Advice for buyers
What should I look for in a used BMW 3 Series estate?
Generally, the BMW 3 Series Touring has a good reputation for reliability, but there are a number of things to check.
The majority of 3 Series came with run flat tyres as standard, but due to the expense of replacing them some owners fitted standard tyres instead. The tyre pressure sensors can fail if replacement tyres don't have exactly the same rolling circumference as the originals.
Door handles can stick and the interior trim can work itself loose over time. There are also some reports of issues with turbos, rapidly wearing front brakes, central locking malfunctions and air-con faults.
Only buy cars with a full service history, and avoid shoddy examples. There are plenty of cars to choose from, so you can afford to be fussy.
