In the past, I have been a die hard Honda fan. But, through unfortunate (or maybe fortunate) circumstance, I have had the opportunity to upgrade to the 2003 BMW 325ci. I have always admired it from a far and appreciated the styling cues that are reminiscent in the Civic. Ordinarily, I would not have considered a luxury car as I had always been warned of luxury cars being needy and expensive to maintain. But, I was entering my 30s and decided maybe it was time to spoil myself. The one I purchased was pre-owned, not certified, with 21K miles. The previous lease owner appeared to have treated it well and elected for the Premium and Sport package.

Never having any experience with German automakers, I was quite taken at simply sitting in the car. The six-way adjustable driver’s seat is comfortable combined with tilt/telescopic steering wheel. Three seat and mirror settings can be memorized. The passenger mirror also offers tilt-down while in reverse. Although not loud by any means, cranking the 2.5 liter inline-six gave a satisfying note that told me it was ready to be driven. It doesn’t take long to acquaint oneself with the gauges and controls which are intuitively placed. Dials and readouts don’t require a degree, but won’t feel like an economy car.

Lacking the elegance and cushiness of Mercedes C Class, interior styling is more mechanical and functional except for the faux-wood accents (can be found or exchanged with titanium accents). The plastics have a feel that implies durability and most surfaces do not appear to scratch easily. All panels fit well together and seams are well integrated or hidden. Though both the driver’s and passenger seat lift and slide forward, rear entry and exit take more than an effort to accomplish. As most coupes of this size, a child's car seat can be troublesome. Trunk space is a far cry from ample, but will accomplish most everyday tasks. Window switches also located behind gear shift as opposed to on the door handles.

The ride is smooth and firm for highway driving, though lightly bumpy on compromised pavement; it is by no means punishing. Steering is tight and the suspension manages to keep the car upright, minimizing roll under most circumstances. The ride and handling can be severely compromised if the tire pressures on each axle are not equal causing the car to pull or steering to be sluggish. The combination of the 17 inch wheels, low profile tires and sport suspension make for lively handling. Xenon lighting is connected to sensors in the suspension that keep them focused on the road.

The vehicle is equipped with a computer that determines the maintenance interval based on driving habits and conditions so there is no printed maintenance schedule. So far, it happens for me about every 15k miles. Oil changes may appear more expensive as BMW uses full synthetic. This has the advantage of allowing the oil to remain in the vehicle for longer periods of time (up to 15k miles). I have found preventative maintenance only marginally more than that of the Hondas I have driven. Brakes and exterior lamps are equipped with sensors to let you know when replacements are needed. So far, I have only needed to replace the gas-springs for the hood ($50 fo the pair), the LED high-mount brake light (a warranty repair) and the battery no longer charges on one of the keys. There are also a few scratches in the finish of the cup holders.

Front of the car is low and trends to drag most parking bumpers/curbs. The mounting spire in the trunk for spare tire will scratch expensive alloy rims if care is not taken during removal or replacement. Exterior panels are smooth and fit together well. Beware of the front bumper assembly which has a piece that snaps in place rather than being bolted. The succeeding 325ci/E46 coupe received updated fascia which eliminates this issue. Fuel economy is decent—between 25 and 29 miles to the gallon, requiring premium fuel.

As mentioned in other reviews, brake dust is troublesome; if keeping your car clean is a priority, rims will be inundated with black dust within driving only a few miles after washing. Aftermarket accessories are available to assist with this problem, but detract from the wheels in my opinion. Also, keys must be taken back to the dealer to activate functions such as flashing lights when using keyless entry or locking doors when putting the car in gear. High mount stop light and Xenon can only be serviced by shop or dealer. Keyless entry battery is charged through the ignition switch. Universal garage door opener is easily programmed.

Reliable at five years old and 52k miles, it is one of the best purchases I think I could have ever made. Bottom line, I was told by a co-worker that has purchased BMWs for years that I would never drive anything else. After driving a few other cars as rentals, among them a Cadillac DTS, there is no comparison for the handling and steering of this entry level luxury car! Overall, the build quality and reliability is what I would expect from BMW so far. If the intent is to draw me in as a younger buyer and continue with the brand in my later days, the company is well on its way! If fun is what you are looking for and you don’t mind paying a smidge more for premium gas and servicing, I think this car will do you well.

I look forward to several more years with my 325ci!
Amount Paid (US$): 24900
Condition: Used
Model Year: 2003
Model and Options: 325CI