Owners' Stories

Bought a new 2003 325i. The car was fun to drive but the quality of fit and finish was terrible. The car came with the "premium package" which included leather seats and some "wood" trim on the doors. The trim fell off frequently and had to be repaired. The floor mates lasted about a year. This car was recently re-called to fix a grounding problem in the electrical system that caused the tail lights to burn out frequently. They finally found the problem after 8 years. Also, this and other years of the 325i are involved in a class action suit that claims the body separates from the frame under normal use. Finally, the dealers are the worst. The car comes with a 48K mile warranty and service included, but then the dealer tells you it doesn't need any. Oil changes at 15K miles and no tire rotation.. that's a joke. I sold this car in Jan 2012 with 52K miles on it and got $9,000. It had a few bumps and bruises; but not many. Carmax turned it around for almost $15K in a week or so. God help the poor bastard who owns it now. I bought a 2010 Acura TL with 17K miles and 3.5 year bumper to bumper warranty. We'll see how it goes.

Purschased new now have 130,000 runs good and handles exceptionally well. have had 3 of the 4 regulators repalced for $900 so be expecting you too wil have the opportunity to visit your local Bimmer dealer. I too have brake light and battery indicator lights on the dash come on and off at times, also agree with the cost to service at the dealer is crazy, my mercedes service is cheaper than the BMW and the mechanics are TRUE experts. QUESTIONS: has anoyone heard a very failt noise from the center dash area with the key out and everything off? almost sounde like hissing very very faint. Also anyone know if it is possible to fix the radio on off volumn knob. Mine will not turn off until you try 10-20 times or more, volumn is ok. Thanks all keep the Bimmer Faith.......... virenr

Bought my 2003 325i the end of 2008, loved it for the first year. Every now and then it would make a wierd noise when I rolled the window up or down, no big deal. Then one day the window wouldn't roll down any more. Had both front windows repaired. About one year later rolled the back window down one day and it wont go back up. Close to the same time dashboard keeps flickering on and off that my exterior lights aren't working. Some days there is a delay when it starts. Then my windshield wiper fluid wont spray, and today out of nowhere my car wont start. The pic for the battery is lit, when I bought the car I replaced the battery so it shouldn't be bad????? Really tired of all the problems I'm having with this car. I will NOT ever purchase another BMW, way too many problems that are way to expensive to fix. At least my Hubby is a mechanical genius so instead of having the dealership charge me $500 dollars to fix the window since my warranted has now expired, he can do it for the price of a couple parts(I think he said about $50)

Well I bought this car for my son and this is his first car. Yes I have to say it maybe some thing I would want now but I am old. It is a 325i convertable with 172,062 miles and runs pretty well. Not a car that is fast or quick off the line which made it easier for me to say this is a great car for my son. There are small problems and I have fixed all. My question is the Hazard lights. First of all the button will not stay pushed in and so you have to hold it and even then only the left side will flash and nothing on the right side. now both sides turn signals work fine. Has anyone had this problem or an answer?

I have a 93 bmw 325i.. it has over 200,000 miles on it... who ever owned it before me must have lowered it somehow especially in the front... i mean its a cute car but expensive to fix.... its in need of a rear wheelbearing replacement and thats one thing i am sure of.. it makes a really loud howling noise while driving.. and its constant... im also pretty sure i need to replace the brakes.. i have already put alot of money replacing things on this car and cant affored right now to fix the other problems.... but im sure contining to drive it in its condition is probably not good and could maybe be makin the problems worse.... ahhhhh

The window regulators had to be replaced on 3 of 4 windows. Car has 120K. Bought parts at Autozone/Ebay and installed myself. Care taken when removing door panel.Dealer wanted about $325. Got parts for around $90. Used existing window motors.

