2000 BMW 328ci
The 2000 BMW 328ci is a coupe. It has a 2.8-litre six-cylinder engine producing 193 hp (142 kW), with a 5-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive. 0–60 mph takes 6.8 seconds and top speed is 130 mph (209 km/h).
ABOUT THE 2000 BMW 328CI
The 2000 BMW 328Ci is the six-cylinder flagship of the original E46 3 Series coupe line-up, ranking below only the M3, which joined for 2001. It uses the 2.8-litre M52TU inline-six with 193 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque, driving the rear wheels. This entry covers the version with the five-speed automatic; a five-speed manual was also available.
Short-lived but significant
BMW launched the E46 coupe for the 2000 model year as the 323Ci and 328Ci. The 328Ci badge disappeared after a single season, replaced for 2001 by the 330Ci with the new 3.0-litre M54 engine. The 2000 car is therefore the only E46 coupe with the 2.8-litre engine in this market, and the 328 name did not return to a 3 Series coupe until the E92 328i of 2007.
Equipment and character
Compared with the 323Ci, the 328Ci gained more torque across the rev range, making it noticeably more relaxed with the automatic. The coupe body brought frameless side windows and a sleeker roofline than the saloon, while the cabin kept the saloon’s dashboard design.
Buying one today
As with other E46 models, the cooling system is the first thing to check: the water pump, radiator, thermostat and expansion tank are all known to fail with age. Other commonly reported issues are VANOS seal wear, leaking valve cover and oil filter housing gaskets, worn front control-arm bushes and, on hard-used cars, cracking around the rear subframe mounts.
Rivals
The 328Ci competed most directly with the Mercedes-Benz CLK 320 coupe, with the Audi TT offering a smaller, sportier alternative.
Written by CarDetails.org. Last reviewed October 31, 2026.
SPECS
| Make | BMW | Model | 328ci |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 2000 | Version / Trim | BMW 2000 328ci |
| Body Style | Coupe | Doors | 2 |
| Seats | 5 | Ext. Colour | Alpine White, Jet Black, Titanium Silver Metallic, Carbon Black Metallic, Orient Blue Metallic, Steel Blue Metallic, Topaz Blue Metallic, Steel Gray Metallic |
| Steering | LHD / RHD | Manufactured In | Germany |
| Drive | Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) | Transmission | Automatic 5-spd |
| Engine | 2.8L 6-cyl | Engine Size | 2,800 cc |
| Power | 193 hp / 142 kW | Torque | 280 Nm / 206 lb-ft |
| 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) | 6.8 sec | Top Speed | 130 mph (209 km/h) |
| Fuel Economy | 16 mpg city / 25 mpg hwy | ||
| Wheelbase | 2,725 mm | Kerb Weight | 1,450 kg (3,197 lb) |
HOW IT COMPARES WITH OTHER 2000 COUPES
Compared with other 2000 coupes in our database, its 193 hp is 14% less than the average 2000 coupe (225 hp), and it reaches 60 mph 0.5 seconds slower than average, and it is 13% heavier than the typical coupe.
| 2000 BMW 328ci | Average 2000 coupes | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | 193 hp | 225 hp (11 cars) | -14% |
| Torque | 280 Nm | 279 Nm (11 cars) | — |
| 0–60 mph | 6.8 s | 6.3 s (9 cars) | +7% |
| Top speed | 130 mph | 137 mph (9 cars) | -5% |
| Kerb weight | 1,450 kg | 1,286 kg (13 cars) | +13% |
| Engine size | 2,800 cc | 2,530 cc (13 cars) | +11% |
Averages are calculated from all cars of the same model year and body type in the CarDetails.org database that have the figure listed. For 0–60 mph, a negative difference means quicker.
CLOSEST RIVALS
Other 2000 coupes with similar power to the 2000 BMW 328ci.
| Car | Power | 0–60 mph | Kerb weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 BMW 328ci | 193 hp | 6.8 s | 1,450 kg |
| 2000 Audi TT Coupe | 180 hp | 5.9 s | 1,285 kg |
| 2000 Volvo C70 Coupe | 236 hp | 7.5 s | 1,560 kg |