Used 2011 BMW 3 Series Sedan Consumer Reviews
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My first, but definitely not last, BMW
Picked up my first BMW a week ago. I got the 2011 328i (X-Drive, w/Nav). Coming from an Acura TSX, I don't know how I have been driving any other car. This car begs to be driven and it begs even more to hug corners. After my lease is up I am definitely getting another BMW - truly the Ultimate Driving Machine. Drive one and you'll understand why they picked that slogan. I barely feel the car accelerate. The interior is well organized and very well thought out. Although, I'm not a fan of the driver's cup holder, but that's just being nit-picky. There isn't much storage room on the front as the glove box is small and the center console is also small. Again, these are minor to me.
Falling out of love
I have a 2011 335xi, I was so in love with this car when I got it but since the warranty has expired, I am falling out of love. My left headlight is drooping, my steering wheel is squeaking, and my fuel mileage is dropping-14mpg in the city! And the car is warm, I think the temp sensor or something is going bad. My car died on me in the middle of a busy road when the water pump died, then 2 months later it started to smoke-resulting from 2 engine gasket seals that needed to be replaced. I wish I had purchased an extended warranty, these repairs were over $2500 dollars.
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- 335i xDrive SedanMSRP: $8,999102 mi away
- 328i ConvertibleMSRP: $10,995101 mi away
- 328i xDrive CoupeMSRP: $7,995101 mi away
Bought it for wife!
Purchased pre-owned 1 year ago - wife really likes car and sometimes lets me drive it - a little nicer than my Element - great looking and has performed well on very long road trips to midwest - 75K when purchased - have been told by non-BMW owners that maintenance costs will be high - so far so good - will replace run flats when they wear out - I think it will ride better - could use some better cupholders too, but no big deal
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Bent rod, needs a new engine
I've been a member of the BMWCCA for more than ten years now. This is my 7th three series. M package, rear wheel drive manual 6speed, Power Kit so 320 HP. Noticed and felt engine noise since 68k miles. thought it might be the flywheel and clutch. Replaced at $3,000. Not the issue Dealership did a compression test, said it needs a new engine. $18,000! BMW will cover 50% because it's out of warranty. I provided all oil change docs. BMW wanted to see oil changes at least every 15k. I averaged every 7,500 miles. Never auto crossed or tracked. Commuter car, 42 year old father of four. Not laying down patches or beating on the car. My take, don't buy a turbo model. Too much stress on the engine components. Never own one of these out of warranty, you're asking for trouble. Fuel pump was replaced under warranty (common issue), water pump was on my dime. Hardly reliable, worst car I've ever owned. Beast on the highway? at 4.3 0-60 yes. Sad to say it, I'm a Bimmer guy through and through but that's it for me. BMW corporate said they wouldn't make a repair coverage decision until they knew for sure what the problem was. I wanted the dealership to drop the oil pan to definitively diagnose the issue so I could tell BMW NA what was wrong. After the compression test all of a sudden the dealership clammed up like it was a cover up? The dealership would not go any further. They told the manufacturer that it needed a new engine without ever dropping the oil pan and taking a peek. Didn't make sense. I still want to have an independent garage take a look so maybe I can get some video or pics and post them. Forget about BMW customer service. I got someone on the line outsourced from India. If you must buy a BMW again never own one out of warranty! Unless your buying a fixer upper for a couple of grand. I traded it in on a new Silverado burying the negative equity of the Bimmer into the truck payment. Tough pill to swollow Good luck!
