What could tell more about the quality of a car than years of experience in day-to-day usage? AutoBild took a 318i on a long-term evaluation: 100000 kilometers (about 60000 miles) in 2 years. After this test, the car was completely disassembled, and every part was thoroughly checked. The results? Not a single unplanned stop, not a single sign of wear and tear on the engine, the gear box, or the chassis - just nothing to report about!

Quotes from the report (No.48, Nov. 2001): "Nobody driving this BMW on the last miles of this test was willing to believe the miles clocked up. Characteristic the last entry in the log: '100 000 kilometers, and everything feels like brand new'. This car surely underpins the success of the BMW 3 series!"