2002 BMW 3 Series Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1995
Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
16 -21 City / 22 -30 HWY
Source FuelEconomy.gov
Horsepower
184 -333
Seats
4 -5
Front angle view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Elisa E
My vehicle is my first vehicle I have owned and I love the way I drive it.
The problems I have with this car would be the radiator, thermostat, & ͏oil. The radiator would be a #1 problem for these types of cars, they overheat. Other then that the vehicle is amazing I drive it everywhere. Very comfortable & relaxing. The features in the vehicle are decent.
accountCircle Bonnie Y
Bow great driving experience.
Enjoyed driving this car. Smooth driving. Great braking system. Can get you to one place to another. Good storage in the trunk. Easy parking in small spaces. Would like to let others test drive it before purchasing a new car. Can be in a small car garage.
accountCircle Hannah R
BMW 2002 3i series review
It is a very comfortable car with leather seating, heated seats, and adjustable seating preferences. There is a built in GPS system, cassette player, and CD player. It is a switch auto/manual transmission. Includes fold down back seats to have trunk access.
accountCircle Lisa R
The best car I've ever had!
I have 200,000 miles on my car. Never had any problems other than routine maintenance. I will keep this car as long as I can. It is so much fun to drive. I would recommend any 3 series BMW. I do not have any negative things to say about it. Oh, maybe one thing, the cost.
accountCircle Marcy R
Bmw has great features and safety. I cannot imagine having a different car
No problems! Maintenance is expensive after warranty is over. Buying an extended plan is worth it. I would gladly buy another BMW after this one
accountCircle catherine A
It is a 2002 and does not have many issues
My car is a sedan and it is 2002 so it is older. It has some problems and I am scared to take it across states but it works great around my city and has made a 9 hour drive in the past 6 months. It had a cooling problem. Has had many parts replaced over the years.
accountCircle Renee M
It is a good car to drive and it handles the road good. The BMW cars are made for the road and they made you feel very good when you are driving them because of the way it handle the road. You feel good in the driver seat.
I love my BMW the style, the way it handles the road . The style of the car how it drives on the freeway. The only thing that I might not like is how expensive it it to have things repaired..
accountCircle Ed D
You have to have expendable cash flow to use a old BMW. But fix it up,you have a keeper.
The fix up on the Engine is expensive! You have to get in there to fix a part. You can say you have a BMW!

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Judith B
Very expensive to maintain when it is out of warranty. Codes difficult to diagnose actual problem. Many, many times told that there was nothing wrong - only to be left stranded the next day! Wonderful car when it works! I have less than 63,000 mile (car bought new 2002) (now 2018!) and have had to replace a computer, motor engine throttle, door handles/lock (twice!) and door moldings! Looks great - drives great - but I cannot trust it!
Wonderful when it works and totally undependable after 30,000 miles! Replaced motor - throttle harness ($2000) and replaced fuel pump COMPUTER ($2000) Driver door handle/lock continually fails ($800)
accountCircle Leslie W
It's fun to drive. Love the power.
I love the way it drives. And if it were new I would love it so much. But I bought it used and it needs a lot of work. A Lot of it was also in a slight wreck so it is ok for basic here and there. But if it were newer it would be awesome. I love the power.. The comfort. The speed. It's fun to drive. I love the look of new. A little expensive to fix.
accountCircle Judith E
Twice needed to have driver side door handle repaired (about $800) (cannot open door from outside - inside only) and car still under 63,000 miles!
Like the way it handles! Dislike major and costly repair bills starting at 30,000 miles
accountCircle Victoria O
2002 330ci BMW - fun to drive, not fun to maintenance.
The car drives very smooth with a fast pick up and easy steering. Feels comfortable to drive, low to the ground and compact size for driving easy in a city. Does not do great on gas and takes unleaded plus. The convertible top has many issues as well as other costly fixes from the age of the car. The engine lasts long if maintenance frequently though.
accountCircle Haily C
Cute, classic, sport white BMW
It's very comfortable, reliable, has no real mechanical issues even after 200,000 miles on it. The car is currently burning oil. It is great on gas, takes 15 gallons and can go about 500 miles on full tank. Love the sunroof and heated seats. Only thing I don't like is the speakers in it and cost of gas.
accountCircle Joseph S
It's a very fun, good looking car.
As for comfortability, it's not too bad. The armrest folds over the cup holders and it really gets in the way when you have passengers. No cup holders in the back. Performance could be better, could be worse. It's quick for a smaller sized engine. Handles good. Extremely reliable.
accountCircle Jesse M
Car appearance wise is amazing, performance wise, it isn't the best.
Nice looking car, only issue I have is the car consumes a lot of gas, also tends to burn oil quickly. Also, the space for the passengers in the backseat isn't too big. I always have passengers complaining they don't have leg space. Also the passenger window doesn't work because that car tends to run into that issue. The left side view mirror also somehow oiled up and the same thing happened to a friend of mine's BMW as well.
accountCircle Aaron H
Although it can be on the older side, it still looks pretty great.
Can be kinda slow sometimes, but still sturdy. The air conditioning did get weaker a one point, but I got a tune-up were they cleaned it, and it really made it stronger.

