- convertible 220,614
- 2,127 below average
- 2,950 great
- Terrell, TX
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- autoshopper.com
- 2,127 below average convertible 220,614 black automatic
2003 bmw 3-series review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. These are indeed the ultimate driving machines. introductionthis is the benchmark. The bmw 3 series cars are the aspiration for every automaker building a sports sedan or mid-size luxury sedan. there's a good reason for that. The 3 series cars are superb. Whether it's the 325i or the m3, these are terrific driver's cars. Each of them is dynamically outstanding, a highly refined machine that corners, accelerates, and stops swiftly. These cars put drivers in touch with the road instead of isolating them. Driving them is a joy. Their blend of luxury and sports and their high levels of quality makes living with them joyful as well. Their interiors are well-equipped and comfortable. another reason automakers are envious of the 3 series is that it exemplifies bmw’s consistency in product character and value. The 3 series cars have been the benchmark for quite some time now and we do not see this changing in the near future. 2003 brings only minor changes to the line. Among them: the available bmw onboard navigation system has been re-engineered. Sedans add a center rear head restraint as standard equipment. Ten models are available, varying considerably in price, power, and packaging, plus there two m3 models. All are based on the same chassis and all ride on the same 107. 3-inch wheelbase, but the coupes and convertibles share few body panels with the sedans and wagons. two engines are available, both inline six-cylinder engines. As the 3 series nomenclature indicates, 325 models get a 2. 5-liter engine, while 330 models get a 3. 0-liter engine. Sedan, coupe, and convertible are available with either engine; wagons are only available with the 2. 5-liter engine. the 325i sedan 27,800); 325i sport wagon 30,400); 325ci coupe 29,600); 325ci convertible 36,700) are powered by the 184-horsepower 2. 5-liter engine. The higher price of coupes and convertibles includes a slightly higher level of luxury equipment than what comes standard on sedans and wagons. the 330i sedan 34,600); 330ci coupe 35,600); and 330ci convertible 42,900) benefit from the 225-horsepower 3. 0-liter engine. In addition to the increased power, 330 models come with more standard equipment and design upgrades. One example: 17-inch wheels with v-rated tires in place of the 325's standard 16-inch wheels with h-rated tires. all-wheel-drive 325xi 29,550) and 330xi 36,350) sedans and the 325xi sport wagon 32,150) offer much better traction and control in slippery conditions. They come equipped with hill descent control, which could prove helpful when descending a steep, slippery driveway or back road. all models come standard with a five-speed manual transmission. Automatic transmissions are available: a superb zf-built five-speed steptronic 1275). Dynamic stability control comes standard on all models. Run-flat tires are an option on 330 models with an upgraded tire pressure monitor for 2003. Also optional are 18-inch wheels and tires. smart front and front side-impact airbags come standard. Also standard (on all but the convertibles) are head-protection airbags that deploy from the headliner along the length of both sides of the cabin. Rear side-impact airbags are optional. Bi-xenon high-intensity discharge headlamps offer much better visibility on stormy nights, but sometimes annoy other drivers. Bmw's park distance control 350) works great, beeping to warn the driver of objects behind the car during parking maneuvers. related to the 3 series are the m3 coupe 46,500) and m3 convertible 54,500), which boast much higher levels of performance and handling. Part of that comes via the 3. 2-liter engine rated at 333 hp. The current-generation 3 series debuted in 1999. These cars sport bmw's classic look. They look elegant and refined, but purposeful. The roofline is long and gracefully integrated into the short rear deck. Their wheels fill the fenders and the body work seems wrapped tight, like it's stretched over muscle. The 3 series sedans have the look of a true sports sedan. If there was a picture in the dictionary of a sports sedan it would be a bmw 330i. quad headlamps are enclosed in aerodynamic covers. The optional bi-xenon lights include low and high beams; the outer lamps provide high-intensity discharge illumination on low and high beams, while the inner lamps augment the high beams with halogen lighting. Auto-leveling of the bi-xenon lamps is included. introduced for model year 1999, the sedan was the first of this latest generation of 3 series cars; it shares its styling and most of its body work with the sport wagon. Subtle