Item: Used BMW 3 Series Touring 2012 - 2019
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

<p>The most obvious rivals to the 3 Series Touring are the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a4/estate/used-review/n888">Audi A4 Avant</a> and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/c-class/estate/used-review/n797">Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate</a>. There’s not much in it when it comes to boot capacity and flexibility, though both have slightly more rear-seat leg and head room. Countering that, the 3 Series is the most enjoyable car to drive of the three, with superior steering and handling. There's not much in it on price, either, or running costs, and all three manufacturers only scored a mid-table position on most of our recent reliability and customer satisfaction surveys.</p>

<p>If you’re looking for more interior space and a larger boot, and don’t mind sacrificing the premium badge, then you should consider the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/superb/estate/used-review/n916">Skoda Superb Estate</a> and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/passat/estate/used-review/n917">VW Passat Estate</a>, both of which offer far larger interiors (and exteriors) for pretty much the same price new and used as the 3 Series. The Superb’s boot is vast; it seems&nbsp;almost big enough to house the entire 3 Series Touring within it, and the Passat’s is almost its equal. Both cars make a pretty good fist of the family load lugger role, with competent performance and reasonable economy and running costs. Both hold onto their value well, too, so with strong residuals there are few real bargains, though plenty of good buys.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? Newsletter here</a></strong></p>

<h3><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/bmw/3-series?derivative.category=estate&amp;yearTo=2019&amp;used=true&amp;nearlynew=true"><strong>Find&nbsp;a used 3 Series Touring&nbsp;with What Car&nbsp;Used Car Buying&nbsp;&gt;&gt;</strong></a></h3>

<p><strong>Page 5 of 5</strong></p>


What is it like?

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<h3><strong>Crankcase bearing bushing</strong></h3>

<p>This recall affects some 3&nbsp;Series models made from 11 March 2019 and 9&nbsp;July&nbsp;2019, and concerns&nbsp;a crankcase bearing bushing that might not have been pressed into the engine&nbsp;correctly. This may sound like a minor issue, but cars that are involved will actually need to have a new engine fitted, so speak to a BMW dealer for further information.</p>

<h3><strong>Crankshaft sensor</strong></h3>

<p>A problem with the crankshaft sensor of some examples built from 16 May 2018 and 7&nbsp;June 2018 could lead to the engine going into an emergency reduced power mode, limiting&nbsp;performance. A BMW dealer will be able to confirm if your 3 Series&nbsp;is affected by this and arrange to have the sensor replaced.</p>

<h3><strong>Seatbelt mechanism</strong></h3>

<p>There is a possibility that some examples manufactured between 1 September 2014 and 31 March 2015 could have a&nbsp;faulty Driver's side&nbsp;seatbelt mechanism that makes it difficult to use in cold weather. Find out from a BMW dealer if your car is affected since it will need to have the mechanism replaced.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h3><strong>Power steering</strong></h3>

<p>A potential issue with the power steering on cars manufactured from the start of production up to 8 December 2015, and the driver may notice heavier steering than usual if&nbsp;it does fail. Affected examples will need to have a new power steering system fitted to fix the fault.</p>

<h3><strong>Rear axle bolts</strong></h3>

<p>Additionally, the rear axle bolts on cars produced between 1 January 2015 and 1 September 2016 can fail when reused, so if any work has been carried out on the rear axle (for example as a result of an accident repair), you need to be certain that new bolts have also been fitted.</p>

<h3><strong>Loss of drive</strong></h3>

<p>If you’re looking at a 2013 3 Series&nbsp;with a manual gearbox and you find it difficult to engage gears, it&nbsp;might&nbsp;be that the bolts securing the pressure plate are loose. There was a recall issued for cars made between 1 February 2013 and 30 June 2013 to have these bolts replaced in order to fix the problem.</p>

<h3><strong>Engine may stall</strong></h3>

<p>There is a potential issue with engines that stall due to the fuel pump, and relates&nbsp;to models produced between 1 September 2013 to 30 April 2014. You may notice a warning lamp and error message display in the instrument cluster before the engine cuts out. Check with a BMW dealer to find out if your example is affected by this because it will need the fuel pump to be replaced.</p>

<h3><strong>EGR cooler</strong></h3>

<p>There have been a few recalls for leaking EGR coolers and apply to various BMW models, but for the 3 Series it affects those built between 19&nbsp;September&nbsp;2015&nbsp;and 22&nbsp;November&nbsp;2017. With such a broad timescale, contact your dealer for further information, because you'll need to have the vehicle inspected if it is suspected to be one of those affected.</p>

<h3><strong>Central rear headrest</strong></h3>

<p>Poor welds might mean the foldable central rear headrest might not work correctly on 3 Series models made from 5 -&nbsp;31 July 2019, and will need to be inspected by a technician BMW dealer to determine if it needs to be replaced.</p>


<p>BMW as a brand has been improving and managed a&nbsp;9th&nbsp;place result out of 31&nbsp;manufacturers in our latest reliability survey.</p>

