4 Star Reviews for 2002 BMW 3-Series

Overview & Reviews

Average Score

4.58/5 Average
334 Total Reviews
This Year's Model Updates:

BMW has seen fit to give the sedans and wagons a facelift for 2002. An in-dash CD player finally makes it onto the standard features list. The center stack has been altered to accommodate the new automatic climate controls. Steptronic automanual operation has been altered so that you move the transmission lever forward for downshifts and backward for upshifts. Bi-xenon headlamps are on the options list so that both low and high beams can glow a cold blue and can be set to automatic operation. Rear side airbags are available for coupes and convertibles. Two new colors, Electric Red and Gray Green (and a Natural Brown interior leather) join the color spectrum.

Pros:
  • Luxurious, powerful, exceptional road manners, available all-wheel drive for sedan and wagon.
Cons:
  • Pricey for their market segment, limited rear-seat space and cargo capacity.

User Reviews:

Showing 51 through 60 of 334.00
  • Great Car, but........ - 2002 BMW 3-Series
    By -

    My car was fine for the first few months, but Ive had a problem with the car stalling. I have a 5-speed...when you start it for the first time and let it idle for about 2 minutes in neutral, by feathering the accelerator the car stalls out. This has been happening for months and no dealer has been able to fix the problem!!! BMW customer service has been no help either to date.

  • Very Disappointed !!!!!!!! - 2002 BMW 3-Series
    By -

    I have a momentary significant engine hesitation on slow accelerations; I have taken the car to BMW 6 times for this problem. I have taken the car 7 times for a distinct whine at 70 MPH coming from the rear end or the manual transmission; BMW changed the rear end fluid and then the rear end. The gas pedal sticks after 30 minutes of use; its been changed two times. The radiator requires filling every 7 weeks to bring the coolant level back up to full on the float stick. BMW has tried to fix the above items, but refuses to work on any of the anymore. The driver shoulder harness tensioner has been replaced twice.

  • Fun Ride, but prepare for frequent maintenance - 2002 BMW 3-Series
    By -

    I always remembered having love for BMWs. After years of wanting one, I was finally able to when my grandfather was finally selling his (black 325i sedan with 111k miles) after buying a newer 3 series. For $2,500, he gave me a great deal because he kept it in great condition. After purchasing it in August 2016, I took it down to college (400 miles away). Even though it has a firmer ride than my former 01 accord, the ride is still comfortable on long journeys. (If one finds the ride uncomfortable on long trips, take the back roads route and forget about comfort when you have a big smile on your face from discovering the sublime road handling on twisty unknown turns, away from zoned out interstate cruise-controlled journeys.) Mileage: Decent for a 6-cyl (I avg. 450 hwy miles on 1 tank) Under avg. for city driving (My lead foot doesnt help) The Bad: The wave of random component break-downs began in sept 2016, having to replace the alternator. Before driving back home for winter break in dec., the driver door window is stuck down. I cover it with plastic and drive 400 miles. Then during winter break (Dec-Jan), I went ahead and replaced the window motor and regulator myself. THEN, 2 days later, the rear passenger window regulator fails. I repair and replace it myself again. AND THEN, the 3 month old alternator takes a crap went ahead and replaced it myself again..(Being somewhat mechanically knowledgeable, I figured i could save a lot of money on repairs a shop would charge) As of now, July2017, it is sitting at the mechanic. It recently started misfiring and wouldnt run for more than a minute. I replaced a bad valve cover gasket, spark plugs. After that didnt solve the problem i took it to the mechanic, and Ive had to have them replace ignition coil boots, injector, fuel filter, fuel pump, and mass airflow sensor. But tomorrow, the maf sensor will be installed, and they believe (hopefully) that will be the last thing needed to make her run smooth again. Summary: For $2.5K, it was initially great value for a lower mileage luxury sports sedan. There are honda civics the of the same year and mileage in that price range. The obvious and inevitable lack of reliability is common for these bmws, most are reliable, a lot are not, and some unfortunately run into a lot of problems like my example. Therefore, its a good thing to have some mechanic know-how when owning one. If you enjoy working on your cars, this one is actually quite easy to learn about and work on. Even though i was expecting to experience problems, I was shocked as to how bad it has been because my grandfather kept it in great shape, and had a reputable mechanic perform mandatory and regular maintenance. I have continued to (try to) keep it in good shape and keep it maintained. I dont know, it must be just bad luck. I still love it though, and I am going to continue to own and enjoy it after i get it fixed.

  • A definite head turner - 2002 BMW 3-Series
    By -

    A little pricey compared to other convertibles but the quality is definitely there. Youll be amazed at the number of people who will talk to you at traffic lights in this car. The inside is very simple without the bells and whistles found in so many other cars but that keeps your mind focused on the road. The one major drawback to this car is the lack of a built-in alarm system!

  • BMW 330I - 2002 BMW 3-Series
    By -

    It is the ultimate driving machine. Performance/aaceleration is great. Safety is also outstanding. Only bad thing is it needs more interior storage area.

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