Zippy Little Tyke

Author's Rating:

Pros: Handling,braking, acceleration,tasteful interior, engine music,fun!

Cons: I cannot drive it while I am asleep

The Bottom Line: 
The price point allows access to BMWs best engineering features-smooth powerful engines,strong brakes and road hugging suspension.

Author's Review
I have been driving a 2001 BMW325i for the past 9 months and thought it about time I say a few (i.e many) words about the car, particularly in light of the many Troll reviews that "grace" the pages of epinions.
Much of what you will read is common knowledge-data is available on the Web or in brochures
and is accessible to semi-imaginative and barely literate lonely souls who pretend they have one, have seen one or have driven one and wish to denigrate the car and the company who makes it and the people who choose to drive it.
For those who actually have the 325 on their shopping list, I hope my comments may help you in making a choice.


The 325 comes in several body styles- sedan, coupe, wagon, convertible and the all wheel drive sedan or wagon. The 325i is the sedan and that is the car I chose.

MADE TO ORDER

The beauty of buying a BMW 325 is that you can order them with a specific set of options- from the base model (seldom seen on dealer lots) with a manual transmission, leatherette interior, a choice of three basic colors (red, white and black) to a fully loaded car with option packages-Sports package with low profile performance tires (17 inch rims as opposed to the stock 16") body-hugging Sports seats (ten-way adjustable), a stiffer sports suspension, a lower ride height and a three spoke steering wheel which has controls for cruise and stereo system) : Premium Package caters to those seeking luxury and comfort and includes a moonroof, Myrtle wood trim (dee-licious!), a four spoke steering wheel with cruise/stereo/phone controls, center armrest(an option!) a trip computer, auto dimming mirrors, power seats with memory and upgraded interior lighting. The Cold Weather package gives you retractable heated headlight washers, heated seats ( a must in the Midwest) and split/folding rear seats with a ski bag.
Other options include an upgraded speaker system by Harmon Kardon, Xenon HID headlamps and a cd player (single in dash or 6CD changer located in the trunk or glove box). An $1800 navigation system,if chosen, will force the purchase of the trunk mounted cd due to space constraints on the dash.
You can option the car until it reaches almost $39,000-from a base price of $27,635.
There are three things one can get from the base car which one cannot get from any other similarly priced car; a BMW 2.5 Liter 184 hp inline 6 cyl. engine, BMW's road gripping , sure-footed handling and the large BMW 4 wheel disc brakes with ABS.

BUYING EXPERIENCE

I set out to buy a car last August (2000) and pretty much homed in on a 3 series as I have long had an admiration for BMW and had the good fortune to drive several over the past 20 years, including an autobahn drive at 125 mph in a 750il in Germany two years ago. This car had the navigation system which worked flawlessly on the given route. I followed the voice commands (German woman's voice) rather than take my eyes off the road.

I wanted to get the best car I could within a given budget-it had to be quick, handle well, brake VERY well, be safe(ish) in an accident and have plenty of eye-candy appeal. There were few cars that fit this last criteria: I am not overly impressed with sheet metal twisted into elaborate shapes-I like a "wolf in sheep's clothing" more than the reverse and practicality above all.An Audi A4 would work for me also. I did not need the car to be fitted with lots of "bells and whistles" but sought "performance" and "driving pleasure" foremost.

Luckily the Web is there to explore and I read huge amounts of reviews from Auto Magazines and more importantly from owners of the BMW 3 series. There was great enthusiasm from both camps. I made the rounds of BMW dealers within 150 miles of my home in Chicago.
There was a common "soft sell" approach in every dealership-I shopped in 3 States. The tactic is to keep quiet and let the car sell itself so after a welcome handshake the keys were offered and I set out for test drives without the presence of a salesman. I typically drove for half an hour and every minute was too brief.

Suffice it to say I was quickly convinced that I need look no further than the 325i. My original idea to settle for a stripped base model (and with the list of standard features it is hardly "stripped") was short-lived, for I soon had to have an automatic at $1275 (so a friend could drive it occasionally) and I had to have a cd player ($200), couldn't live without the huge moonroof ($1050) and had to have leather $1450, wood trim $500 and an armrest $250. Fern Green metallic paint cost an extra $475.
There is of course room to haggle with the dealers over price so I ended up paying $31,600.
BMW mats, a tank of gas and "prep" was included (these were on sale for $190 at another dealership). I ordered the car to these specifications, August 29th and it was built in Munich Sept 13th and in Indiana October 10th awaiting my arrival-one week later as I was in Florida at the time.
The car comes with a comprehensive manual in a leather case, 3 sets of keys and a video of control operations.

LIVING WITH THE CAR

9 months and 11,000 miles later the car has been (a) trouble free-not one rattle or squeak (except for when I ran over a squirrel) (b) the most fun to drive car I have ever owned.
It is a rear wheel drive car and it survived a very tough winter of snow and ice in the Midwest riding on Bridgestone Turanza tires. The car has Traction Control(DSC) which does what it claims to do. This can be switched off if you want to fishtail around corners (which I did just for fun).
In the summertime or dry conditions the car is pure joy to drive. The 184 hp rating seems very conservative-once the car is rolling and into second gear the accelerator response (the GO pedal) is extremely vigorous.
For extra "oomph" the auto, known as Steptronic has 3 modes: Drive, Sport Mode where the auto lets the revs climb higher before shifting and Manual where you can shift the auto as a clutchless stick and take the car through each gear up to redline at 6,000rpm. Now you are moving! The car rides very quietly (3,000rpm) at 90mph on the highway and if you need an extra burst of speed, it is instantaneously available-no hesitation- and before you know it you are over 100mph and it's a very smooth steady cruise at that speed, even with the moonroof open. The speed is limited electronically at 128mph.

