Used 2014 BMW 3 Series Consumer Reviews
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2014 328D Xdrive
IMHO the recommended intervals for fluid changes are too long. I will change in-between. Also lifetime fluids don't exist once again IMHO. This is a ploy by BMW to reduce their warranty costs for maintenance and gives the false impression that ownership is not so costly. This might be fine for someone who trades often but those used ones that followed BWM's schedule will not hold up as well. This is a fine car. It does everything well and offers great mileage without any sacrifice. We totally love the car. Costs are high all the way around but then again I'd expect them to be from such a fine auto. I'm on my 4th one now without one regret. Loved them all. The 328D offers it all. Don't buy any BMW and expect low costs for anything. If you make the purchase knowing this and maintain them well you will be a very happy BMW owner. We also currently own a 2014 335i and a cheap to maintain 2016 Toyota Tacoma limited for boat and stuff hauling. Update 1. After an additional 6,000 miles we couldn't be happier with this car. By far our favorite car ever. Good job BMW. Just keeps being a fine car. I bought a bigger sister now that will replace the 3, a 535D M Sport. Also a great car. It will be a sad day when the 3 drives off.
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To New York and back 51mpg!
I love the car. This is my 3rd 3-series, -when my last 328i at 180,000 miles started to show signs of costly repairs I thought is was time to trade in. I was hopping around for fuel efficient cars including hybrids, once used to the driving environment of the BMW its difficult to switch. The car has been 5/5. The mileage I get has been great. I am a bit of a mpg-geek and think its fun to keep track. Most recent was a full-packed 4 people trip to NY from Atlanta, including Labor day traffic jams and driving on Manhattan. Coming home after 1750 miles the trip computer showed 51mpg average. -I'm happy with that. Around town (Atlanta traffic 25-30mph average): ~40-45mpg MPG "geek" driving (careful driving smooth acc etc): 55-60 mpg Update I have now driven the car over 15,000 miles. No issues. I really like the torque of the diesel Sometimes I get an annoying warning about a malfunctioning parking light. That’s about it. After my initial “mpg-craze” I still routinely get >50mpg on longer highway trips. City traffic is probably more like ~38mpg. Typical highway at 75mph: ~53mpg Update 50,000 miles. Emission light came on at 49k, dealer changed fuel injectors Had my first experience with run-flats while travelling. Drove 25 miles to a Wall-mart, bought a plier and a plug-kit, repaired the tire on the parking lot. -Great! No other problems! Update 65,000 miles Absolute Zero Problems. Bought new tires
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- 328i SedanMSRP: $14,50021 mi away
- 328i SULEV SedanMSRP: $8,99513 mi away
- 328i SedanMSRP: $15,99821 mi away
Great car, but be cautious
I purchased a 2014 328d Xdrive a little over a year ago. I purchased what I thought was going to be an exceptional car. I travel quite a bit for work and personal (roughly 1000 miles per week). With the diesel being so efficient, I thought this was going to be the perfect purchase of luxury and performance. At a little over a year of ownership, I just picked up my car after having the entire engine replaced at a BMW dealership. The dealership has serviced my car on a regular basis. Unfortunately, the premature engine failure was labeled as "due to normal wear and tear". The good news was the $16,000 engine replacement cost me $0.00. The bad news is that my warranty expires soon and BMW told me that when it expired that they would possibly review the case, but no guarantee. Update: I will never repeat as a BMW customer. After the engine failed the first time, I had additional issues with the second engine. The technicians here in the US spent countless hours discussing with the team in Germany. In addition, the transfer case began experiencing major issues. BMW suggested that I replace the transfer case at a cost of $4600. All in all, I found too many issues to believe that this car would be solid investment for me long term or reliable as a daily driver. At 91,000 miles, I parted ways with this car. Sorry for the bad review. I experienced too many issues.
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Diesel is great but one caution....
Bought mine new - 2014 BMW 328d, and yes it actually gets to 45 MPG hwy, I averaged 42 mixed and I've tracked every single fuel up on the Fuelly app. I'm 4 years and 76k miles in now, and I drive in Eco mode 90%, but sport mode is a blast, the low end torque is remarkable, and the car is every bit a 3 series in handling dynamics and road feel. Diesel clatter is only evident at very low speeds, and never intrusive. Above 15-20 mph sounds like a regular gas engine to me. This is my second BMW, having spent the previous 6 years with an '07 BMW 530i, the 328 has almost the same passenger room but handles way better. One caveat, beware of cheap diesel! I've been told diesel is not regulated to the same standards as gasoline. Now I gas up only at heavily trafficked gas stations where trucks frequent near the interstate, where fuel is more likely to be fresh. My car at 40k miles had a bad high pressure fuel pump which partially disintegrated (or delaminated) and threw bits of metal into the fuel injectors. Car just bogged down and died, lucky it was on city streets. The repair was a entirely new fuel tank, pump, injectors - the entire fuel delivery system, I was told the repair cost was $6k-$7k but fortunately it happened under 50k miles and BMW warranty covered. I was advised the trouble probably was contaminated fuel, and I do recall the previous diesel fill up at an off brand gas station was about 15% lower price than usual. Steering clear of cheap diesel and very contented with this car!