Bought it at 83000 miles in 2010. Having 93K today, i did not see any window regulator problem yet, but after 6 months i noticed that fan is over engaging and its loud sluggish and also i feel like i m lacking power. Went on like that for a while and finally frustrated and got it diagnosed and found that i need to change the fan clutch(don't buy OEM) and thermostat. What a difference car is back to normal, again its fun to drive. Comments above about the window regulators are scary, i didn't have any yet, but looks they will fail on me some time down the road. Pros: Funnnn to drive Cons: Many minor things fail

purchased a 1995 325iA with 170,000 miles on it and have been loving it. Some kid had owned it before so a few poor quality aftermarket parts had to be stripped, and the radiator was held in with zip ties, but after a few dollars on the proper parts and a little maintenance it runs and drives like a dream. I have owned a few cars in my time but the 325 is probably going to be rebuilt so it will go another 200,000. I really like this car!

I have owned my 2006 325 going on 5 years. bought it used from carmax with 22k on it.It now has over 65k. Had one engine concern that could have been a hugh expense, a bolt head had broken off to an oil port. The oil was pouring out of the front of the head/block..I was lucky and had a local independant shop(Tri-Star) repaired it..I replaced front brakes, used Napa rotors with factory pads and sensors..cost alot less..Gets good gas mileage, 25mpg plus..Has been a great car..

Got the car brand new in 2002, with automatic transmission and the deluxe package. It's been a pleasure to drive and it's hard not to get carried away by many of the well thought out design elements. After 10 years, I only have 68K miles on it and it has been fairly reliable with the usual maintenance. No major issues with the engine and transmission, but the smaller issues do take away from the full pleasure of owning this car and make you wonder if you should get a BMW again. These are irritating problems that you do not expect to see in a premium car. (a) The biggest problem you will hear from anyone is the crappy window regulator design. And I mean crappy with a Capital C. The "regulator" is just a fancy word for a mechanical linkage that connects the window motor to the glass. One fine day it decides to start shreiking and die. The window refuses to move or just drops down into the door. In the regulator design there's a small plastic part that guides the steel cable and the part inevitably breaks or _melts_ due to heat. I have had to replace 3 windows so far and the 4th now needs repair. 99% of the time I drive the car alone and the windows don't get any stress. The first happened a few months into buying the car. It costs anywhere from $200-$600 to fix depending on where/who does the work. (b) The second problem is the electrical wiring. Apparently, BMW decided to use a lower gauge wiring than required, which means the wire can burn out and leave you with a perennial "lights out indicator" on the dash, or worse, signaling lights that won't work. BMW finally 'fessed up and issued a recall for this in September 2011 due to it's safety implications. (c) The third problem has been the window gutter near the roof. In the 325i, this is plastic (chrome on the 330i) and apparently just stuck to the car using adhesive. I have had it come slightly loose, enough to pick up wind noise while driving or let in water in a heavy rain. I asked a shop to fix it and first they weren't sure if the part was available, then got an estimate for $400 to fix one side. (d) Other people have mentioned that the wheels pick up a lot of brake dust. This is very true, but I will give it a pass because the BMW brakes are very good. (e) The biggest issue you will have with owning this car is the dealer. Any issue from a simple oil change, transmission fluid change, battery replacement to anything larger is going to cost you 2X to 3X of what you would pay for another car. And knowing this, you are always weary of going to a dealer and looking for smaller independent shops. And these shops may claim BMW expertise, but sometimes it becomes apparent that they don't. Went for a battery replacement and the guy pops the hood and starts scratching his head because he can't find the battery. The battery is in the trunk. Or getting an oil change done and the guy can't reset the service indicator. (instructions are on the web). BMW really needs to fix the Window issue, it's beyond the normal failure rate for any car, let alone a premium car. The rest I will let slide.

bought my 2002 bimmer with 138000 beatiful inside and out two previous female owners i think alot of the problems with these cars have to do with previous owners i love it n have alot of fun with tight handling n steering would like to add a couple bolt on parts for more power but for a 2.5 liter it really is amazing what a driving machine it really is cant wait too get in an m3 next

Owned since new. After 4 yrs and no longder under warranty only short in rear lights,known problem, I wont pay outrageous amount to fix it, hubby packed it in, now works but the dash claims it is burned out. Now @ 94K miles, the power steering pump- blew up, yes it blew. BMW no longer has that pump avail so guess what had to update it to the new part, and therefore lots of expensive other parts to retrofit...almost $900 in parta labor under $100-thank god not done at bMW, they would have charged over $1500+......still only repair ever needed.