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Not all 3-series are the same. 335i is king
The 3-series varies immensely according to which model you get and extras you purchase. I have a 335i xdrive with sports package that includes sports bucket seats, steptronic shifting paddles on the steering wheel, thicker steering wheel, tightened suspension. Other features are garage door opener, shadowline, sunroof, drop down rear seats, xenon head lights. First impressions from styling is always up to to driver but I feel the clean look has a mature look to it. It has the a classy look with a monster of an engine that you would never know by the look. Interior the car has clean lines with quality materials. The wood accent is nice. The feel of the dash is good and gives of no glare which is great for driving. The layout of the cluster does take a little to get use to. The radio is sometimes confused for the heat and Ac. The directionals get a little to get use to as well as the cruise. Radio is good quality not great but the interaction with my cell phone works well. Comfort is bar none to any other. The sports seat hug you, in turns and are very comfortable on long drives. Like every car today you get a hundred different positions you can choose. The sports steering wheel is fat and so easy to hold. When sitting in the drivers seat you feel very comfortable. Rear seats are ample for two adults, tight with three. I run with two car seats and plenty of room. The trunk is deceivingly large but I suggest the pull down rear seats for runs to the hardware store. Very happy with the space in such a tight sports sedan. Engine and handling, there's a reason they say it's the ultimate driving experience. The inline six is smooth and powerful. It's smooth with the six gear transmission when you are driving other and want to take it easy. If you want to get on it, it has enough power to scare you and break a few laws. When in sports mode the gears are held a little longer and you can control shifting with the paddle shifters. I seldomly use the shifters while in sports mode but while on the highway in regular mode I will shift down to pass or change lanes. Once you get off the gas the car automatically shifts back into a higher gear. As far as handling the car is smooth on highways a little bumpy in the city due to the tightened suspension but if you get it into the mountains it is solid at high speeds around the corners. At times you'll surprise yourself how fast you take the corners with while feeling in total control. Reliability is a crap shoot, I've heard horror stories but the service by BMW is excellent. I drive an hour to Austin just to use them because they are worth the drive. Luckily I've had nothing but a few misfires. The car is 5 years old and turns heads were ever I go. It's tight, fast and comfortable. Every time I get into my car I smile and every time I get out I smile. My past cars have been Jeep Wrangler, VW golf, Nissan 300z, Hyndai Santa Fe, Infiniti FX35, Infiniti G35, BMW 328i and Acura MDX this is by far the best car I've ever owned maybe the best I've driven next to a Porsche 911. It's also 60k less than the Porsche and can fit my girls in the back. My wife feels like the car is too powerful and she doesn't feel comfortable driving it. She prefers the 328i which is more tame and is peppy if you want it. With the 335i the power is always there so you need to be aware when driving.
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First Time BMW Owner
As a first time owner of a BMW, the car has great performance and handling. If you are looking for a car that has best in class handling this car is for you. I test drove the competition, Lexus, Mercedes, Infinity and Audi nothing compares to the BMW. It has a quiet interior and no rattles or other annoying noises. If you have kids which I do the back seats have enough room and comfort for a day trip. I selected Premium Package, cold weather package and Xenon adaptive headlights. I passed on the Navigation system, it is not worth the extra 2k in my opinion. I think there are plenty of navigation choices with today's smartphones.
another great 3 series
I bought this car as certified pre-owned. Only way to go as i paid 28K for a 46K vehicle. This is NOT a sports car but a fabulous driving vehicle. Plenty of power and very comfortable. Decent fuel mileage on the highway but not so much around town. I am not tired of driving this vehicle.
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Long Term Ownership review - 4 + years
I bought this car with 18,000 miles on it in August 2013. It currently has 107,000 on it in January 2018. The acceleration is really good! Cost of ownership is terrible, still owe $9,000 on the principal loan and it's starting to fall apart. Things that broke: 4 ignition coils (2 separate occasions), costing me about $25 / coil per time (DIY repair), 2 complete sets of tires. Currently the car has these problems: 2 bad rear wheel bearings, a failed DISA valve (engine rattle on acceleration) , serpentine belt tensioner pulley is slightly squeaking, rear upper control arm bushing is worn, and oil pan gasket and valve cover gaskets are leaking. The DISA valve is a known issue and a problem solver repair kit exists on Ebay for $80 (a new DISA valve costs about $250, and it will break down like the original). I'll be replacing the valve and wheel bearings as soon as the cold weather breaks. I love the way the car looks and handles so I'll be keeping it after it's paid off.
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Almost perfect, but ...
Great car, my first BMW, but glaring points when compared to comparable and less comparable sedans. 1. Cup holders are awful! This is a nut that everyone else cracked a decade ago and in the 3 series the front seat cup holders are poorly placed and of limited use. 2. Car alarm. Should be standard, not an option. 3. Key fob makes it too easy to push the trunk button when removing from ignition. Negatives are done, here's the positives. I've owned 5 different cars over the last 10 years, SUV to sportster convertible. I've never seen a perfect car. The BMW 3 series is about as close as I think you can get for this size sedan. Great ride, engine, fun, MPG, luxury, etc. Very happy with my car!