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Reliable, efficient, fun to drive BMW 328d
I've done a lot of research on Mercedes/Audi/BMW diesels before I bought my 328d: if you pick up a copy of Consumer Reports magazine (or subscribe online), you'll learn that 2014 BMW 3 series earned an average of 4 star (above average) reliability ratings in every area (mechanical, electrical, etc.), better than any other year; other 3 series have average reliability and most 7 series and 5 series score below average reliability. These BMW 328d have very few mechanical issues unlike 2009-2011 335d, which were known for expensive fuel injector/pump, carbon buildup and DEF/EGR problems. I fill up with Propel HPR diesel, a 100% renewable diesel (way better than bio-diesel) available in most cities in CA, which will help keep this 328d very reliable for many years (look up HPR diesel online, I tested it on my TDI before, it's a superb clean diesel alternative). Fuel economy is way better than EPA rating at cruising speed - I get 52-54 mpg at 73-75 mph, (high 50's! when cruising at 55-65 mph) - I average 39-44 on each tank (600+ miles) depending on what % is city driving & how aggressively I drive - that's the fuel economy of a Toyota hybrid. Considering the great handling and how much fun it is to drive (280 lb. ft. of torque), this BMW is a winner! I bought my 328d certified pre-owned from BMW of Marin County with an extended warranty (2 years, unlimited miles) which gives me a peace of mind as I drive 3K/month all over NorCal. The 8 speed ZF transmission is smooth and quick shifting in either sport or comfort mode: I've owned many BMW's with 5 & 6 speed transmission and this 8 speed is the best. Interestingly enough, I searched for 328d for 3 months and paid less for very clean low mileage Certified 328d than private parties were asking, which shows how high the demand is for these reliable diesels. If you find one with a clean title & well maintained - buy it - you won't regret owning it. Here's a nice review from Motorweek - http://www.motorweek.org/reviews/road_tests/2014_bmw_328d
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Fun to drive PLUS great fuel economy
I bought a Certified Pre-Owned 2014 328d (X Drive) with 18K miles, and now have 36K miles after 9 months. This car replaced a 2007 328xi that I traded in after 180K miles (loved that car too). I consider the 328d a bridge between regular gas engines and an electric vehicle; the mileage is so fantastic, I feel just as smug as the Prius drivers as I pass them on the highway, knowing I'm sipping fuel at a slower rate than them at highway speeds. Acceleration is not the reason you buy this car, but getting up to speed is effortless, with the low RPMs and fast-shifting transmission getting you to full highway speed without a worry. Handling and breaking are, as typical for a BMW 3 Series, second to none. I'm now a stranger to gas stations, as I usually go 550-600 miles between fill-ups. Although many don't like run-flats, I absolutely love them, and they've saved me from many bad situations in the past. They are well worth the extra replacement cost, given the peace of mind that they provide. I'm 6'4", and that's probably pushing max height for a BMW 3 Series driver...however, the car is still very comfortable for me, even on long trips. Getting out is not as easy as higher-profile vehicles, but until my age catches up with me, I'm completely fine with that.
