1984 BMW 3 Series Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Purchased for $500 with a twisted frame, then poured money into it at more and more frequent occasions the longer I owned it. However, the car was tough, having survived numerous collisions. Overall mileage at quitting time was at 225,000+ miles. Interior was in decent condition, exterioir was rusty and had front end damage. The car was a 4-cylinder with a 3-speed auto, and FR. I fell in love the BMW brand within a week of owning this car. Nevertheless, it was a very fun car to drive.Sep 30, 2010

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

After over 300,000 miles, even the best cars start to show their age, and this one is no exception. The car feels very old, like you're driving your grandmother's attic. It evokes a quaint, almost familiar feeling; like a place that's fun to visit, but is just too impractical to live there. The performance is almost acceptable if the car is completely empty with no passengers or luggage; adding anything more makes acceleration to highway speeds a goal that may or may not be achievable given enough time. This car looks like a classic sports-oriented coupe. It's design is wonderful, and when it is in pristine condition, it is hard to match its looks. Unfortunately, maintaining those looks becomes quite the chore as the car ages. In terms of gas mileage, you can expect reasonably good consumption from such a small engine. Even driving it agressively won't make a large impact on your overall economy. In short, this car is great fun to drive, but only when everything is going right. And in a car as old as this, those moments are unfortunately few and far between.Dec 26, 2008

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

this one was a heartbreaker. I loved this car, silver coupe, 5 spd. it was beautifull and had tons of power. the more I drove it the more it broke, BMW parts were ridiculous to buy, I was getting them at cost thru my mechanics pricing and installing them myself and still it was hundreds of dollars more than I had. I had big plans for this car but apparently this car needed more than I could give her. it really was the heartbreaker of my car loves lol May 25, 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