Used 2004 BMW 3 Series Consumer Reviews
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I'm trying and I can't find a flaw
I"m one of those guys. You know, the type that's incredibly picky about his cars and finds a few things that could be done better in every car he's owned. I've had a lot of great cars over the years but this is the BEST. I really can't think of anything I would change. It drives great, is incredibly comfortable, looks amazing, has great options and features, plenty of power, incredible handling and it's just flat out FUN. This is the first review i've ever given that hasn't been hyper critical.
Still going strong with 250K miles
Great car to own and drive. Yes, there will be repairs after 100k miles, but I got past 200K before having to replace the clutch. Most other repairs have been to structural parts - engine is just unbelievably superb. I drive in snow and mud, with pets, groceries, gear, etc. Gas mileage has been a solid combined 25 mpg for the life of the car. If you can find a used one, you could probably get a decade out of it and love every minute of driving it.
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- 325i WagonMSRP: $6,89913 mi away
- 325Ci ConvertibleMSRP: $6,750304 mi away
- 325Ci ConvertibleMSRP: $13,995330 mi away
RWD, 6spd and a backseat
My 2nd e46. I love them. Great steering feel and handling. Aside from a few weak links these cars are the total package. The perfect blend of luxury and performance. If you're not capable of working on it yourself you will need a good mechanic you trust to not charge you double just because of a name. A lot of the parts don't cost any more than other vehicles. Just keep it maintained. Mileage isn't great but that all depends on the weight of your right foot. I can manage 28 but usually average 20-21mpg. The car is very driver oriented. Not a lot of frills for this day and age but not lacking either. The proportions feel just right. The rear seats are cramped but this is a compact car, not a full size sedan. Tires go fast with the sport package because of the inability to rotate due to staggered sizes. The grip is worth it. Large capable brakes hold up well under heavy use. The engine is asleep before 3k but after that it's hard not to go to the limiter. Sport seats are great, good amount of bolstering and lumbar support. Overall, great looking cars that if maintained well will last forever. Great driver's car though this isn't a miata, it's still a blast to drive.
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Best wagon I've ever owned - Hands down
Purchased my wagon used from a local dealer after selling my Subaru Outback. I was turned off initially by the stiff steering, but now I am hooked with the "driving experience" this car gives - including the seemingly stiff steering. Being in Colorado, I experience many different driving conditions ranging from hot 100 degree dry days down to subzero and totally ice covered roads. This wagon has exceeded my expectations, and outperforms any of my previous Subaru's AWD systems. This car inspires confidence in any driving condition, and the attention to detail and level of engineering is outstanding.
Second best car I have ever owned.
This is simply an amazing car. I don't really have a complaint about the car. For starters, the 330xi is a great car for road trips, it is extremely comfortable. I put a lot of miles on the road due to the nature of my work. The Harmon Kardon stereo system delivers a tremendously crisp sound , far better than the Bose systems that were offered in the Audi's of the same year. The All-Wheel drive proves excellent traction in the winter. I have plowed through 8 inches of un-plowed snow, no problem. The BMW 330xi matched with the right tires makes for a remarkably quiet ride. On a less important note in regards to sound, the exhaust sound is quite entertaining to listen to. The transmission shifts effortlessly and for the sport enthusiasts you can get the AWD car sideways on an on ramp if you would like to. The engine sounds like it has more to give than it actually does, in turn if i had a complaint it would be the acceleration, although it isn't bad, you would expect a little more out of the top-of-the-line 3 series. What I love most about the car isn't the specifications or even the unsurpassed build quality, but the way it makes you feel. It makes you drive with a smile, not many cars have the ability to do that. The question yet to be answered is personal reliability, I hesitate to answer this because it varies from car to car and how you take care of the car, doing proper on time maintenance and so on. With that in mind, I take exceptional care of my cars, and I have only put $900 into the car so far, it was the power steering rack, which through research has been found to be a relatively common fix on these machines. In comparison to other cars I have owned this proves to be far superior, other than an Audi S4 of the same year. However, it is a different caliber of car, so it does not really count in the realm of the 330xi. To finish my review, I do in fact highly recommend this car. If you ever have the opportunity to own one, do so. Your increase in daily happiness surpasses the worry of paying for premium fuel.
