Used 2006 BMW 3 Series Sedan Consumer Reviews
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Beautiful Bimmer
I used to have the 2001 325i and that was a joy to drive. This year's redesign is even better. It corners beautifully and it has the right amount of power and it looks stylistic. It's a little pricier than other sedans in the same class but it's well worth it when you look at the performance, build quality, and handling.
The 'SPORTS' Is Gone, Replaced By Luxury
BMW's major changes to its 2006 3-Series is fascinating and yet somewhat boring as well. This is my 4th BMW in the 3-Series and while I welcome change, I find myself associating the new design and approach as similar to what Nissan did to its 'Z' cars or what Ford did to its 'Thunderbird'. Sports cars that were fun to drive became fat, boring and touted with 'luxury' instead of 'sport'. I love BMW handling and above all, BMW's intense focus on safety. My 325i 2006 came with i-Drive and the navigation system. Once I get my pilots license, I might have it mastered. Until that time, I really dislike it. Rear view side mirrors are too small and run-flat tires with no spare concern me.
- 330xi SedanMSRP: $6,99078 mi away
- 330Ci ConvertibleMSRP: $8,37595 mi away
- 325Ci CoupeMSRP: $10,995100 mi away
Great to Drive...but ugly!!!
Great driving car, power, handling is second to none in this class. But the car is bloated looking and the rear is hideous. Interior is not up to par with a 40K plus car.
Gotta luv the Bimmer
I traded my 2001 325i for this new and improved model. I am so impressed. I thought my first one was great, however everything i thought it should have had was put into this one. The Ipod jack, and running tires floored me. I will probably never own another brand. How can you go to a regular car after driving a Bimmer?
Still the best but has lost something.
This is my 3rd 330i after a 2001 and 2002. Like the others this car had the Sports & Premium packages. Extra CPO warranty and bought tire & wheel insurance. Got an automatic after having 5 speeds because of my wife and regretted it immediately. New automatics are better but still don't have that "connected" feel of a manual. The handling is even better than previous models but didn't feel as fun to drive somehow. The car has definitely gotten bigger and heavier and you feel it. Some systems have almost gotten too complicated. Would have probably kept the car if it had a manual transmission but sold it at 38,000 miles. Now thinking about getting a 135i but the styling puts me off.
First Bimmer
I just picked up my 2006 325i (Jet black exterior, blakc interior, manual, Sport package) a couple weeks ago and I am absolutely loving it. Not only is the E90 a beauty to look at, but its a beauty to drive too. I am glad I chose this over the G35 Coupe 6MT.
06 330 is the Best 3 ever!!!!!1
Ever since I bought my car last month, it has been excellent. I have owned a 03 300m, 03 325i, and 04 TL. The new 330i is by far the best car I have driven!!!! I have the premium, cold, and sport packages (sport package worth the money). For car lovers, get the manual, it is more enjoyable than the automatic. The interior and exterior designs are great. For the older generation, it might be a problem, but for me (27) it is excellent. It is about time BMW updated their look to target the younger generation! I give the 06 330 3 thumbs up!!! (If I only had an extra one).
Best car I ever owned
I have had this car for almost a year. I traded in my 2001 325i model for this when the re-design first came out (I owned a 318is prior to the 325i). This is the best 3-series model I have owned and I have yet to get bored with it. I still feel the same thrill as I had the day I drove it home. The aux input for my iPod was a very nice feature and the engine purrs quietly. I love the acceleration on this car. Car does run only on premium gas so beware of that. The only thing I wasn't impressed with was the audio system. Premium sound system was a better option, but I choose instead to buy a better system aftermarket.
Awesome Car
This car is awesome. It has enough space to accommodate 2 adults in the front and 2 kids and a baby carseat in the back, along with 3 duffel bags, one giant bag, and 2 carry-on bags in the trunk. Going on I-5, we got from San Jose to Los Angeles on 1 tank of gas!! Best sedan ever.
Sweeet Riide
This is the first BMW and foreign car that I have owned. Coming from the V8 American muscle car scene, Vettes, T/As and Camaros, I am very impressed with this car overall. My biggest disappointment is low end torque. Neither the 325 or the 330 have sufficient low end torque. The car revs like a bat out of hell all the way to 7000 RPM and that makes it sweet but in order to keep the power up, you have to keep it revved. Other than that, there is not a bad thing I can say about this vehicle. The handling is out of this world and I recommend the sport package. The workmanship is better than the best of the American vehicles as the Germans think of things that GM and Ford don't for some reason.