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2014 BMW 328i
63k miles now, no issues, drives well, dependable. Update, have had 328i for just over 3 years, with 51k on the odometer. No issues other than tire noise from flats, probably need to be changed out. I have now had the 328i for 2 1/2 years and am still loving it. No issues, still on original battery. Still amazes me there is so much power from a 4 cylinder engine. Even with 5 adults in the car it has amazing pickup. But if you want economy just put in eco mode and get 30+, it's the best of both worlds. Wow what a car!!!! For the first time in my life I was in the market for a car for myself after having hauled around kids for 20 plus years in mini-vans. I had narrowed it down to 3 cars: Audi A4, Mercedes C250 ad the BMW 3 series. My son and I test drove the A4 and C250, and liked the performance of the A4, but weren't crazy about the interior. The Mercedes in my opinion failed on all levels, too cramped, quality of materials were poor, performance, and overall ride quality. After that my son was suggesting a Dodge Charger or Chrysler 300, I just wasn't in the market for something that big, and I had test driven a 320 a couple of months back, I liked the 320, but overall performance was below my expectations, so we took the drive to go test drive a CPO BMW 328i. Within 30 seconds of driving the 328, we knew this was no 320, and this was the car I had been looking for. It is a rocket!!! The ride, handling and performance exceeded my expectations. What I love about it the most is the 3 driving styles you can select from: Eco, for maxing out your fuel economy, Comfort, good fuel economy plus some performance, or sport, max speed and fun, it'll get to 80 in no time, hard to believe this is a 4 cylinder, the turbo is great, its a single turbo, but tuned for low and high speeds, so you can take off quick, or if your on the highway have plenty of get up to pass. I also really like the fuel economy you can get out of the car, I'm getting 40 MPG at 70mph, granted flat surface in FL, but that is some serious MPG. Oh yeah, the car looks great too. Roomy as well, I'm 6'1" and fit comfortably. So if you in the market for a smaller German sedan I highly recommend the 328. Not sure about the reliability as I've only had it for a few weeks, but under warranty until 2020. CPO is the way to go. It's been 6 months since I've had the car and am still enjoying it. I now have 25k miles on it and no issues, fuel economy has suffered a little now that I'm using the a/c in the Florida heat, but that is to be expected. It's now been 2 years since I bought the 328i CPO, really no issues. Everything has been maintenance so far, tires are still in great shape. Still love driving it, great mileage on highway, 37 mpg, plenty of power. Would highly recommend
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So happy we chose this car
We were in the market for a fuel efficient car that can haul our two German shepherds, plus myself and my wife, plus baggage. We have owned our 328d derive wagon for 6 months now and I have averaged 38.8 mpg. Average! And I have a lead foot... If I put it in Eco Pro mode and cruise on the highway I can average nearly 50mpg. Amazing. And the car is still a blast to drive. Does great in snow as well. It doesn't pin you to your seat like a 6 cylinder Beemer, but the engine pulls really strong when the turbos kick in and it's a blast to drive. In sport mode it turns into an angry little car. The handling really is superb. Never thought getting 40 mpg could be this much fun.
So far, so very, very good
I shopped for 3 years and test drove several cars before deciding on the BMW 328d. I've had the car for a month and I am so impressed with every aspect of it. I have a typical long commute in San Diego - early morning to beat the rush, and a slog in the afternoon. So far close to 39 mpg and >500 miles/tank. Highway mileage is well above the 45 estimated. Car is so sweet and fun to drive. Got the Nav, which comes with a host of other stuff and I say worth the extra $$. For me, this was a momentous upgrade from a reliable 2003 Accord V6 with 145K miles. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in a high mpg, mid-level luxury car. In addition, BMW of Escondido treated me very, very well!
Fuel sipping fury!
This is a great car. I get 32 mpg in the city and over 50 on the freeway. I average just above 40 mpg per tank and in Los angeles Diesel fuel is a dollar less than regular gas. The ride is extremely smooth and comfortable. The steering is too light unless its in sport mode. The cabin is a little too loud at highway speed, the engine is quiet but the road noise is too high for a $40k + car. My only other complaint is that features like HID headlights, Bluetooth streaming audio, and backup camera are not standard features. But I am very happy with my purchase and highly recommend the car.
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Very Happy with thhe 328iX
Have now owned my 2014 30 months and it has about 18000 miles on it. This is my first BMW and I must say I love this car. The car has an excellent combination of a comfortable ride and good handling. The handling is not as sharp as the older style BMW 3 series, but its good for driving around town and maybe taking a corner or two at higher speeds. The snow traction with the AWD is awesome. The Navigation system is the best I have ever seen. Everything makes perfect sense and it works extremely well. I love the fact that I can write letters with my fingers on the touch pad and it recognized them. The navigation interface is the best of any cars I have owned by far. The Bluetooth menu takes a little getting used to but once you get used to it, it is easy to use. It locks to my Android phone very quickly and phone conversations are clear via Bluetooth. Put the car in Eco mode and it is a pussycat just minding its own business and getting you from point A to point B in style. Switch it to Sport mode and the car turns into a little monster pinning you back into your seat as you step on the accelerator. I have the premium package with Navigation and the winter package. My kids love the heated rear seats in NE winter. The interior of this car is in need of an update to keep up with the new Audi and Mercedes interior. But it is perfectly functional and looks good. I wish that the climate control would remember the last fan settings and would not always start in the same mode. I have to change the fan setting every time I turn the engine on. The mileage for around town driving is in the low 20s, but highway is above 30 in Eco mode and if you keep your speeds around 60 MPH. It is hard to drive 60 MPH on the highway with this car though as it is so smooth and quiet even at 90 MPH. I have not had a single mechanical or electrical problem with the car that required repairs. It is under bumper to bumper warranty for 4 years of 40K miles. It also includes free maintenance in that duration. The Audi only provides free maintenance for 1 yr or 10K miles. I have owned Hondas and Toyotas prior to this BMW. All in all, this is by far the best car I have ever owned and I would highly recommend it to others. I am a life time customer of BMW now.
