Pros :
- Smooth power build-up from inline 6.
- Smooth shifter.
- World's best handling sports sedan.
- High build quality.
- Decent ride quality combined with sporty suspension settings.
Cons :
- High base price.
- Boring interior.
- Sport package suspension deteriorates ride quality.
- Tight rear legroom.
- Minimum amount of luxury features.
Press Coverage :
Water runs downhill. And another BMW rises to the top of a sporting-car test.
The pleasures of this car flow almost entirely toward the driver, not the passengers, from an epicenter located near the midpoint between the clutch and the gear lever. The clutch hooks up like velvet, right where you think it should. The shift lever stirs cream. The right pedal tapers up the power, so easy and natural to control. You make smooth, expert shifts the first time you drive. This BMW never stops flattering.
And that's the story of its handling, too. This car flows over the back roads, like a liquid following the contours of the road. Instantly, you're a great driver. Up-and-down suspension motions are so perfectly damped they almost escape notice. Body roll is controlled, a liquid that never sloshes. Pour it on. You have a stable platform from which to give your best. And the steering, the brakes, and the clutch and shifter convey your messages to the machinery exactly as you intend them.
You could get the wrong idea from the $30,110 price of this car, lowest of the bunch. Despite our plan for well-rounded machines, this BMW is, in fact, a stripper 325i with only a sunroof and the Sport package, the latter being a critical contributor to this car's winning ways. It includes grippy 225/45WR-17 "summer" tires on eight-inch-wide rims, a stiffer "sport suspension," and a set of front buckets with excellent lateral support -- on manual-adjust tracks. A lot of sport per dollar, nothing for luxury. No cruise control. The seats are covered in vinyl.
In a sports-sedan comparison, it's a winning formula. Road grip is excellent, measuring 0.86 g on the skidpad, yet the ride is pleasing, too. Braking fell behind that of the Lexus IS300 by only three feet. Acceleration hangs into the top half of the group, but only just barely. Engine sound, a smooth hum, is always present, particularly at interstate speeds. It's accompanied by wind roar that is louder than average. Torque is a bit weak, lower for 2001 than for last year, reduced in exchange for 14 extra horsepower, up to 184 now.
Less torque, more reason to work the lever. This car loves that kind of work.
Caranddriver.com
The ride with that package generally is supple, but it sometimes causes the ride to become choppy. The standard suspension and tires should be fine for most people, although some car buffs say BMW is making the 3-Series too "soft" to expand its number of buyers.
The brake pedal has a nice linear action that allows quick, sure stops. Both brake and clutch pedals have ribbed surfaces for good grip with wet shoes - a thoughtful touch.
The sedan is classified as a 5-seater and has decent room for four 6-footers in the quiet interior, which has high-quality materials and a no-nonsense design.
Gauges can be quickly read and well-arranged controls work smoothly. Even the inside hood release lever is sturdy, which isn't the case in many cars.
Carpoint.com
History:
1999-2000 BMW 323i
2,494 cc / 170 hp / 181 lb-ft / 3153-3450 lbs / 0-60 mph 7.5 sec.
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