The BMW 3 Series is still one of the best used executive cars out there, and a superb all-rounder.
It might seem like BMW encompasses each and every niche in the automotive world these days, but if there’s one car that defines the German firm’s products, it’s got to be the BMW 3 Series.
This sixth-generation edition ran from 2012 to 2019 as an executive sedan or pickup truck and since it’s incredibly popular as a corporate car, there are plenty of used examples to choose from.
Engines: The engine range included a variety of petrol and some hybrids, but the vast majority of the 3 Series used will be diesel. While there aren’t really bad engines in the range, although the 114bhp diesel 316d and the 136bhp 316i (later renamed the 318i) petrol possibly looked a little weak.
In addition to those already mentioned, the rest of the petrol offer is made up of a 320i 2. 0 litre with 181 hp, a 228i with 242 hp and a 330i with 248 hp, with the high-performance versions of six 3. 0 hp being the 335i with 302 hp and the 340i with 321 hp completing the diversity. The diesel options, which have been the best sellers, are the most popular on the second-hand market, the 148hp 2. 0 318d and the 181hp 320d. A tougher 2. 0 The 218-litre diesel engine can be found in the 218bhp 325d, followed by two 3. 0-litre six-cylinder models in the 254bhp 330d and 309bhp 335d versions.
Meanwhile, the 330e plug-in hybrid, a car with a purely electric range of around 40 km, was considered one of the most productive plug-in hybrids on the market at the time and, thanks to many corporate car buyers for that. There are many that can be found second-hand.
Details & Equipment: There are 4 main trim levels: ES, SE, Sport and M Sport. The ES has 17-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, DAB radio, Bluetooth, cruiser and a 6. 5-inch infotainment screen. Opt for SE for automatic windshield wipers and headlights, rear parking sensors, and dual-zone weather system. The finish of the game adds a lot of fun touches, adding a lot of red accents on the inside; Some gloss black external trim and gaming seats. The M Sport adds firmer suspension, larger 18-inch wheels, and a more competitive frame kit on the outside.
There are also some taste packages called Modern and Luxury. The former doesn’t replace much of a regular SE car, other than swapping out some piano black interior inserts for matte chrome alternatives, but the latter gives you upgraded leather on the seats and wood. Dashboard panels and door cards.
Performance: On the road, each and every 3 Series model handles with an overall ability that will place it at or very close to the most sensible in its specific class. Most engines combine strength and economy in almost unrivaled excellence and add a touch of refinement to the mix.
Handling and handling: But it’s the 3 Series’ ability to deliver an incredibly stylish ride (in maximum versions) with its wonderfully nimble handling that appeals to the most passionate driver to the max. This drive can be quite companionable at low speeds, and it gets downright harsh on the M Sport models without the optional adaptive suspension, but stick with an ES, SE or Sport style on smaller wheels and you probably won’t go far wrong.
In fact, all editions are superbly cared for and the orientation is still incredible for any opponent. If you need to combine this with an extra dose of all-weather traction, you can opt for a four-wheel-drive edition (with the xDrive badge). .
Interior and practicality: Inside is an interior that makes much use of high-quality materials, and fits form to function neatly while offering ergonomic efficiency in its major and minor controls. If you want a car with a manual gearbox rather than the excellent automatic transmission, make sure you like the driving position, because while there’s plenty of adjustment in the seat and steering wheel, the pedals are noticeably offset.
Front-end space is comparable to rivals, although rear legroom would arguably be limited for a lanky passenger sitting on top of a taller driver. The 3 Series is on par with its new rivals, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4. However, in terms of trunk area, even by the standards of a sedan, the opening is quite narrow. Folding and split rear seats were also optional, so if you want this feature, make sure it’s installed in the car you’re considering buying. .
Facelift: 2015 marked by a midlife facelift. This included a maximum upgrade of the engines in diversity and also added some small external styling changes. Other updates included some minor recalibrations to the electric force guide and adjustable dampers, as well as revisions to the internal surfaces and the popular satellite navigation formula around the world. diversity.
If you need a used 3 Series or any of the other cars discussed here, head over to the used car buying pages to find a plethora of indexed cars for sale at a wonderful price.
You’ll want a budget of around £5,000 for a sixth-generation 3 Series and, for that, look for cars that are repaired, vehicles with high mileage, or both.
A petrol model with less than 100,000 miles on the odometer can be bought for around £6,000. Increase the budget to around £7,500 or more to get a 320d variant that averages a consistent number of miles over the year.
