Bmw 3series

What year are you looking at? I've 'heard' that BMW's are one of the most reliable used cars you can buy. (I assume you are talking used). You can probably find them for a good price, just be warned. If anything goes wrong, they might be really expensive to repair with the european parts. The engines might also need to run premium fuel, however I'm not sure on that.

its a 2000 323ci coupe.

my dad just bought a brand new 335xi and put new exaust, blow off valve and a racing chip in and its sick! and i have a 1990 325xi and its still running fine so yes they are very reliable

i used to have a 2001 5 series... not quite the same but it's ultra reliable - only thing is that if anything does break you're lookin at a huge bill. also it is truly horrible in the snow.

He put in a blow off valve after only upgrading the exhaust? Maybe beamers work differently, i dunno, haven't looked into them much, but I didn't think BOV's were good until you were at around Stage 2, and if you weren't they are actually detrimental. Could be wrong on that though.

As to the thread starter, look up reviews on Edmunds. And I know they rated BMW's as some of the best used cars you can buy .

Scroll down a little bit:

http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/bestbet/articles/

cool thanks dude!

well the chip makes the turbos put out alot more boost than before so the blow off valve has to get bigger aswell. it doesnt add much power its just easier on the car and it sounds louder

I have a 1995 318i, which is the lowest model bmw makes, and let me tell you, it is a fucking great car. 1.8L engine runs amazing at 187XXX miles!!! The thing handles like an F1 and has more than adequate power, while getting 35 mpg on the highway. I am sold on bmw, and if possible, will buy them for the rest of my life. Oh and many people worry about them in the winter, you just have to have snow tires. I have a nice set and my car handles better in the snow and ice than most of my friends SUV'S.
And if you are rich, buy the new 1 series...that car is incredible.

ya man mine has just over 200 000 miles and it still starts no matter how cold

I heard from a somewhat reliable source who claimed to be a foreign car mechanic that if it isn't an M, you will be spending alot of money after about 70k miles. Of course this isn't always true, but because it is a BMW parts will be expensive to replace

I thought about getting one, but I ended up with an Audi A4, and I love it.  So I would defiantely take a look at audi before buying one.

and if it is an M then you'll be spending a lot of money period. Ms are amazing cars to drive but every part is ridiculously expensive

http://www.bmw.com/com/en/newvehicles/1series/coupe/2007/introduction.html

i've never heard anything good about BMWs. they're RWD so they're terrible in the snow (unless you get the X...but i haven't heard its very good). its definitely all about the name...if anybody has watched the show TopGear, they know what i'm talking about probably.

if you want a nice car that will be able to handle all conditions, definitely look into Audi. i <3 quattro

yep, audi's own, i love mine. that top gear your talking about pretty much sums it up too. quattro = money in snow

I have a 2003 BMW 530i and I love it.  It's the smoothest, best running car I've ever had.  It has 60,000 miles on it and nothing has ever gone wrong.  Also, it is such a comfortable car, it drives so smooth, and cruises at a high speed like no other.  The only downside is it costs a lot to fix, but in all honesty, nothing has gone wrong. 

For those people saying Audi's are better, they are probably better in the snow, but they are not better overall.  They fall apart quicker, they are slower, they look less cool, and they aren't as fun to drive. 

i have a 2003 and nothing has "fallen apart". and i have to say bahahaha at "looking cooler", what a terrible argument.

how about the interior is more comfortable, there are more features, it drives smoother, it has a lot more space, and it is super reliable.  What more can you ask from  car?  I'm sorry but here is a reason BMW is viewed as the top car by most people.

tell us when you die via rear wheel drive in the snow

you're right - the reason is they don't know jack about cars. marketing works.



Not that BMWs are bad cars - they make some pretty sick cars. But the fact that everyone and their brother thinks that BMWs are the ultimate cars means precisely zero.

Yup, rwd + snow equals instant death.

If I were rich there is a long list of cars I'd buy before the 1 series. Any particular reason you'd go with the 1, in that price range?

i don't drive my bmw in the snow.......  I drive my brothers car or my parents, both of which are 4wd.  A cars worth isn't all about how it can handle in the snow, its about more than that. Its about the everyday driving experience and from my experience, BMW is the best at that.  I'm sorry if you disagree, but you don't need to attack me because of that.

not really, you just have to take your car out and learn how to control it if you lose traction. ive been driving a mustang with no traction control in the snow for 5 winters now and im still alive. sure its not amazing but if you learn how to work it you can successfully get around in the snow until ground clearance becomes and issue. im sure BMW's are much more effective than my mustang is.

sar·chasm  ('sär-"ka-z&m) : The giant gulf (chasm) between what is said and the person who doesn't get it.