BMW 3 Series Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
325i
184 HP 25-25 MPG 5 Seats
car
325xi
184 HP 23-23 MPG 5 Seats
car
330i
225 HP 26-26 MPG 5 Seats
car
330xi
225 HP 24-24 MPG 5 Seats
car
325Ci
184 HP 23-23 MPG 4 Seats
car
330Ci
225 HP 24-24 MPG 4 Seats
car
M3
333 HP 20-20 MPG 4 Seats
Photos may not match model

2002 BMW 3 Series Owner Reviews

4.16
55 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 45%
4 stars 33%
3 stars 16%
2 stars 4%
1 star 2%
accountCircle Ed K on April 4, 2021
Makes you feel younger,stronger,faster.
I like that's convertible. I like that it's BMW. It makes me look young. Too much money to repair it.
accountCircle Luke Z on March 2, 2021
You will have no other maintenance problems other than wiring issues.
The 2002 BMW 3-series 225i is a fantastic car and feat of German engineering. Even almost 20 years old this car still has tech feature that were cutting edge at the time keeping it young for a while. The engine runs strong with smooth rides all over town. The maintenance problems you'll run into is its electric wiring. Sometimes lights will come up on the dash making you think the engine is ruined, but is only a wiring issue. Always such a relief!
View All Reviews (55) chevronRightAlternative

Ranks #6 Luxury Small Cars by Owners

The 2002 BMW 3 Series has an average owner rating of 4.24 out of 5 which ranks it #6 of 11 other Luxury Small Cars.

1
car
2002 Lexus IS
4.89
2
car
2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
4.64
6
car
2002 BMW 3 Series
4.16

Ranks #4 Luxury Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2002 BMW 3 Series has a combined MPG of 29 which ranks it #4 of 11 other Luxury Small Cars.

1
Tie
car
2002 Volvo S40
30 MPG
1
Tie
car
2002 Volvo V40
30 MPG
4
car
2002 BMW 3 Series
27 MPG

Is The 2002 BMW 3 Series A Good Car?

Yes it's somewhat reliable. It had some issues but if it can be repaired I do it. It's a pretty car and I haven't had too many issues but like anything it breaks down from time to time
Ken A.
Yes -- great drive and reliable as well. Love the feel of driving fast and really hugs the road. Also great engineering and craftsmanship.
Alexandra W.

How Reliable Is The 2002 BMW 3 Series?

Yes it overheats like crazy time And time again. It has air conditioning issues and the tires have been replaced twice already. I do what I can with it but it's on its way out
Joe B.
No-- great engine and never problems starting or steering. Also breaks run well. Also parts are of the highest quality .
Brooke M.

Is The 2002 BMW 3 Series A Good Value?

I paid 13,000 and no it wasn't a good value. I unfortunately looked up the blue book value way too late but I won't make that mistake again
Jennifer G.
We purchased used and was a good value at the time. We bought in 2010 with 10,000 miles for price of 20,000 -- so essentially brand new.
Lori T.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 2002 BMW 325i starter relay location?

Answer: If You're looking for the starter relay on Your BMW 3 Series, then I've got some news for You. There is no starter relay on Your 2002 BMW 325i. The purpose of the starter relay is to provide power to the...

What's the 2002 bmw 325i lug pattern?

Answer: The 2002 BMW 325i lug pattern iS5 X4.72''. Making sure Your tires are in the greatest of condition is crucial to not crashing. You will come into problems with this car part at some time or another. Premature...

What's the 2002 bmw 325i battery group size?

Answer: The factory specifications list the 2002 BMW 325i battery size as group size 48 H6 with 615 cold-cranking amps. Depending on the model and quality, the cost of a new battery will range from $80 to $150. If You...

What kind of oil does 2002 bmw 325i use?

Answer: Each configuration of the 2002 BMW 325i comes with the same 2.5L 6 cylinder engine. So, regardless of which trim level or options package You're running, You'll always use the same amount and type of oil. With...
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Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

Not Rated
*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Not Rated

Roof Strength

Not Rated

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety