BMW road test reports and car reviews

BMW 3-Series Saloon 2012

Words or warning. There are so many rattles in the car it’s hard to know which bit of of the dash or interior is making the noise. I opted for SatNav and traded down to standard cloth seats and they are utter rubbish. There is no support in them at all and I can now feel the metal frame of the seat while I drive. I have had the pads replaced and they have lasted maybe 2 months before just collapsing again. I had a BMW before this new one and the seats were firm and supportive, the new ones are a cost cutting job too far - poor show BMW. Pity since the car drives great, I just don’t like to sit in it any more.

BMW 3-Series Touring 318i 2.0Ltr Petrol 2002

Had a few BMW’s over the years, but this one is the best; good on fuel, comfortable on long journey’s, has all the normal BMW gismo’s which all work well, done 141.000 miles now with very few problems. Very spacious interior with nicely laid out dashboard. Normal problem with BMW is parts are very expensive, but other to that beautiful car to own. Be careful when buying though, as the last one I bought had massive problems and stank of oil inside and out, only came to light 2 days after buying and the dealer swore blind that there was nothing was wrong with it! It was a hell of a job to get my money back. Runflat tryes are a great idea but on this model very noisy and very expensive. Buy a spare alloy and fit normal tyres, which are much better and cheaper. Bottom line is a great looking car, fun to drive, economical especially on long journey’s. Just a great car, my opinion only. Go and buy one.

BMW 3-Series Coupe 335 Diesel M Sport 2012

I have had various BM’s before from the 320i to the 330 D, but this car is something else. The sheer power and versitility of the engine make this car great fun to drive. The semi auto box with paddles on the wheel is fantastic, change up or down at the flick of a switch or switch to Manual Mode for the really white knuckle ride it gives you. It is however, great to trundle round town, fatastic to cruise down the motorway and when you need the power to over take or get out of tricky situations either kick down, or just drop a gear using the paddle and to be propelled rocket like into the distance. The handling is firm, but responsive and there are all the usual toys like sat nav, bluetooth, BMW on line, as well as the usual refinements expected from BM’s. All in all one hell of a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

BMW Z4 M Roadster 2006

Not a pretender this one! One of the quickest 2 seater mainstream cars you can buy. 340 BHP S54 M3 engine - need I say more? Not as refined or balanced as a boxster, but it does not have the hairdresser image either. Fantastic car if you want a brutally quick roadster without high running costs. Get one!

BMW 3-Series Saloon 330 d m\sport 2008

I have the 330d m/sport 2008 model with 160kw motor which is all you need. Enjoyable on the long roads and very good on fuel consumption; I’m getting between 4.8 and 5.0l to a 100km on open roads. Ther is only one thing I dislike on the car, which is the run flat tyre system. I recently had a slashed tyre on the road and when I got to the tyre garage I had to replace two tyres due to them not being the same brand, but overall BMW is the best on the road for me thanks.

BMW 3-Series Saloon 320d Sport 2012

I was a a little suprised to read the mixed reviews on the different BMW’s. I have a 320d Sport six speed manual with standard suspension. The car is used on mixed roads and for towing our 1250Kg caravan. I find the engine course under load when towing, but otherwise it is very quiet. I used to use a 140 Diesel Golf and it was equally loud under the same conditions. The BMW has an excellent gearbox and the engine has sufficent torque to give the car outstanding performance. The ride in the 320d is identical to that of the Golf’s. The BMW has a much more engaging drive. it is clear the front wheels are not having to drive the car. This means you can enjoy the feel of the road through the steering wheel. The built quality is very good the car has no rattles or squeaks and the shunt lines are equal. Everything feels built to last and the finish both inside and out is to a high standard. The car is economical on diesel. I average 38mpg towing and 54.2 mpg solo. The reason the solo mpg is low is due to the fact the car is a dream to drive. My car has the five year service plan and I think if you intend keeping the car this is an essential and good value option at £350. My Sport is in black sapphire with sun protection glass and it looks a treat in bright sunshine. In conclusion the BMW 320d Sport with a service pack is a car I would recommend to anyone and my only regret is I wish I had bought one years ago.

BMW 1-Series 118d SE 2008

Remarkable power for a 1.8d. At 40K miles, feels like it is becoming more powerful, as if it has just been run in. 48mpg is usual. In the snow, take the bus. Put on winter tyres and, though pricey, drives as well as any FWD car. With all the ’extras’, it cost over £24K. Took it in at 3 years old and was offered £7800 to trade to the same model. Do not believe all the 50% retention of value rubbish. Every winter, at least he first big freeze, at least one electric window motor burns out (this because remotely unlocking the doors causes the windows to try and open slightly). So when this happened at year 4, I expected that BMW would recognise their embarrassing failure to fix something this simple. Not a chance. "Out of warranty", they say. They would not even pay a fraction of the cost, in recognition of their failure. £250 per window. Note that I later discovered that eBay has the motors for £24 and many others have suffered similarly. This is the last Botched Maker of Windows I’ll buy. Not worth enough to sell and costs too much to pay for their ineptitude.