<p>Petrol versions of the 3 Series have proven to be more reliable than the diesel alternative, with petrol coming in 5th and diesel ending up in 10th out of 19&nbsp;in the&nbsp;executive class. Both&nbsp;beat the 3 Series'&nbsp;main rivals, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a4/saloon/used-review/n787">Audi A4</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/c-class/saloon/used-review/n796">Mercedes&nbsp;C-Class</a>.</p>

<p>If you would like to see the full reliability list for executive cars, head to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2020-what-car-reliability-survey/n20042">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>&nbsp;pages for more information.</p>

<p><strong>Page 3 of 5</strong></p>


Estate

<p dir="ltr">Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car, which costs more than £100,000.</p>

<p dir="ltr">BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has six in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and X6.</p>

<p dir="ltr">All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.</p>


3 SERIES

<p>The BMW 3 Series Touring might not be the most practical estate in this class, but it is one of the very best to drive and to own</p>


Used BMW 3 Series Touring 2012 - 2019

<h3><strong>MPG</strong></h3>

<p>The cheapest 3 Series Touring to run is the 320d in ED form, which is good for an impressive&nbsp;official economy figure of 72.4mpg. The popular 318d and 320d achieve combined economy&nbsp;figures of 67.3mpg and 60.1mpg, respectively. The bigger, six-cylinder diesels aren't far off the smaller engines, though, with the 330d rated at 55.4mpg and the 335d at 51.4mpg.</p>

<p>Going for a smaller petrol shouldn't cripple you financially on fuel; the&nbsp;318i has a combined economy figure of 52.3mpg. The more potent 320i, 328i and 330i models drop down into the mid-40s, though, while the older six-cylinder 335i achieves as little as 34.9mpg.</p>

<h3><strong>CO2 emissions</strong></h3>

<p>Some of the petrol engines emit&nbsp;an awful lot more CO2 than the diesels,&nbsp;particularly the 335i with 189g/km. The more sensible 318i, though, coughs out 122g/km. The popular 320d diesel emits 124g/km (102g/km in EfficientDynamics form), while the&nbsp;318d has a figure of 111g/km. Even the six-cylinder diesels are quite affordable to tax; the powerful&nbsp;335d's 145g/km is quite impressive given the performance it offers.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h3><strong>Road tax</strong></h3>

<p>Road tax for all models registered before 1 April 2017&nbsp;will vary depending upon the emissions the engine produces (see paragraph above for more information)&nbsp;while examples registered after this date will render owners liable to pay a&nbsp;flat&nbsp;rate fee. There are two of these; a lower rate for&nbsp;cars that cost less than £40,000 when new, but any example that cost more than that will&nbsp;incur an additional fee. However, this surcharge only applies on the first five occasions that the&nbsp;vehicle is taxed, not including initial registration.&nbsp;To find out more about the current <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/car-tax-changes-in-2019-%E2%80%93-what-do-i-need-to-know/n1153">road tax costs, click here</a>.</p>

<h3><strong>Servicing costs</strong></h3>

<p>BMW offers a five-year fixed-price servicing package on its new cars, so it’s worth checking to see if you’re still covered by this when buying a used one. Servicing isn’t too pricey, however, there will be a discrepancy between the&nbsp;smallest four-cylinder diesel and a big&nbsp;six-cylinder petrol that needs all of its&nbsp;filters and spark plugs changing. Inspections are due every two years or 15,000 miles.</p>

<p><strong>Page 2 of 5</strong></p>


The BMW 3 Series Touring might not be the most practical estate in this class, but it is one of the very best to drive and to own


<p>There are lots of examples of the 3 Series Touring (especially the 320d) and you can pick up a high-mileage example for as little as £5000.&nbsp;Up the money to £9000 and you should be able to find a tidy&nbsp;2014 example from an independent dealer with an average mileage and a full history.</p>

<p>You’ll need £12,000&nbsp;to buy a good example from 2016&nbsp;onward, with a low mileage and a full history, while the very last cars from 2019 start at around £18,000 and go all the way up to nearly £27,000 for a high-spec,&nbsp;six-cylinder model.&nbsp;The four-wheel-drive xDrive versions attract a&nbsp;premium that can be as much as £1500 over an equivalent tw0-wheel drive 3 Series, so consider if you really need this feature before committing to buy one.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/car-valuation/">Check the value of a used BMW 3 Series Touring with What Car? Valuations</a></strong></p>


<h3><strong>Engine</strong></h3>

<p>Chances are you’re after a diesel-engined car, as that’s how most people bought them new. If so, our favourite engine is the 320d, which has slightly more oomph than the 316d and 318d versions, and yet retains class-leading economy.</p>

<p>The higher powered diesel models all offer an excellent blend of performance, refinement and economy.&nbsp;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.</p>

<h3><strong>Specification</strong></h3>

<p>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.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Our favourite BMW 3 Series Touring:</strong>&nbsp;post-2015 320d Sport</p>

<p><strong>Page 4 of 5</strong></p>


<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Huge boot and excellent practicality</li> <li>Plenty of interior space so you can carry passengers as well as luggage </li> <li>Strong engines to pull a heavily laden car</li> <li>Comfortable ride, especially on the motorway</li> <li>Low running costs for company car drivers</li></ul>

