BMW 3-Series Coupe 318 Ci 16V 2d (2002/02) Owner Review
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Economy
Value
Reasonable value. Considered rivals before purchase and few had as much for the price. Still a BMW though so not cheap and discount difficult to get.
Costs
Decent fuel economy - 35mpg over 40k miles and I don't normally spare the horses. Servicing not cheap but not extortionate either.
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On the road
Driving
Brilliant driver's car. Direct steering, balanced handling and effective controls. Difficult to fault.
Performance
2.0 engine smooth and surprisingly quick if you keep it above 2000rpm. Gutless below this though, which can be embarrassing if you are in the wrong gear exiting roundabouts etc.
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Living with it
Reliability
No issues at all so far, though I have had more punctures with this car than any other. May be just bad luck.
Image
A little common these days and can get poor reception from other drivers. However, the coupe is a superb looking car, especially with big alloys.
Comfort
Sport suspension and 17" alloys give a hard ride, but the car handles poor surfaces well considering sporty setup.
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Security and Service
Security
No issues so far, all the usual features.
Service
Good service generally, though not cheap. BMW Assist Breakdown service excellent the one time I have used them. Dealers often don't take buyers seriously initially and can come across as snobbish.
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Problems and Ownership
Problems
Engine
No problems - gets better with age.
Other
None, though lots of punctures, for some reason.
Ownership
Did you buy the car new?
New
Would you buy the same model again?
Yes
Did you buy from the same manufacturer again?
Yes