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100,000 mile review
UPDATE: 4 years and 150,000 miles. Still no repairs or anything outside of regular maintenance. New battery finally replaced and coming up soon will be my first brake job. Still a wonderfully reliable car and looks amazing as long as I can keep it clean. I have owned this car for almost three years and so far it has been a wonderful car. No repairs at all outside of regular maintenance. The car still drives like it was new. I will say that this car is best suited for lots of highway driving but the seats in the sport model get very uncomfortable after about 45 minutes of driving. Handling is excellent. However, if something does go wrong with the car, there is no place but the dealership that will service it because it is the diesel model.
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Twelve thousand miles and in the shop again.
My 328d now has roughly 12k miles on it now, and as I type this the car is sitting at the BMW dealer with the techs trying to figure out what's wrong with it. Basically, they don't know for sure and they've reached out to senior engineers at BMW for answers. To date they have fixed a squeaky dash that was missing a clip from the factory. They have removed a stink bug from inside the right tail light (A common problem with bugs getting in it seems). They gave the car back without repairs for an engine idle problem at stoplights, saying they couldn't reproduce it. The engine acts like it wants to shut off and shakes the whole car. I video'd the tach jumping around and gave it back again.
Great car (with one irritating flaw)
I have been driving this car for a month and just love it. My previous car was a Buick Enclave which although great in many ways just drank too much gas and did rather lumber around. The 328 is a much more complex vehicle and I am still discovering new features. I love the way I can put it into eco-pro mode on the freeways and notch up 35 mpg and better on long drives and then - when I want to leave other drivers well behind - I can slip it into sport mode and boom! I am gone. The one drawback is a lousily small amount of storage space for the driver. The compartment underneath the central arm rest is minute.
Fun Vehicle with Outstanding MPG
Picked up a 2014 328d a month ago. Was in dealership looking at a few models and spotted the 328d. Took it for a test drive. Leased one. Some folks comment negatively on the premium for the 328d over a gas model. However, on a lease you only pay for about 40 percent of the difference which is likely more than offset by the increased MPG. My first tank averaged about 42mpg, mixed city and country driving. Second tank improved to 46 mpg also with mixed driving. I attribute the difference to driving in the Eco Pro mode with a bit more attention to the mpg. Vehicle seems very well put together and is a blast to drive.
Finally a diesel that matches a gas engine
Got this 3 serie wagon in the fall and have driven about 1,800 miles. The car performs flawlessly. It's fun to drive, taunt and the interior execution is fantastic. At the end of the week I can't help but smile when I realise I get a combined 35 mpg on a week of driving. This little machine will outperform 90% of V6 engines out there (although 0-60 is still a bit slow for my taste).
2014 CPO Elite 328ix Sportwagon
Engine and transmission are smooth as silk. The turbo-4cyl with 8AT is outstanding. 0 issues with vehicle and dealer has been outstanding for scheduled maintainence. I-Drive is waaaaay better than my wife's Audi MMI. Wagons new are $$$, look for a used CPO. Ridiculous what an optioned new wagon costs. Only complaint is, and this is an issues with pre-LCI F30's, is electric steering. Ugh, our old E90 was better in steering/road feel vs the newer F30's. Also if you can find one, get the Adaptive M suspension. The Xdrive wagon has BMW's base suspension and sits the highest. The Msport suspension or old "704" static suspension are unavailable on the wagons. And pay for the lighting package! The halogen lights are terrible. Unbelievable that BMW stills puts halogen lights in their vehicles. Plus with halogens you do NOT get the classic signature of all BMW's.....iconic Round Angel eyes. I have rear and front facing child seats in 2nd row. Make sure you put the front facing seat behind the drivers side! Or it gets tight. I love my wagon, fast and fun to drive.....and still average 24-25 mpg in town.
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Close to the ideal all around car
This is a great little car! It hugs the road and is a pleasure to drive. It gets great fuel mileage and is very comfortable on long trips. The only downside is that BMW "nickels and dimes" you on packages rather than making everything standard on an automobile in this category.
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Wonderful purchase and daily driver
6 months, 6000 miles....Love it, bottom line! I am dealing with more city driving, getting 32-33 mpg. I do miss driving a manual trans. but the paddle shifters and sport mode make up for it. Space is amazing for hauling people under 6 ft. Update (almost 3 years - 31k miles) of ownership.... At 23k miles, the transfer case had to be replaced under warranty. The replacement unit was a re-manufactured unit. Not pleased and doesn't give me much confidence in the car. More importantly, VAG and diesel-gate has hurt the resale value, should I have wanted to trade it in, sell, etc... Mark my words, diesel is dead in America and looking abroad, it is going to quickly die in Europe, etc... as a result of diesel-gate. Most recent update (over 4 years, 50k miles), Transfer case had to be replaced, again at 40k miles and was replaced under warranty. Not cool! Car has performed pleasantly on two, not one, but two cross USA trips over 1700 miles each. Car still puts a smile on my face while driving it, so still on the fence for trading it in.
