Handling, Braking, Acceleration, fit and finish quality. More fun to drive than any other car I've ever owned or driven.

Software glitches, floor mats with an abhorrant attaching system,

Absolutely one of the best sedans ever built. Drives like a true sports car, yet gives you the usefullness of a sedan. Truly fun when the road has twists and turns.

Wolf in sheep's clothing.

I don't have an M5.

The M3 flattens you eyeballs on acceleration, flatens them again on lateral acceleration (turning), and flatens them again on braking. As you roll into the garage, your eyes may be bloodshot, but your smile is the size of Texas.

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There IS nothing similar.

Great handling, smooth engine with tractor like torque and high RPM rush.

Factory cell phone holder uses up space from cup holders. May be others, but I don't care as love is blind.

If your idea of fun is getting together with the investment club to discuss the stock market, you will like the larger BMW's with their refined ride. If you prefer the stock market on the internet, and can even secretly admire the sound of a Harley, you will love the 328 series cars. BMW Car Club of America has a great organization, incredibly devoted owners, and fun events at major race tracks around the country. If you love to drive, you will love this car.

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VW Passat VR6, Volvo 760

Killer looks. Sports/Premium Package a Must! Superior Handling at any Speed. Turns heads at every corner. Far Superior to BMW 3 Series of yesterday. Xenon lights: A must have option. By far the most attractive sports coupe in its price range.

Problem #1: 3 months into purchase
Passenger Door doesn't close right. Must apply more force to close the passenger door than drivers door. Window also or as a result, became misaligned and makes a noise as it draws up.

Problem#2 First time Test Drive

At the Dealership, I tried the manual transmission but it lacked the play and sport feel of previously tested/owned german/japanese cars (Audi TT Turbo, Porsche Boxster, Honda S2000, Acura Integra Type R.) So I opted for the StepTronics Transmission which everyone I talked to was raving about. Verdict: Still debating.

Problem 3: Stability 1 Month into purchase
Through medium effort on the brakes, this 3 series pulls to the right when completing a stop.
Problem 4: 5 months into ownership
The Most annoying of the experienced problems are the easily torn moldings near the B-pillar. As passengers climb out from the cozy back seat, their hips brush against the moldings where the door meets the frame. As a result, torn moldings lead to reduced cabin insulation and must be repaired. The Cabin also encounters more wind noise than before.

Problem#5: 6 months into ownership
The Passenger Mirror can automatically tilt downward when the vehicle enters reverse, but the mirror doesn't always tilt back to the same position as you left it. This forces you to check the mirror each time you shift out of reverse, in case you have to reset the mirror to your desired position.
Problem 7: Myrtle Wood trim: Forgetaboutit!
The wood scratches way too easily and is difficult to keep clean and looking new.

Biggest Disappointment was the fact that right after I bought the 323Ci, the 325Ci(w/Same features, nominal horspower difference and some different wheels) was announced for arrival 2 months later. Some may argue that BMW made this move to compete with other models like the upcoming MB C-Class but I believe that they planned to introduce the 325/330 models after the 323/328 models regardless. My Reasoning for the switch: a strategy to continue enthusiasm and interest in a 3 series that was sure to be popular before and well after they arrived at the dealer.

For anyone interested in the 3 series coupe, I recommend paying more and getting the 330Ci in Manual Transmission or if you can pay the dealer mark-up, the very hard to find, difficult to wait for, 2001 M3. Trust me, these cars are well worth the money and for what you get, they will hold their popularity and style far into this decade.

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Dollar for Dollar, I believe there is no better German car out there in its price range or class that can match its style, performance, luxury or Sport feel. Japanese competitors may offer more ammenities at a lower price, such as the Acura CL Type S, but again, you are talking about a BMW.

I love the way it handles, good visual, seats are very comfortable and it
looks good!

Parts are expensive
Not a lot of power (automatic Transmission)

This is my 3rd BMW. I love them! They truly are the ultimate driving machine! This car has had no problems since I bought it. It has 129,000 and is running strong - it'll last another 200,000 I bet. These cars are the best for comfort and handling. I would definately recommend these cars! It can be pricy to maintain these cars - it is a higher maintenance car. But if you take care of it, it'll last you forever. I live in California so I haven't had experience driving these in bad weather. In the rain it is fine.

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Nothing compares!

2001 BMW 318iSE sdn: Build quality, colour (Topaz Blue) exterior, light beige int., steptronic, very quiet - super smooth to drive

None so far, even the power of the 1.9L is great especially in sports mode - can't imagine why a 330i would be needed without a 230kph autobahn.