Fun but better can be had at this price
The front seats are comfortable. The rear lacks leg room and just OK for 2. Extremely uncomfortable for 3. Great engine. Reliability could be better. Interior materials are cheap and constantly need repair. Exterior rubber trim dry rots quickly, especially those around the windows. Other, better luxury cars are available in this price range.
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Great old school BMW
I have 150,000 miles on this car now. Bought it as a 22,000 mile CPO in 2013. It is the 328 xdrive, with the inline 6 base engine and hydraulic steering, and no IDrive. It came with run flats and without suspension tuning to compensate. So I installed non-run flats. Problem solved. It has been a very good car. Lots of long road trips and commuting through good weather and bad. The only thing I would have done different is change the fluids more often than recommended. Transfer case went out at about 138,000 miles. The only other major issue was the AC compressor. There were other minor issues, but nothing of consequence. Otherwise, it has been a phenomenal car.
2011 3 Series Rocks
Car is awesome all around. From performance to design, I love it. I think that the new BMW's design is lacking compared to the 2011. My nav is built into dash, everything flows, just clean lines. Performance is awesome, super fast and great handling. I have owned car for 5 years now and zero repairs, just routine care, nothing else. I would recommend this to anyone. I also got the extended warranty so I pay zero for maintenance. I would go with older BMW over new just due to design, I think the new ones look ugly compared to past years. Resale is great, my car holds value better than most.
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BMW = BIG MONEY WASTER
I have had my 2011 bmw 328i for about 2 years, within the last 4 months I have dumped over $4k into repairs.. one leak, after another, after another. my radiator went out at 80k miles, valve cover assembly replaced, oil pan gasket leak, and more. This car has been nothing but problems, and everything (shocker) is not covered on my warranty... after research online and reading forums, a lot of others have had these issues. BEWARE once you hit 80k miles!! your bank account will hate you.
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Great ride but too much maintenance
The 328i drives beautifully - tight steering and hugs the road. Requires too much maintenance. Buy with a BMW maintenance and warranty plan or have a spare car and extra funds for repairs.
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Outstanding car
The 3 series is BMW's entry level vehicle and we bought it 4 years old with a remaining bumper-to-bumper warranty with included maintenace. My wife, now son, love it. We had one problem with air conditioning, which would have been expensive to fix out-of-pocket, but it was covered. My experience is that keeping the fluids clean will render a great expericne with the 328i.
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Cool 328i M Sport 3 year update
3 year/35k miles update. I have kept my promise to hold on to the car for 3 years. It has 95k miles and lately has given me a few issues that made me considered selling or trading it in. In the last 5k miles I've replaced a leaky radiator and a leaky oil filter housing (Not cheap). The front rotors are warped and need replacing. When I floor it, sometimes it goes on limp mode; a self preservation measure which usually goes away when I restart the car. (Yes, I've changed the spark plugs) Overall a good ownership experience yet I don't feel like keeping it past 100k. Other than what I've mentioned above, the car has aged gracefully and still looks beautiful and all the intruments, functions work properly. 1 year/15k miles update. Still loving the car. Haven't had a single issue with it. It's mostly driven by my wife but on weekends I do the driving on usually 300 miles round trips. Everything still works as it should. A few months ago the driver's side front door wasn't unlocking with the remote. It happened for a few days and voila! It went away on its own. (?) I definitely recommend this car for someone who likes the 3 series driving dynamics but wants to save a buck by buying used. I'm not in love with the navy but I never use it as I rather use my phone. The premium sound system is amazing, specially when playing from the hard drive. The HD radio is annoying as it bounces in and out of it. I'm probably going to keep it for another year and see how it holds up by then. The 3 series is a "buyers car". BMW sells so many of them that they flood the used car market at a fraction of their original MSRP. I found an excellent conditioned M Sport package still under CPO warranty for 2 more years and/or 40k miles for less than half of it's original MSRP, had 59k miles on the odometer but otherwise a near perfect car. In addition to the M Sport package, it also has the convenience and premium packages, so it is almost top of the line.
