BMW 3-Series Saloon (1998 - 2005) 320d SE 4d Auto (2002/02) Owner Review
Want to know everything there is to know about this car?
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Summary
What does this car say about you?
It says "I want to have a premium car for the price of supermini.".
What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?
My family love the trusty old Beemer and my friends think I'm insane driving a car with near 200,000 miles on the odometer around 45 miles everyday. But, my friends love the car because it shows how faithful I am in my 320d and it shows how well built BMWs really are.
Would you buy this car again and why?
Yes, I would buy this car again, because it's easy to drive, comfy, reliable (never let me down with over 195,000 miles on the odometer), I've owned Hondas, Toyotas, Suzukis, Audis, VWs and Mercs that are less reliable than this mighty BMW! And when I get to a fun road I can push it and see just how good the chassis is on the e46 and the best bit...I can do all this without breaking the speed limit and achieve at least 47mpg and on a long journey I've seen 53.2mpg!
What are you likely to buy next?
An e46 M3 (manual) to replace my Subaru Impreza WRX STi, if the e46 320d is anything to go by. But, I don't think I'll be replacing my daily, the 320d for a while. But when I do, it'll probably be replaced by an F30 320d (I'll skip the e90).
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Buying experience
Type of dealer you bought from?
Didn't buy from a dealer
Did you buy this car new?
No
What price did you pay?
£3,300
When did you buy the car?
September 2009
Did you get a good deal and why?
Is there any special reason why you bought this car?
The main reason I purchased my 3-Series is because of balance between performance and economy. I also like that if I'm on a fun road, it can be quite engaging to drive, especially for a 2.0 diesel saloon. Yet, it's also a comfy cruiser that's reliable and feels like it can go on forever.
What was the dealer like?
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Driving it
What's it like to drive?
It's not the car you'd take for a drive on your favourite road, but, when you get to your favourite road you can still have some good fun with the rear-drive chassis. But, when I'm on my way home from work it's a comfy cruiser that can keep up with more powerful cars - probably due to the torque.
What's it like to park?
Easy, it has optional parking sensors.
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Living with it
Have you had any problems with the car?
What's most practical about your car?
Favourite gadget, option or accessory?