Spend between £10,000 and £12,000 for a restored example of a car from 2015 or 2016. You’ll need between £15,000 and £18,000 for the last of the 2019 sixth-generation cars.
All-wheel-drive cars have become popular on the second-hand market, specifically in the colder areas of the country, and come at a slight price increase. The first high-mileage xDrives can be had for around £7,000, while anywhere above £15,000 you can buy a sleek post-facelift model.
The plug-in 330e version makes sense if it fits your lifestyle, but you’ll need around £12-15,000 to buy one with an average mileage.
Meanwhile, if you need a used 3 Series with a six-cylinder engine (and we can understand why), expect to pay a minimum of around £11,000 for a car with average mileage.
Check out the reviews of a used BMW 3 Series Which car?
Find a used BMW 3 Series for sale here
The cheapest 3 Series to use is the 320d in ED form, which equates to an impressive official economy figure of 72. 4 mpg, based on previous NEDC fuel economy tests. The popular 318d and 320d achieve combined economy figures of 67. 3 mpg and 60. 1 mpg. However, the larger six-cylinder diesel engines are far from the smaller engines, with the 330d rated at 55. 4 mpg and the 335d at 51. 4 mpg.
Opting for a smaller gas will hurt you financially with the fuel; The 318i has a combined economy figure of 52. 3 mpg. However, the tougher 320i, 328i and 330i models arrive in the mid-’40s, while the older 335i six-cylinder achieves as low as 34. 9 mpg.
The 330e plug-in hybrid has an oddly stated average fuel economy on paper of 134. 5 mpg. As is the case with maximum plug-in hybrids, you’re unlikely to see this figure in the real world unless your trips are short and you have access to a charging station at the end.
Some petrol engines emit much more CO2 than diesels, adding the 335i with 189 g/km. The 318i, which is more reasonable, spits out 122 g/km. The popular diesel 320d emits 124 g/km (102 g/km according to EfficientDynamics), while the 318d emits 111 g/km. Even six-cylinder diesel engines are quite affordable as far as taxes are concerned; The 145g/km of the rugged 335D is pretty impressive when you consider the performance it offers. Choose the 330e and enter the flexible tax bracket, as emissions are only 49 g/km.
The tax for all models registered before 1 April 2017 will vary depending on the emissions produced by the engine (see the paragraph above for more information), while examples recorded after that date will require owners to pay a flat tax, currently £180 per annum. (£170 for the hybrid). There are two; A reduced rate for cars that charge less than £40,000 when new, but any example that charges more than that will incur additional charges, currently £390 per year for the two to six years of the car’s lifespan. Road Tax Prices, click here.
BMW offers a five-year constant value service package for its new cars, so it’s worth checking to see if you’re still covered by this package when buying a used car. However, maintenance is rarely too expensive and you pay around £200 at a major BMW broker for a full service on a four-cylinder diesel engine, up to around £500 for a six-cylinder petrol engine that has all its filters and conversion spark plugs. Inspections must be conducted every two years or 15,000 miles.
Chances are, you’re looking for a diesel-powered car, as that’s how most people used to buy them new. If that’s the case, our favorite engine is the 320d, which has more power than the 316d and 318d. versions, while maintaining maximum economy.
The higher powered diesel models all offer an excellent blend of performance, refinement and economy. If you must go for a petrol due to a greater amount of urban driving, aim for the 320i because that’s plenty quick enough and reasonably efficient.
As for the trim levels, all 3 Series are well equipped and there isn’t really a bad choice amongst them, although the firm sports suspension fitted to M Sport cars can be too jarring for some. On balance, we’d recommend Sport since it gets all the equipment form the SE model but has more supportive sports seats that are better on long journeys.
Our BMW 3 Series: the post-2015 320d Sport
The apparent rivals of the 3 Series are the Audi A4 and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Both have their advantages and, in their more recent versions, could be more comfortable companions than the BMW on a bumpy road, but they are not satisfying. the driver’s enjoyment.
If that’s a priority for you, the Jaguar XE (launched in 2015) is well worth considering as an alternative to a facelifted 3 Series. It’s a great car to drive, although not as spacious as the BMW.
Meanwhile, if you’re tempted by a hybrid saloon but don’t think you’ll ever bother to plug it in, a Lexus IS 300h makes more sense than a hybrid 3 Series, being more common and having a proven reliability record.
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If you need a used 3 Series or any of the other cars discussed here, head over to the used car buying pages to find a plethora of indexed cars for sale at a wonderful price.
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