Generic 3 series BMW's are a dime a dozen now a days. Go for an M3 or find something else. Audi's are much better in my opinion just for more bang for the buck. You get german engineering, style, function (more so in the Audi), and performance. Granted, Audi's are a bit slower in a head to head race. However, Audi's drive on rails, their handling is top notch. Plus, the Quattro system is more practical for a ski lifestyle. Any european car is going to be more expensive to maintain versus a domestic car, but that goes with the territory.

i think for a skier/someone that drives on snow a lot, a subaru is the best bang for the buck, before you get into higher end cars.

Alright, I'm entering this thread. I come from a BMW/VW/Volvo family. That is all my parents, as well as 2 grandparents have ever owned.

My father grew up driving in Michigan. He was given a 1967 BMW 1600 that he later upgraded to be more like the 2002 model. They far exceeded any car at the time in the snow, especially any american car, and I'm sure they still would. The wheelbase added a lot to its snow/ice ability, and the steering was strong. My father moved out to Tahoe in 1972 and lived there for a year, driving the car day in and day out. It drove fine in the snow then, and I'm sure if he took it out of the garage and decided to drive to the snow today, it would do fine now.

I have previously owned a 325ix in the past, and it handled fantastically in the snow. Never froze up.. rarely slipped, or if it did, it worked just as well as most any other car that you could buy today in the snow. There is a reason why it won the Chamonix ICE race at least 3 years in a row.. They only took it off the market when they introduced the E36 model car in 1992, where they did not make an X subseries.

BMW came back with the X in the 90s, with the E46 model, and I guerantee that car is just as good as any car of the day. It was just expensive at time when you could get AWD on a subaru for much cheaper. Regardless, it is VERY high quality.

As for RWD bmws, they do fine in the snow. My father now has a 1995 525i with a few power upgrades. The thing is just fine in the snow. Sure, you're going to want to chain up to get better grip, but it does fine.. After all BMW is based in Munich, Germany.. just down the hill from the Alps, where it gets extremely icy, and much like if you took east coast driving conditions, and put them on the west coast. Pretty bad. The cars were meant to be able to go anywhere, and still are probably the most popular thing you will see in the region... Someone from Germany back me up on this? or at least prove me wrong if I am.

As far as other cars go, Sure, audis are very good in the snow as well, but I wouldnt say they dominate a BMW just because they have the Quattro system AWD in comparison to the BMW X. They are dirived from the same AWD setup.. they really arent all that different. In fact, if you put the SUVs to the test, there are plenty of people who will say an X5 dominates the Audi Quattro SUVs in the snow... and vise versa. They really are very similar.

SpinninMackinnon.. I would also liek to see this top gear episode where the guys said BMWs suck in the snow.

Besides, if you are speaking the truth, are you going to trust guys who come from britain, where it rarely if ever snows that much, on what is better in the snow? I mean.. I trust jeremy, richard, and James to almost every extent.. but I'd like to hear the opinion from a slightly better source in this situation.


To get back to the main, and real point of all of this, BMWs are some of the best made cars on the planet. Though some see them as snobby, poshmobiles... that really only applies to the big huge 7 series, or overbearing 4.6L x5's and such. All the unessesary ones..

If you find a good E30 or E36 3 series bmw.. especially with the M20(1984-91) or M50(1992-96) 2.5L engine, you're going to be happy with the results. The fact is, the cars last forever, are becoming more inexpensive to maintain, and will need less maintnence than most cars as it is. Throw snowtires on them in the winter, and you will be delighted with the results... I have been in the past, and I'm sure that in the future, I will be pulling out in the driveway in another E30.. its just too good of a car to pass up.

they are great cars but just keep in mind what other people have said about parts. If something big happens you are going to pay a shit load in parts.

m3's and g35's are gino trash cars.

