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- BMW 3 Series 320i E36
- Tris99's review
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| Performance | 8.1/10  |
|---|---|
| Practicality | 7.9/10 |
| Reliability | 8.6/10 |
| Value for Money | 8.3/10 |
| Reviewer Rating | 8.3/10 |
| Overall Rating | 7.6/10  |
By Tris99
on 20th Apr 2007
| Year Manufactured | 1991 |
|---|---|
| Length of ownership | 2 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Performance | 8/10 |
| Practicality | 9/10 |
| Reliability | 10/10 |
| Value for money | 9/10 |
| Overall value | 9/10 |
 Tris99's recommendation | |
Very smooth drive, handles well at both low and highway speeds.
Very practical with its 3 mode gear box (Economy, sport and winter). These modes allows the 320 to act like a family car or a two door sports, giving it power in traffic, but one of the best highway economies in its class.
The winter drive is especially useful in Melbourne, down south and in the high country where we get occasional iced roads but I find it excelled on loose gravel, mud and heavy rain.
The E36 (all bodies) is known to have faults in its rear demister. This is further complicated with the radio antenna running through this system resulting in a loss of function of both systems.
Newer 3 series (E46) have solved this problem with the 'shark fin'.
The standard with 15 inch wheels make it a bit skittish at low speeds, changing to higher width 16inch solves this problem completely (some newer 320Is have 16inch as standard)
Parts are not cheep either.
In all it runs on an oily rag, you can park it in a matchbox and goes like a bat out of hell.
I have had two 320I E36s. The fist was written off in a crash (320 vs. Ford Explorer at 70km/ph). The other driver came through a red hit me in the passenger front side, due to the air bags and other features I walked away with only two bruised ribs.
Very good car, brilliant looks, street credit and just plain fun to drive.
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