Hmm
I leased this one after having a 2003 BMW 325i (E46), and was actually expecting more performance, as the HP got increased 17%, however, the car remained to be pretty much the same. In addition, the RFT Bridgestones are very noisy! They screwed up the cup holders as well as the window and locking commands - I believe that they were better in the old BMWs. Otherwise, everything else is very good, and I love the new feature of having the automated wipers and Bluetooth connectivity with my cellular phone.
great car
Great attention to detail. Haven't found one little thing I dislike about the car yet. Fast acceleration, much roomier than older models
Best handling sedan
Details: Auto + Prem Package. No Sport Package. The 3.0L engine of the 325i is very powerful and responsive. I personally it is very enough for road driving. No need to get 330i unless you are speed freak. Acceleration is very fast and linear. It feels faster than the IS300 and G35. The solid steering with DSC make driving this car fast very easy. The suspensing is firm but somehow it can smooth out the rough road when needed. Amazing. The auto transmission is very smooth with no jerking at all. The steptronic is responsing much faster than the one in IS300 and G35. I like the E90 styling as it is more modern and the head lamp has aggressive stance.
2006 BMW 3 series still a winner
I just purchased a 2006 BMW 3 series. The car has everything but the navigation feature. The car rides like it is on rails. When I go 100 MPH on a bumpy intersate my body is unable to up and down as fast as the 3 series so it is like a rollor coster. My 2003 G35 floated like a 1980 cadilac.The 5.1 stereo is awsome. I must say the stereo EQ was in the N shape which made the sound not that good. I change the EQ to a V setting and put the base and treble setting @ 7 and it rocks. I do not know which to listen to.. the tight whine of the 3 inline 6 going though the geers or the 5.1 stereo. The stereo ROCKS if you set it up right. It has base, treble and then an EQ setting.
First 400 miles E90
E90 with manual, PP, SP, Active Steering, Sunshades, Sat Radio. Wow, this car is amazing. With the sport package, the handling is superb, predictable and sticks like glue. Surprisingly, the highway ride is still very smooth and forgiving, then again I prefer a firmer ride in general. The interior is very efficient and almost on par with Audi. The technology is stunning from the Active Steering to the Bluetooth capability to the DSC/DTC. At times, the car makes me into a better driver than I am at the limit. It exudes confidence in all aspects of driving, braking, cornering and accelerating. I truly can have a sports car experience with the convenience of a family sedan.
I smile ear-to-ear when I start the car
If you are looking for an exceptional car, just take a drive in the 325i. First, you slide into the comfortable leather seats and push the button to start the engine. Now, put the auto/manual lever in first gear and put your foot into the gas. The car takes off in a split second. Now, as the tachometer revs, shift into the other gears and you think that you died and went to heaven. The 325i is in a class by itself. It is a beautifully styled car. Great work BMW!
My first Bimmer 2006
After owning 3 Toyotas, I decided to purchase a BMW and WOW, now I know what they mean by the ultimate driving machine. I drove it to see my parents for XMAS, which is a 3hr drive from where I live and oh, what a performance. I got 34 MPG at speeds of 70 & 75 (mostly speed limit) and the handling was superb. The enjoyment of sitting behind that inline six, knowing that the only reason that Acura can pass me is because I let it, is a wonderful experience.
Perfect LA Car
The 330i is small but so quick off the mark, cruises like a big sedan, has true steering and the best brakes. City streets or freeways get eaten up. Seat support outstanding. Very clear and easy to read instruments.
Great Ride, once you replace the tires
First BMW, bought after much research, to replace a faithful Nissan Maxima, which I loved. Best car I've ever owned or driven. I had reservations from the start about the Run Flat tires. Nobody will repair them, they ride harsh and loud, tramlining is horrible, they only last 12k miles, and are very expensive to replace. Replaced with regular "go flat" tires, and it's like a different car; amazing what a difference regular tires makes. Now I just carry a couple cans of fix-a-flat and my triple A card. 2 problems: driver's side mirror and steering wheel lock had to be replaced.
I'll never settle for less
This is my first BMW and its so much better in build quality and ride than any other car I have owned. The 4 years of paid maintainence is a great feature. I anticipate great resale in 4 years. But build them closer to the U.S.A., I had to wait 6 weeks to get mine.
Perfect Sedan
I drive my car very hard, and it has continued to amaze me. For the money, there isn't a car on the market that measures up. Perfect small, luxury sedan.
Great
The car is great. It is a go getter and has plenty of pep. The body, interior and all the bells are another good feature of this car. I would have liked the tires to be of the old school.
Amazing
This car is literally amazing, its fast, fun, and extremely luxurious. It's especially fun for long car drives because you never want to leave your seat.
325i Great Car
I purchased this car as a service model, with about 5K miles on it. Although I'd love to have an M3, the 325i is a good performing car for the money. It has good pick-up and handles great. It's fun to drive and looks good while doing it. I haven't had any problems with the car.