Well I have had this car for 5 months now, it is a 2006 325i and had 43,000 miles on it when I bought it. The module for the xenon headlights went out and cost me $600, recently had the brakes replaces, new rotors and a new brake sensor... down $557 bucks, something is wrong with the stereo so you can barely see what is says (sometimes) so that needs to be replaced.... It's just one headache after another... Ugh

For parts cheaper than what you can buy local for a bmw 325i. I found my parts @ PartsGeek.com out of N.J. Most items shipped with in two to three day's depending on your location. I highly refer this sight to anyone that needs parts for a bemmer.

I've wanted this car for as long as I can remember, finally I got it 4 months ago and it was the biggest mistake of my life I have to fix all most eveything :(

Good car to drive but lots of minor mechanical problems that are expensive to reapir.

Great car but if you dont have the money its a pain in the neck, wallet and maybe your heart. I bonded so much to it that it hurts to send it for repairs.

purchased new, now 5 years old with only 44k miles, but lots of city driving. at 20k or so, i needed a new engine - the coolant leaked inside it. other new-car issues were the lights on door handles going out. both handled under warranty. post warranty, at 44k, needed new front bushings. generally been very dependable - i hope my new engine lasts! while i love the engine's responsiveness and the steering (especially), i marked both down above because of issues noted in write-up. i hope i don't get the problems others on this board get! it is a very expensive car to keep re: maintenance. oil changes are expensive. as is everything else. I replaced run flats with reg tires, with air pump and slime in the trunk - it worked on the one flat i got with this car.

Purchased this car as a CPO for local dealership and it has been the worst $34,000 I have ever spent. It's great as long as it is under the full warranty, but even with BMW taking care of the costs there has still be a ton of issues. Run-flat tires stink, radio system had to be completely replaced, both back window motors have failed causing the windows to fall down on their own, driver-side mirror falls out of place every time door shuts, paint peels off the black "sides" on the roof and interior door handle peels constantly. I can't believe I spent this much money for this much headache!!! Regret ever purchasing car...first BMW and last BMW!

i have regreted ever getting this car...it has been one aggravation after another and very expensive...BMW stands for BUST MY WALLET!.. electircal issues are the worst issues i have had.

I've had this car for five years now and I have definitely become very close with my mechanic. I am honestly almost a part of their family now. They drive me to work when my car is getting repaired, offer to feed me as I wait...all of this to say that I've been there a lot. This is not what I was hoping for when I bought this car. Being a higher end vehicle I thought that I'd have to do less but it's been the opposite. It looks good, but the parts as I was just told, are all plastic, hence the constant repairs. I've had to fix my rear back window once due to the faulty regulators others mentioned, and the side window is going too. I just don't put it down for now because I've been too busy fixing the turning signals oh about five times now, the radiator, water pump, hoses, crank starter thingy, and too many other things to mention. I had a Toyota before this (bottom of the line Tercel), and all I ever had to do with it was oil changes, brakes, and a front axle because California roads are so bad. I had that car for 12 years and I didn't have to do a quarter of the things I had to do with this one in just five. Granted, the car is 10 years old total, but it only had about 58,000 miles on it when I got it. Either someone lied, or this car is just more trouble then it's worth. It looks good though.

power steering pump on my 2003 b m w 325i has failed three times in the last three years. Whats the problem with these pumps.

I have a 1995 BMW 325i, and i parley but on 105,000 miles. It is a great car and very well maintained.. I love it have plan on buying another very soon.

This car has been great for me. I purchased several years ago and have had only minor problems that you would expect from a 20 yr old BMW. This car is solid, I plan on doing a full rebuild and keeping the car for years to come.

