So I'm considering an 03-05 BMW 3 series (either 325 or 330) AWD models, in the 50,000 - 75,000 mileage range. I've always want to try a BMW, but never had the guts, given their reputation for poor reliability several years ago. Can anyone share some personal experiences with their 3 series? Good? Not so good? I like the ix (awd) models for obvious reasons. I originally bought the Lexus because I know Toyotas can take mileage like no other. But, after 8 months of owning it, I have yet to put 3,000 miles on it, and it's my daily driver! So, I'm not so affraid of trying something new that won't be asked to rack up the mileage. Plus, I can't help but to keep remembering a guy I met in a parking lot back in NC that had a 330ix sedan, with over 300k miles on it. Said he hasn't had any "out of the norm" issues with it, and loved it. I'm quite handy in the garage with cars, a hobby of mine actually.

Any advice?

There's an old one sitting in the basement of Gearhead. Just go take that for a spin, No one will miss it.

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Originally posted by GEM:
There's an old one sitting in the basement of Gearhead. Just go take that for a spin, No one will miss it.

Hahaha!!! I don't think I'd want the "pussy with an uzi" knocking on my door!

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I like the ix (awd) models for obvious reasons.

Others can jump in, but my experience with the xi (not ix) is it is useless in the winter without snow tires. Had my 530xi one month, early first, very light snowfall, went through the first intersection I came to, ended up nearing getting killed and $7,000 in damage, and I never even hit anyone. Just my two cents.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: shrugged,

Owned a 2001 525iT for a little less than 6 years. I have owned billions of new cars...that was the best, period. Sold it to a guy in town...dumbest move I have ever made. Now I get to see it flitting about town...taunting me.

My experience was that when properly equipped with Bridgestone Blizzaks...that RWD car moved through snow and handled just as well as any Quattro I had driven in bad weather. It would climb like a billy goat up the myriad hills that I face on a daily basis while driving. Can't speak directly to shrugged's problem, but it sounds like that would have happened to just about any car...except for the part where there was $7K damage. Must have torn something up going over a curb perhaps? BMWs, when proper footwear is affixed, are fun as hell to drive...almost made for winter. After all, they are made in Germany.

The 3-Series cars are absolutely bombproof...especially with the 325 variant. I would never recommend the BMW V-8s unless they are under warranty or you have a phat checkbook.

Call your buddy Dan at Gearhead. He's be more than happy to answer any and all questions you would have.

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Can't speak directly to shrugged's problem, but it sounds like that would have happened to just about any car...except for the part where there was $7K damage. Must have torn something up going over a curb perhaps?

Exactly, wheels, axle, steering column, oil pan, etc. Point I was trying to make, xi is only as good as the winter tires. Unfortunately, I hadn't purchased any at the time of my accident only having the car a month, paid a price, just passing it on so someone else can learn from my mistake.

Did you dump the car after that?

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Did you dump the car after that?

Oh you're good, now I have to admit my second mistake huh? No, I did not, but it was an insurance battle because BMW insisted that almost everything suspension wise be replaced regardless of visible damage, i.e. steering column. Insurance company relented, but not without a fight. I kept it with a "GARP" like philosophy that the worst had already happened with only 2K on the odometer. No related problems in 3 plus years.

Wait, shrugged, are you saying you skid through an intersection? You were trying to stop, not start? If that's the case, then it would be all tire related, as the awd system wouldn't really have anything to do with stopping the car, just moving it.

I'm really tempted to do this, especially the 330xi model (2004ish). One thing I don't care for in Lexus is the discount feeling from the road to the driver. In the LS series, a floaty big car feel is acceptable. But in the GS, which is their answer to the 5 series, I'd expect more feedback. The GS is basically a smaller LS, in that regard.

Clam, I thought Blizzaks WERE snow tires??

My mother had a 2006 325xi. Driving her to airport one morning in her car, I went right into the curb while turning in a light dusting of snow. yup. No snow tires and I put a little too much confidence in the AWD.

She never had any real problems with the car... just little piddley things. If she wasn't under warranty, those little things would have cost her a pretty penny to fix. I'd be a bit cautious buying an older BMW out of warranty.

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If that's the case, then it would be all tire related, as the awd system wouldn't really have anything to do with stopping the car, just moving it.