changes to the design of the 3 series sedans and sport wagons for 2002 freshened their appearance with redesigned front fascias, front and rear bumpers, grilles, headlamps, tail lamps, hoods, and fenders. Similar to the theme set by the new 7 series, the headlamps now tilt up at the trailing edges of the wraparounds rather than tilting down as they have traditionally. Bmw also redesigned the shape of the cutouts below the headlamps. When equipped with the aerodynamic package, the front fascia looks like more of an air dam than before with round integrated fog lamps instead of small, thin rectangular lights. The lower grille is split all the way across. Bumpers, front and rear, have a simpler, cleaner look and redesigned taillight units offer greater illuminated area. The grilles, continuing bmw's dual-kidneys tradition, were widened. The hood's character lines sweep outward and rearward from the grilles' upper outer corners back to the body's a-pillars. Front fenders were also modified, with more prominent wheel-opening flares that interrupt the side character lines for an additional element of design interest. coupe and convertible models were introduced for 2000 with updated design cues. Their headlamp cluster wraparounds taper down rather than up. m3 models are distinguished by the hunkered stance, the deep front airdam with its vast opening, aggressive fender flares, massive low-profile michelin pilot sport tires, the bulging hood (necessary to accommodate the engine), dual twin exhaust tips, even the horizontal air gills just below the windshield pillar. Even in a color as basic as white, the m3 attracts a lot of attention, particularly from men who notice its special styling cues that only hint at its amazing performance potential. well-designed exterior door handles are easy to grab. interiorthe 3 series interior is designed for the serious driver. The m3 coupe we drove had an imola red interior that was sporty and handsome. bucket seats provide fine support without feeling hard, and come standard with six adjustments. Power adjustments come standard on all models except 325i sedans. The manual controls on the 325i sedan work well, though they are best used when the car is stationary. The 10-way power seats that come with the optional sport package are superb, adding more side bolstering for winding roads, and slide-out thigh support. the leather-covered steering wheel tilts and telescopes for optimum adjustment. Its slim design is a benefit of the latest in compact airbag packaging. Audio and speed controls on the steering wheel work well and add convenience. Two different steering wheels are used depending on body style and model. M3 comes with a fat three-spoke steering wheel that contains buttons for cruise control, the audio system, and a factory-installed phone, which makes it bulkier and less racy than the audi tt steering wheel. dashboard and door panels are rich in appearance, and appealing to the eye. A titanium finish is used around the instrument panel, console, and doors. Genuine myrtle wood inserts are optional. The instruments themselves feature soft orange lighting, which help reduce glare at night; some people find orange instrument lighting easier on the eyes than other colors. most switches fall intuitively to the driver's fingertips, but the 3 series interior is not without its faults. Window controls are located on the center console, requiring a glance down to open or close a windows. Having the controls on the doors would make them much easier to use. Auto up/auto down is available for all windows and the sunroof, which is a nice feature. automatic climate control and a microfilter ventilation system are standard. Automatic headlamps are available. The in-dash single-cd player that now comes standard is easy to operate; the previous cassette deck is available as a no-cost option. The harmon kardon stereo with 12 upgraded speakers sounds great. Available steering wheel audio controls work well and add convenience. we're not in love with the center console, which doesn't hold much. The flip down armrest, standard for 2003, is a bit in the way when shifting and unattractive shallow cup holders in the center console seem like an afterthought. the back seat in the sedans is roomy enough for two adults during a night on the town, but it's not as roomy as some of the other cars in its class. There's a reasonable amount of room in the rear, but the middle person needs to be a kid to have any chance at comfort, as the transmission tunnel rises nearly to the height of the seat. Practically speaking, the coupes fit between a two-plus-two sports c. Climate Control✔ Bucket Seats✔ Power Seats✔ Cruise Control✔ CD Player✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Sport Package✔ Navigation System
2,950 Terrell, TXTerrell, TX at autoshopper.com