BMW 3-Series Saloon
  • Economy

    Value

    5 out of 5 5.0

    A lot of car for not a lot of money.

    Costs

    4 out of 5 4.0

    Parts and expertise are widely available now there's no need to maintain approved service history. Fuel consumption a bit high compared to modern cars.

  • On the road

    Driving

    4 out of 5 4.0

    Rear wheel drive, tight chassis and reasonable power/weight ratio. Good fun (including the notorious tail happiness).

    Performance

    4 out of 5 4.0

    2.0-litre 6-cylinder is enough. 2.5-litre would give a bit more, but is more expensive to run and rarer.

  • Living with it

    Reliability

    4 out of 5 4.0

    A well looked after one will need a lot less care than most 15 year olds...

    Image

    4 out of 5 4.0

    Best looking (affordable) car BMW made for at least a decade.

    Comfort

    3 out of 5 3.0

    Great for it's time. All Electrics. Comy (basic) seats. Usable switch gear.

  • Security and Service

    Security

    3 out of 5 3.0

    No factory fit alarms, but good locks.

    Service

    5 out of 5 5.0

    A £300 car with 125k miles on the clock that makes you grin every time you drive it!

  • Problems and Ownership

    Problems

    Engine

    Other

    All E30s suffer from a whiney transmission - makes it hard to tell which one is on the way out.

    Ownership

    Did you buy the car new?

    Used

    Would you buy the same model again?

    Yes

    Did you buy from the same manufacturer again?

    Yes