BMW 5-Series Saloon 530d m sport 2005

After having the car for 5 months I thought it fair to write an honest review on an older 2005 car, so here goes: Well in the snow don’t even think about going out as it’s rubbish! You will get stuck, you will go side ways and all you will want to do is get home safe and leave the car on the drive till the better weather arrives as it’s that bad! Please be warned! Also, it seems to find every pot hole and throw you about, but on the good side of things it’s comfy when out on the open road, plus the looks are spot on, however, for me this isn’t enough. The 530d m sport isn’t that good on fuel either, averaging 22/26 around town; I’ve not been on a run yet, so I’m hoping for better, but when the spring comes I’m selling up and going back to the BMW x5 30d se. Forget the sport as it’s too harsh a ride, i’ll save that for Sundays in my Cosworth, but Monday to Saturday I want comfort, saftey and not to get stuck in the snow!

BMW 1-Series 116ed 3door 2012

A subjective review is relative to your expectations. I expected a premium product, technically advanced and a capable driving machine. What I have far exceeds my expectations, it’s so refined, it’s quick (No kidding), economic enough at 55 to 62 mpg by calculation. Audio quality is exemplary for the money, Bluetooth is great, the spec list for a lower end of the range car is way more than I would traditionally expect from BMW. I did add the comfort pack and auto lights and wipers (total of £590), this was a good investment. My concerns about rear wheel drive in the cold and wet were unfounded, it’s glued to the road and confidence inspiring. Negatives are the rear window gets constantly dirty in wet driving and the dashboard has an annoying squeak. I will buy this car at the end of the company car lease without hesitation.

BMW 5-Series Saloon 545i SE 2003

After reading "Andrew Smith’s" review I felt compelled to throw my hat in the ring on this car, as I feel much the same as him. When my car was new it cost £47.5k, which to be frank is an eye watering amount of money. Nine years later I paid just under £7k for a low owner car with a shade over 70,000 miles on the clock with all BMW main dealer history. Clearly this is something of a bargain considering the performance on offer. This is of particular note when you look at the performance against say a Gen 1 Aston V8 Vantage which is only marginally quicker to 60 mph but costs £23k more for the cheapest example. My car is loaded with kit. If you took the plates off you would think it was around three years old not nine. Navigation, Sports Suspension, Dynamic Drive, Active Steering, 20 way Comfort Seats, Radar Cruise Control were all specced. You will see folks endlessly harping on about MPG’s, but how many actually do the miles to warrant the premium diesel engines attract? The 4.5 V8 is very efficient and offers only slightly worse MPG than the 525i or 530i (reading the manual). If you do the miles then diesel makes sense, if not, then a look at the petrols is warranted. Having done some small MPG related experiments, I can offer these findings (all on Shell V Power). At 60 mph on cruise I have seen 36/37 mpg At 70 mph on cruise I have seen 32 mpg At 80 mph I have seen 29/30 mpg. Around town you will probably see 18/20 mpg, I consider this to be good coming from a car with a 4.4 litre V8 and 333bhp. On the road this car is EPIC and has to be respected. Acceleration is huge, the beasts preferred habitat is of the course the motorway and where it feels most at home or a fast sweeping A Road. Cruising along is relaxed and effortless with the engine barely breaking a sweat. This car was essentially built for the Autobahn. Be under no illusion it is a seriously rapid car, the throttle tip in and gear changes are very fast, so even though some cars are quicker on paper with a non professional driver behind the wheel where they are changing manually, it’s likely you will easily get the measure of them. With so much power on offer I’m not sure how you could use more, and with an E60 M5 at more than double the price, the value is here (or the 550i). It’s a car that is unassuming and understated, you can leave it anywhere and when de-badged no one will know about the "Kraken" that resides under the bonnet, a true Q car if ever there was one. In short life is too short not to and if you use a BMW indy to reduce your servicing  buy your tyres online and opt for non run flats, you can considerably lower the overheads.

BMW X5 2008

Luxury and power are the appeal, but reliability is the achiles heel. I have had small niggles, but at 30,000 miles a fuel pump and turbo charger have failed. Goodbye £3000. Beware, unless you have deep pockets or extended warranty.

BMW Z3 1.9 2002

What a car! I’ve had this car since July 2012 and just love it. It now has 25800 miles on the clock. One of the last ones produced by BMW. Comes out now and then in the winter and is great on fine winter days with roof down and my wife playing Ronan Keating . 1.9 Sienna red Z3. It puts a large grin on my face each time I take it out. Great car, well done BMW.