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Used BMW is The Way so Go
Just picked up a 2014 used with 23k miles for just under 20k. Huge depreciation and the car is like new. I drove Camaros and Mustangs. The BMW was more fun to drive with the shorter front and great handling. Also a real back seat. With 23mpg City and 35Mpg Highway and 0-60 in 5.7 seconds wow! If I have one gripe is that certain features that are beginning to become standard on the Jap Cars are expensive options on the BMW. By the way handles great and in the real world mileage is close to what's represented. I drove back from UCSB with no traffic and got 34.5MPG. This car has plenty of room in the back And is fine as a family car.
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Great car
This is my 3rd BMW. would purchase another
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Nice, but...
I bought my BMW as a certified vehicle, and have been very happy until recently. Driving down the highway and suddenly the chassis stabilization light comes on and the car slows down to 30 mph. Brought to garage to be checked, and car "reset" itself and dealer could not find a problem. However, when checking diagnostic, there were 29 messages of issues needing to be addressed. I have maintained the car to a t by the selling dealer, and did not expect to have so many issues at just under 30,000 miles. Also, trade in value is horrible - kbb says $13809 to 15750 with my equipment and miles. However, before presenting issues started, BMW dealer acted like they were doing me a favor to offer me $10,000 towards a brand new 330i xdrive. Time to consider a Lexus, Acura, or maybe a Cadillac.
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A small "Abrams Tank from BMW
This car goes where you point it with the steering wheel. It also has three different transmission settings for you to choose from; Eco for the best gas consumption with a little less power, Comfort (the default) for a bit less rigid ride with a little more power than Eco, and Sport for driving the car like a BMW is supposed to be driven full power and absolutely no hesitation.
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First BMW
Had to have it! Have had 3 German built cars so far and this by far knocks it out of the park, in all areas including price...it was nearly 50K MSRP. Mine is in gorgeous Mineral White with drop dead beautiful Saddle and Black interior. This car is a rocket. Leave it to BMW to build a twin turbo 4 CYL. that can do 0-60 in 5.5 secs. Just got back from trip to Carmel (some 170 miles from here) and averaged in combined driving situations an astounding 33.6MPG! Love what BMW has accomplished. Glitz, (in the Luxury Line) with plenty of "masculinity" thrown in. I havn't had a car in years that I so look forward to driving. The new 8 SPD. transmission is phenomenol. It is butter smooth. My only complaint, in an otherwise 20,000 miles of driving pleasure ,would have to be the tire wear. I have replaced the Pirelli's with Bridgestone Drive Guards, and the ride and cornering might even be better than before. Still in love.
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A little bit of luxury!
This is my first luxury car and what a great feeling. No squeaks, bumps or noises, just silence. AWD is the way to go, especially in New England. On the I purchased the car and took it home, there was a big snow storm happening. The car drove great and when right thru 10" of new snow right into the garage without trying hard! Great!
Good but not great
My biggest gripe is value for the money. If all you're looking for in a vehicle is engineering and performance, then BMW is definitely for you. The 2.0L Turbo 4 is a powerful little engine which is smooth as silk and provides sprightly acceleration, especially in Sport mode. I'll even forgive the fact that it sounds like a low-end diesel mill at idle. But BMWs come by their sticker price by virtue of their reputation and position in the luxury segment. Upgrading the technology, luxury and safety components comes at a steep price. To get something as basic as a backup camera (standard equipment in most cars now), you need to tack on a $900 Driver Assistance Package, and active monitoring features come in another $1700 package. I'm probably going to trade this car soon for a small SUV and need to try and justify whether I want to fork over another $16 to $18K above my trade-in for an X3 which will have less than half the comfort and safety equipment of many other worthy contenders in the segment at thousands less. Tough call.
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Most beautiful car I will ever own, plus ...
Original review -- This bmw 328d is beautiful, sporty, economical (50mpg hwy), and with the diesel reliability, it should last me the rest of my life. Got buyback money from VW for my old 2009 Jetta TDI (which I also loved) and got this 2014 328d in perfect condition for buyback money plus $2000. These cars depreciate fast but most of that loss was incurred by the prior owner. Everything about the car seems very high quality, much more so that the Jetta was. Always looking fwd to taking it on another trip. 11/19/2021 Update -- Still absolutely love this car. Have had a few incidents where I had to hit the brakes pretty hard on the highway and take evasive action, and it handled beautifully. Only problems I've had so far are the nox sensors, which were covered under extended warranty, and the rear oxygen sensor which I had replaced. I dread the day I have to replace it with an all elec vehicle because I just love diesels. 5/12/2024 update -- Still loving this 328d beemer. So glad I got one before they stopped making diesels. No problems at all since my previous update. A beautiful ride with beautiful BMW style. This car is a long term keeper. 11/20/2024 Update -- Still loving this diesel BMW, and it's even more special now since you can't even buy diesel cars in the US anymore, thanks to VW dieselgate scandle. Not a big E-car fan yet and will never go back to gasoline, so still plan on keeping my ultra reliable diesel vehicles for a long time. 5/21/2025 Update -- No change. Keeping this awesome car for the rest of my life. Only way I would buy a new one is if they started making diesels again.
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Baby Bimmer Brightens my Day
The 320i is extremely economical in eco and surpasses the ratings. It is slightly slower than the 328 but considering the economy and cost savings is a better car. Still love the car. Maintenance free except for normal service.
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Wow!! The MPG is no joke!!
My wife and I purchased a 2014 328d sedan about 2 months ago and we could not be happier. She had a 2009 G8 GT and were used to driving a high performance car BUT it got horrible fuel mileage (avg 17.3 mpg). When I found the 328d and the 32-45mpg estimates I was very skeptical of the accuracy of that fuel rating but let me tell you right now for a fact, this car gets every bit of 45mpg on the highway and I drive it with a heavy foot. We took a 500 mile trip and I drove at 85-90 mph almost the whole way and I was blown away when I saw 42.2 MPG driving in comfort mode and I was not trying to conserve in any way. We have not found anything that we do not like about this car so far.
Sportwagon - Child Seat Comments included!
I spent the better part of a frigid New England (just snowed) morning test driving two cars 1) a 2014 BMW 328xi wagon with luxury package and 2) a new 2015 BMW 328xd wagon with nav and a couple of the basic packages. I had never driven a diesel before so I felt I owed it to myself to try these two head-to-head. While the diesel had a broadly useable torque band, I felt it lacked uphill oomph especially in the 2nd or 3rd gear range (tough to tell because the transmission shifts so smoothly in both models). Granted this was a 25 degree day and we basically started it cold from the dealership, but after having driven a similarly cold gasoline model over the same roads earlier in the morning, the diesel just didn’t compare. In my opinion, the diesel was overpriced even with the 2015 “leftover” discount, about $7k more than the lightly used 2014 with 10k miles. The diesel exhaust note, as many reviews have noted, is coarse and loud at revs. The gasoline exhaust note is fake, pumped in through the sound system. You can actually hear it change its volume if you switch from Comfort to Sport under hard acceleration. Still, I prefer a quiet car with some audio theatrics to one that sounds like an economy car with gravel under the hood. Now for some comments that pertain to both models: 1) Very few reviews ever cover the fit and functionality of child seats. The local used car dealership graciously allowed me to mess around with different configurations after I test drove it. I am 6’0 and need to use a fair amount of front seat track to get comfortable behind the wheel. In the rear-facing position, I found the child seat to be workable, but it took a fair amount of finagling. Both test cars were equipped with power front seats rather than the manual kind found in some of the base models. For 6’0+ drivers, you might have to live with your seatback a little more upright than you’re used to in order to get the child seat to fit correctly in the rear-facing position. I also found it helped to drop the driver’s seat almost to the floor. In the front-facing position, there were no problems at all. Now, I didn’t try one of our newer child seats – a Britax G3 Marathon. Those stay in my wife’s minivan since she does 90% of the child transportation. They are a bit more bulky, mostly laterally, than the regular G3 because they have the extra head protection. With BMW’s new 40-20-40 folding seatbacks, you might be able to utilize your “20” with two regular G3s in the back, but you’d have a much harder time doing the same thing with the wider G3 Marathons. 2) The stock stereo system is middling. Not sure the upgrade would necessarily be worth it, but it could be worth considering. 3) Despite some criticism of the new suspension, I found the Sport mode in both models to be amply stiff for hard corners in slippery conditions. Yes, I did try a couple after dropping off my sales minder at the front door. 4) Visibility out the back is limited and the side mirrors are tiny. Unfortunately, this means springing for blind-spot detection is a must. 5) After half an hour in the standard seats, I wasn’t loving them. The seat bottoms are totally flat with just average padding. They reminded me of the mid-90s Subaru Outback wagon seats. Both my testers had lumbar support, which even for me as a relatively healthy mid-30s guy is a must. I would probably limit my search to models with the sport seats from here out. 6) The new touch-sensitive controller is little too sensitive for the initiated, but I found myself accidentally clicking stuff when I was trying to use the jogger control. 7) Overall, I don’t think either of these models is worth the near $50k price tag, but finding a lightly used CPO at <$40k seems right for the gasoline-powered model. The diesel model really doesn’t warrant a premium, but my commutes most days are fairly short so I’m probably not the target market for it.
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328d is great BUT!!!
I agree with most of the positive comments regarding owners inner feelings about owning a BMW. However, with sticker prices out of sight the real reviews should be on the cost to own an operate these cars. An oil change can run from $200 to more than $250 depending on what dealer you call. Run flats cost an arm and a leg- but BMW does not have to provide jack , spare not even a mobile repair kit. Everything and I do mean everything from brake pads to air filters cost 2x more than my 2014 full size hybrid. I got caught up in all the reviews both by pros and owners. Most do not talk about cost of maintain the car or it's overall reliability.
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Still an awesome car after 11 years!!!
Exceptional materials and build quality. Great gas mileage (34+) and trouble free. My only complaint is the standard headlights. Over 11 years old and it is still impressive to drive. I never tire of driving it, and it makes me smile every time. Which is not surprising for a Bimmer, it still looks new inside and out after 127k miles. Considering its age, the paint, leather, and other materials are still in excellent almost like new shape. Its holding up so well I am passed it on to my teenage daughter.
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Love my BMR
I love my car. I love driving it. I have 75k miles and have had no concerns, only regular maintenance!
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Great MPG
Chose the diesel for mpg on a 70 mile daily commute. I had am replacing s large Crew Cab Pickup and this cat sips fuel in comparison.
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2014 328D WAGON - M Sport Package
Great vehicle! Like riding on rails and still space for 2 dogs! Practicality mixed with a sexy fast car is the best duality money can buy!
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Lots of quality and reliability issues
Hey BMW, what happened to quality and durability? My 2014 wagon with 50k miles is in the dealer more than on the road it seems! Engine and transmission issues non stop, electronics, mirrors. BMW does not stand behind anything so caught up and make customers pay dearly for these quality and design flaws. Dealers are horrible, never any loaners available so you sit and waste away lots of time as they try fixing the problems. I guess BMW really wants people to switch to Tesla. In my case, that is becoming more and more likely with every visit to the dealer. Does not seem too smart to chase away your customers like that if you want to stay in business BMW! As I sat in dealer waiting room an old colleague also come in with same issues and he is switching back to Porsche. Porsche still seems to maintain some quality control.
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Very comfortable car, but not a sports sedan
Prior to my 2014 320i xDrive, I drove a Mini Countryman, a mini cooper, and a 2011 hyundai sonata. Pros: This BMW is easily one of the best looking cars on the road. It is very quiet inside around town, with a comfortable ride. The transmission is excellent. Shifts are smooth and unintrusive. Turbo lag is absent. The controls are intuitive. Cons: Steering is more similar to the Hyundai than MINI. It is VERY numb on center, though it firms up as you turn. Brakes offer no feeling - like stepping on a cloud instead. Highway wind noise is intrusive. iDrive doesn't sync too well with my iPhone 6+ - it says "transferring data" instead of showing my contacts.
Saves gas and still fun to drive!
The 328d may be one of the slower models of the fleet, but it's torque to horsepower ratio is superb.
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Bucket List Item Checked!
This is one powerful car. If you have a lead foot like I, it may only be a matter of time before you are a bit carried away, and you find yourself with a ticket. I have only driven this car for about a month and I couldn't be more pleased. I waited over a year for any dealer to find a manual transmission! What a rare find...and the color is great, and the leg room is even better, and....and....and.....Such fun, especially for a wild and crazy ol' lady. I guess you get what you pay for.....! Thanks Edmunds for the gas card.
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Powertrain Malfunction
This is my first BMW. Car only has 79,900 miles on it. Last week came up with error message Powertrain Malfunction. Shortly thereafter, engine light came on and vehicles started bucking. Told the guys at Smithtown dealership and they recommended changing the antifreeze. Got it back and drove ok for about 10 days. Now its undriveable. Just had tow truck pick it up. Had them bring it to another BMW dealership. Wonder if it got worse due to not rectifying problem when it was originally brought into Smithtown. Car only serviced in BMW shops. Just didnt expect such a big thing with such few miles on the vehicle.
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Great if you buy it used
Overpriced when new. Great price when purchased used off a three-year lease because of rapid depreciation. Technology in the car, especially head-up display, is exceptional. However, navigating the options within that technology is much too convoluted and complex. UPDATE: I've now had the car for three years, although we've driven less than 10,000 miles/year. No repairs at all. The only things I've replaced are tires and wiper blades. I'm impressed and delighted.
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Finally!
Shop around, values are out there, reminds me of a more luxurious, powerful version of a 1971 2002 I had years ago, and it's a wagon! Very glad I have all the premium packages, sets my wagon apart from others I see on the road Still thoroughly satisfied.
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Fantastic 2014 BMW 328d
This is a great car with all the known characteristics of a BMW 3 series plus an amazing gas mileage and superb power and torque. The car has been a joy to drive around town and even better on the highway and specifically mountain roads. I love this car.