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2011 328i Xdrive
Replaced my 2010 BMW 5 Series. Was concerned about the smaller vehicle. The 5 Series is a great car, the 3 series is an amazing driver's car. Had several 3 series through the 90s all fun to drive. BMW still finds a way to cut costs; small and annoying things. Turn signal in 2010 5 series had a three blink feature with one-touch, not in the 3, just a feature I became accustom to. No folding rear seat, apparently an option. No rear camera; strange miss from a company that claims active and passive safety. Al-in-all just a blast to drive. Comfortable, gas mileage not too good. Been getting 24MPG highway.
Fun car, fear costly maintenance down the road
The 335i was a super fun car to drive. Although the 2011 got the slightly less tunable/powerful N55, it still had lots of grunt, even before mods. I loved the power, sound, and capability of the car. The 6MT was superb, and track time was great. Interior and exterior were well appointed. Having previously owned a G35S and thinking that the German cars were just too costly, I was very pleased to learn that the driving experience was much much better in the Bimmer. I was concerned with the cost of maintenance after warranty so I sold it to get a larger car for kids. I will own another 3 series (sedan) at some point. Costly. Took a bath on the sale price. ugh.
Awesome car
Second BMW 328i xdrive. Love the way it handles, the sound of the 6 cylinder, comfy seats. It does everything and does it well. I just hope they keep the 3 series spirit in the redesign. Also i have noticed some de-contenting of equipment: seat back packets, covered ash tray, unfinished bin in the trunk, no ski bag, no flashlight in glovebox. Little things, but still for the price you pay...
head bolt failure
BMW knows about the problem with the two aluminum head bolts that fail but will not assist customers when failure is out of warranty. Also quality of materials used in the interior is cheap. Leather does not hold up and plastic trim on doors actually melts.
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Nicest car I've ever driven
I chose this car for my husband and I wish I had chosen it for myself. This car is the perfect combination of performance and comfort. We now know what everyone was talking about. Maybe I would've had suggestions for improvement before I drove it but now I can't remember what they would be. We don't have idrive so I can't comment on that, but I also don't feel like we're missing anything.
Great fun to drive
I really love this car. It handles is like a groove in the road. I do have a few complaints. First, the throttle response sucks (at least when new). Auto trans starts in 2nd and there seems to be a lag getting up to speed when driving normally. Punching it will start in 1st, but there is still a slight delay then up to speed quickly. Dealer said the trans will "learn" based on driving habits. Surprisingly, he seems to be right and it has gotten better or I have gotten used to it. The aux connection is in the center console but no place for the cord to exit. Stock stereo on my 1998 Maxima probably sounds better. Can't read stereo with polarized sun glasses.
Bought Used 2011 328i X in Nov 2016
Had to spend $600 for a sparkplug coil and tuneup when it failed a month after I bought it. Then $100 for an oil change because I could tell how dirty the oil was from the dash indicator (there is no dipstick) , and then it started to produce a oil burning smell (prior to oil change) inside the cabin when the car is sitting and idling. Had to replace valve cover gasket(VCG), valvetronic gasket, and some other small gasket nearby. I also replace the eccentric shaft sensor( while they had the cover off..they recommended it)so it made sense to when they had everything off. that was another $1200, I previously owned a 87 325i and spend about $11k in repairs for the 6 years I owned it . I also had a 96 328i for about 10yrs and spend about $15k in repair over those years. So I knew about spending more in Maintainence when I bought it but its well worth it to have one of the "Utimate Drving Machine"s
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Fun car, poor reliability and even worse service
I have owned two BMW 3 series cars in the last 10 years. They are fun to drive and reasonably practical. However they are riddled with stupid problems and my experience with their dealers for warranty service has been overall terrible. Every issue I have to bring the car in multiple times and usually I get it back with further problems caused by the repairs. If you are expecting "luxury car" levels of service with you BMW you will be disappointed.
