BMW 3 SERIES SALOON REVIEW

My car

A very good car to drive on a decent run, around town the drive is very hard, the car is completely spoiled by the run flat tyres, they give an incredibly hard ride, they seem to last no time at all and are backed by a tyre pressure or puncture warning system that i still have no idea what it is supposed to do or when it is supposed to activate.

The car has done less than 15,000 miles and has had 4 new front tyres, the first 2 replaced after wearing issues and the next 2 after having punctures. I found out that I had a puncture after checking the pressures after experiencing the car pulling to one side, I reported this as a fault to BMW, they gave me all kinds of excuses as to why the pressure warning system didn't activate, this ranged from the pressure loss was too quick, too slow, not at the correct speed, it would only activate with a sudden loss of pressure, I then asked why the warning symbol generally came on when a few psi was lost from a tyre, they told me that the system didn't pick up minor losses and i should contact them if this happened again, when it happened i called and was told that this was normal and was what the system was designed for.

Every time I contacted BMW customer services I was told different methods of operation and depending on who I spoke to I ended up with completely conflicting answers, the customer service experience from BMW has been absolutely woeful.

A real shame that a very good car has been spoilt with awful tyres.

My car

This is a fab car which I have enjoyed owning and driving. A real nice car to drive, and on long journeys really economical. It looks good and feels good. The big negative is it is absolute rubbish in any snow and ice. Last winters was bad enough but this winter has been horrendous - I lived in Scandinavia for 10 years and so I am used to winter driving.

My car

A good car completely spoiled by Run-Flat tyres. Perhaps you could almost put up with them if you didnt have to pay for their replacements. However, I can't understand why BMW insist on fitting the things. They give a harsh ride,last 60% as long as good premium brand conventional tyres. Get a puncture & you can't repair them & they cost £200 each compared to £140 for conventional tyres (top brand). They are truly awfull. The world hailed pneumatic tyres as a huge breakthrough years ago yet BMW has gone back to essentially rigid wall wheels with no give and according to tyre retailers I've spoken to, this can cause long term cracking of alloy wheels. I will never buy a run-flat tyre equipped car again.

My car

I've had this company car for approx 30 months and have covered over 80,000 miles.

Positives: excellent drive, comfortable seating, reasonable economy, good room in rear, run-flats

Negatives: Not much kit included, poorly shaped boot, loads of little issues including replacement air-con unit (twice), Central locking faults, third set of brake discs, third windscreen, and awful, awful stereo system. (BMW Professional)

BMW after service is terrible IMO compared to my previous Audi/VW afterservice experience with my two previous cars.

Awful in icy conditions, no control over the back, and the car easily slides off the road. BMW advised me to put a bag of cement in the boot to weigh down the back during icy periods!!!. Also, have lost control of the car 3 times at round-abouts in wet conditions, causing a couple of 180 degree turns and facing on-coming traffic. Scary indeed.

Boot is small and odd shaped. I have a young daughter and we struggle just to get her buggy and a couple of bags into the boot.

Car is beginning to look dated, and interior is bland, but well made.

The car has served me well, but after two years I'm begining to get bored with it, and it doesn't give me the wow factor that I thought owning a BMW would give, but don't get me wrong it is a lovely car with a wonderful drive, perhaps a bit too conservative for my taste.

Will probably order the new A4 Avant when the lease expires on this car in April 2010.