1984 BMW 3 Series Reviews, Pricing & Specs

It is very fun to drive. Performance is very good considering the age and the many owners its had. Build Quality could have been better, wasn't in the greatest condition when bought. It took along time to figure what was actually wrong with it but after it was fixed it runs like a dream. Appearance - I really like how it looks. Some people with lesser brains sometimes see it as a piece of junk, but I know better. It has been very cheap to own. I get great gas mileage with it. It is usually around 28 mpg, which seems pretty amazing considering the power and 6 cylinder engine. Fun factor - it is very fun to drive.Jun 26, 2009

My '84 BMW was actually a gray market car, with a European engine and, in the words of my local BMW parts guy, the fastest factory 3-series he's ever driven. It did quite literally feel like it was on rails, with zero bodyroll and complete traction on most curves at around twice the suggested speed. From this description, of course, it shouldn't be surprising that I ended up sliding off a country road into a concrete wall ;-), but there were many factors involved in that accident including gravel on the turn and a moment of lost attention. Anyway, the car had around 190,000 miles after the 35k I put on it, and it never had an issue that was beyond cosmetic. The European version of the '80s 3-series cars were often superior to the exports, and this one was no exception. Seats were upgraded buckets and were very comfortable. The previous owner was very much a fan of the car and had done a lot of hidden upgrades to the handling, etc. I never could get ahold of him to ask specific questions, as it was a friend of my father's who moved away and we never heard from him again. But I digress. Anyway, this started my love affair with the '80s BMW's, which at this point are an incredible steal and highly overlooked by the general populous. An example in good condition can quite easily bring tears to your eyes through the sheer thrill of piloting it. A lovely, lovely car that I truly miss.Nov 22, 2008

For an '84 model it's way ahead of its time. The on board computer is a charm, telling you how many mpg you are getting, the temperature outside, how many miles before empty, and setting a code where no one else can start it except you. The brakes stop on a dime, even without ABS. It's stylish and has a very classic look to it. Built for fuel economy back in the 80's, I manage 36 MPG. They are fairly cheap to own, but you have to be willing to get dirty and do a fair amount of work on the car yourself. It handles like it's on rails and is a blast to drive. Aug 10, 2008

I'm in the process of restoring a 1983 BMW 323i which is similar to the 325i. The car roster doesn't include a 1983 BMW 323i because this is a grey market vehicle not originally imported to the US. Its the first year of the E30 body style. Anyway, its a terrific car to drive. You feel like you're bolted to the road when managing a curvey road. The greenhouse is wide open, more so than modern vehicles, and affords the driver an unobstructed view from almost every angle. Its a pretty light vehicle so it gets going quicly and can stop on a dime. My vehicle was in storage for a very long time so all the fluids, seals, pulleys, belts and hoses have been replaced. Other items remain on my long list of things to correct before this 323i is 100%, but with only 43,000 original miles, I should be able to enjoy my investment for years to come. Jan 01, 2008