BMW 1-Series 118d 2010

I got this car after owning a Golf Mk6 TDI GT 140ps and I must say I was very disappointed, if i could swap it back for the golf i would. The engine is noisy and not very refined, first gear and reverse are very close and not very defined, and the car does not come with a cup holder as trivial as this sounds; how can you not have a cup holder on standard spec? The business sound system is weak at best and sounds very tinny. Not impressed and I wouldn’t have another. I suppose the badge makes up for the poor qaulity in comparison with the golf.. NOT!

BMW 3-Series Saloon 323i saloon 1998

I have had this car for 14 years. Yes, the dealer service and repair costs are high (I am doing some of my own now - there are plenty of web sites for DIY mechanics and parts), but it is such a peach to drive, now the depreciation is virtually flat. I can get 34 mpg (the engine can adapt to higher octane, I use Shell V-power) and that is still using the occasionally full-throttle acceleration. The 6 cylinder has the flexibility to go in 3rd gear from walking pace to exceeding the motorway limit with revs to spare. The front discs lasted until 88,000 miles, which is pretty good. When I keep looking around for what I will replace it with I find the only possibility to match the performance at a sensible price is a motorcycle. I have my eye on a Honda VFR1200FD (a DSG, semi-automatic V4 motorbike).

Responses to this review

I think your post sums the 3 up Simon. It was a nice car back in the day and if you can afford the fuel the 6 cylinder petrol was a nice engine. I averaged 50k miles a year in my 3 and driving it became a chore. It was a great car for a sub 50 mile blast but 500 miles of motorway relegated it from peach to prune. Previous posts about run flats and i-drive are fair comment and my 320d had sanitized handling and an oil burner that ran out of revs when I was trying to enjoy myself. It was no ultimate driving machine and some electrical gremlins did their best to drive me mad but it did a good job of getting me around and earning me some money in the process. Enjoy your 3 and think long and hard before buying a later one - Steve Parker from Herefordshire

BMW 3-Series Saloon 320d 2009

I bought mine new on the basis that it should prove reliable over the high milages I cover and that, given it was my own money invested in the thing, the depreciation would be kind to me. To be fair the car never let me down and the local BMW dealer has always been helpful and the quality of their work has been good. On the down side the basic spec of the car offered less than I wanted so, like many others, I ticked off several "extras" and ended up with a car costing just over 30% more than the base price. Having just traded the car I was dissapointed with the residual when measured against the total purchase price so I would stick with a more basic spec if I bought another. Running costs have been a little more than I expected with fuel usage higher than BMW suggest and some serious maintenance bills as the milage has accumulated. Overall though the car has been a good tool with reasonable driving dynamics, but the jokes about sales reps, bling and drug dealing combined with the general inability of the thing to make me actually enjoy it in the way I have with previous cars left me wanting to try something else. My advice to anyone considering a 3 would be don’t get taken in by the badge or the "ultimate driving machine" tag and accept the BMW for what it is - a good tool. And stay away from the extras unless your employer is footing the bill!

BMW 3-Series Touring 2010

Bought new after owning a 2008 320d Touring for two years. The 2010 320D Touring has been so impressive in all ways. Throw away the Bridgestone run flats and fit standard radials and the vehicle is in another world again. Mind you the poor old things had covered 49 000 kms on our New Zealand highways. Fuel consumption has averaged 6.0 l/100kms over 60 000kms. No mechanical failures, but I’ve changed the oil between BMW services. Super six speed auto and the Brembo stoppers know what do do whenever they are asked to perform. What could be improved? The seating is less than average and would accept nothing other than the sport seat option in leather. A spare tyre is essential in New Zealand as my last tyre failure (Bridgestone runflat) cost $2400 before we were back on the road. Listen up BMW as I am not happy about that at all! I will buy another when the new model arrives, but it had better have a spare tyre and increased oil changes per km.

BMW X1 SE 2011

I bought this BMW X1 a year ago to replace the X3 that I’d owned and loved for five years. What a mistake! This car is small, has a very noisy engine, a terrible auto gearbox and is a joke as a 4x4 in bad weather - my 2 wheel drive Kia fairs better! It has no spare wheel or runflat tyres, which I discovered a week after buying the car when I punctured a sidewall on a tyre and had to have the car recovered. You can’t even buy a spare as an option. Bear in mind this car cost £31,000. I thought I would trade it back after 5000mls with my local dealer at Hailsham in East Sussex, but got offered £11500. It got a little better after 12 mths, when I was offered £17000. A loss of £14000 in the first year! I would have been better off buying a cheap Korean 4x4 and then throw it away after a couple of years. In its favour it has been 100% reliable - Well there had to be something good about it!