This car is an absolute pleasure to drive. The handling and feel of this car is truly impressive. I saw a post where it said there was limited cargo space. That's a total lie. For a car this size the trunk is quite large. Cup holder placement is a bit odd but that's about my only gripe. I find it comical that people buy a high performance foreign car that is known to be expensive to repair, if you did any amount of home work then you would know this. Then they complain when it's expensive to repair, it's like hitting your head with a hammer then getting mad and surprised that your head hurts, you silly people you LOL. Many things I see being reported smack of a shady repair service. Hardly the cars fault. At least half of what you spend at a dealer is for labor costs. Many of these things can easily be fixed by YOU for much less if you ever care to get out a repair manual and a set of tools. O2 sensors, window issues are all child's play. You know if your engine light is on you can go to almost any Auto zone or other such service and as long as your engine light is on they will read the problem for you for free? Why? Because they want to sell you the part to fix it. Granted this does not apply to all of your issues but it does cover a fair amount of you. Be smart, do your home work and pick up a friggen book and a wrench every now and then or get a KIA. I'll be the guy in the BMW zipping past you and laughing. :) Catch you on the flip side!

Purchased the car new as a "demo" car. Within 6M miles the front shield and outside temperature gauge near the tires broke- I had to pay even though BMW claims warranty- Next I hear that the undershield in the BMW needed repairs- Appears that the dealer who sold the car had accident not reported to TX and fixed the car poorly to sell. Then in 2009, I had the generator replaced with a battery at the Woodlands BMW dealer for a fortune. A few thousand miles later when I do a regular fluid check, I found the bolts to the battery stand in the engine and had to replace it myself because the service was not quality checked to make sure all bolts and nuts are put back to secure what was removed for the service. So be very careful of the service centers that do not care- And that is because there is no customer service in the main BMW NA center that oversees all these dealers and service centers So watch for these sleasly dealers and BMW NA does not respond favorably for help and has minimal customer service- actually no service help or assistance- HONDA is much better and cheaper to maintain and has excellent customer service from the national service center. Honda values their customers unlike BMW. Even though the car has been pretty good since the above initial problems, I would not recommend a BMW to anyone else because of extremely poor customer service after a purchase or after a service that was done poorly.

All I can say is BMW why can't you admit to a faulty VANO's system,did every thing to try to figure out stalling problem on cold starts, this is my last option hope it works rebuilding it now with new "improved o-rings"

This car is a joy to drive, and if you take care of the engine and drive train, it will take care of you. A lot of miscellaneous issues for me though: window regulators, HVAC fan, actuators, sun roof, etc. These things can add up, but worth it for such a great vehicle. Good gas mileage for a performance car as well.

just got this car its great i love it and its great for hotboxing

I am in need of the pack passenger rear brake sensor. Also i need to get a hold of a ambiant air control temperature located underneath front passenger side bumper. required to pass emissions

Great overall car but... - poor window regulators. Mine have been replaced 3 times already on all windows. And they are expensive ($350 on average per window) - Electrical problems (fan blower, lights etc.) are frequent - Clutch replaced at 120K miles - Fuel pump failed at 70K miles

Beautiful car with great gas mileage; However had problem with electronic steering lock (required steering column replacement ~$1000). Now have transmission fluid leak without any way to check level (told I need to have mechatronic seal replaced ~$500). Also have a clicking sound coming from blower motor at low speeds and have excessive brake dust collect on rims. I have converted to radial tires because I hated the run flats, but there is no compartment for a spare tire. These problems make me regret the purchase of the car.

bought the car 2010, 79,000 miles bought new tires,new brakes, one year later stalling problems,by the way it's a stick, found vacuum leak fixed it ,problem persists,stalling on cold starts, bring it to BMW dealer to read fault codes, it the computer ,now to find one and have it programed for my car, by the way dealer wanted $1600 just for the part , good luck with that,other options?

Purchased car used in 2010,had to replace leaking oil and transmission gaskets. Heating stalled for one full day,windshield fluid dispenses inconsistantly. Possible computer glitch.

My favorite car out of all ones I owned so far

The transmission wennt out 2000 miles after warranty. The car had a complete inspection at 99000 miles and the dealer saw nothing wrong. Dealer wanted 8000 to replace the transmission with only 2 year new warranty.

