2006 BMW 3-Series Pros and Cons at TrueDelta: Owner Pros and Cons by rob

Handling

Sports car like handling without the comfort penalty. Handing performance exceeds my ability and willingness to push the limit.

Safety & braking

Up to date safety systems and powerful brakes.

Powertrain performance

Strong very smooth engine with classic inline 6 noise. Auto trans is setup normally for fuel economy but can quickly switch to performance mode.

Driving position & visibility

Highly adjustable seats allow just about anyone to get a perfect driving position, balancing height, pedal position and steering wheel position.

Materials & workmanship

Everything is well built with high quality material all around. One exception is the cup holder which is a afterthought.

Warranty, maintenance cost

Car has been reliable to date but all BMW maintenance costs a ton. Cars are over engineered which makes even some basic task harder. For example, even changing the battery requires a dealer visit to reset the computer which monitors the battery.

Ride smoothness

Ride on uneven roads is not smooth. Trade off for the excellent handling.

Cargo capacity

Trunk is smaller then average despite no spare tire. About 10 CF.

Rear seat room & comfort

Rear seat is still tight, a trademark of the 3 series.