SAFETY FIRST

What goes up must come down and the BMW is blessed with strong fade-resistant brakes. They are never sudden or "grabby" nor do they feel like you are stepping on a deflating rubber ball like so many cars. They are confidence inspiring as is the Dynamic Stability Control which is a computerized "watchdog" that corrects you when you corner at the limit of good judgment.

BMW places great emphasis and research funding on safety. 6 airbags are there to protect front seat passengers, bolts within the door frames keep doors from opening during a crash and release afterwards, the battery is placed in the trunk to avoid fires and the hazard lights flash following an accident. The greatest aids to safety though are crisp acceleration, precise steering and reliable braking: in all three the BMW 325i excels.

One of the things that gave me peace of mind in my decision to buy BMW was to visit a dealership after they had closed. I drove around back and found 5 severely crashed BMWs awaiting salvage-though the fronts were mangled, all the doors were still in alignment as were the roof and windows. The 3 series receives a Best Pick rating from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. They are solidly built.
You can tell that when you first open the doors-they unlock at a press of the ignition key which also turns on interior lighting for safety and reassurance. This key can also open the windows and moonroof on a hot day before you enter the car. It opens the trunk and locks all doors when you park for the night. It is the only way to start the engine-it cannot be "hot wired" by a thief. It can of course be towed away so the alarm with tilt sensor is a good option if you have to park in the street. I don't so I skipped the alarm.
Wheel locks can be bought for under $30 and are a good investment as a set of rims and tires cost over $2000.
The doors close with a deep bank-vault like thud. Turn the key once and it communicates a code to the engine which allows it to start the car-first time every time, regardless of the cold outside.

AT THE HELM

The cockpit controls are logically laid out and within easy reach which is good for me as I have a naked steering wheel without stereo controls. I have no cruise control as I have no need for such a device. I have a foot instead.
Analog speedometer and fuel gauge (Premium only!! Pay attention!) is to the left and in the center is the tachometer. To the right the water temp. which has been on center since last October. I have yet to (a) change the synthetic oil-that is included in the 3 year free maintenance at 15,000 miles (b) add any water to the radiator (c) add any windshield washer fluid as the tank holds a gallon. The car "heats up" very quickly and puts the full range of engine revs at your disposal. 3500 and up and you really feel a rush of power.

The "Business CD" in the center dash array is of modest power and in no way compares to an after market system but as I spend most of my time enjoying the snarling rasp of the engine that is of no consequence. Storage space is limited so I would not think of installing a glovebox CD changer-there is really only room for the thick BMW manual and one pair of gloves in there, next to the supplied rechargeable flashlight. There is also a drop-down tool kit in the trunk lid for emergencies. The car comes with BMW Roadside protection- similar to AAA roadside assistance and the 800 number is written in the trunk lid. A full sized spare tire is carried there. Loading the trunk is easy due to a low liftover and it easily accommodates luggage for two.

SEAT COMFORT

I chose manually adjusted front seats to keep costs down and because, once set to my driving position,I don't move them. This is the first car I have had where I don't have to stretch or book an appointment with a chiropractor after a long drive. The seats in the Sports package are even better,holding you sungly in place through fast corners.
I have had two passengers in the back seat-both over 6 feet tall and they have had enough leg room to endure a two hour trip without complaint: I like a stretched out driving position-legs and arms as straight as possible. Cars this compact are not designed for three adults in the rear.

EVERYTHING AS ADVERTISED

The car does all the basics beautifully-I press on the gas and the car is in a hurry. I press on the brakes and the car loses speed swiftly without ever wavering or pulling to one side. It rains hard outside but I am warm and dry inside and the tires hold the road. The wipers wipe. The heater heats, the air conditioner chills. Everything is as advertised, Everything works-no hit or miss.

I hear people talk of brake dust? Of course there's brake dust! But it is dust and washes off very easily. These cars are meant to be hand-washed by their drivers-I look forward to washing mine at least once a week-then I get to see it close up, check for dings and scratches (none so far!-hoorah!)

ONE HAPPY CAMPER...

Driving a BMW everyday is a very exhilarating experience-if you love what happens between point A and point B and want to savor every mile of the journey. Soon after I began driving this car I began thinking of the NEXT BMW. More power (330 model) would be good, a manual transmission would heighten the joy of driving and heated seats would help me enjoy the moonroof every day of the year.
If you are interested in after-market modifications there is a whole niche industry catering to the BMW brand exclusively. For me -the stock car from the factory suits me fine. I will try several competitor's offerings when it is time to upgrade-out of curiosity- but I have a funny feeling that BMW will still be ahead of the pack when that time comes. Competition breeds winners.

BMW-drive happily ever after!