I've had this car a couple years now. I've had to spend some money in maintenance and repairs, and have been struggling with a persistent 02 sensor problem, but I can't help but adore the car. It just feels so good to drive it. And the more I learn about it the more I appreciate the work that went in to designing it to perfection. I've never had a car that was just "Regular Maintenance", there is always some work involved, especially with the roads the way they are in this country, but this car has been good to me.

I previously purchased my first BMW new in 1987, it was a BMW 325 is, which I drove for 12 years and about 185,000 miles. I absolutely loved everything about this car, which had no problems - other than replacing a seat belt. It was a gem - extremely reliable and it drove great. This lead me to purchasing my second BMW. I purchased a new 2004 325 i - in late April of 2004, and it has truly been a nightmare vehicle! I' ve had more problems with this car than I can list. Almost from the beginning my car had problems with the engine and/or engine cooling system, (towed to dealership at least 4 -5 times for this alone.) the fuel system, fuel pump, gasoline delivery, radiator hoses, housing unit replaced, tail lights, turn signals, hazard lights, and door locks/latches sticking. I've been stalled along the highway, and in rural areas far too many times to count and towed to my home and/or the dealership around 6-8 times total. I have spent a small fortune on far too many repairs. Mostly, what frustrates me is the unreliability of this so-called very expensive luxury vehicle I purchased. I do not neglect my BMW, I schedule it for regular service appointments and follow the recommended guidelines of the owners manual. My BMW has a history of the service engine light coming on and the car's cooling system - overheating. I was recently stalled (again), where my BMW overheated. The dealership replaced the auxiallary fan, thermostat and a few others parts, totaling over $1,700. I had the vehicle home less than 12 hours and I was stalled the following day - again. Without going into a detailed account of my recent incident, the dealership stated that I need a new engine. My car has 105,000 miles on it with a service record a mile long. I do not want to put another dime into this vehicle. Nor do I want to get too far from home.To replace the engine will be around $3,800 to 5,000 - with minimal warranty. I recently paid my vehicle off (Jan. 2010) and was enjoying no car payments. After reviewing "the maintenance, recalls and technical service bulletins" on my 2004 325 i sedan - (the list of problems is almost 8 pages long) I believe my car is a lemon. I want the dealership to "man up" and replace my vehicle with a reliable car, at no charge to me. Does anyone know if a BMW dealership has any recourse with BMW (manufacturer) North America? Doesn't the dealership have a responsibility to fight for their loyal customers. I KNOW that I'm not the only one with problems, the list of complaints is lengthy. Any advse or suggestions?

My dad has a BMW 325i, and I want to steal it. Fun to drive, it's been very reliable, and he hasn't spent much on maintenance and nothing on repair. The brakes are expensive, but they were under warranty. The oil changes are expensive, but you only have to do them once a year or less.

Very easy to drive, you can feel the power and control at same time

I bought my 02 325i in september of 09 with 90k on it. the only problems I've had with her are: the "check engine" light spontaneous turns on and off, when she's cold the power steering has a tendency to go out, the suspension bushings come loose often, and she likes to burn motor oil, I always use Mobil 1 synthetic and half way between oil changes I have to add several extra quarts, luckily motor oil is cheap at Wal-Mart! Cons aside, when I turn my car on, she returns the favor.

i love this little car money want buy

The best car ever I love it for ever

Overall the car is great. Make sure you have a warranty. Broke down on me once but BMW took care of the tow and repair.

The BMW325I with the sport package is very responsive and quick.

purchased used. GREAT car.

I absolutlely LOVE my Beemer!!! I'll never go back to a domestic vehicle again. The feel and telegraphing of the road, the care and craftsmanship of the entire vehicle is unsurpassed in my opinion. What an ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE!!!!!

