USED BMW 3 Series Coupe (05 - )

My car

I got the 320d se with a few extras, auto lights, auto wipers , 18" alloys, bluetooth phone etc.

I found this car an absolute delight to look at and great to drive. The mpg is good - I'm not getting anything less than mid 40s. Okay, it's only 177bhp but what more do you want from a two litre diesel? It's bulletproof so far on reliability and build. again what a great looking car. thinking about it? don't, just go get it!!!!

My car

I took delivery of this car after a few years running an E46 330Ci. With a few options, including Sat Nav, its significantly more expensive than the earlier car, even allowing for the few years gap.

Having said that, it has some really good advances. The sat nav is excellent, though speed camera locations with an audible warning is a major ommission, something that Tom Tom has. iDrive does take some getting used to, but is fine unless you are a technophobe.

Overtaking is, well, explosive! Much quicker than the 330, but fuel economy is disappointing so far. My non ragged driving has only achieved 32mpg so far, well short of the advertised 37mpg, but the engine is still tight, so it remains to be seen how this develops.

I paid £205 plus the Sat Nav option, only to find that I had to shell out a further £40 for the correct cable to allow full iPod operation via the steering wheel, and display on the Sat Nav screen.

Apart from the plastic (?) wings, overall quality appears to be better than the earlier car, and the hifi speakers are at least as good as the E46s Harmon Kardons - I'd suggest the HK Logic7 option on the new car probably isn't worth it, though I haven't heard it in direct comparison.

Apart from a couple of niggles, this is pretty much all the car most folks would ever need. I'll post again on fuel economy after I've covered a few thousand miles.

My car

My last car was a Mercedes E500. Pretty dam fast. This 335d se is 0.2 seconds slower (0-62) but with the sports suspension pack and 427ft/lbs torque it seems faster. I purchased the car new and only have one point to make, the suspension is very hard. Other than that the 5600 miles in 6 months have been without any problems what so ever. I know the 335i is faster on the 0-62 dash by 0.4 seconds but at 30 mph press the on the gas and you will out accelerate the petrol. I dont get less than 29 mpg and I don't get more than 47 mpg. I average 30 to 32 mpg, and it wont cost £400 per year road tax in 18 months time! Great car all round.

My car

After looking around for a new personal contract hire lease to replace my current car I was surprides that my leasing company ( Concept Leasing) suggested the very well speced 320i SE. The summs added up by a long way - a 27K car for well under £300 a month ex vat !!! The car was ordered in Sparkling Graphite with only one added extra, the auto lights/windscreen wipers option. My new car was delivered this week and is a complete joy to drive and look at. The 320iSE has black window surounds and Black Front Grill veins the same as the M Sport !!! Having two young children I thought the coupe would be a pain but after our first weekend it is very good with ample leg room and with only 2 rear seats each has an area on their own. The drive is superb, fast enough with a decent sounding engine and a ride to match. This may only be the baby of the New 3 series Coupe family but its looks and performance are those of an older brother.