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Fun First Sport Coupe
Bought this car about a year ago. It is the first and only BMW I've ever owned. It is my favorite car of all that I've owned. With the top down on a sunny day, zinging through the twists and turns of an undulating country road, this car is a ton of fun. My first thought on a beautiful day when I am free from obligations is "...Go for a drive..."! The 2.5 liter in-line six is smooth and responsive. With just 184 hp and similar number torque, it won't win a drag race with a Mustang, but it is surprisingly peppy. I'd estimate 0-60 comes in around 7 seconds, which is comparable to my 2011 Fusion Sport AWD (which has 263 hp). But the miles per gallon is much better. I'm seeing around 28-30 highway, and 21-23 city. This car also just looks great. It cannot be considered practical, seeing the owners' manual strongly suggests using premium gas, and it only carries four people (and their handbags) with just a modicum of back-seat comfort. But who ever buys a convertible with practicality as their first consideration? This is one fun, reliable, and pretty car. I can't recommend it highly enough to the right buyer. This one has definitely made me a BMW fan!
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330i ZHP - a sport sedan for the ages
This BMW is for someone who wants to drive a sports car on a daily basis but requires the added luxury, convenience, and practicality an upscale sedan provides. The powerful, smooth-revving inline six, tight suspension and performance tire grip, powerful brakes, and feel of the road through the gearshift lever and steering wheel are the zenith of what BMW offers. With the ZHP package, you benefit from an increased sporting feel and minor tweaks to the engine and running gear, without paying the premium in reduced gas mileage, insurance cost, or ride comfort of a single purpose sports car. To me, it is a "best of both worlds" daily ride.
So far !!! Love the 325xi!!
I bought my 2004 325xi 3 months ago. I bought it from a 85 year old lady who bought it new and serviced at BMW. Garage kept and all receipts. the best part.......only 24,000 miles . I could not pass up this car...I only hoped that I would be happy.... I AM!!! To me, the car is like new. One ding on the door and only one small chip. The car is very peppy and fun to drive. I seem to make an excuse to always want to drive it. The car is very solid and tight. I am not sure about needing AWD here in NC but, when the snow ,rain and ice fall...I will be sure to see how it all works out. I am very happy with this car!! New cost was $38,000...I paid 12,900. I am happy! OK..here I am again on 10-27-19. I still own the car and it now has 116,000 miles. I take very good care of it . No major repairs other than wear and tear stuff. I still enjoy driving this car and it still puts a smile on my face. I think about selling it from time to time but.....why??? This car still runs great! I so want to get a Porsche macan S but....even used I will pay 45,000. for a 3 year old 20,000 mile vehicle. Is it that much better than my baby? Nahhhh, not yet ..maybe in 2 years..As for now... I will keep and love my 2004 325xi.. 4-28-20: still have my bmw and love it. Such a good car,classic design , plenty of pep and fun to drive...I still take exceptional care of it...always get compliments...its a classic car now..wow! It now has 120,000 mile....still runs great!! By the way, I added a Dynavin stereo system that was made specifically for my BMW ( original look)...it has a back up camera, phone through the stereo and navigation and it looks like it came with the car..perfect fit. I think about getting a porsche Macan S but....not yet..someday... OK...here I am again..9-16-21. I still have the car. Now has 131,000 miles on it. I have to say, I still love this car. It is almost a classic now . People always tell me how nice this car is. I do take care of it. So, let me tell you....I do have to do maintenance or preventative work on it. I recently did all the cooling system parts except for radiator. I am currently in the process of replace the PVC system and vacuum lines . I should be done with age and heat issues so, I will do it. I still change the oil every 5000 miles or so. The car runs like a dream. Its smooth, has good power and it is a classy car. The only thing that bothers me is if I ever get into an accident, I might get $4,500 for it. That would be a shame because I have a lot of money into it. i do nogt mind that part of it because when you have an old car, its good to keep it maintained and running great. When I think about selling it, I always say no. I want a porsche Macan S that cost 55,000 used ( the one I want) and I just can not see paying that much at this time. I love my little bimmer way too much. I will spend my money more wisely elsewhere and keep this baby going a few more years anyway. The thing with these cars or any car for that matter is " do not beat the car" You treat it well...it will generally treat you well. Do the maintenance stuff and preventative stuff and you will be very happy in the long run with this car. maybe I will have up date again in a couple years. 