2001 BMW 325i This baby is a blast to drive and handles like a slot car car going around curves. Get extended warranty or trade in after 50k/miles. In shop way too much. AC: defective water pump; rear window regulator;exterior trim falling off; front suspension control arms; steering box; camshafts sensor failure; faulty head gasket; just to name a few repairs. Be prepared to be on a 1st name basis with your mechanic and volunteer for overtime hours at works to get get money to pay for repairs. Other than that great car.

I have owned a 2001 BMW 325i for a little over a year now. It definitely has its high points, such as the brakes and such. I bought the car from an owner who didn't know to actually take care of a car, and now I'm taking the repercussions of what he did (i.e.- drove the car like a maniac, let the car sit out in the sun, let the tires get so low in air pressure to the point of nearly blowing up). It is a very nice car, but you have to actually take care of it. Right now, I've gone through over $10k worth in repairs because he was careless about the car. Overall, the car is reliable, even after all of the repairs. I would recommend it to anyone.

what a great car i had this car brand new since 2001 i had no problem with 125,000 miles suddenly the check engine light came on and i develop oil leaks ,crankshaft and camshaft sensor light problem soon after i replace these parts every thing was ok the key here is maintenance regular oil changes every 4,000 miles

bought the car new and drove little first few years. they do burn through brakes but stop ona dime. they do wear out thrust bushings but handle like n rails. the plastic does fall off car; buy some good glue. the window regulators fail, no reason for that just poor design. The idler pulleys are going now... with 49k miles all these have needed repair. All I can say is BMW builds a great car to drive but you will pay a price for it. If you like to drive and what you drive these things are great. The purr of the inline 6 reminds me of my old 280zx. You can run the pants off these things and they wont wimper a bit. If you want mtnce free better look to the rising sun (japanese.) they engineer for reliability. Nissan is making great cars again. Will I do another Bimmer? sure. Not new though. the economy and wife's debilitating injury requires we watch the budget. You can buy them used cheap! Buy the tools and the book.

Love the way it handles...has a nice get up and go for a low end luxury, but the never ending problems and the price to fix them is forcing me to trade. Gas mileage is 30mpg with a heavy foot. Daily commute about 100 miles round trip. Drive is really fun, repair bills are horrible!!!

Amazing first car, if your good with cars and know a thing or two they are also very cheap to fix since parts dont kill your wallet if you buy online. Amazing handling and for a 18-year old car with 176,000 ... it is very fast.

learn to fix yourself or pay $1000 a year things that will need service Auto tran 70000 3k h2o pump 60000 1k radiator 80000 * with above smog 85000 1k suspension 90000 2k

This car has some weak points that cloud the overall ownership experience. My problems so far: Rear window regulators. It seems like there is a 100% failure rate on the the rear window regulators and at $350 a window this is not trivial. Front window regulators: The fronts have not failed yet but are slow and as a result I avoid using them. Cooling system: This year has a tendency towards cooling system failures. My fan clutch had to be replaced and the service advisor is recommending replacement of the water pump and reservoir to head off the inevitable failure at 60k miles. Lights: The side marker lights fogged up and had to be replaced. The interior door switch failed and required replacement. Brakes: brake life is not long and complete replacement at $1300 is a heavy price to pay. Mystery stalling: If I make a U-turn and don't keep the gas on, the car stalls. Sometimes it just stops on a bridge or making a left turn out of my development. This is a scary problem that so far has no diagnosis. My car also has the weird fan speed problem in which the fan pulses at high then low speed. This is annoying but apparently there is a fix for this. The ride has lost the compliency that is so good when new. My other BMW has 127k miles and rides better than this one! Summary: an expensive car to own. Look at alternatives that can provide similar quality with lower costs from Lexus or Acura. This car can make you truly miserable with repair costs. If you do own one, make sure you trade or sell the car when there is some service agreement and warranty left.

I bought this car new in early 2003. So far the car has been freakishly reliable. I think there was a bushing replacement early on and a taillight went out once. Oh yeah, the player is on the fritz. I have babied and respected this car; I suspect a lot of folks beat on these cars and they are surprised when they have problems. Its a lovely car and fun to drive.

having constant issues recent,,,needing a really good mechanic!

