BMW 2003 3-Series Coupe

Want to know everything there is to know about this car?

  • Economy

    Value

    5 out of 5 5.0

    Worth every penny: a real pleasure to drive, even to the supermarket.

    Costs

    4 out of 5 4.0

    Not as costly to drive and maintain as people imagine.

  • On the road

    Driving

    5 out of 5 5.0

    Certainly a driver's car, but refined to just the right extent. Those wanting TVR-type driving should look elsewhere.

    Performance

    4 out of 5 4.0

    The 3-litre straight six engine is silky and powerful. The suspension is firm, but not brutally so.

  • Living with it

    Reliability

    4 out of 5 4.0

    One or two small problems - a dodgy door mechanism, but otherwise trouble-free.

    Image

    4 out of 5 4.0

    Plenty of 3s about these days, but people are impressed, especially passengers.

    Comfort

    4 out of 5 4.0

    It's a driver's car, but if you are concerned about the comfort of those in the back seats (I'm not!), buy the 5 series.

  • Security and Service

    Security

    4 out of 5 4.0

    Like all modern cars, hard to break in and almost impossible to drive away. Thieves will break into your house and steal the spare keys instead.

    Service

    4 out of 5 4.0

    They are scrupulous in following up service visits with a phone call from BMW to check customer satisfaction.

  • Problems and Ownership

    Problems

    Engine

    Other

    A dodgy climate control sensor (repaired gratis); failure of door mechanism.

    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