9-17-22 update: Well, unfortunately, I have to now do much more maintenence on the car. It now has 146,000 miles and I recently did the entire front end, shocks, struts and all the vacuum lines as well as disa valve, motor mounts and tranny mounts, plugs, all fluid changes, .6k!! Ouch...the car is becoming g a little less reliable even after all this.still better than buying a new car. I have an annoying shake when stopped at a light, goes away when in neutral and/or when I start driving. No one can tell me what it is. Annoying but not a major issue I think. I am hoping to get to 200k with no more money in it and then sell.. Over, I still love it but not happy with 6k put into it...I'll deal with it for now..Interior still great, ac not a strong as I like but I have never service it. Everything else great. I have new Michelin too...should take me to the 200k mile mark... No rust , a few scratches, minor dings but with cleaned up, looks like new car....REALLY! Here we are 3-18-23..still have my BMW. Its been a great car but I certainly have a lot of money into it at 151,000 miles. The normal stuff...just replaced the disa valve I had some kind of vacuum leak and it was a pain to find. It cost 1600.00 after a foreign car shop did all this diagnostics....ripped off if you as me... best to have a friend work on your car who knows bmw's if you can at this age of the car. I may sell soon but when it looks sooo good and rides so nice, I still can't sell it. I will keep it...I will update again if I still have it. By the way, a lot of people compliment my car...looks real good....its becoming a classic. Almost 20 years old. ok, here we are again om 3-26-25. Still have my BMW with 165,000 miles. Car stiil looks and drives great with no major issues. Just some wear and tear items like outer control arms and links. I did need a new fuel pump too. The car still runs great but I do really take care of it. If something big goes bad ( ie: engine, tranny) I may not throw any more money at it and regretfully let it go. My goal is to get past 200,000 miles. I recommend this car. I love how it drives and the engine is smooth and powerful enough. Great dailey driver and I still get compliments on the car. I have more money in the car than I am comfortable but it beats buying a new car with an initial outlay of more than $40,000. I proably drop $1,500.00 average/year on the car. I am ok with that.( mostly on wear tear items like brakes, tires, front end, shocks etc...)....see you next time!
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Most Reliable BMW, 2004, 325i
The 2004, BMW 325i is the most reliable and aggressive engine of the 3 series BMW line. I purchased the BMW in Heidelberg, Germany brand new in 2003 October. Since then, I have not really spent any money replacing or changing mechanical parts, except for the rotor, shocks, struts, and of course the occasional oil change. Driving this vehicle is a dream. At 100,000 miles, I just got the transmission and differential oil change. For $36K, it has been the best purchase of this magnitude, ever. The only bad thing about the 2004, BMW 325i is the interior is made very cheap. Stuff start to fall apart after a few years.
2004 bmw 325i
Had the car about a year, and my wife hit a deer with it. The deer struck her on the driver side window, and its horn left a mark all the way up the window that I cant even buff out. However I feel that any other window would have busted and my wife would have had a deer in her lap.
Best blend of sport and luxury
I purchased my 330Ci as a European Delivery vehicle in 2004. Great deal from BMW where they give you a discount and two months of driving in Europe. All you pay is gas. 90K miles later and I still love this car. It is fast, luxurious and comfortable. The only upgrades were winter snow wheels and tires and a high end aftermarket sound system. I have driven many vehicles since 2004 and none have this perfect blend of sport and luxury. On top of that I have zero reliability issues. Changed the fluids, filters, brakes, tires and wiper blades...that's it.
Bmw e46 325i sedan auto
Even though this car was automatic I have never driven a car like this one! When I abused it, it was so predictable, when I drive casually, no car was as fun and connected as thus car. I have never felt so happy and safe in a car as I did in this one. I was the second owner at 165000 miles, I changed the oil twice, changed the transmission fluid, and gave it gas once in a while. This car never gave me any problems, issues or annoyances. I was comfortable driving this car, and never in my mind did I ever fell that it would let me down when I drove it. I had it for 2 years and I will never own a car other than a bmw. I sold it for a manual car, I wanted an e46 again but I found a 2006 e90 325i
I wanted to love this car.