You are correct, tires, hence my original post of "the xi is useless in the winter without snow tires." Many BMW owners in winter climates have two sets of wheels and tires, in my case, I hadn't gotten that far. FYI, the xi or "xDrive" system is more than AWD, with the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) being the critical feature that makes it a nice system. Knowing you are from NC, I wanted to caution you not to rely on the "xi" without having a good set tires on your vehicle.
BMW xDrive description

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Originally posted by GESingleMom2:
Clam, I thought Blizzaks WERE snow tires??

I don't understand the question, Caller.

Re: buying one out of warranty...not that it is a myth, but the expense part is a little overblown. No, I would never, ever, ever take a car to the dealer for anything other than warranty work. When the wagon required brakes, the dealer quoted about $1,400...Gearhead did it for less than $900.

The BMW 3 Series straight 6 and transmissions are legendary...and typically do not break. Buying one with 50K on the odo...the car is just getting broken in.

I think Bridgestone must have sold their soul to the devil to come out with Blizzaks. Having to make winter trips around the lake to visit in laws- those tires are amazing. Came back one year at xmas in a blizzard- everyone on the interstate in motels. 50+ and stable as a rock.

Otherwise considering the German cars- owner friends I know when pressed will admit its all about the styling nowadays. Used to be about styling, performance, technology, and reliability. Now many mid priced cars will meet or exceed what the Audi's and Beemers offer except for styling. Good looking cars though nevertheless.

My 3-series knowledge dates back to 1986 through 1994, so take this for what its worth today, which isn't much.

My favorite car of all time was my dolphin grey 325es. Nowadays, many car companies have copied what they could from the dash and driver's layout of BMW's of that era. At the time, BMW was way ahead of the competition. Ergonomic design has always been one of BMW's strengths. (we will forget about their exploration into the iDrive joystick control - that idiocy on their part has been/is panned much by the car mags - as it should have been). I believe the 3-series escaped that awful system.

Nonetheless, the 325 was just a pleasure to drive. However, on ice and snow, it really wasn't at its best, and my GMC Safari actually had it beat in that regard; hard to believe. One winter evening, the 325 sailed completely through the Butterfield / Naperville Rd. intersection doing a 720º spin. There wasn't as much to smush into back then — both I and the car survived unscathed - but as others have reported - snow tires were (are?) a must for any 3 series in these climates. Hopefully it is better on ice now, but don't bet on it. And (nonetheless a second time), it still was the best car I ever had.

The 320i before it wasn't. That one was just mediocre. Proud as I was of it at the time, it let me down several times. Once the sunroof stuck slightly open in the winter. I wasn't aware of that until the next morning when I found 3" of built up ice on the rear floor and in the driver's side footwell area. Not even all-weather mats (if they existed at the time) could have saved the day with that disaster. Good thing I told one of my better customers, Dave MacNeil, about that incident, or we wouldn't have all those mat options we have today.

The trans... absolute butter for a manual. Get the manual tranny! The trans costs, no joke, half the price of the entire car. And its worth it.

And yet, I still yearn for another 3-series. Just absolute funnest cars to pilot around in. I suspect 20 years on, they have made minor improvements here and there. Now I wouldn't trade my current set of wheels for one, as I am enjoying 50mpg's. If only I could merge a Prius and a 328/335.

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I don't understand the question, Caller.

Nevermind, I just reread everything and apparently misunderstood what was said. I apologize.

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Originally posted by Clamato:
Buying one with 50K on the odo...the car is just getting broken in.

Had a 1986 325e. Bought it in 1990 with 50K miles. The absolute best car I ever owned. Lasted until 2000, with 210,000 miles. My kids named it Fi. Short for Fidelis.

Now, if you will hand me a tissue...

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Fidelis

Are you kidding me? How old are your kids? How old does that make you? I would have thought in 1990 your kids would have nick named it vroom vroom or something. are you sure you weren't rompting them just a little?

Actually had not met the stunning blond in 1990. Must have been the red car that attracted her.

I confess. I prompted them. But they chose it. Fi. Short. To the point. Saw the Semper Fi bumper sticker and told them what it meant. A great motto.

They also chose ReepaJeep for the Tracker we had. CS Lewis was popular in the house at that time.

They also named the green mini van......Booger.

I drove one of those 325es back in the day when I was a teenager in Birmingham, Al. A town built for a sports car. I LOVED it!! If memory serves correct, that was their "economic" engine on gas, which redlined at something like 5,000 rpm...

I'd love to buy a "stick", but unfortunately my wife will need to drive it too, and she's not even remotely comfortable driving a manual, so we'd have to go with an automatic.

I'm eyeing an 04 330xi with 55k miles, white, winter package. I'm "working" the situation with the check book....aka...the Mrs...