Dealer service to notch in Australia. Best car for economy and performance balance, looked at a 325i but lux. tax in Australia is 50%(!!!) over a price of around US30,000 so would have been over US$9000 dearer for the six version (will put it towards next 3 series in 2004/5 ish). One of the best compact euro cars around

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Honda Accord, 2000 Merc C180 - no comparison whatsoever!!! New C Class good also but not for a BM man (sorry). Will buy one when I'm 60.

it looks coo"

it's a piece of SHIET!!! my folks got it for me cuz i wanted a "beemer", if you get my drift. anyhow, the electrical devices would always have problems: the automatic/triptronic light would always fail(repaired 3 times under warrantee, online comp saying the coolant fluid is shy when i just filled it YESTERDAY, the cam shaft was destroyed (under warrantee), gas pump, central locking system didn't work and the stinky car won't start, what else?? don't waste your money, get something that won't break down when you're going to work....

i got ripped off by the commercials, the ultimate driving machine ma ass. do germans only work on fridays or what?? how cum the car is such a piece of crap?? couldn't those stupid germans piece together a car that won't faulter so daymn often?

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no other car can compare up to this crap!!!!

Engine (sound), power, very smooth automatic, steptronic gives you lots of control, very smooth and quiet ride, even at high speeds.

The steptronic feels a bit lazy.

This car is a dream come true. Nothing even comes close. Not only is the styling modern and beautiful, but it also has a nice aggresive touch. The paint job is extremely well done. I drive a lot in winter and so far there are no paint chips on my hood from the salt :) . This car corners so smoothly that you don't even feel like you are pushing the car. It just glides into a turn.

I've tried out the comptetion and drove the new Lexus IS 300 and Mercedes C320. The cars don't even come close to the driving experience of the BMW. I'll admit that the lexus is pretty fast and almost as good in handling but when you look around it, you see a toyota. Quality is also not the best and the styling, well, you know. The Mercedes is a luxury car but looks more like a living room on wheels instead of a sports sedan. Where the Mercedes is better then the BMW is in the button department. Well, there are many of them, if you like that sort of thing.

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IS 300 (don't bother)
C320 (A good alternative if you wish to sacrifice driving excitement for luxury)

Engine (sound), power, very smooth automatic, steptronic gives you lots of control, very smooth and quiet ride, even at high speeds.

The steptronic feels a bit lazy.

This car is a dream come true. Nothing even comes close. Not only is the styling modern and beautiful, but it also has a nice aggresive touch. The paint job is extremely well done. I drive a lot in winter and so far there are no paint chips on my hood from the salt :) . This car corners so smoothly that you don't even feel like you are pushing the car. It just glides into a turn.

I've tried out the comptetion and drove the new Lexus IS 300 and Mercedes C320. The cars don't even come close to the driving experience of the BMW. I'll admit that the lexus is pretty fast and almost as good in handling but when you look around it, you see a toyota. Quality is also not the best and the styling, well, you know. The Mercedes is a luxury car but looks more like a living room on wheels instead of a sports sedan. Where the Mercedes is better then the BMW is in the button department. Well, there are many of them, if you like that sort of thing.

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IS 300 (don't bother)
C320 (A good alternative if you wish to sacrifice driving excitement for luxury)

handling, styling, smooth ride, quiet engine, braking distance, maintenance plan

small rear windshield, poor gas mileage on premium gas, European controls are sometimes hard to understand

I have owned this sedan for almost 7 months now and driven the car about 8000 miles. I had an initial problem with the emergency brake pin coming loose and causing a rattling noise in the engine. This happened in my first month of owning the car, but since then I have had no problems.

From a driver's standpoint, this car is smooth, refined and powerful. The 2.5 L 184 HP engine is more than sufficient especially when you see that the extra 31 HP in the 330 will cost you an extra 7-8K. I have no problems passing on the highway or taking unsuspecting Audis and Acuras off the line. The steering, handling and cornering are unparalleled in driver response. The steptronic I admit is rather useless... I rarely use it because it responds alot worse than a true manual transmission. There is a noticeable lag when upshifting.

There is no doubt that BMW created a stylish luxury car here - but what is important to know is that this is a sports car as well. I have yet to see a car manufacturer that has combined these 2 in such a seamless integration. Kudos to BMW for bringing us the 325i!

Options:
Premium Package
Heated Seats
Silver Metallic Paint
Leather Seats
CD Player

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Lexus IS300 - The Lexus had better acceleration and felt sportier but it didn't handle as well and it was UGLY!
Audi A4 - Handled well, accelerated well but cost more and felt too big - like a family sized sedan
Mercedes C240 - This car was a joke - no handling, no pickup, ugly too