Used 2002 BMW 3 Series Consumer Reviews
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Awesome car
I bought this Certified Pre-Owned car with 11,000 miles. There were several things that needed replacing that was thankfully covered by warranty. I've had no other problems since the warranty expired a year ago. It's such a fun car to drive and a real head-turner.
BMW330CI
LOTS OF POWER, GREAT HANDLING AND MANY LUXURY FEATURES, SUCH AS 3 POSITION MEMORY FOR SEAT AND MIRRORS. HEATED SEATS AND CRUISE WORK GREAT. TRANSMISSION IS SEAMLESS IN EITHER STANDARD, SPORT OR MANUAL SETTINGS. TOP OPERATES WITH A PUSH OF THE BUTTON, LOWERING WINDOWS AND THEN PUTTING THEM BACK. 11 SPEAKER SOUND SYSTEM IS VERY IMPRESSIVE.
- 325Ci ConvertibleMSRP: $9,99926 mi away
- 325Ci ConvertibleMSRP: $10,990134 mi away
- 330i SedanMSRP: $5,999181 mi away
325 I
Excellent car. more expensive then other makes. You pay for every option, but everything is quality and one step above anything else
Super Car
This car is great and whoever built speed bumps they sure weren't Europeans!
The best of his group
I am extremely happy with this car. It handles beautifully, and I had no problems during this first year. I higly advise people to purchase this car. It is the ultimate driving machine.
You get what you pay for...
Picked up my 330i thru ED. Fantastic option for purchasing a car. There is simply no substitute IMHO for driving one of the finest cars in the world on some of the best roads in the world. If you can afford the time exercise the ED option. You won't regret it. BTW, have you ever heard of someone who did the ED option ever not recommending it?
One fun car!
Fantastic car. Handles like a dream, looks great inside and out. Tons of well thought out features, beautifully designed interior. Superb manual transmission, brakes, cornering. Loaded with safety features.
BMW 330Ci Review
Bought the car throught the European Delivery program. Great handling, and interior controls. Only single drawback is the Harmon-Kardon stereo; it is just lacking. The low-mid range frequencies creep into the cabin speakers causing system to sound muddy when the overall bass is increased. A better low frequency crossover and/or an onboard sub volume/eq would help out a lot.
Quality+Fun
The best car I've ever owned. I read an article in the July 2002 Popular Science that describes it best: "This car is keen-spirited, enthusiastic, on the edge of its chair awaiting the next command". The BMW 330i is a car that you want to spend a lot time with. I like to drive it with the stereo off just so I can listen to it. A true work of art.
330ci - not a good choice...
I have had nothing but problems with this car. The a/c didn't work from the factory and there are numerous other things too much to mention. Avoid this car, unless you have money to throw away.
I made the right choice.
After months(3)of comparing cars (G35,AudiA4,Bmw 325i), I chose the BMW. While the G35 offers far more power, and handles great, I did not like its exterior design. I tried to like it because it made the most sense but...I couldn't. The A4 looks great, but, let's be honest, it looks too much like the Passat. It took 2 test drives to convince me that the best choice (for me) was the 325. One last thing, two words: Sports package!
buy this car
rocket, perfect handling for 4 door sedan. High price but worth every penny. If you need 4 doors and seat 3-4 people and want a sports car- this is it. Absolute rocket, the only sedan I will buy. Compared to any other sedan (audi, mercedes ,etc)- this is it. Not my first 3 series and the only sedan I will buy.
best damn car built = 325i sedan
car is fun and easy to drive and very comfortable for a 6'1" driver and if necessary no car has any better acceleration in it's class and price.
The Perfect Blend
Absolute luxury when you are cruising the highways, a 4 door sports car when you hit the windy mountain roads.The transmission is a work of art. The car has amazing composure.The communication between myself, the car , and the road was so in sync. I have been driving assorted audis for the past 15 years. All I can say is, I just didn't get it. The BMW is the ultimate driving machine. There is not a better entry level sport luxury. If you wanted what this car has to offer, in luxury,performance,features,safety,relia bility...you would be spending $10,000- $15,000 more. Join me in the experience!
Loved the car, hated the transmission
In a nutshell, the car was very solid and felt very comfortable. My biggest complaint was the manual transmission...the clutch is far too light, and there is almost no feedback in the shifter, almost to the point of sloppiness (probably has to do with a cable shift linkage, which I never have liked the feel of)
Slightly pricey but drives great
Drives really well especially with the top down. Surprisingly 184 HP is plenty for regular driving. Don't know why BMW does not include an alarm system on a car that easily costs $40K plus out of the door.
Less Car for More Money
Wish I had waited one more month. Test drove the Infiniti G35 recently and there is no comparison. More room, more zip, more horsepower, longer warranty, better service (I have heard) and 8 - 10K less. Vanity and ego kicks my ass again. No more ultimate driving machine for BMW...move over the king is dead. BTW...took a huge hit on my trade in...some value...haaaaaa!!!
