Used 2002 BMW 3 Series Sedan Consumer Reviews
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330i
Have 17,000 miles on it now. Overall, the ownership experience has been positive. It is a great car. Powerful engine, great driving dynamics, look and feel of quality. After years of Toyota and Honda ownership, I have been a little disappointed by the reliability of some of the components. Nothing major but had to take the car in for two unscheduled repairs. Everything was covered under warranty.
325i is awesome!
You will not find a more fun and safe car in this price range. The drive train is incredible and I still can't believe the engine is only 2.5 liters.
- 325i SedanMSRP: $9,795135 mi away
- 330Ci ConvertibleMSRP: $2,395355 mi away
- 325i SedanMSRP: $5,995707 mi away
Great car overall
I purchased the 325i in 2005, had it for 4.5 years and overall, no major issues. Had to replace rear brakes once, power window motors on all four windows, heating/cooling fan motor, and something pertaining to the coolant hose once. Had to seal it after i had it stuck in the snow, and blew the transmission after going in forward and reverse several times, although I'm uncertain if that was solely on the account of my mistreatment, or it it would have blown regardless. I did love the car overall, and for the majority of the time i owned it, had no major issues. Also had the driver's side seat motor go out once, but it seemed to fix itself.
Cruising on the East Coast
My previous experience with BMW was through my '99 323i 4-door sedan. While I was ecstatic with the car's style and overall performance, winter driving was obscene. In my search for a new, front wheel or all-wheel drive, vehicle I learned of BMW's new AWD sedans. While I regret not getting the sport package (the seats are simply not comfortable for long drives), I couldn't be more delighted with the Premium and Cold Weather packages and Harmon Kardon sound system, all of which include invaluable options. The car drives like a dream, holding the road in the most severe snow storms. I recommend this car to everyone!
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.
325i
Great fun to drive, superb handling, adequate power, decent fuel economy, great looking.
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.
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.
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.
Sweet Car, Great Ride
There's not much not to love about this car other than the price tag. Its expensive, but worth it! The AWD will be nice in the winter and mountians. Its ride is so nice I don't want to speed to make the trip any shorter!
My first bimmer!!
This car is what dreams are made of! I considered many cars, basically all makes from VW Jetta on up. In the end, BMW got the upper hand (and rightfully so) by delivering the kind of performance I was looking for. Some people might say it's overpriced, but I say the it's all well worth the bucks. There truly is no comparison to "the ultimate driving machine!" Experience it for yourself!!!
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.
Too much fun!
I bought this car for my wife and she loves it! Plenty of zip for her and the car is very well made - great fit and finish.
Gator's review
I have never owned a more perfect car. It's fast, beautful, and simply fun to drive. The longer I own it, the more I love it. Problems have been non- existant. The only issue I have is BMW service...but compared to other service places I have dealt with (Audi, Caddy, Ford, etc.) they are fine.
Innkepper's thoughts
ED is the way to go. I've had the car for 6 months. Loads of fun to drive. You almost look forward to driving to work each day. I have had zero problems with the car.
Piece of junk
Has spent more time in the shop then on the road.
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.
325i
BMW is still fun to drive, but the quality in no longer what it used to be. The paint gets irremediably damaged from the smallest bird drop, even thougt the car is washed and waxed regularly. In less than 12000 miles, the clutch needs replacement (noise towards the end of pedal) and the engine suddenly looses power while driving.
2002 330i
This is the most solid vehicle that I have ever driven. Everything is put together very tight and the drive is amazing. I thought it was out of my price range, until I looked at resale values. The sport seats are worth the option price. These are the most comfortable seats I have set in, except for the 5 series sport seats. I used the MAG dealership in OH and it was the easiest buy I have ever had. They gave me $1500 off sticker on an ordered car. Nobody else in the area would touch their price.
325i
My 325i have sport,winter & premium packages. I have owned this car for about 8 months, and drove it about 10000 miles. It's been a great car with pleasure to drive specially in handling. Minor problems only once in while check light goes on for back tail light, but it's easy fix. So far, thank god no major problem after driving a lot. I'm very satisfied with this car.
Great All Around Performance Car
Evreyone expects that this BMW is a terrific road performer but who would have expect it to be a superb snow car. A month after buying it I was in a snowstorm in Vermont. I was passing Subarus and Quattros with ease and confidence on the interstate.
The ultimate driving machine
If you are looking for a "driver's car:" look no further. There may be other cars (Lexus IS300, Infinity G35, etc) that offer more equipment at a lower price, but they do not come near to the level of excitment and fun that this car (325i) has to offer. The look of the car is simple and elegant inside and out. The engine is smooth and powerful and the handling, oh, the handling is nimble and agile. The 3 also gets credits for offering all the safty features as standard equipment.
Eat This Lexus
The 330i is hands down the best sports sedan in that category. The 3-series solely define the whole category. For all you Lexus owners, go ahead, drive your Toyota Altrzza (renamed as Lexus IS300), but if you come upon me at a stoplight, prepare to be humiliated.
One Bad Ass Car
This car is a great improvement on the 1998 328i model. The overall handling is incredible.
325xi
I traded an A-4 Quattro for the 325xi. The A-4 was a nice, reliable car with all wheel drive, but in comparision the BMW is quicker, more agile, and a kick to drive especially now that BMW has wheel drive. The main difference is the BMW is like a pro athlete and the Audi is like a college athlete.
View from Italy
A classic that everyoe should get to drive on a European highway, to truely enjoy the engineering that went into this fine automobile!