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Solid top to bottom mechanically
The key to longevity in the 3 series is routine maintenance. A little more obvious maintenance than a domestic car obviously. Having owned the car now for 4 years. I had to replace both fuel pumps under the rear seat due to the plastic cracking on the tanks. I Replaced all plugs , ignition coils, and filters inside the engine bay. Routine synthetic blend 5/30 oil changes every 5K miles, a new radiator hose, and new oil cap with seal as these Seals tend to leak then the cap cracks due to heat. I have only invested 2K in total maintenance. I have now been driving the car for 3 years with zero issues. Now for the negatives. BMW never emphasized their vehicles on cosmetic interior design. Plastics inside are plain and mundane to the eye. Cup holders, rear inside window brake light assembly, leather, and knobs on dash all tend to fade, break, Crack or fall out. BMW focused more on engine performance, suspension, steering, and overall handling in the 06-11 model 3 series. After 2012 it was just the opposite. BMW decided to upgrade its interior quality and design while shifting its exterior to a more modern design which is less convincing than it's earlier pretocessor models. While the engine performance gained more emissions and less power with more computer sensors causing less reliability more out pocket costs. I am very content with my 2011 328i standard model. It currently has 113K miles and runs and drives solid. The bonus too is the exterior design. Ive found no later model BMW 3 series that compares. Just make sure your always running 91 octane , change oil every 5K with castrol gtx synthetic blend. I Do not recommend running full synthetic on any car that already has over 75K miles.I paid 11K for mine in 2017 with 94K miles on it. So I've also babied the car putting only 19K miles on it over almost 4 years. Also I did the maintenance all myself and bought all OEM parts off Ebay saved me alot of $$$
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90,000 mile update for cool M Sport Package 328i
I have owned this vehicle for 2.5 years and have driven it 31,000 miles. So far so good. Feel free to look up my past reviews on the same vehicle. I bought it with 59k miles and my wife is the main driver. It has the M Sport package, the upgraded audio system, navi, etc. Most options minus the HID lights. Everything has held up pretty good. Nothing has broken and/or stopped working properly. Maintenance issues have only been: replaced spark plugs at 70k miles, and at the 90k mile service I got done last week they replaced the radiator, the oil filter housing gasket, re surfaced the front rotors, replaced the pads, transmission service, cabin filter, air filter and I can't remember what else for about $2000 labor included. So far I have gone through 2 sets of front tires to you get about 18k miles per set with conservative driving. Overall I'm satisfied with the quality and reliability of the vehicle. Not impressed with the leaky radiator, it was a small leak but decided to replace it in order to avoid future issues. I originally planned to keep this vehicle for 2 or 3 years depending on experience. I think I will keep this vehicle for longer as it has held up pretty good. Still looks awesome and I plan to rather buy an SUV for my wife and start driving this car as a daily driver.
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2011 328i 3.0 AUTO
Our first BMW. Picked up this car new and like the way it handles and drives. The cup holders are fine with me. I like how they are out of sight when not in use. The radio is good. One must be near deaf to need or want a lounder one. The car is not made for people with big feet. Wife is small and has small feet, and she drives the most, where I'm tall and me feet hit the brakes or gas ped by accident often. Still, it's ok. However, since buying this car, it's been in the shop 3 times for a diff. problem. (my luck). First time, they replaced said diff., next, replaced oil and added some, wanted us to drive it aound a few weeks, next, they ordered another diff.. Still waiting
Acceleration
This is an excellent vehicle. But there is something about the delayed acceleration. It's like a stall. Other reviews have stated the same. Vehicle is comfy, attractive and holds the road. Maintenance a little high but it purrs like a kitten. Besides the delay at times from a stand still it's a great car!
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Utter Garbage
I purchased a used 2011 328i several years ago. It had 73k on it when I bought it. I've had NOTHING but problems with it ever since. I've had leaky oil gaskets replaced twice and the car still spits oil everywhere. Usually it gets so bad that the belt just slips off and it needs to be towed. I've done all scheduled maintenance, yet it still doesn't matter. There are more electrical and computer-related gremlins in this car to list. It is a complete and utter pile of crap, and the moment I'm right side up on the loan I'm trading it. Don't buy one of these. You'll regret it. Even if money isn't an issue, you'll wind up stranded more often than not. I'm serious. These cars are dangerously unreliable.
Good but not impressed
I used to lease a 328i 2008, and just bought a 328xi 2011. The front and back style updates are nice, and the iDrive interface and navigation system is Awesome, finally you can search effectively. The performance is as impressive as the previous one, can't complain but I was pretty disappointed by missing the following in the 2011 model compared to 2008 one!!: 1) Head rest is fixed, can't adjust back and forth 2) missing ashtray in back 3) Missing net on back of front seats 4) Slower sync with phone contacts 5) Missing soft cover on trunk covered area 6) Very annoying missing cargo net mounting hooks in back 'only 2!' can't use my old cargo net.
