BMW...How Reliable? - BMW Forum

MattH6935 · 06-19-2003, 05:39 AM

Hey everyone,

I am about to purchase a 1999 323i. I was just curious, how often do they have problems, is there any known issues with them that I should have checked before I purchase it. I am really excited about buying the car but my father warned me last night with a qoute "you have to pay the price to live the life". Im only 21 and this is my first new car, I dont want something that is gonna have wierd little parts breaking and costing a arm and a leg to fix.....Im hoping its just like any other car..change the oil, check your fluids and keep good brakes on it and it should run fine.....let me know..

Thanks,
Matt

GreenDragon · 06-19-2003, 06:04 AM

1) Welcome to the forum!
2) BMW is like any other car in the respect that ifyou treat it well (oil changes, etc) it will treat you well.
3) Your father is right, however. BMW parts are more expensive than, say, Honda parts. It's not always because they are better parts either, but because they are BMW parts. You can save some cash by doing the work yourself (most stuff really is DIY, and you know that we'll be here to help in any way we can). Yo can also save cash by gettin your parts at Nikkis-Place.com, which just happens to be one of our sponsers!!!
4) There are people with Bimmers that have over 200k miles and still run perfectly, this does not mean that you can't get your hands on a lemon (chances of that are slim though).

I hope this helps! Good luck and nice choice.

MrM3 · 06-19-2003, 11:46 AM

ask the current owner if he's had any problems with the window regulators or climate control. other than that those E46's are pretty much a perfect car all around. good luck

is it manual or auto? if you want a auto then try to get a 99 with a later build date so you can get the steptronic auto.

Jim P. · 06-19-2003, 12:07 PM

My BMW is a 1999 328i 5 speed, four door.
I purchased it as a Certified Pre Owned car in April 2001.
I have owned it 26 months and have had it in the shop for repairs 6 times.

All windows and power sunroof went out...
Camshaft sensor went out....
Belts needed to be replaced on my first oil change....
Rear wheel sensor went out...
Both headlight bulbs burnt out...
My front tire was defective after one year of driving...
Now it's in the shop and wont run and they are still trying to figure out whats wrong with it...
I have it at a BMW dealer not a fly by night operation and they are having difficulty repairing it. The warranty ran out two months ago!

Check Car Fax prior to purchasing anything used!!!

MattH6935 · 06-19-2003, 12:17 PM

Im buying it used from my sister, I know the car is excellent shape and everything works OK, she just had some sensor replaced on the computer and that is the only problem that she has had with it, but it was fixed and everything is great working condition, the car is still under manufacturer warranty and Im looking into buying an extended warranty for the car...

GreenDragon · 06-19-2003, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MattH6935@Jun 19 2003, 11:47 PM
Im buying it used from my sister, I know the car is excellent shape and everything works OK, she just had some sensor replaced on the computer and that is the only problem that she has had with it, but it was fixed and everything is great working condition, the car is still under manufacturer warranty and Im looking into buying an extended warranty for the car...

Good deal. If you're getting the extended warranty then you shouldn't have any worries, since if anything breaks it whould be covered. Of course it'll cause problems if you mod at all.

woobiee · 06-19-2003, 12:41 PM

i got my 2000 323ci last year...it came with a 7 year 100,000 warranty and heres what i had to go through:

*windshield cracked and cop made me fix it. (semi under warranty..i paid half)

The rest is all under full warranty (im taking care of it this tuesday actually :P )
*Sunroof Slide cover got off track (replacing clips)
*Passenger Mirror tilts when I enter the car, loosing my memory setting
*Water Spots inside the headlamps (cleaned or be replaced with new ones)
*Passenger Door is hard to close (weather stripping being replaced)

all and all..not too much. Its the small things that usually fail in BMWs...im glad its not the vital systems. And as stated above, do the routine oil + filter and service inspections.

~Andy

AZ325Ci · 06-19-2003, 05:50 PM

welcome aboard MattH6935

Rishel · 06-22-2003, 09:04 AM

New top the site, just picked up my new BMW 325xi.

Love the car, thanks for letting me join.

06-22-2003, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rishel@Jun 22 2003, 11:04 AM
New top the site, just picked up my new BMW 325xi.

Love the car, thanks for letting me join.

welcome rishel to BMW-Forums! hope ya stick around, and check out the discussions in the lounge!

Rishel · 06-22-2003, 09:06 AM

Thanks bro, I will.

college_cars · 08-19-2003, 10:16 PM

A few minor problems with my 2000 323CI.
*Drivers side window regulator
*Drivers side wear on door handle
*Black trim around gear shift started bubbleing
*Black weather strip around both doors cracked
All covered under warranty...I love the car. Nothing major. My passenger side window regulator is about to stop now...so its got to go back (I think this is very common).

Groucho · 09-03-2003, 01:18 PM

Bought my 1999 323i 5-speed sport pack in December as a CPO with 54k miles on it. I've put nearly 28k miles on it since then. Looooooooooooooooove the car...but I've had it in the shop (all repaired under warranty) for the following:

Stuck crankcase valve

Fried a/c compressor & condenser

Busted tranny flex coupling (in the shop for that now)

Moonroof shade clips broken

Fuel gauge wouldn't read a topped-off tank (minor annoyance)

Intermittant overheat problem (the only one that's left me stuck...but I'm not sure it has completely been resolved...)

The BMW CPO warranty is God...but I'm within 20k miles of hitting the 100k mile mark. I drive a 150 mile rt commute every day. Now, I'm trying to decide wether to hang onto it and mod it or ditch it in favor of a new, lesser car that may be more practical not nearly as cool or fun to drive...

Lately, I've been thinking I'm going to hang onto it. I drove a new Acura RSX Type-S and a VW GTI 20th Anniversary Edition and almost went the other way...but I always end up comparing them somewhat unfavorably to my 323i.

Why waltz when you can rock & roll?