No compromises
Bought the BMW 325i after considering 2003 Honda Accord coupe, VW Passat, Nissan Altima. The BMW was the best by far. You don't compromise anything when buying the BMW. Great styling, handeling, performance, quality and a luxury brand. I was yelling-out-loud happy while driving it home!
excellent and beautiful car!!!
I love the beauty and performance of this vehicle. It has a great feel and is a blast to drive. I just love my car!!!
If you are working for BMW, Please Read!
Enjoying the car very much. Very happy with the straptonic transmision. The ultimate driving machine. 100% worth it. Can't wait to afford to drive the 5 & the 7 and ....series. Performance is very hard to believe.
A Great Car for the Enthusiast
Let me prefix by saying that I was a parking attendant for 7 years and while I did not get to really test drive very far I got a good feel for all of the manufacturer's strenghts and weaknesses. I have waited a long time to be able to afford a BMW but worth the wait. I really like a car that is fun to drive. My BMW 330i was preceeded by a 94 97 and 87 integra, A 92 CRX Si, an 84 Mustang GT Convertible all new. This car is faster then all and handles like a dream. BMW has done a great job balancing the feel of this car. I was concerned about quality after owning a string of flawless japanese automobiles but have not be disappointed.
Acceleration delay
I want to love this car, but there is a signicant delay in the acceleration response. I was told by the dealership mechanic that this is a "problem" with the 2002's - a redesign that removed the cabling and now uses electionics instead. Most noticable when road conditions require a quick acceleration, a few times left me questioning the saftey of this "ultimate driving machine." I was told by the dealer that a half-second delay is acceptable (I can hit the floor with the pedal and bring it back up before the engine responds).
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
A bit pricey, but this is a great car. Once you get behind the wheel, there is no buyer's remorse; there is no guilt about how much you spent on it. It drives and handles excellent. No real issues other than I have to check to coolant level every so often (never had to do that on my Acura), but everyone should do that everytime u fill up.
Outstanding fun
This is my 3rd BMW. First two were 5 series and now a 3 series. At first I thought I would severely miss the room of the 5, but never mind, this car is so much fun to drive that I never think about the differences between the 5 and the 3! Sports, premium, zenon lights, orient blue metallic...what fun!
great fun sedan
Have had this BMW for about 9 months. It replaced a Camry -- much more fun to drive, more comfortable, great front end look. I live in LA and this car makes me love driving!
Bayerische Motoren Werke at its best
What really made me buy the 330i is the power. I purchased the 2002 simply because I like the front façade. For 2002, front lights mimic the kidney grill and give it a really smooth look. Details: silver w/ black int, sport and premium pkg, Xnon, and auto. I LoVE the Auto-Transmission. Right off the line, the car redlines and catapults you ahead.You really get a broadband power and torque at any speed; oh, you have to turn off the traction control and cornering brake control for this to happen
One Heck of Good Automobile
This car has simply been the best car I've ever owned. In terms of performance, there is no sedan on the road the compares to this car. Being a motorcyle rider all my life, I enjoy to open it up on the road sometimes as well has hammer a few corners here and there. Here's my advise, if you want luxury and don't want to miss having a sports car, this is the car for you. You will not be dissapointed.
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.
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.
SWEAT
It is a great car.
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.
I love this car!!!!!
I have never loved a car more and I will never drive anything else again. It is totally awesome. The performance and handling are outstanding and it takes my breath away just to drive it. I'm always looking for things to do and places to go just so I can drive it. I got the 5-speed and then had second thoughts but it was too late and I'm so glad. It's a blast.
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!
ALMOST PERFECT...
This vehicle IS fun to drive.It handles extremely well around the turns, has above avg acceleration, and excellent braking ability.The car does not do well in the snow even w/ the DSC traction control on, but I knew that before I purchased.When negotiating the price, the dealer would not budge much at all.Everybody wants one of these bad boys and they know that.BMW also has a high resale value - another big plus! Gas/brake pedal are too close together.I wear a size 12 mens shoe.Many times a get my foot caught under the brake pedal when taking my foot off the gas and attempting to brake-NotGood
Crazy
Wow! Can this car be any nicer? The engine has 225 hp which should be upped. The Sound is great and the styling is unmatchable. Hands down this is the best looking car on the road. Inside it has a small driver oriented cockpit, but this isn't the family car. This is a sport sedan.
Going for 300K
We (wife and I) bought this with 14K on odo. It looked and felt like new even though I was hesitant about the price. It is now 173K still feels like new and looks... well not new but good. These days you need a car to outlast the payments. I plan to go for 300K on this. This is the first car I feel comfortable making that attempt. It has had a few things fail. These were the window regulators (all 4) and a piece of trim. The 3 is a tough little car. Looking to get 2nd one.
seating space
the only thing I dont like about my BMW is the tight seating in the driver side.I`m a big man(275lbs)and find it difficult to slide in behind the wheel.Otherwise,once in place,there is no other great feeling like driving this vehicle.
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?
Still a car of aspiration
I was going to buy a Passat- my wife liked the Bimmer. Guess what happened? It still turns heads. A cardiologist we know complimented us on our choice. It drives like the premium car it is. The exterior and interior appearance and finish are great (of course), the in-line six is sweet, responsive and torquey, and the steering, handling, suspension and brakes are outstanding. A full roster of luxury amenities are available. Back seat and trunk space are adequate, not generous. Fuel economy is decent. Sticker shock gave way to a warm glow. Isn't that what a car of aspiration should do?
BMW 2002 325XI
I'm a believer! I thought that I was just purchasing an over-priced sedan with a fancy name. Much to my surprise, this car is amazing. It's like being at the amusement park everyday.