BMW 3-Series Touring (1995 - 1999) 323i SE 5d (1997/R) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

That you are an aspiring bourgeois plonker who would gladly sink another 30% on top of the cars worth just for brand name.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

See above.

Would you buy this car again and why?

No! A complete waste of money, my old pug 205 gti I had as a student was more reliable.

What are you likely to buy next?

VW Golf GTI Mk5 or a Toyota Celica.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Didn't buy from a dealer

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£1,900

When did you buy the car?

August 2005

Did you get a good deal and why?

I thought it was cheap then EVERYTHING failed over the next year.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

I thought it was cheap.

What was the dealer like?

What's it like to drive?

It has a fantastic balance in corners, you can really feel the 50/50 weight distribution, and it has a great 6 cylinder roar once over 4000rpm.

What's it like to park?

The same as any other car.

Have you had any problems with the car?

You name it and it's gone wrong! Not simple cheap problems either, brakes all locked on at 80mph! ABS fault spent, £700 then after 2 months it did it again! Engine seized at 97K - it has a full history and i've cherished it! Digital display is intermittent, c/c fluctuates between freezing and tropical, 3 snapped rear springs (OE parts), trim is falling to bits in the boot.

What's most practical about your car?

It has roof bars so that you can tie on the stuff that won't fit in the minescule boot.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

The engine and balance around a corner.