2003 BMWxi

[Rot 911]

Looking at one locally. 38K miles $21K asking price. Any problems I should be aware of on this year 3 series?

[kstar]

Kurt:

I have the same 2003 car and bought mine with about the same mileage and same price as the one you are looking at now. Mine still looks new; I bought it after it came off a lease.

This is a great resource - this is the FAQ link and they have a good forum too:
http://www.e46fanatics.com/faq/faqs.php

I did not do a great amount of research on the model before I bought it, but my post purchase research left me comforted.

The car is really fun, gets decent mileage and has remained trouble free for 6 months now. I really like it.

I know that there can be problems with the windows/regulators, electrical system and I have read that the radiator may fail around 100k - some say like clockwork.

I don't think the wheels on the car you are looking at are the original xi wheels, FWIW.

Here's mine:



Good luck!

Best,

Kurt

[Rot 911]

Kurt, I checked out a couple of other 2003xi's on another site and they have the same wheels as the one I was looking at. Maybe yours has an upgrade.

[Rot 911]

Bump for the Sunday morning crowd.

[VaSteve]

My 04 325xi has been great. I got it new on Euro delivery, it now has ~60K miles. The only issues I have had were that it needed a new front CV or half shaft. I had that done under warranty, it was expensive if I had to go out of pocket for it. (It may be in need of another one). I have been told they are very DIYable. I did front and rear brakes. Very easy (except the front rotors had rusted on).

I really like the car, I just wish it was a little bigger inside. In the winter with my big coat on, Treo, gloves and some coffee, I feel a little cramped sometimes.

The car drives great. In the snow, it really excels. We get enough some about 2 times a year to really make it worthwhile, but it does great.

I wish I bought the 5speed for the fun factor. The auto is good an solid, just a liitle boring. Great in traffic though. In the regular drive, it starts off in second gear to give a comfortable ride. All the magic happens when the torque comes on ~3K. I would actually have more tickets if I have a 5speed.

The xi has the same spring rate (but 1" taller) as the i model with the sport package. Sport package in an xi is only the steering wheel and seats. Very little you can do to upgrade it. There are some spring kits (will lower it a little) but sways need to come from Dinan. Nobody makes (or at the time I looked) a front sway for the xi.

Those are the same boring wheels I have. In the photo they might be 17's. You can tell because the 17's have a little lip where the spoke meets the edge.

[VaSteve]

Here's mine in the homeland.

[Rot 911]

Well I didn't get the 325xi. I ended up getting a 2002 325i. It is a one owner and looks like new. 46,000 miles with all the service stamps. Came with the sport package, with sport seats and a 5-speed. I couldn't believe how much faster the 5-speed is over the xi with the auto tranny. Has traction control and new all weather tires so I should survive our mild winters. Oh and that e46fanatics website is great! Couple of pix:

[tcar]

My 325is w/ traction control, good winter tires and a 40# tube of sand in the trunk never got stuck, even driving to Steamboat Spriings for skiing.

Good car.