Used 2023 BMW 3 Series Consumer Reviews
Smooth, quiet, sporty, and efficient
My fourth 3-series and my favorite so far. Needed a daily driver to replace an aging Chevy Bolt, my weekender being a 2014 Porsche Boxster S. With a 14 mile round-trip commute I do not need huge electric-only range, making a PHEV of some sort the right choice for me. I cross-shopped all the PHEV's under $60k and landed on the 2023 BMW 330e, which I ordered just to my liking, for which I paid MSRP, and of which I took delivery last week. First impressions? This is easily the quietest car I have driven. I can have a whispered conversation with my wife driving 80 mph on the freeway. Engine noise is unobtrusive and switching between gas and electric in hybrid mode is unnoticeable. I spec'd mine with the Adaptive M-suspension which I would highly recommend. Though my last three 3-series were of the F-generation making this a somewhat unfair comparison, all had Msport fixed suspension that seemed to aim more for the sporty but were also jittery and high strung. The Adaptive M-suspension in comfort mode on this car seems to strike an excellent balance between suspension comfort and drivability. The combination of a refined powertrain and smooth driving dynamics yield a level of refinement I was frankly surprised to obtain at this price point. The interior is lovely and expensive-feeling in a tasteful manner, featuring comfortable and supportive seats, high-grade materials on all surfaces, and very well laid-out controls. The large curved center screen is bright and expansive and the instrument cluster tunable to different viewing options. I've been following owners manual instructions on break-in and so have not had a chance to really get on it, but even a gentle prod of the fun pedal leads to plenty of oomph and the low end torque from the electric motor is quite palpable. So far it would appear that efficiency is as advertised. I'm 250 miles in and not even down to a half-tank running exclusively in hybrid mode. Mine is the Msport spec so I cannot speak to the standard braking feel but holy mother are the brakes good on the Msport version. Feel is perfect and stopping power feels way better than any car I have driven other than a pile of Porsches (I have own two and tracked many others). There are a few features which I find less satisfactory. It took me quite awhile to sort through even a few of the configurable options. This version of iDrive is certainly superior to those of my past 3-series and I suppose that feature overload will not be unique to this car. I am also not super in love with certain styling aspects, not least of which is the Darth Vader look of the front fascia and splitter of the Msport spec, which you have to go with if you want the M Adaptive suspension. Likewise the instrument cluster, which has a "<" on the left showing speed and a ">" on the right showing efficiency - this is in comfort mode, with what is shown in sports mode being, I think, a speedo and a tach. These are modest gripes with what has been a major surprise. I paid $42k in 2010 for a BMW 335d, which was far less refined than this 330e for which I paid under $50k. Heck, my Bolt was $42k new. If you are looking for an stylish, smooth, quiet, and refined PHEV that doesn't seem to require any compromises this might be the one. It sure is for me.
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The best compact sport sedan
I don't care what Edmunds says, but the 3 series is still the benchmark in compact sports sedans. I have a 2022 330i RWD, and the refined driving pleasure it delivers, is second to none. The 4 cyl is powerful, and you can feel the get up and go (without no noticeable turbo lag) as the car unleashes the inner sports car driver in you.
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- M340i xDrive SedanMSRP: $50,48212 mi away
- M340i xDrive SedanMSRP: $50,38012 mi away
- 330i xDrive SedanMSRP: $33,9006 mi away
Best non-M BMW.
Three months into ownership of my 2022 M340i, I still believe it's the best all-around car out there. Pros: Practicality is solid - suitcases, shopping bags, folded cardboard and the like all disappear into the trunk without issue. Car feels extremely stable at speed, easily comparable to the last-generation F80 M3. It corners quite well too, tons of grip both in the dry and wet. Sound deadening in the cabin is surprisingly good, only very slightly worse than a 5-series. Acceleration is fantastic. It's not an M3, but it beats C43s and Mustangs from a dig, and the power doesn't drop off all the way into felony-speeding territory. Auto start/stop works well and is easy to get used to. H/K audio sounds fantastic, although some tinkering with audio settings is helpful to improve the clarity. Cons: iDrive may be confusing for someone who hasn't previously owned BMWs. Nothing else really. It's a very good car.
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Love the size of the 330i
I can think of a millions things I love about this car and only one thing that I don’t. I had trouble understanding the cruise control. Also I really wish it had a charging pad.
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Great handling car
Overall, I am impressed with my first BMW. The drivability of the car is exactly what I expected. It is quick and confidence-inspiring. The hybrid integration is much better than I expected. I seldom notice moving from the battery to the engine, as the transition is smooth. I notice a power difference when on the battery, as it seems to hold the car back. After driving many "T" brand cars, I hoped for immediate torque during acceleration but found it tame, noticeably different than when under ICE power. I appreciate the 20 miles+ range on battery only and am amazed how the BMW powertrain management system when in Hybrid ECO, can offer good performance, regenerate the battery when under ICE and coasting, and extend one take of gas beyond 500 miles. My only complaint is when the stereo is at full power, and then the screen is touched, a noticeable reduction in music happens. I expected a better integration of the software, and that is the only reason I deducted one star.
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