BMW 3 series
BMW 3 series technical data
Select BMW 3 series generation for full details - reviews, specifications, fuel consumption, pricing, quality and safety features, options, photos and more
Is BMW 3 series a reliable car?
In general, the BMW 3 series reliability is slightly below average. The number of defects found on the BMW 3 series during the annual technical inspections is just above average for cars of a similar age.
Based on these reviews, the highest reliability scores were demonstrated by BMW 3 series generation from 2005 to 2008, while the models produced from 2003 to 2006 had the lowest reliability ratings, reliability scores vary quite significantly between generations of BMW 3 series. For more information, check the respective generation information.
Most BMW 3 series engines are chain-driven, which is considered more reliable than belt-driven engines.
BMW 3 series reviews
Total 78 BMW 3 series owner reviews
Pros: Very pleasant to drive
Even an old car looks visually appealing
Comfortable interior
Powerful also with 2.0l diesel engine
I like the equipment - multi steering, climate control, sunroof, etc.
Comfortable, easy to park
Does not require large investments, repairs are not expensive
Popular model, many spare parts available, both new and used
Cons: Fuel-inefficient
Very brittle rolling stock, suspension. If driven over potholes, rolling and suspension must be repaired for sure.
Be aware of the car's weak points: radiator is sensitive to shocks and air conditioning may not work, boot lid rusts, so number plate illumination is affected
| Purchase year: | 2015 age of car 13 years) | Owned for | 40`000 kilometers (3 years) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average fuel consumption: | 10.0 litres per 100km (90% urban driving) | ||
| Total cost of repairs: | 1860 € (~ 620 € per year) | ||
Would recomend this car to the friend
Pros: Car is powerful stable, sporty, comfortable, beautiful. Engine is good! Consumption very good, lots of extras!
Cons: Rust, Rust, Rust. The running gear is very sweaty and tears regularly. The oil sometimes gets out of the engine somewhere, if you chip it you will soon be able to look for a new gearbox and reducer as well as a hanging bearing, a little expensive.also the same hanging bearing is very brittle, you will smoke the tires a couple of times and start to vibrate, the price is not terrible but change often with reluctance!
| Purchase year: | 2016 age of car 15 years) | Owned for | 105`000 kilometers (4 years) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average fuel consumption: | 8.8 litres per 100km (50% urban driving) | ||
| Total cost of repairs: | 2000 € (~ 500 € per year) | ||
Would recomend this car to the friend
Pros: Relatively flexible, dynamic, warm, simple
Cons: Engine N42 sucks. Something broke on a regular basis, produces a variety of hitherto unheard of until end of sounds that are not managed to avoid. It is difficult to find fault. Eat oil, a white oil appears. Hard and rattles. Rusts. Glass elevators holds on nothing. In short, away from those engines, more than 100 000km it is not intended.
| Purchase year: | 2016 age of car 13 years) | Owned for | 15`000 kilometers (1 year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average fuel consumption: | 8.0 litres per 100km (30% urban driving) | ||
| Total cost of repairs: | 780 € (~ 780 € per year) | ||
Would NOT recomend this car to the friend
Pros: Pleasant and good-looking. Sporty. Easy to drive. Powerful. Convenient.
Cons: Expensive engine parts. Complex engine and its supportive structure. With automatic transmission very diesel edible. The control system is fragile. Brutally baggy, on the smallest failure stands still. The fuel system has been repaired 2 times, still having problems
| Purchase year: | 2020 age of car 19 years) | Owned for | 15`000 kilometers (1 year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average fuel consumption: | 8.0 litres per 100km (50% urban driving) | ||
| Total cost of repairs: | 1900 € (~ 1900 € per year) | ||
Would recomend this car to the friend
Pros: A very good car if you have a lot of money (if you want to maintain it properly). The M57 engine is, of course, like taken from WW2 tank that is still alive today.
Cons: Rust is probably crazier than Opel, but it's more the owners' fault for ignoring rust in early stages, which are economically unviable to save later
| Purchase year: | 2019 age of car 17 years) | Owned for | 60`000 kilometers (3 years) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average fuel consumption: | 6.5 litres per 100km (30% urban driving) | ||
| Total cost of repairs: | 5110 € (~ 1703 € per year) | ||
Would NOT recomend this car to the friend
Pros: Very good and sporty car. The boost is good if everything is working for the machine and the turbine is not damaged.
Cons: Low, hard, regular painting of the front bumper should be considered. Failed xdrive, repair around 1000, - eur
Quite a large consumption in the city of 10-12L
On the highway 7-8
| Purchase year: | 2016 age of car 10 years) | Owned for | 76`000 kilometers (4 years) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average fuel consumption: | 11.0 litres per 100km (70% urban driving) | ||
Would recomend this car to the friend
Pros: Good suspension
Cons: The fuel consumption can be economical, but i can say from experience that, driving BMW in 2 years i have been in service 2 times, before I drove a car which has average consumption of 5 l / km, and visited service service at least 3 times per year...
| Purchase year: | 2014 age of car 8 years) | Owned for | 215`000 kilometers (2 years) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average fuel consumption: | 8.3 litres per 100km (80% urban driving) | ||
| Total cost of repairs: | 700 € (~ 350 € per year) | ||
Would recomend this car to the friend