All that we expected, and more.
We were somewhat concerned about reliability but the 330i we test drove sold itself to us. We have had the 330i for 3 weeks and we love it. It has performance, handling, luxury features and best of all, it has given us piece of mind while driving it.
First 1000 Miles Update
Still very impressed by the vehicle. Drives like a dream, very quiet, smooth, a lot of fun to drive. Absolutely no problems so far. Would recommend it to everybody! Just a note about the price (for those G35 people), when you add the options to your G35 that base Bimmer already has, they almost cost the same, maybe $1k difference. I would pay extra $1k for a Bimmer any time over any Japanese (American, Korean...) car.
330i 6-Auto is a nice car!
I've owned this car almost a month now, and I really like it. It has very good handling for a 4-door car. It's fairly quick on acceleration, I think mainly because it has a really good first gear. Also, the brakes are astounding! It's really amazing what this car does for you... it has auto (rain sensing) wipers, a cooled cup holder, headlights that follow the road, and all kinds of other neat stuff that's too much to list. I never looked at a foreign car before, but I'm really glad I did because this BMW is completely a nice car. You won't be sorry if you consider it for purchase.
Great car
Have had my 325i for 2 weeks and I absolutely love it. Used to drive the Maxima SE and they just don't compare. The BMW quality is second to none
2006 330i Sport Pkg
All around super car with a balances level performance and comfort.
Excellent driver though issues
Purchased first ever BMW, was a CPO with only 29k on odo and had sport, premium, & 6 sp manual. I love the handling, excellent brakes, seats fit perfect & logic7 is 100% better than stock system. Complaints-Reliability 1 mo had an exhaust camshaft sensor, 2 mo later rr rt wheel bearing day then 3 mo later lt rear wheel bearing. Spoke to1st owner & he had nothing to hide (accidents, hard driving etc). Run flats worst tires ever owned. Tram lining & wear are horrible. Suggest top rated A/S perf tires when replacing!! Reliability will determine if it's a keeper or seller at CPO end 2-12. Best ever daily driver if you can only own one car!
Great So Far
Great vehicle. Handles well, good ride and excellent take-off power.
Love it!
Hands down the best (luxury class) car I've ever had. Prem & cold weather pkgs; automatic trans. 6-gear transmission is absolutely seamless. The engine feels more powerful than 215hp and simply sings. In Sport-Drive mode (for auto trans), the trans lags by approx 2 seconds, resulting in an incredibly sporty feel. Turning radius is tight making parking garages a breeze. It corners as if on rails. Interior: Seats are extremely comfortable, especially with the adjustable lumbar support. Quieter (less road/wind noise) than expected given some reviews out there. Bottom line: Perfect combination of power/performance & head-turning looks. BMW says it best: the ultimate driving machine.
I adore my Bmw..
I just got my 325i (silver w/black leather) yesterday! I love it so far, it was much better than i thought. The 325i is enough power for daily use. If you have the extra $ go for the 330, but it wasnt worth the $6K in my opinion. Going from a front wheel drive jetta to this car, was a huge power difference anyway. I got sport package which is def worth it. And auto transmission, very cool driving it as manuel/auto.
Best of the Best
I'm, on my 3rd BMW 3-series and the new 2006 is by far the best I've ever seen and driven. It has every feature I could want and finally the performance I wanted with 255 hp. I get excited every time I need to drive and that was what I needed. Go get one and feel the excitement.
A happy ownership experience
After 2 yrs and 40k miles, I'll have to say that I've been happy with my BMW. A problem early on with some of the fuel system parts, now at 40k peeling paint on a trim strip (will be covered by warranty), and a drivers winow that sometimes goes into "trouble" mode (only goes down about 2 inches until reset) are the only troubles I've had. Yes, the OEM tires were HORRIBLE, but the car is wonderful after replacing them. The car handles like you've always heard BMWs do, the engine is sweet. Complaints? Few. Cupholders are annoying, as is the "freeze warning" that chimes whenever the temp drops below 37 degrees. Paint quality is not great. But I LOVE the car!
2006 BMW 330i - WOW!
I went looking for a sporty four door sedan that was under $50,000.00. I test drove the 2005 Infiniti G35 sedan, the 2005 Mercedes Benz C320 sport sedan, and finally the 2006 BMW 330i sedan with premium and sport packages and a six speed manual transmission. Compared to the Infinity and the Mercedes, the 2006 BMW 330i was in a class by itself. The build quality of this car, both interior and exterior is second to none. The ride quality is superb, with almost zero road noise at speeds of over 100 mph! The redesinged 330i is a very impressive, and I would recommend this vehicle to anyone in the market for this type of vehicle.