My first BMW was a 1987 325e and it ran perfect for 280,000 miles other than normal maintenance. At 280k the coil burned out, I put a new one in and 2 weeks later and the same thing happened. I tried one more time and the same problem so I sold it DOA. I bought a 2004 BMW 330Xi with 59,000 miles on it. My car now has 99,000 miles on it and here are all of the items I replaced. Complete CCV cold weather kit, Crankcase Vent Valve, Oil Separator Hose, Breather Hose. Valve cover gasket, valve cover, power steering pump, spark plugs and coil pack, rear springs, cv joints, DISA, multiple alignments because of pulling, brakes, and now it has mustard color under the oil cap. Updated 4/1/2016. I finally traded the car in to dump this lemon. It ended up having a bad head gasket. The car was never overheated and the antifreeze was rated for well below temperatures we have in Wisconsin. During the winter it would suck down the antifreeze. Not worth all the trouble and I will have a hard time considering a BMW in the future. I replaced it with a Honda Pilot and the Honda now has a 125k trouble free miles on it.
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NOT GOOD...
I bought this vehicle in 2012. By two years I had double paid for this vehicle. The instrument cluster panel even went out. I heard from three mechanics that they have never seen this happen to any vehicle and that cost was almost $2K. At to this very day I have replaced the instrument cluster panel, the valve cover gasket, the coolant expansion tank, the radiator, the control arms w/bushings, the radiator fan clutch, oil pan, oil pan plug, split leather seats, rear ABS speed sensor, broken center console, headliner & interior fabric issues and anything else that was plastic. Long story short I have paid two times plus the purchase price (value) for this vehicle in 4+ years, wow! She is now at 165000 miles which I appreciate however I had over 187000 on a Nissan Altima and spent less than a $1K in repairs. They say the BMW's will run forever... yes, I suppose they will. So will I if you replace "all of my parts!" Since owning this vehicle I have appreciated the turning radius, the vehicular power, e.g. her get up and go, but my overall disappointment as you deal with this vehicle... OUCH and never again!!!! Unless I am so wealthy and can just burn money I will never own another.
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Looks Great, but looks can be deceiving.
I purchased this car used with 60k on it. At first it drove wonderfully. Then old age set in. After 25k miles, it started to break down. It seems like all the things in the engine that broke down, were plastic. Water pump, coolant reservoir, etc..... Not cheap to fix. Power steering pump went out quick and every mechanic, including BMW Mechanics, knew this was a major problem. $750 just to fix the pump. I decided it was time to part ways when I needed to make a 2k mile trip and I found out I had an oil leak, the window motor went out and the ac blower motor was going out. These are great cars if you're Bill Gates, but I'm not. So I bought a Charger.
First Bimmer Best car Ever!
Pluses: Performance and handling are incredible;high quality build, great engineering Minuses: Sensors that monitor sensors in Emissions control system (difficult to diagnose); excessive brake dust on wheels, smallish back seat, speeding ticket expense (you cant help it), trunk CD changer skips over bumps
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I bought a CPO
I bought CPO and have had it for over 3 years. I got the mystic blue with light gray interior. What a nice combo. Have not had one single problem with it. I was concerned about the cloth top but it has been surprisingly easy to maintain. I also burn regular gas to save money and it runs just fine. I think this model is more attractive than the new models.
Love my bimmer
I bought the car with 24,900 miles April 2015 from 80 year old woman. The car now has 57,000 mile. I like the car very much. NO major issues, just maintenance issues here and there. Unfortunately, repairs can be pricey. Overall , I would recommend this car. I am very happy with it. I do expect to keep it a longgggg time. I will keep up the maintenance and it should go and go .I do believe it is the "ultimate driving machine" and I would not go to back to a "basic" car again. I really enjoy driving it... update 3-7-18: Still have the car now with 88,000 miles.. Still love the car and have no real problems...just maintenance issues... had to replace ( a couple times) the front end CVS joint (?) which kept leaking. I hit a lot of bumps here in NYC and that may have been cause. Also, I get very annoyed with the Bi xenon lights. They flicker and I had to replace the bulbs a couple times. It is a problem I can not seem to get an answer to. I am also aware of E46 issues such as the cooling system. No problems yet but I am told I should get a cooling system KIt soon.. Overall, I will find it hard to have any other car than a BMW. It rides so nice. I will keep this car another few years at least. I can not justify a new BMW price..NO way... update: 3-29-19 Well the car now has 105,000 and still going strong. As before , wear and tear issues occur but not too bad. I keep hiting the darn pot holes/man hole covers and I damage the front axle. ( leaks) . I was also able to fix the flickering headlights. I played with the wire connections, reconnected and they seem fine now. yeah!! I change the oil every 5000-6000 miles on my own. I am aware of the e46 issues ( ie: expansion tank) and I may just replace as preventative issue. I take very good care of the car, probably more than the normal guy. This car rides so nice..in fact...the ride is better than some of the newer BMW's in my opinion and the style of this car does not look dated or old. I'm keeping it! I will keep up dating..
