USED BMW 3 Series Compact (98 - 07)

My car

The car is basically up to the high quality of BMW 3 Series.

The things I didn't care for too much were as follows. As there are only two of us, three doors didn't seem to be a problem. Practice showed we carried three people more often than first envisaged. Getting into the back seats is only for the young and flexible. Secondly the doors being wider makes parking in bays a lot more awkward.

My car is fitted with 17-inch wheels. These make the steering feel imprecise. I would avoid these next time.

Although I am an economical driver, the fuel economy is disappointing.

My car

haven't got alot to say about this car apart from its tutti

My car

I purchased this car new in May 2004. When I drove it away, there was a rattling noise from the rear end - I took it back to dealer, who found a misaligned gromet at the top of the shock absorber which had to be repositioned.

With 500 miles on the clock, I returned to dealer again - this time the rear lights were letting in water, and both lights had to be replaced. At approximately 4000 miles, the engine management system reduced the engine speed to 50mph. There was a servo unit playing up and had to be replaced.

At roughly 5000 miles, the clutch started severe juddering when being parked outside when was raining - the clutch was replaced by dealer. At 5500 miles, the catalytic converter started rattling and had to be replaced by dealer.

When I was buying the car, the sales pitch was that if I traded it in after three years for another they would give me £10,000 as a trade-in. After 18 months and 8000 miles from new, I was so fed up with the problems I was having I asked the dealer to give me a trade-in price against a new 3 Series. They offered me £10000 for it!

I decided I wanted a more reliable car so took it to an Arnold Clark dealership, and traded it in for a Kia Sportage and have never looked back.

My car

First ever BMW, but let me tell you, i will definitely get another. This car is fast, accelerates very well. Actually it accelerates all too well and is far too tempting to push the accelerator that little bit further at times! The sound from the 2.5 in line 6 engine is fantastic. Although driving this car too hard does eat fuel. BMW have tuned this car to perform best with a 98 octane fuel, i use shell optimax which isn't the cheapest fuel on the market, although it does run fine on lower grade fuels, optimax just makes the ride more enjoyable!

It is a fantastic drive, and by far the most fun car i have ever driven. The drive always feel very safe no matter how hard you push it. It grips the road like i have never known a car do so before. I have been known to push the car and sometimes the DSC (digital stability control) can take over a little bit too much and zap the power, as yet i have not really had the courage to turn the DSC off.

I have two children in car seats which i find quite easy to fit in the back seats as the front seats do move forward very well leaving plenty of space to fit the child seats. That aside, driving position is very comfortable, all controls feel easily reachable without having to stretch. The stereo system provides fantastic sound. What more can i say, i love this car!