BMW 1-Series 116i Sport 2009

Great car to drive 2.0 engine is smooth and powerful considering its relatively low power output. It may not get the fuel consumption that is advertised by manufacturer, but I have never owned a car that has. I still get better mpg, around 44, than my previous car which had a 1.4 engine, and on a recent long trip returned into the 50’s. It’s also a lower tax band than my previous car, only the interior and boot space and the cost of run flat tyres prevent it getting 5*. I’ve owned Fords and Vauxhalls in the past (never again) and latterly Japanese. I would buy a BMW again, but perhaps a 3 series for interior space, as nothing I have owned has driven as well.

BMW X3 2.0D SE 2006

To be honest I have no real complaints about the X3 although I still have yet to drive it through any real winter conditons. The fuel consumption avarages at 38mpg in all round use and high 40s on dual carriageway/motorway use (last car was a 1.8L petrol 3 dr freelander averageing 23mpg). It handles well on the road, more like a saloon car than a 4x4. Granted it could be more comfortable for long journeys, but I drove it 500 miles in one day and was fine at the end.

BMW X3 3.0L Diesel 2006

Two failed turbos and low mileage on this car. Rubbish! Rubbish! Rubbish! Don’t buy an X3 or you will regret it.

BMW 3-Series Saloon M sport 320d Auto 2008

I somewhat disagree with the tagging of iPhone, Rolex and the likes. I am a 27 year old farmers son who greatly enjoys owning my new BMW 320d Auto Msport Saloon, (my 2nd, may I add). I don’t need the car as an accessory or fashion statement so I thinks that’s a bit rude. Maybe you would prefer a volkswagon golf? Still German but suitable for the older generation and great for manoeuvring in the supermarket car park, or outside the post office. After owing 3 BMW’s and a BMW Mini cooper S, I will definitely be buying a BMW again.

BMW X5 4.4 sport 2007

This is my second X5 and we are yet to find a comparable drive in this class of vehicle. Service costs can get high however and both cars have had the front lower control arm bushes changed and suffered heavy rear tyre wear. Good safe car to transport the family!

Responses to this review

Perhaps sorting out the rear bushes would save you money on rear tyres. It appears there is a heavy wear problem hidden by the air suspension keeping the bushes under tension hence the wear doesn’t show at the wheel. Have a look on YouTube under BMW tyre wear - Allan Taylor from Norfolk

BMW X3 2007

Six turbos in five years, the first three under warranty, the next two under BMW so called support, and this one not sure. Looking like court due to sale of goods act as I think with only sixty thousand on clock this is not fit for purpose.

BMW X3 2008

If you want fun, an athletic drive and better handling than commonly available then buy it. It turns like a charm and has DTC for more fun (changes front to rear ratio for more fun). The fit and finish is superior with solid doors and  rear gate. It also has straight up handling through corners (at least with standard in gear and powering through, but can’t speak for an automatic as I wouldn’t know, and never will). Drivers will appreciate this vehicle, while automatic fans may understand it if they learn to drive it like a manual.

BMW 1-Series Coupe 120d M Sport Coupe 2012

Having had the car for 3 months now I am besotted with the car, it is everything I imagined it to be. Very responsive, great handling and currently averaging 38mpg with a heavy foot.

BMW X5 3.0 SD M Sport 2008

Hmmm, firstly let’s get this right, it’s not a sporty car and it’s not a fast car, it’s far too big and heavy. It is however a fast 4x4 but if you think it’s going to be like a fast car, forget it. If you want to speed along with your family get a 550 sport instead. As a 4x4, it’s spacious, kids love being high up, 7 seats useful at times but fiddly to use, sounds ok for a diesel, 25 mpg, eats £300 tyres after 10-15k, some unreliability niggles, but prestigious. Rides firmly but much better IMHO than those silly floaty air suspended RRs and much quicker. If you want to make a statement, you will, but at the end of the day it’s for lugging stuff around and not driving pleasure.

BMW 5-Series Saloon 545 Sport 2005

I bought this as a second car to go with my 911 and ending up using this car more than the 911 so the Porsche went in the end, outlasted by the Beemer which I kept for 5 years! It simply does everything, space, power, performance, comfort, short and long distances, fully equipped with tv, satnav, comfort seats, etc etc. After a few years these awesome cars are worth peanuts, who wants a big petrol engined uber saloon? Me, that’s who! Takes wife and 3 kids anywhere and so easily, you can park it anywhere without fear, much better than my 911, M3, XKR etc. So overlooked, but in the real world it really is the ultimate driving machine.

BMW 7-Series 728i Sport 2001

Bought car and thought it was using a lot of fuel. Petrol tank leaking bad. No new tanks in UK, none in Germany, none in breaker’s yards. Contacted BMW UK and was passed to customer service where I was told it’s not a recognised fault. And it’s because of the year of the car. Numerous other faults: computer electric seats sensors. Nice to drive but so was my old Mercedes E-Class. My advice would be go for the Merchant.