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So far great car. 85k miles
I stoped in a local BMW dealer and they sold me on a 325xi it is the most comfortable car I looked at. The sport seats give alot of comfort and are big. For 11k less 1500 for my old car and 200.00 OTD a month I think I did pretty good, for an all wheel drive sports sedan. My first mpg was 29 mostly hwy city. 100 miles a day and see 25 to 28 mpg. This is a car I feel good in and got lots of compliments. 120 mph is like doing 75. I think this car will do 35 mpg all hwy. This car is far ahead of any new honda or toyota. So far I have 85k and will post back at 100 or 125k and will see how well it holds up. Hope I can get 5years of low cost driving. So far love the car. This is a real car tryIt
Awesome Car!
I bought my car from its first owner in Sept. 2010, and the only regret that I have had is that I did not buy it sooner. I'm a first time BMW owner, and I now know what they mean by the Ultimate Driving Machine. With the 6-speed, the car is more than quick enough to maneuver through traffic. For some terrible reason, this car becomes even more fun as the speeds climb. At 100+ MPH it still feels like it's on rails. Mechanically this car seems immaculate, I love the perfect mechanical sound the gear box maxes as you change a gear at low speeds. Both exterior and interior build quality is fantastic; and I love the driving position/feel despite being 6'2" and 225 lbs.
Great vehicle, for any occasion...
Ive had my 2004 330i ( M Package ) for about 2 years now . Its the best vehicle I've ever owned. It now has 96k miles on it and i still owe 4k but let me tell you its a great car, not to mention the handling of this car and the grip has saved me from 2 big accidents, I couldnt believe how good the handling is. So far Ive changed the gas pump, power steering pump, radiator, fan clutch on the engine, not very cheap, but today very happy with it. The exterior look is amazing and so far thank GOD the car has never been crashed and the interior Ive had to fix some stuff here and there but nothing major. Sometimes people ask me what year is your car, i love the way it looks , and mind you its a 2004 !! gREAT CAR, I would recommend it to anyone.
BMW--Break My Wallet
I owned the car for 3.5 years and truly wanted to love the car and the brand. I learned a lot as I repaired the vehicle. I did go six months once, only once, without it needing repairs! The ride, engine performance and mpg are excellent, but I couldn't trust it to go on any trip. the cooling system, radiator, expansion tank, and other cooling system parts are all plastic. My car finally bit the dust and blew the head gasket, forcing pressure into the cooling system, which caused various leaks. I will buy a Lexus IS or an Acura tl for my ride from now on. I'm sold that I don't want to spend the rest of my life troubleshooting the woes of the BMW!!
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04 330i with Performance Pkg
This is my 4th BMW that I owned and the best one by far. What makes this car different from others is the ZHP package or Hight Performance Pkg which give it different look and options. O owned it for over 4yrs and never had any major problems. I purchased it with 44k and now has around 80. Maintenance on it cost me around $1k per year including oil changes and Michelin high performance tires. Car came with HID headlights, leather, navi and all available options.
The Ultimate Driving Machine
I've had my BMW 325Ci all of three weeks but I must say I am already smitten with it. This is the most fun automobile to drive I've ever experienced. It makes you want to just get in and drive around with no particular place to go. I've already done that a lot! It has torque at-the- ready all across the RPM band so never any lag when you need to move. The car feels more powerful than it is. It's handling is incredibly dynamic.
Overall, "The Ultimate Driving Exp."
My wife and I purchased our '04 325i in Oct. 2008. It was a blast to drive until we sold it today. Alpine white/Montana sand leather color combo was perfect and received tons of compliments! In the 21k miles we drove it, the water pump, lower air intake boot, mirror motor, oil separator and secondary air valve all had to be replaced due to failure. Replaced due to "wear and tear" were f & r brakes, belts, window regulators, etc. Other than a few small repairs, we loved this car and honestly hated to see it go. Pick up a certified pre-owned for the best results, and if possible, one with the extended maintenance plan as these are both fully transferable! Rotate your tires every 3k!