Happy about my 330i
I chose the European delivery option for my BMW 330i. Whether driving it on the autobahn or out to dinner at night I have been completely impressed with my car. My previous car was a 1994 BMW 325is. BMW has continued to impress me by their ability to constantly improve their cars. I loved by old car, but I like my new one even more. It is a pure sport driving pleasure when I want it, but easy and comfortable to drive at all times. It's the perfect balance.
Beautiful ride
very very smooth.... could it get any better
HOLY CAR
best car i ever drove in my life!!!!!!!!!
What You Come to Expect
Replacing a 1994 325i convertible, I was amazed how many formerly optional features are now standard and yet once adjusted for inflation, the 2002 330Ci is actually lower priced. The extra "oomph" of the 3.3 liter in-line 6-cylinder over the 325's smaller engine is well worth the extra dollars, especially given the car's substantial weight. With the lid down, this a head- turner with BMW's well deserved reputation as being a driver's car.
Best in its class
After exhaustively looking for a 4-door sedan in th $30-$35K price range, I finally decided on a 2002 325i. I'm very happy with my selection. It is simply the best compared to the competition. Sure the Infiniti G35 may be faster, and the Mercedes C240 may have a more refined and quieter ride. However, the 325i has the best combination of fun and comfort in this price range. Everything about it has a quality feel - the way the doors close, the sound of the Inline 6 cyl. engine, and the textures and materials used in the cabin.
Great car but still needs improvement...
325i - 5M, sport package, leather seat, moonroof, HK sound, xenon lights - Tight steering, great handling, love the gearbox. I'll probably add a couple of things to increase the power/torque. Should probably cost 2K less, unless that 2K is the price you pay for being in the club. I would recommend the 330i over the 325i if you can afford it. Overall, it's a great car.
Great Car!!!!
Best car I have ever purchased. From now on any car I purchase will have to be a BMW.
BMW 330i is overpriced; lacks space
I bought the BMW330i because of the rave reviews at Edmunds.com. It does handle quite well, is a lot of fun to drive, and let's face it, part of driving a BMW is pure showing off that you can afford one. I made the mistake of getting the automatic transmission, thinking that the city stop-and-go traffic would be worth it, but it isn't. I've had both the manual and auto, and manual is better-- much more fun. The automatic is very smooth, but the Steptronic shifting is a bit shaky--no substitute for the real manual.
Beama beama
Best car I've ever owned. It's a beauty.
Fabulous!
I love every bit of this vehicle. I can see why all the magazines praise the BMW 3 Series. The acceleration and handling is top notch. Every stop light I'm like darting in front of everyone. I got the Electric Red and the exterior will catch every neighbor's attention. The interior quality is elegant with comfortable leather seats. The Harmon/Kardon w/ 12 speakers give great surround sound. Have yet to test it in the rain and snow with AWD but every review has been good about that. I highly recommend it even with it's high price tag, it's worth the money.
Ultimate Driving Machine
If you enjoy performance driving this is the car for you. This car begs to be pushed to it's limits. I drove a Boxter and the Bimmer handles better.
Excellent choice
I switched to it from a 5-years old Mazda 626. The feel of improvement on the handling was instantaneous. It's quite a contrast. It turns my daily commute into an enjoyment. I was surprised to find how quiet it is no matter the roof is up or down.
Nothing Touches It In It's Class
This car is a joy to drive. The transmission is as smooth as butter, the acceleration is smooth and powerful and the ride has a magical quality to it that's hard to describe. The interior controls took some getting used to, but now are second nature. Every little corner of this car is engineered to perfection. Including the rechargeable flashlight in the glove box. My only (minor) gripe with the car has been the buzzing speakers in the door posts, that after three visits the dealer has been unable to fix.
Sweet Ride
My car is optioned with SP, XN, 72M, PDC, 'ette, 5 spd. I've had the car for 2 months and 3000 miles now. It has plenty of practical power, possesses excellent handling characteristics, and powerful brakes. I took it on a 1500 mile road trip shortly after taking delivery and the car was a delight to drive. No mechanical or cosmetic problems to report other than the usual sticky gas pedal in hot weather. This is a warranty item that I'll have fixed at some point. The HK stereo is fine, but then I don't overboost the bass (the opposite, in fact). The worst thing about the car is it is unhappy going less than 100 miles per hour.
Ultimate Driving Machine
Great car, I love it. I would not imagine myself at this age (31) driving another car, except maybe for an M3. You'll have to own one to really understand. No problems what so ever, I put 18,000 miles in 10 months.
Ultimate driving machine is no joke
Feel very safe in this car. Impeccable handling, great power, and fabulous brakes turn otherwise scary experiences into just gee whiz moments. No fat. No wasted space. Every control feels exactly like you want it to feel and works the way to want it to work. Totally neutral handling at every speed makes you king of the road in the turns. Park it next to a new Mustang, for example, and you will be amazed at how small it is in comparison although it has more room inside. Tight turning radius makes maneuvering in small spaces a breeze. Cars like this just show how far the others have to go. Reliability has been very good with this and my former 2001 330i. Total mileage driven, about 60K.
