Used 2004 BMW 3 Series Sedan Consumer Reviews
Performance Package Makes it Perfect!
I've owned this car for three years now, and there is nothing out there that can match the awesome driving experience of the 330i with Performance Package. The handling is perfect, virtually no understeer and great rotation through the corners. Clutch, shifter, and brakes are the best in class. Interior is laid out perfectly; no frills, and very driver oriented... even better than the redesigned 3 Series. Have had no problems with the car except occasional oil consumption. Quality is outstanding, dealership experience is first-class, and this thing is built like a tank!
You can do better for this much money
I've had this car for 2500 miles now and can only say that it has the worst suspension, and drive by wire system imaginable. There is a 0.5 second delay after you hit the accelerator, and the car bounces, floats, and leans terribly regarding the suspension. The interior is nice and clean. However the performance suffers so greatly, I am going to have to upgrade both the suspension and software to make it livable. I thought it was the break in period, but alas, it's made this way. Not recommended for anyone that owned a previous (E36 model years) BMW. The XI version drives more like an SUV than a sedan. For the money, it's not worth it.
- 330Ci ConvertibleMSRP: $19,99047 mi away
- 325i SedanMSRP: $5,900184 mi away
- 325xi SedanMSRP: $3,497198 mi away
The ultimate driving machine
An absolute joy to drive. The car feels very solid and composed and corners with minimal body lean. The engine is silky smooth and the brakes are excellent. Even with a moonroof, there's still plenty of headroom inside. On average, I get about 24 mpg. For about $1,400, the leather seats are a must-have option-- the standard leatherette/vinyl seats look and feel cheap. I was debating between getting the BMW or the Infiniti G35, but I just couldn't stomach the cheap- looking interior and the odd-looking exterior of the G35. Besides, BMW offers free scheduled maintenance for first 4 yrs/50,000 miles.
I'm Sold
I bought mine CPO; premium and sports package; black on black with 39,000 miles in 2007. I've always owned Japanese and my last car was a 1997 Integra GSR. But I needed a 4-door for the ease of carrying more than one passenger, so I bought this Bimmer even though I had trepidation about its reliability as I found this particular year and model to be the best looking 4-door sport sedan out there (even now in 2009 IMO). Two years into the ownership and I have not had any major issue. I recently lost my job; I don't miss my job but I missed not making the daily commute in my 325i. That's how much I love this car, how about that!
Love this car but reliability not great
There are 3 things I love about this car: 1) Handling and performance, it's a dream to drive on freeways and windy roads. 2) Interior is simple and elegant - I prefer BMW interior of this model period vs the newer BMW design which is unnecessarily complex. 3) Seats are firm and very comfortable for long rides. I sat in the back seat of a friend's BMW 3-series of same year and the surprisingly comfortable ride in the back if you want a smaller car. It would be tight squeeze though for a guy over 6 ft tall but more room than Mercedes C-class in same price range.