I'm surprised no one has said this yet...get a WRX if you can find one. Amazing car in every aspect.

i'm from germany and i live in the city where most car factories are, f.ex. mercedes and porsche, audi and BMW are somewhere else though...

and let me tell you, all Audis and BMWs are very good cars, the new audis really sick quality, but if you're gonna get a car that's older then 7 or 8 years then go for the BMW... i mean of course parts of german cars are more expenisve in america but the cars are less likely to break because of the quality compared to like japanese cars (i'll admit nowadays it's almost equal in the normal price segment, but if it's gonna be like 10 years old then the difference between german cars and japanese cars is pretty big...)

i have an audi an my dad has a beamer, they are both sick

It's times like this I wish I knew how to post pictures on this site, because I have the perfect set of pictures to exemplify this thread and this never ending debate as to what is better; BMW, Audi, Subbie.


But you asked about the BMW, and this is what I will say...



BMW's are wonderful cars and have an amazing pedigree associated with them. This pedigree creates a stereotype and also a premium for owning one (there is a reason BMW's nickname is (B)ring (M)y (W)allet) if something should break, you are looking at serious money to fix it, but it is like that with most European cars. As for reliability, they are pretty reliable cars and can last a long time if taken care of. The 2000 323 would be a good choice because once you move beyond the 2000's BMW's become more electrically intensive and much harder to work on yourself (if you are into that kind of thing)

As for BMW's and winter, if you know how to drive/ invest in some good snow tires, you will be fine.




SO, now onto the debate over BMW/Audi and which one is better


hers is your answer budget no option, Audi is better!!!! Why? Because a 1990 URquattro with a 60/40 split LSD quattro system putting 700 AWHP to the ground will absolutly rape a similarly built BMW on the hole shot, and as long as the Quattro takes more of a rally line vs the BMW's road course line, the Audi will maintain speed through the corners and be able to make up any difference on the exit. (given the same racing line though, the BMW would take the Audi through the corners and accelerate slightly better because of the difference in weight.
But this is money no option track whores we are talking about.


In the real world, Audi and BMW are practically the same car, both have things break that shouldn't, both cost a lot to repair, both have amazing top end stability and comfort rivaled by few other companies, both will get parked in the front if you valet it. Both are similarly priced and preform to a similar degree, and both are great all around cars.


So in the real world, get what makes you happy and give everyone else the finger.

i just read your looking at a 2003 323, my dad had the 2003 328 and it was super sick

FUCKING GET IT

2004 320i.
Looks sick, rear wheel drive, has everything going for it BUT the fact that you can't fold the seats which means no skis and for the roof rack you have to buy the BMW speacialy fitted one.. which looks like shit

I garuntee Yakima has one that fits. And I don't see the advantage of RWD, I'd take AWD anyday, which is why I love my WRX. Sure its heavier and kills your mpg a little bit, but its definitely worth it.

That's not necessarily true. I'll find the info in a minute, but you only need a BOV if you are above a certain rating.

if the previous owner has taken good care of the car and you do regular maintnece then the 3 series can be a very reliable vehical.  the IX is awesome with all wheel drive, i would consider that if your in ski country

I should say, upgrading your BOV can be detrimental unless your engine is at the right stage, so ya you're right.

All turbo's need a diverter valve, the blow off valve is more for the sound of your shifts, if you're into that ricer shit.

Or you could not talk out of your ass. Bmw's are one of the most well built vehicles (realistically, obviously Ferrari and the like are better built) on road, no question. They are not terrible in the snow by any means. Yes they are rear wheel drive, and with out snow tires they will suck because there is no weight in the rear to get traction! But with the right tire they are amazing. I have a 318i as I have said earlier, and its a base model with literally no fancy esp or anything like that. Well I drive that thing in any sort of weather I like (live in the NE and see a lot of snow) and have NEVER had a problem! I in fact try to break traction and throw my car around, and it just doesn't budge. Its a sad stereotype these cars receive. Audi's are ok, but I would never buy one. My brother and dad have had one and each had a ton of problems.

To the kid who said after 70K mi you need to dump a ton of money into bmw's. Hmm well I bought my car with 176xxx mi's and the records indicated NO work besides oil change/brakes ect. What you don't understand is these cars are well built for a reason. To fucking run for ever. And they do just that as long as you take care of it.