AWESOME
I finally received my 325i last week (maunual, graphite metallic w/black leather, premium pckg adn premium sound) after waiting for 8 weeks. It was definitely worth the wait, I am so glad I did not decide to go with something else. This is my first bimmer and I think I finally found the right car for myself. The ride is amazing and definitelly a car is a head-turner. I strongly recommend this car!
The best
They aren't wrong when they say its the Ultimate machine. The new design is neck breaking. Its performance is unbelievably good. This car deserves a 10 all the way.
Great Car, but is it Reliable?
Overall, this car handles very well and has a good smooth engine and transmission. Unfortunately, after only about 1400 miles I had to take it in for an airbag sensor malfunction and other minor electrical issues. I hope this is not a sign of things to come.
My best car ever
This is the first car that I have ever owned that made me want to drive around the block after ariving home after a three hundred mile trip.
The best 3-series yet!
This car is a beauty to drive, be in, and look at. It hugs the road, has virtually no lean in tight curves, accelerates well and is ohhh so smooth and quiet. The inline 6 is peppy, and the handling is what you would expect from BMW. The interior well appointed (with the premium and winter packages) and the finish is flawless. Try the automatic transmission if you are uncomfortable with manual: the difference in 0 - 60 is there but is not that significant. All in all this is a fun car to drive to work, on weekends, or whenever you just feel like tainkg a spin.
Solid
Overall I have been very happy with my 06 325i. I get great gas mileage, it handles beautifully, although a little sportier than I am used to. The engineering I believe is unmatched by any vehicle. I had to slam on the brakes to avoid a deer and was shocked at the cars response, it stopped on a dime and didnt fishtail at all. I was amazed. I think they could spruce up the interior just a bit more, but I guess if you want total luxury (for the interior) you would need to move to the Lexus.
BUY IT OR GET LEFT IN THE DUST!!!
Incredible driving experience and good looks! i just bought a Graphite 325i w/sport and premium and the first day i drove over 100 miles including twisted roads in Malibu canyon and it was a blast...i couldnt stop driving! The graphite color and sport package are musts! It corners flat with the sport package and the wheels look better. Put it in sport mode and you can pass anyone... Will definitely stand out in a crowd! Girls will smile at you, even if they are with a guy! (happened twice the first night!) Maintenance is included so stop driving a honda and get one
Updated Review - 5 weeks later
Just hit the 5-week mark and my new- found love for this car has intensified! I've owned Hondas, Toyotas, a Buick, an Infinity, and a Lexus... NOTHING compares to this car! I look forward to every moment I get to drive and STILL am looking for excuses to keep taking it out. BMW hypes the "feedback" you receive when driving their cars. They're 100% right -- EVERY single thing you do translates to the car's handling. Unquestionably the most responsive car I've ever driven! The sport shift mode is a blast, too! My little rocket and I are officially best buddies now. The Premium package adds a lot of comfort to this charming and confident racer. Best car I've ever owned!
Awesome
I've only had the car for a week but I am already in love! I went from a Mercedes to this absolute rocket. Looks, performance, it has it all. The total experience is what one would expect from buying a luxury sports sedan from Germany. I will never go back to Mercedes.
LITTLE ROCKET
I have been driving Toyota's & Honda's now for about the last 10 years & I can tell you there is no comparison to this 330i. With the cost of those well equipped Japanese cars rising "by all means spend a tad more to get this little rocket!" This BMW is fun to drive, stylish, quick, & has an awesome sound system. My only complaint is the Nav system - a little too complicated for me to use when in a hurry - but I sure like the video display for the radio & CD.
2006 325i
It took a little time to adjust to the new styling, in comparison to my previous 2004 330Xi. But I'm liking it more as time passes. This new 325i is about as fast as my 330Xi was. It corners about 20% better, even though it's a little larger car. The ride is fine, even with the run flat tires. I can accept it as an evolution of my previous car and would agree with the positive new model reviews I've read about it. The relocation of the control switches took a little getting used to, as in most new cars.
As promised!
The new 3-series is a joy to drive. Great exterior styling, comfortable interior with more "elbow room" than previous 3-series incarnations and lots of fun gadgets.
Great Car
I just love this car, Handles great on the road and a lot more quiet than my 2003 325I. Also like the computer that tell me everything about the car. just a pleasure to drive.
Very Sweet ride
This car specializes in awesome handling. The 330i with the Sport Package stays flat in any turn and inspires confidence. I also find it to be drop dead gorgeous. I'm a bit surprised by those who rave about the power - it's noticably less peppy than the G35 and Legacy GT. Wish they could've given it 25 more hp for 41K out the door, but hey, it's still an amazing car.