Clean Tight Ride
Graduated from college, got a job, back on the singles scene, what to do? Bought a new BMW 325ci and love it! I researched the benz, lexus, acura, but BMW was it. I kept it pretty basic, metallic paint, manual trans, sport package, moonroof and paid close to MSRP at 32k. Met a girl the first hour I drove it off the lot, a fellow BMW owner. But forget the girls, this car handles like nobody's business, the engine grrs, the 17-inch tires inspire, and the stick is awesome. For a coupe the roominess is great. I'm blown away by Grmn Engineering, they thought of everything. From the full size spare w/ rim to the flip-over trunk mat. This car is AMAZING!
My Story.......
I have been on a first name basis with my BMW mechanic. My 2001 BMW has been in the shop 5 times with one stint lasting a little over 2 weeks with only 4,000 miles on it! The auto transmission failed miserably, too many failures to list, and it still has problems shifting. The passenger air bag has been replaced along with the explosive charge. Some of my rattles have been fixed, and I found a new one today within the driver side door. This has been a nightmare.
Best car in the World Besides the M3
This is the best car in the world oh no its just a Tribute
the best mid-luxury sedan in the world
don't go for the sport sedan imitations (lexus is 300, audi a4, benz c320) - get the original and the best at the same time - get a 3 series
Fun to drive
If you value "fun to drive," this is the car to own. There are other well-made luxuary cars that offer a 'better value," but none was able to offer the perfect combination of fun to drive, safty, worksman ship and elegant styling inside and out all in one package. If you shop carefully, it is possible to buy one with $500-1000 above invoice. Also, remember that 325i starts at $28000!
2002 325xi : 4 month review
2002 325xi : 4 month review
best car in class
The car is best in it's class..This is my third BMW and the last two were E36 M3's..This car is as fast as a stock E36 M3...The build quality gets better and better..I have had no problems with my sedan and the dealer is fantastic..If, you want more power just upgrade with dinan products..It does not void the manufacture warr and the dealer can do the install.. Dont skip the sports package...Worth evey penny....... Get the 18" wheel option for 900 bucks its a steal!
SWEEET
My wife fell in love with it on the show room floor. I fell in love on the great River Road. This is by far the best car I have ever driven.
Dissapointmet in BMW
Well i bougth the car in febraury and the car interior is small for 6'5" persons.the interior is nice and the body lines are gorgeous but is not the best BMW ever.The car broke the tranny at 1600 miles at 1900 miles I got electrical problems with interior and at 2000 another tranny and a brand new engine. this is my last BMW ever! after owning a 750 a 740 and a 735
A solid car
Test drove most the usual suspects: G35, ES300, X-type, 3.2TL-S, 325xi, 330xi, 525i, 530i, Passat AWD. We thought the X-type was the next best option, especially given the very aggresive pricing what we were offered. In the end though, it came down to getting the 330xi or a 530i. I loved the 530i in Sport trim, but my wife voted for the better poor-weather handling of the 330xi. So far, very happy.
Oh What Fun, It is to drive!
WOW!!! Why did I wait so long!
Best car in it's market, hands down!
I bought my 325i in May 2002. I have no regrets only praises. I have put lots of miles on this car, over 7000, with zero problems. It gets much better gas mileage than listed in the brochures. We're talking 450 to 500 miles per tank! it's a pleasure to drive. And people give the same reaction when I tell them what I drive. A little nod and they say "Nice." You don't get that reaction with an Audi or a Jetta or most others. The reputation is warranted with this vehicle again. Best money I ever spent on a car. And I drove every car within a few thousand of it's price range.
Fun!
I've had this car for 8 months now, and it's just so much fun to drive (5 speed, sports package), with the top down, of course. I often find myself taking the long route or making extra trips for errands. Design and build quality is top-notch. The horse power is nothing to write home about, but it's quite quick, especially with the DSC turned off. It took me a little while to get used to the low first gear.
A SUPERIOR CAR
This vehicle has surpassed my expectations. The ride and handling are excellent. I expected the AWD system to be a drag on the acceleration but I have been pleasantly suprised by the responsiveness of this XI model. To summarize, this is a great car. If only BMW would provide a a stereo system worthy of the overall performace of this remarkable vehicle.
Amazing Automobile!
This is the best car I've ever owned. The fit and finish on the car are perfect. The cockpit is well laid out and the car fits like a glove. Performance is great, but gas mileage (22 mpg is what we've observed) stinks compared to 30 mpg we got w/ our 00 Jetta GLS. We are delighted with our purchase and look forward to owning many more BMWs over the years.
Don't Compromise-YouGet what you pay for
You can have it all! Nobody touches BMW when considering the whole package- including price. Yes, Bimmers are expensive. However, show me a better all-around car within $10,000 of the 330. Compare 3 and 5 year cost of ownership to other vehicles. The 330, while costly to get into, is a better value than its less expensive competition. Some may be a bit faster 0- 60. Some may be more roomy. Some may have more creature comforts. In the end, however, they all cut a corner somewhere to be price competitive. There is a reason the 330 remains the benchmark of this segment - BMW didn't cut any corners! Nobody out-BMW's a BMW.
BMW325i
This is an excellant car