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A beauty with room for improvement
I agree with a lot of the last review. For me it was hard to get in and out of the car and I am 5'-6". The door lock button is in the middle of the consul rather than on the doors, so without the remote key, one has to crawl in, to get the other doors open. Somehow the front was couple of inches longer than the previous model, and I was always scraping the bumper when I parked - the car was a bit too low and too long in the front. After 4 years and 34k miles, the car depreciated 19K or about 60% and already has an oil leak. I liked the exterior styling of it but never liked it as much as my previous 328i from 2000 (which I drove until 2014!)
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Avoid
Loses value at a spectacular rate: $35k to $21k over 2 years! My experience and in line with Edmund's estimates at the time of purchase and trade in. Repairs are at a luxury car rate which is unlikely to be in your range if you are buying a used car. My experience over two BMWs is about $2k repairs per year once out of warranty. The tires are run flats which are almost twice the price of non run flats, are much more difficult to mount so can be damaged in the process and take much longer to mount (more heal cooling at the tire shop and some will not bother with them). The service people at the dealership were very pleasant but not impressed with the work. At a full stop, it was near impossible to get from neutral to first gear (M6 transmission). I took it to the dealership three times and was told each time that the transmission was working within factory specifications! Rather than suffering the horns behind me, the solution was to slip into first gear while still rolling. It also needed some suspension work but was covered under the extended warranty. Arm rest gets in the way of shifting the manual transmission so took some time to adjust. Great seats but ride was still uncomfortable, particular for the passenger. Handling was surprising mediocre. More recent 3 series loaners were even worse. My 2008 328xi was much better. Better in the sport mode but the car defaults to regular mode when turned off. Easy to change mode but a bother. Different modes dramatically alter gas pedal responsiveness. No big deal with an auto transmission but distressing when trying to hit the shifts with a manual. My wife, who drives stick quite well, refused to drive it after a couple of times. If you thinking about a BMW, lease for no longer than the factory warranty. Get a BMW for neighbor envy but not because it is the ultimate driving machine. 4/7/2020. Traded this car for a Golf R July 2018. The Golf is much better. Ride and handling are better. Transmission is easier to shift. Clutch is lighter and more predictable. Better acceleration. Only advantage of the BMW is that it had a sun roof.
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too delicate, treat it like an IPhone
I bought this car for my wife. Very disappointed. on a hard raining day she drove through no more than 8 inches of water and below the door level. the car stopped and the dealer called it a total loss. So much for German engineering. Why can't they keep the electronics higher off the ground and seal the floors better? For me it was too hard to get in and out of the car and I am 5'-10". It is difficult to find the comfortable seat position but it may be different with the power seat. The door lock button is in the middle of the consul rather than on the doors, so without the remote key, one has to crawl in, to get the other doors open. After 3 years and only 8800 miles, the car depreciated 20K or about 50%. I liked the exterior styling of it but that was about it.
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Run
This is my second BMW. Both times I've regretted buying one. There seems to be thousands of parts I've never heard of, all of which are at least 1k to fix. My friend told me the same thing for his. Every visit. Whether it's a pin sized light in the head lamp or a third filter for oil changes. Dealerships will absolutely destroy you for maintenance. And the thing I don't like about these cars is its very difficult to do things on your own. If it isn't digital that requires a machine to read/fix, it requires specific tools even for something basic. So owning a BMW forces you to be at the mercy of repair shops. And if they don't know what they are doing, it can be extremely costly to have to fix. Aside from the repairs, I find the design has a lot of flaws. The interior of both that I've owned always left me with a dumb look trying to figure out what they were thinking. The space in the rear seat of my 328i is laughable. If the front seat is anywhere but all the way up, the passenger in the rear will have no room. Compartments and cup holders are the bare minimum. It took me a little while to find one compartment that I do like but it almost seems to be shaped pointed outwards instead of slanted a little to keep items inside with the natural force of gravity. Just a lot of questionable designs that after my second one, I'm really beginning to wonder what the hype about these cars is. Costly, uncomfortable, hard riding. I would NOT recommend getting a BMW.
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Catastrophic fail - lost all power on fwy
Do not get this car, or possibly any BMW if you need to travel long distance from time to time. I experienced one about 180 miles from home. It lost all power without any warning (turns out to be a failed fuel pump). I had to pay $1,200 to have it towed back home. It actually saved me money as the fuel pump was still under warranty (But I have to pay the towing). It’s a fun car to drive around town, and good for commuting as it gets good mileage. But do not, I repeat, do not take this car for any long distance travel. It is simple not reliable for that, and you’d be putting you or your family in risk if you get stranded in the middle of no where
Great trade in value!!
Comfort and entry can be a bit of a challenge if you are 6 feet tall or taller. I traded this car for a new (ordered) 2018 BMW 540i. I got a fantastic trade in value. The new car is even better.
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three months and counting
Have owned it for 3 mos. includes premium package. Handles very well but would suggest getting an extended warranty if you plan to keep it beyond 4 yrs. Jeff S. at Passport BMW in MD gave me best price for Gold package by far.