UMM why did i ever get rid of this CAR??? ZHP
I've had about 10 different cars throughout my lifespan of only 29 years! I have owned three BMWs VWs a Toyota, Mazda and have driven many other vehicles. This is by far the BEST vehicle ever built. Way to go BMW. I had the 330i fully stocked with navigation, cold weather, premium and 6-speed manual. It was a rare find and I was stupid enough to trade it in and regret it everyday. The engine was silky smooth and soo powerful. IT handled like butter and could turn on a dime. The car felt like you were driving on roller coaster tracks everywhere you went. The gas mileage was excellent. These cars will also you a lifetime I've seen engines go for 300K miles. The inline 6 is so reliable and fun!
awsome
super awsome it is a great car!!!!!!!!!
Amazed!
I bought this car with only 56K miles on the odo in Feb of 2011. I've since added a good 24K and this car still runs and feels like new! I've bought new vehicles before, including a new 1999 Ford Windstar and a 2006 Mazda 5 and I have to tell you the BMW runs way smoother than either of those vehicles did brand new! This car has the most comfortable seats I've ever encoutered and has the smoothese ride I've ever experienced. Sure there are some downsides like the expensive oil changes due to requiring synthetic oil and gassing up costs a bit more as it requires 91 or higher octane. I was never a BMW fan but owning one has put me on top of the fan list!
BMW 325xi Sedan
I bought my 325xi sedan in 2007 and have had a great experience with it so far. The car handles like a dream and hugs the road. It also has good fuel economy despite the fact that premium fuel is mandatory.
It simply glides
Became 3rd owner of a 2004 BMW 330ci with 26k miles in March of 2008. I fell in love with BMW during my first test drive. Powerful acceleration at all speeds. Goes from 60 to 100 without feeling anything. Smooth, quiet, amazing handling/cornering; it simply glides. Be prepared to donate some organs to service and maintain. At 30k miles it needed rear brake pads ($250), alignment ($100), replace driver side door lock actuator ($800), replace throttle boot ($200).
Great car
Great car, I bought my wagon with 91k miles on it and it still drives fantastic. The only issu is the intermittent coolant light that is driving me crazy. Otherwise it still corners, accelerates, and is comfortable as new.
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It's only a car till you drive it
Got it with 63k (74k now) and it's been excellent. The handling, quality, drivability is impressive. There really is a difference from other cars. Very solid feeling. Very roomy as I'm 6'-2", excellent legroom, good headroom. Not the most powerful but has it's moments (generally adequate unless you race). 24-25 mpg highway in the 80s.
I love this car!!
This car sold me on BMW's. The only complaint is that little things break.
Love it!
Love the car, fun to drive, xenon headlights move when you do, rain sensors too cool. Service has been great, only problem was my transmission slipping at 5K miles, took it to dealer, was replaced in 2 days time. Trunk a little small when top down, but didn't buy car for the trunk space!
Better than Infiniti G35
I traded in my 03 G35 because it rode to stiff and had to much road noise. I could not be happier with my decision. This is a true drivers car, confortable and decent power (my G35 was much faster)with smooth delivery and quieter than the G35. I purchased a BLACK ext. with tan leather. The only 2 problems I had were the brake pedal and steering vibrated when I applied the brakes and at 200 miles the engine misfired (was running on 5 cyl). I had to pull over to then side of the road called BMW, they told me to turn the engine off then re-start it,the problem went away. I took it in for service the following week and they changed the no#3 coil and the rotors.
2004 BMW 325 Ci Convertible
Reasonable fun to drive. Interior design/style could be nicer for this price point. Window and doors have problems. Interior buttons break.
Stalling out problem & other problems
Ever since I purchased my 2004 330CI 6 speed manual, I was the service shop almost every week during the first 3 months of ownership. I had speaker rattle noises coming from the passenger door. Insulation between the speaker and door panel fixed it. Equiped with BMW 18" rims that constantly pulled to the right. BMW ended up replacing 1 tire and tweeked alignment to improve it. Worst problem encountered was the sporadic stalling problem when car was at an idle at a stop light. Engine would just cut out. BMW claims it is a software problem and no current fix at this time and had to temporarily increase my idle speed by 50. I got rid of this car!!
Great Car my 3 rd BMW
The fun in driving this car is not equaled by anything I test drove. I drove my last BMW 125,000 and every time I drove that car it felt as if I was getting in it for the first time. The only reason I purchased a new one is my 17 year old daughter tested the air bags and they worked fine when she destroyed the car. This is the 3 rd BMW that saved the life of someone in my family. I car you will love!
