is an absolute Driver's Car. The car has superb handling and driving dynamics. The engine is flawless and very responsive to a drivers input. The car's entirior is well defined. It's AWD system paired with its premium and sports package (with M Aerodynamic kit) make this car the best on its class. I never get tired driving my 2002 330xi because it's a lot of fun to drive it whether it be on highways or mountainous roads. I love it!! BMW sets standards for a true " ultimate driving machines".

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