Ich liebe meinen BMW
I have owned Honda/Acura for over 20 years. I have never had a BMW or a German car. I cannot believe the handling of this vehicle! The car is well designed; everything is where it should be. The car is "smart' - automatically doing things that make sense, so the driver does not need to be bothered. Car is not equipped with unnecessary bells and whistles, but definitely has all the one's that it needs. This car is at the service of the driver, 100%. It feels like you are wearing it, rather than riding in it. The gas mileage is slightly lower than my Acura TL-S, but this car makes up for it in every other way. I'm in love!
Loving it so far
I looked around for a while. Found this one that was well maintained with excellent service history. The car is a blast to drive and pretty quick for stock! Ride is alot stiffer but it's also alot smoother than my previous car. Long road trips are alot easier cause the sport seats are that comfy!! Only downside is the charge pipe did break (a common issue) but it was mainly do to me having a little too much fun. Would highly recommend the n55 335i to anyone if they can afford it!
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I’m loving it
I bought a 2011 328xi E90 at 86000 miles. It was a CPO car when it had 34000 miles. I walked away the first day at the dealer because they wouldn’t drop the price when I saw fresh gold and transparent oil on the bottom of the car when I got underneath it. I said lower the price $1500 and I’ll buy it. They said no. they called me 4 days later and said they would get it fixed. Dealer spent $1400 on oil pan gasket repair. I then bought it. I replaced the OIL FILTER HOUSING GASKET myself. Easy job. Just requires special Torx tools. The gasket material on the oil side was fine and the coolant side of the gasket was failing. This car is so much fun to drive. It’s no corvette. But it’s handling is fantastic. And you’ll understand why BMW is called the ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE.
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Great car
Best car I've ever had. Rides great. Incredible in the snow
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Another BMW 328 xdrive w/ Nav
This is my 4th BMW. Had 2,3series, one x3, and one 5series. The 3 series is my favorite to drive. I can't imagine driving anything else. Once you drive one you will be hooked. There is no car that drives like it. I have tried them all.
Unexpected disappointment
Before you purchase a 328i please check the equipment list. Base car has no tinted windshield, no alarm, not even a beep when you lock the car. Perhaps a $550.00 special paint job, no seatback storage and perhaps other items I missed. Billed out at $39,000 and not even XM radio. First oil change is 12,000 mi. But, it is a tremendous driving machine. The advertising is correct. Almost only want to drive on two lane roads. Great grip, great brakes only the low beams are a little to low. Fun to drive but check your extras. My responsibility to check equipment. If you want a real car to drive, get a 328i, nothing like it.
service really isn't free
i have owned multiple bmw's , and we currently own 3. they handle great . there are 4 things i think bmw should address : 1. they advertise free service, but that is a joke/scam. they really don't do much, because they say the car doesn't need any service. they used to change oil at 15,000 miles. now they say the car can go 25,000 miles and for low mileage cars they used to change oil once a year. now they won't . the oil hasn't changed, just their policy. 2. options cost a lot, and should be included, such as the swing down side mirror when in reverse. 3. repairs cost a lot, like battery at $500. 4. run-flats are fine, but there should be a spare also, and there isn't
Awesome car
What a fun car to drive! After 5 years I still love it!
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Everything written is true
Have had the car for a good bit now. Custom order - M Sport package, cold weather, and comfort access is all. I live in Germany so I get to "put it through its paces" when I get the chance. This car is fantastic. It is comfortable, solidly built, austerely luxurious, and drives like no other. I still cannot get over how smooth it is...the engine, the steering, the clutch, the acceleration, even the suspension absorbs most bumps without undue issue. The steering and engine are otherworldly. I have driven some great cars and there are many great cars out there. This ranks right up there with some of the great cars in production at the moment.
Second 3-Series and Still Impressed
I had a 2007 328i with minimal equipment and can say after just a week of owning the 2011, make sure you get the Premium Package and Nav. Completely different car and though more expensive, a better value with proper equipment. iDrive is easy to use and traffic sensing comes in handy in the NY metro area! This car looks much better with the now standard 17" wheels and it still rides well. The 3 series is perfect in every way - only things I don't like about it are: cup holders, somewhat lacking storage, small back seat, and lack of flip-down rear seats without CW package. The steering feel, engine sound, taut ride, and amazing craftsmanship are what brought me back. Couldn't be happier.
