BMW 3 Series 320i E36 Reviews

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BMW 3 Series 320i E36
3.9 stars
Average rating for this product is: 3.9 out of 5

From 20 ratings and 28 reviews

Thumb up 89% of users recommend this product

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Average Ratings for BMW 3 Series 320i E36

  • Performance4.1 stars
  • Practicality4.1 stars
  • Reliability4.4 stars
  • Value for Money4.4 stars
  • Reviewer Ratings4.3 stars
  • Overall Rating4 stars

28 Reviews For BMW 3 Series 320i E36

  • Guest 19th Nov 2009

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    I love this car. Not as quick as the 1993 Honda Prelude coupe i had prior but handles better. Have had some small problems occurring recently (faulty dash cluster, broke the vent control somehow)that i guess i'll be forking out for but it's fifteen years old. Superb handling (just put some replica 18" M3 alloys on),a little sluggish under 3000rpm but who gets it all! Classic looks and pretty reliable when serviced regularly. Hint: Check dash cluster working (tap the dash a couple of times to see if needles drop away, will cost $200-300AUS if broken) ,service history important. If pre 1996 check water pump has been replaced. Plastic impellers WILL fail at some stage if not replaced with metal one. Happy driving.

  • Guest 18th Jul 2009

    Reviewer rating: 4 stars


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    BMW'93 325i coupe - the thought crossing my mind when i first tested an e36, 2 years ago, was "the e36 325i coupe must've been a hell of a car back in its days". sporty, good-looking and very reliable, the 6cyl e36 offers a good value for its money. interior is plain "german", everything in place and handy, leather looks good and the driving position will satisfy anyone, with the seat's 4 different adjustements and adjustable steering wheel and the 8 speaker sound system will keep you entertaine ...

  • Guest 16th Jul 2009

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    I think this product is beautiful. That's right, beautiful! I say this because I rode in a BMW 320i E36 once. It was an automatic too. It was a 4 door sedan and it had an aircon, central locking, electric windows at the front and back, leather seats, power steering and a sunroof. I just had a thought about the sound of the exhaust pipe. Sometimes when I hear the 320i E46 running the exhaust pipe sounds like a good one so I just thought that the exhaust pipe on the e36 could have the same sound t ...

  • Guest 11th Apr 2009

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    I have had my BMW E36 2.5 litre for 11 years (101,000) miles, and it has not put a foot wrong. I just get to appreciate it more and more. The gear ratios are exactly right, and as I said third gear will cover anything.All controls are exactly where you need them and have the perfect weight and feel. It does about 32 mpg, and the engine can adjust and respond to super-unleaded, which I tend to use, but the price differential from standard unleaded is more than it used to be. The car feels stabl ...

  • Guest 22nd Mar 2009

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    I have had my 1992 (now 2009!) BMW 3 Series 320i E36 for about a year now and the only thing that has gone wrong is a squeaky brake disc guard, which i cured in about a minute. :) I have found this car to be reliable to no end, always starts, runs beautifully (105,000 miles). The ride quality is superb for a car of it's size, and the mid-high end rev range gives a good kick in the behind.Overall I'd give this car 8.5/10It could do with a little more power, but then again.. I love the straight-s ...

  • Guest 12th Dec 2008

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    Good pulling power excellent build quality.
    Need suggestions as to how to improve handling on this beast and chunky gear changes.

  • BMWE36320i 28th Nov 2008

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    110kw of power 150bhp this car comes in a full house abs power steering side inpact bars 6 cyl 24 valve dohc safe and reliable very strong on the open road gets a good top speed and dose so fast very fule effic on the high way 10 out of 10 considering my bmw e36 320i automatic is a 1992 meaning its 17 years old.

  • pieter43 17th Oct 2008

    Reviewer rating: 4 stars


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    Very nice car in general. Handles very well, smooth ride with lots of power, but slow during initial acceleration, drinking fuel, but becoming quite economic on open road (7-10l/100km a/t). Still has lots of power at high speed, and fun in sport mode. Original sound quality quite impressive and nice on-board computer (95 model). Very smooth running engine. Services can be expensive, but I haven't had any major issues or engine problems.