We bought this 2003 325i new in hopes of acquiring an even better level of car than our dependable Accord EX...Wrong. This "babied" car has died with no reason on my wife--repair cost 600.00. Makes a weird sewing machine noise when excellerating--repair cost 1100.00. Makes a horn-type sound in the front suspension when we pull into our driveway--couldn't fix it. Water leaks into passenger side door when going through a car wash. Now the AC/heater blower has stopped working this summer, so I'm about to head to a mechanic for that, too.

good car , luv this car .

We bought this car in Monroe, GA about 2 months ago. Had almost $52k miles on it. Today the ac started smoking and went out. Took it to our local BMW dealership to get it checked out, not only was the a/c out but we were told it needed a crankcase vent valve, hoses, evaporator, dryer, a/c line, intake boot, oil filter housing, rear brakes and lower control arm bushings. The estimate was over $5,600!!!! I seriously doubt I'll ever buy another use BMW.

I love the way this car drives however the cost of maintaining it is too much for me. I have so many problems with the SRS lights coming on. I have spent almost $1500.00 in the last two months and they are on again. The sunroof is another problem. Every problem is very expensive to take car of.

I purchased my 2003 325i in 2005. It drives very well and I have experienced minimal maintenance problems. I will definitely purchase another BMW!

bad transmission.oil lick

I like the car, overal looks and performs well - now at 110,000 miles. Although I don't expect perfection at this age there are a number of little things that have failed, some because of poor design or inferior parts/materials; all of which add up very quickly; e.g., taillight bulb assembly board, HID headlight went out (few hundred $'s in repairs), inside trunk release, lower control arms, leaking valve cover gasket, and leaking door seals. Despite these annoyances, this is my third BMW (3 series) and is unlikely to be my last.

I LOVE THE 325I 6 CYL. IT IS VERY PEPPY ESPECIALLY IN 3RD GEAR. MY CURRENT DILEMA IS WITH HAVING TO REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR. I NEED A PICTORIAL. ALSO LOVE THIS PAGE.

This car has been trouble. Let me list... Breaks, taillights, headlight lenses, power steering pump, window washer pump, a/c compressor, front passenger window, even replacing bulbs in the car is not easy. We had to order the taillight bulbs off the Internet because no parts stores carried them and the BMW dealer wanted a small fortune for a set! I have a 2000 Dodge Dakota. I've changed the brakes and scheduled fluids. It runs great! I will not buy another BMW.

Purchased my car new. No problems until 2008, when I had to replace tires. In 2009, had window motor on passenger side replaced. May 2010 I had the power steering pump replaced and left back lights fixed...total cost $1,011.00. Car does not look dated and is fun to drive; however, it is very expensive to repair.

Bought this certified used in 2004 with only 10K miles. I've put 85K miles on it and have had no real issues. Only normal maintenance, which I do myself. Car is on its third set of front brake pads and nearing another change so it does like to eat brake pads. I'll try ceramic pads next time. Only non-maintenace part replaced was the thermostat. Car is fun to drive, especially on windy roads. Wish it had more power. AWD is a life saver in the snow and even when its just wet. I'm extremely happy with this car.

Had every electrical problem mentioned in the previous reviews. Replaced all 4 window regulators. All 4 turning lights had problem, bulbs are fine. Local BMW dealer wanted $400 dollars to "fix".

I got my car with 38,000 on it. At 72,000 its had a radiator hose, belts, one wheel bearing, windshield spray pump, front and back rotors replaced(upgraded to cross drilled rotors and ceramic pads). Other than the spay pump thats mostly wear and tear parts. It has had no problems with the motor at all and I love this car. It looks as good as it drives.