And to the fellow who asked as to why I picked the 1 series...Well I said if you were rich, and in my world, even a rich kid looking for a first/second car doesn't get a brand new 7 series. The 1 series are fucking sick, super sporty, good gas mileage, and look amazing.

hahaha, that's unnecessary. i stand by what i said and have been agreed with by some people (in fact, it was the dealer who said that about BMW, i've driven both and decided the audi was better, and that i didn't want to die in a snowstorm). chill out, the kid asked a question and i was just sharing my thoughts. jeeesus

dude there is no way you can claim that a rwd bmw is solid in snow and that you "can't break traction and throw the car around" is just bullshit. im not saying any one car is better than another, but unless you have an X, bmw's suck dick in the snow.

I wouldnt say they suck DICK in the snow...

a RWD car wouldnt be the smartest bet in the snow, but as far as rwd in the snow goes, i'm sure they are pretty damn good.. especially with some snow tires.

RWD can be shit in the snow, but if you have winter tires it's barely noticable, plus once the stability control is off it's a hell of alot of fun.

dude, bmw makes sick cars no doubt but as far as reliability goes they're mediocre at best.  audi's are sick but they are shitty cars.  they brake down and their reliability is well below average.  if you're lookiing for a reliable car think toyota/lexus, honda/acura/, and subaru.  it's simple.  they make the most reliable cars period.  sure there are certain models that are exceptions but as a while they top the list.  anyone who says different needs to check themselves.  i just bough my wife a '05 outback xt.  it's sick.  i fly passed the average ricer all day.  i guess you could always check consumer report.  they got the info on pretty much every model for every year.

Load of crap.

You're just basically saying Japanese cars are the most reliable.. which is just plain wrong. European(especially German) cars and Japanese cars are all about the same in reliabllity..

There is a reason why you have 25 year old BMWs still out there on the market, and running very strong. Because they are MADE WELL. I see audis all day long from the 80s on craigslist... They are a little more unreliable, sure, because they were just starting to make a dent in the market at the time, but they can still be found running. European cars will last just as long and stay just as reliable as japanese cars.

In my opinion, the most reliable cars are Volvos... I have an 87 volvo wagon that I have honest to god, torn to bits.. but it will never die. In fact, last summer, the wiring harness, which hadnt ever been replaced, was starting to fall apart, short out, and go haywire.. it caught fire one time, and I STILL drove the thing home! I finally pulled it off, got a new harness for something like 300 bucks, and the thing runs like new now. it has 350k on the dial, or something crazy like that. I bet I could drive plenty more miles before it dies.. (the world record is set by a volvo.. going over 2 million miles.. hows that for reliability) http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2002/02/21/036086.html

Not to mention... The front end was crunched back in November.. the radiator was bashed into the timing belt housing, and the fan clutch was all but destroyed in the process. I drove the thing home.. 32 miles.. driving perfect as it always does.


proof that volvos can crash, and never die: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Efs4uDnpvNk

Over the last decade or so, most japanese and european cars have reached similar reliabilities. The biggest difference, however, is that auto parts for japanese cars on average are much much cheaper than european cars.

That being said, everyone in this thread is just saying "Well, Type A car is WAY BETTER than Type B car, I've had one and its worked perfectly!" That's great, you only have experience from one type of car, or only a select few, so your 'opinion' on the most reliable car isn't very practical.

Do you REALLY want the most reliable car? One that will last you forever? Here is the secret, get a popular brand with high consumer ratings and reviews and TAKE CARE OF YOUR CAR! That is the true secret to getting a reliable car, other than that, it's largely preference. Is a BMW more reliable than an Audi? Eh maybe slightly, but I can guarantee that the Audi driver who drives conservatively, isn't hard on his brakes and takes care of his engine will have a much more reliable car than the BMW driver who floors it off of every intersection. Do scheduled maintenance every 20,000 miles and make sure you are doing oil changes every 3,000-5,000 miles with a high quality oil and filter. Voila, there is your secret, now pick a car you like and take care of it and it will treat you well.

if you weight the trunk and have either studs or some kind of winter tread, I'd take a rwd over a front any day. even though it slips more often, it is very predictable, so once you learn to drive that particular car, there won't be any suprises in the snow. front wheel is just weak, no good at all. audis have a long long history of unreliability. A4s especially. I drive a mercedes so I am already biased against bmw, but they are still amazing cars, especially when compared to an equivalent audi.