  • sebbi16 14th Aug 2008

    Reviewer rating: 4 stars


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    I bought a BMW 320i a month ago...the best..this is my third BMW and
    I will not change her for anything...
    The best by far... what more can you ask in a baby like this? She is now 15yrs old but still drives like new. A must for any BMW lover. Very economical on fuel.

  • silverbullet 009 25th Feb 2008

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    These cars are getting old now. But if you find one which has been well looked after. I'm sure you will get years of trouble free motoring from it.

  • Guest 17th Jan 2008

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    Really like the car definitely say to get one

  • Bonz 2nd Oct 2007

    Reviewer rating: 3.5 stars


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    Apart from the niggles I have experienced, my BMW 320i has been extremely reliable and overall, an excellent machine. It is hard to imagine that it is thirteen years old. The overall experience is better than that of many newer cars I have ridden in. he fuel economy is good and the car is extremely reasonable to maintain if you deal with independent garages. Although my car is equipped with 15" wheels, the ride quality is not bad at all. Steering feel is excellent and the driving experience subl ...

  • aurlus 10th Aug 2007

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    Stock without any modifications and the car is super fast, as fast and maybe faster than a lot of new cars on the road. The car must be revved up to perform. The sport mode is just awesome and pulls the car for more power at whatever speed. Auto gearbox very silky smooth and this car always has some reserve power left. Kick down at 160 kph and the car drops a gear revs up and pulls up to 190 and beyond. this car is damn fast. Even some 3.0 can have problems catching up on highway.

  • skanbmw Rank: Lance Corporal 15th Jul 2007

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    Standard Review:
    I've had my 320i coupe for 2 years now as standard. It's pretty sluggish there doesn't seem to be an awful lot of power for a 6 cylinder, 2 litre injection. It's very underpowered for 150bhp. Off the line it's slow, you really have to hit the high revs to get it moving. Hit 3rd gear and you will see what it's made of; it lacks low end, which many cars have in abundance. But on the other hand it has mid range and top end to keep pulling and pulling, which many other cars don't s ...

  • PhilC 29th Jun 2007

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    I bought a BMW 320i E36 4 months ago for $3500 NZ and invested another $1000 in two rear shocks, a transmission flush and fluid replacement and some upholstery repairs. For $4500 in total is a great car, looks and runs great and still has some style.
    Anyway, if the car lasts for the 3 years I need it it will be the best buy in my life, considering how much fun I have everyday going from home to work in Wellington.

  • ayam666 Rank: Lance Corporal 23rd Apr 2007

    Reviewer rating: 4 stars


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    Bought the car at 190800kms Still runs very smooth.
    Chip and throttle body was replaced by Peak Performance by the previous owner, so I don't know how far the performance has improved compared to stock.
    Acceleration is slow, sluggish and heavy on first gear - feels like driving a truck. It gets snappier at high rpm 3000 and above. You have to rev the car aggressively to wake it up. Maybe because it is using timing chain instead of timing belts.
    Have Good Year NCT5 fitted, softer and less fric ...

  • Tris99 Rank: Lance Corporal 20th Apr 2007

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    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.

  • walke40 Rank: Sergeant 14th Dec 2006

    Reviewer rating: 1 stars


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    The car looks good but check out the bad points above.

  • luthermartinj 5th Oct 2005

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    Just acquired my BMW 3 Series 320i E36 very good and reliable car suitable for all terrain.

  • vshtonov 30th Aug 2005

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    I have had my 1992 BMW 3 Series 320i E36 for about a year. It has over 220,000 miles on it. Apparently, it was maintained well before I bought it since the engine seems to be in great shape. Car feels solid and eager. Great car for out of city driving and in city driving. May be lacks a little bit of torque for city driving (it feels like 100 hp, not 150 hp in the city).

    This particular car achieves it maximum published speed (130 mph) after so many years and so many miles. Strongly rec ...