Fun to Drive But Not Reliable
I got my BMW 3.30 Ci in 04 February. The performance of the car is amazing. I had some minor problems tho. The car passenger door window failed at the first month. Then the handle on the driver seat that is used to move the driver seat to front has failed. The door seals fail on both doors due to hot weather at Reno. I believe the car should have been designed for worse temperature conditions. The sunroof failure is almost very BMW's problem. The engine was running rough at first but fixed by the help of software upgrade. The car is really fast and very fun to drive.
330CIC BMWer
The 330CIC is not only fun to drive, it is also a sharp looking vehicle that turns heads. Excellent pick-up, highly recommend the 5-speed trans. Quality is flawless which is typical for German- built vehicles.
Drop the top & live
I have always driven Japanese sports cars and never wanted to experience the stiff German ride of BMW or Mercedes. My wife concinced me to get the 325ci convertible and I did ... I will never drive Japanese again. There is nothing like looking past the illuminated orange dash lights on a warm summer night with the top down. What a great car. It has been extremely reliable but most important fun to drive.
Delightful to drive
The BMW 330CiC is a wonderful car to drive and never fails to get looks from other drivers. It corners as if on rails but is very composed and comfortable for commutes. The Harmon Kardon sound system gives high-quality performances, even with the top down. A few minor issues with the car were corrected promptly by the dealership. I average 24 mpg in commute/city driving, which is better than I expected. I always look forward to driving it and can't help but smile as I do.
BMW = Practical
Wife and I had our first kid and dumped a minivan for the BMW wagon. She loves everything about this car. The AWD is good in the snow and 2 Britax car seats fit comfortably in the back with the armrest down. With enough space to pack all the kiddie stuff in the rear, my wife loves the ride, stability, safety, and overall ride of the wagon. Who's kidding... I love driving it too.
The best!!!
I have never owned a BMW before now. I can say that I find the experience to be incredible. The car has kick A-- attitude and it looks good too. I have only found 2 drawbacks so far. 1. The fuel economy isn't what I expected, but I should have known better and the back seats sit so upright that they lack comfort for even a 1 hour trip. All in all I would buy this car again and again and again. However, I reserve judgment on winter driving since I haven't experienced that yet. Lets see how the car handles the North East winters!
A driver's dream
Purchased new, my ZHP as shown in many example pics for 04 330i sedan (dark gray) was a great intro to the UDM experience. Razor sharp and excellent power and handling, with great ride and economy to boot. Only one mechanical issue due to fuel quality. Good room for what is really a small car. Always looked forward to driving it.
excellent buy
If you have the money... this is the car to buy ; no cons for 1 1/2 years that i am driving it.
It Delivers on Your Expectations!
The car envelopes you inside of it and becomes an extension of your being. It responds to a driver's inputs like its receiving neurological signals from your brain's synapses. Where other cars will go skidding off the road, a BMW 325Ci, with sport package, just digs in and asks, "is that all you got?"
Unreal control in snow and ice
I have owned my 2004 325xi for three years now and have enjoyed driving it every minute. I grew up with Mercedes and am used to German engineering, build quality, etc. However, I think the 3 series, particularly the XI (AWD) variants, are very tough to beat. This was confirmed over the weekend when I drove from DC to North Carolina and spent three days driving around in snow and ice in NC. I cannot explain how well the car handles in bad weather. It is truly unreal. When trying to slip and slide, the car takes over, cuts the gas, shifts the traction around to the various wheels and keeps the car in control. No complaints in 60k miles of driving it.
I'll keep it till the end! I still own it!
I'm the 2nd owner. Bought it when it had 13000. Has 123000 now. Very reliable, interior looks as good as the day I bought it! I may be selling it soon. I like the Z4 !! SoMy thought is to sell the 325xi and get the Z4 as my 3rd car.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Purchased for my Son's 16th Birthday
I've been driving BMW 5 series for years ; purchased new. When my son was turning 16, I wanted a safe and reliable and let's face it, a hot car...you're only 16 once :-). I located a great priced 2004 325ci, red, with 40K miles in 2009; I made the deal and brought it home. I had an option to purchase the same car albeit blue with the CPO warranty but they wanted 2K more and I said no...big mistake. My whole family really likes this car...sporty, peppy, looks great, etc. But...I purchased the car for 13K and put 7K into it. I belive the other two previous owners just didn't keep up with maintenance or it was listed as a lemon. Once I got beyond all the repairs, awesome; we'll keep the car