I am very dissappointed. I'll never buy BMW again. My past cars and vans were Toyota and had no problem with them. With my BMW, the moment the 4 year warranty elapsed, all problems occur. Both front and rear brakes were replaced, clutch and flywheel replaced, window motors replaced. It cost me almost $10,000! Now, the airbag sign is always on and I'm scared to bring it to the dealer for repairs! I might get ripped offf again. It's not worth it to own a BMW-you are just paying for the brand. Quality wise, it's a complete failure!

perfect

We have an 05 BMW 325i with 89K miles(owned it since 20K) and approx 60K are highway miles. I'm religous about my scheduled maintainance(dusty TX conditions). Great car to drive... be prepared for mechanical (peripherals) and/or electrical issues when the warranty runs out. We've had 3 confirmed oil leaks, head rest mechanism broke replaced(45K) and are wearing out again(we DON'T even adjust them)... i notice a trend. Front passenger window gear is malfunctioning, rear taillight lens cover leaked and shorted out the tail light assembly(replaced). Alternator fried and overcahrged the battery(leaked acid in the battery pan)... fun mess to clean out of the truck when it exploded. Now the A/C compressor stopped working. I'm fed up with this car. The last few things have happened in the last 3 weeks. I have a dodge truck that's two yrs older with nearly double the mileage and the only things i've needed to replace were the Exhaust o2 sensors and I did that myself. I maintain my vehicles very well and BMW makes it next to impossible to work on those vehicles with every speial tool known to man!!! You best be able to afford the warranty and/or afford to trade in on a regular basis! Not what I expected in the way of quality!

This was a great driving car but then the steering started that shimmy and it has been an uphill battle. Next stop, front control arms to try to correct it. It has been a major issue. Replaced bushings, steering rack etc and still not fixed. I talked with a bmw dealer and they know this has been a problem. BMW should have issued a recall on those control arms. Will be the last bmw I will ever buy because of that.

good

I don't drive the car hard. Only 37K miles in 6 years, but so far no problems, just routine mintenance. One oil change. Still on the original set of brakes. Only quality problem is exterior trim. Glue that fastens brackets to window trim is failing and falling off. No way to repair except buy a new trim piece.

03 325i with 87k. lots of problems that i am finding are very common with these bmws

All problems listed in most of the comments i have had, brake issuses,window issuses,light issuses,but i still love my car -go figure

I have loved this car from the moment I turned the key to test drive it, then put 30,000 miles on it in the first year because it is so much fun to drive - drove from Louisiana to Ithaca, NY and back, taking back roads and two-lane mountain roads when available. When I finished the trip, I realized that I had not even turned on the radio or stereo the whole time, just was in the driving zone of this tight car and the road. The only problem I have had with this is a front end collision which had undiscovered damage to the coolant system, ruining the engine. It is now getting a new, rebuilt engine and I will be on my way again. I can't wait to get my baby back. I loved the 3-series so much that in the meantime, I purchased a 1996 3-series convertible for my second car (just to have something to drive). That one has 177,000 miles on it and drives beautifully.

My 325i 2002 is nice had to put a little money in it to keep it up & riding good, overall Fun to drive beemmer!

As with the 2002 models there are many expensive and disappointing problems. I love drive this car but find the clutch jerky and although I had it replace before it was time, it is still clunky. The problems with the window lift controllers is very annoying, obvious defective designs should be resolved by the manufacturer under a recall. The dealer told me that the sunroof falls of its track and there is a retrofit kit for $1500, i have never used the sunroof and find that outragous (BTW he also said that before the kit was available the repair cost was $2500). The last trip to the dealer for the 50K service netted me an estimate of over $5000 for repairs to defective parts. I get 31 mpg on the road and 25 around town which i like but the gas savings don't come even close to the cost of repairs.

The only problems I have with the car are as follows: The right side of the dash lights went out plus the one on the thermometer and clock, the speedometer/odometer have quit working for a while every once in a while but they come back when you start the car again usually, the sunroof froze up on me and won't slide open, and the steering has a slight rattle on bumpy roads. That said I love the car. It is amazing in so many ways. Good gas mileage, power, and style. It's German engineered. It's Reliable. It's everything you could ever ask for...just add a CD/mp3 player.

I owned a 325i for 2 years and loved every minute of it. Not once in two years did I experience even the smallest problem whatsoever with my car. Even more, I loved the fabulous service provided by BMW dealerships and service professional. Oh BMW, how I'll miss you.....