Nice car ruined by severe engine breaking - this is for sedan with auto transmission Edmunds does not have a selection for auto transmission
Problem with the 328i Steptronic Auto Transmission is the harsh engine breaking when you let up on the gas. At slow speeds, and especially in stop- and-go traffic, the heavy engine braking is enough to get many nauseous as the car does not easily coast to a stop. I have never gotten car sick while driving, but with this car if I drive it in heavy traffic for 30 minutes or so I will get car sick. A BMW Expert told me "I have had a few customers tell me the same thing so I am not surprised of noticing the engine braking." Further, the car emits a very high-pitch sound for about 45 seconds every time you open or close any door or the trunk. Finally, the run flat tires give a harsh ride.
Great BMW car!
Smooth car, very fast, looks great! interior is very nice and exterior is first class!! Power is amazing, I pass other cars on the highway in 3 to 10 seconds!! When you press the gas engine growls ever so nicely!! I am very confident when passing other cars on the highway or city streets. Steering and handling is first class!! Amazing car!!!
Impressions of a 1st Time Owner
As most consumer reviews are from a BMW fan, often the focus are more of the "Driving Experience" and "the engines". I will try to fill-in a little more details of my first impressions from the perspective of a first time owner. But due to the 700 character limitation of the review form, just follow through my comments for my detailed experiences. Please note that my rating does not include safety features that the car offers which I believe Edmunds.com should have placed such category.
What a disappointment
Bought mine brand new 2011. Pampered it and took fabulous care of it. It has 49,000 miles. The car is literally falling apart. In the last 6 months its been towed 5 times! First spark plugs then coils, battery, ground strap, CAS module, starter and oil gasket. Thousands of dollars! The dealership told me get it through the winter and dump it. I said but it’s not a disposable car, it’s a bmw with under 50 thousand miles. They told me it’s old. My husband has a 2007 Ford Explorer with 153,000 miles. My sister a 2005 Toyota Matrix runs like a top. The dealership told me yeah we hear that all the time. Trust me don’t do it! The older BMW’s were solid vehicles but these newer ones are garbage. What a huge disappointment.
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powerful in any gear
This is my 48 hr review of the car. I have only had it 2 days I can only rate it based on my current experience. I have owned a '98 328i and a '05 330ix, both I have loved. Both manual trans and were extremely reliable. I would highly suggest getting a manual to take advantage of the torque curve. The automatic, though fine, lags a little bit in my opinion because it wants to downshift if you stomp on the accelerator. In a manual, with the 300 fps starting at 1200 rpms, you have the power to climb a hill in any gear so you don't necessarily have to down shift. I bought this with nearly every package and option available. Definitely buy this with the M sports package.
What a whip
Bought my first BMW 328i ex drive, don't know why I waited so long to buy one, what an awesome car 2011 ex drive, the power and cornering is unreal, they advertise the ultimate driving machine, such a fitting ad,
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The worst car I have ever owned
This car was in the shop so much. Airbags, windows falling down. Water leaked in Thru the windshield causing the ac blower to get wet and squeal, then fail. Biggest Pile of crap ever. Stay away from BMW
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From 1 series to a 3 series
I recently tradeed in my 2010 1 series for a 2011 3 series. I loved the 1, fast, handles, and was built for performance. Just no room for anythingmore then one person... The 3 series is quick (only weighs 170 pounds more) from the 1 series. I have had a couple of minor problems (headlights, and computer) but seem to be fixed. I have not had a chance to really open it up, still under 700 miles but hope to give it a little test drive on way to Vegas. I have had Audi's, and other sports cars but overall best value and vehicle for money.
First BMW
Fantastic driving machine. But, there are some issues that trouble me. Check out all the standard features prior to purchase. Many items standard on a much less expensive car are not there. No security system, not even a beep from the horn when locking vehicle. One outlet for GPS, lighter, or any other electronic stuff you might have. No pocket on back seats. Cup holders flimsy. Run flat tires. Picked up a screw. Had to patch inside of tire. No tire warranty, . And some other items I feel should be standard. My fault, was so excited after test drive did not think of small things that should be there. For forty grand one EXPECTS them. However, the car is one helluva driving machine.
2011 BMW 328xi
I'm extremely pleased with this vehicle. The handling and overall build quality are excellent! The only downside is that the manufacturer strongly recommends running 93 Octane premium fuel only.
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