<p>If you’re after bags of space but you don’t want to commit to the van-like dimensions and styling of an MPV, there are some great estate cars on offer that should do the job.</p>

<p>Tricks to look out for include an electric tailgate&nbsp;that opens automatically when you wave your foot under the rear bumper; this is&nbsp;particularly handy if you’re trying to load in a heavy or&nbsp;bulky item. You should also look for handles in the side of the boot itself that can drop down the rear seats; these are much more convenient than having to walk around the side of the car to do it.</p>

<p>There are some terrific estates at most price ranges. The humble Skoda Fabia Estate offers cavernous space for not much cash at all, for example.</p>

<p>Further up the price range, another of our perennial favourites is the Skoda Superb Estate;&nbsp;it’s great to drive and as practical as most people should ever need. Meanwhile, for serious mile-munching ability and a premium, well-finished interior, it’s hard to look beyond the BMW 5 Series Touring.</p>

<p>The Touring is a popular and hard-working estate car that might well have been used for long-distance journeys, so always check that mileages add up in the service book or check them against the MOT history, provided the car is old enough to have one. Check the interior and exterior for obvious signs of wear, too.</p>

<p>All of the diesel engines in this generation of the 3 Series Touring use a timing chain rather than a belt, but&nbsp;it’s still worth listening out for any ticking metallic sounds which might stem from a faulty tensioner because this can be an issue on earlier examples with infrequent servicing. Better yet, opt for a post-2015 example because that has a revised diesel engine that suffers less from this issue.</p>

<p>Some owners have found the Bluetooth to be temperamental, but this might be fixed with a software upgrade at a BMW dealer. Beyond that, the iDrive infotainment system is holding up well and is still one of the more logical systems to use.</p>

<p>If you're interested in finding out what to look for on older 3 Series Touring models, click here for the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/3-series/estate/used-review/n258">2005-2013 version</a>, or here for the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/3-series/estate/used-review/n259">1999-2005 model</a>.&nbsp;</p>


<p>The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/3-series/saloon/review/?aq=BMW%20%203%20Series&amp;amp;type=review&amp;amp;src=SearchDropdown&amp;amp;oq=bmw%25203%2520">BMW 3 Series saloon</a> has defined the compact executive car class for many years now, so it’s not surprising that those buyers seeking out a classy estate of equivalent merit&nbsp;flock to the Touring version. It embodies all the good qualities of the saloon, with a dose of extra practicality thrown in.</p>

<p>This sixth-generation version is roomier than 3 Series' of old, too, so it now makes even more sense as an estate car. In fact, its boot is roughly the same size as its main rivals, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a4/estate/review/?aq=Audi%20%20A4%20Avant&amp;amp;type=review&amp;amp;src=SearchDropdown&amp;amp;oq=audi%2520a4%2520">Audi A4 Avant</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/c-class/estate/review/?aq=Mercedes-Benz%20%20C-Class%20Estate&amp;amp;type=review&amp;amp;src=SearchDropdown&amp;amp;oq=mercedes-benz%2520c-class%2520est">Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate</a>, though it’s worth noting that it can't match the capacity offered by the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/superb/estate/review/?aq=Skoda%20%20Superb%20Estate&amp;amp;type=review&amp;amp;src=SearchDropdown&amp;amp;oq=skoda%2520superb%2520es">Skoda Superb Estate</a> and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/passat/estate/review/?aq=Volkswagen%20%20Passat%20Estate&amp;amp;type=review&amp;amp;src=SearchDropdown&amp;amp;oq=vw%2520passat%2520es">Volkswagen Passat Estate</a>.</p>

<p>There are a wide range of petrol engine&nbsp;options, starting with a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine that was&nbsp;introduced as the 134bhp 316i (but was&nbsp;later renamed&nbsp;318i in a 2015 facelift), which&nbsp;is&nbsp;surprisingly willing, considering its small size. Then there are&nbsp;the 2.0-litre&nbsp;181bhp 320i, 242bhp 228i and 248bhp 330i, with the high-performance, 3.0-litre six-cylinder 302bhp 335i&nbsp;and 321bhp 340i versions completing the lineup. Diesel options, which have always been the better sellers, include the economical 114bhp 316d, 148bhp 318d,&nbsp;181bhp 320d and 218bhp 325d, as well as&nbsp;the more powerful 3.0-litre, six-cylinder 254bhp 330d and 309bhp 335d models.</p>

<p>There are four&nbsp;major trim levels on offer: ES, SE, Sport and M Sport.&nbsp;ES has&nbsp;17in alloy wheels, climate control, a DAB radio, Bluetooth, cruise control and a 6.5in infotainment screen. Go for SE to get&nbsp;auto wipers and lights, rear parking sensors and dual-zone climate control. Sport grade adds numerous sporty touches including lots of red trim inside;&nbsp;some gloss black exterior trim and sports seats. M Sport&nbsp;adds firmer&nbsp;suspension,&nbsp;larger 18in wheels, and a more aggressive bodykit outside.</p>

<p>There were also a couple&nbsp;of styling packs called Modern and Luxury on pre-facelift cars. The former doesn't alter much over a regular SE car other than swap some piano black interior inserts for matt chrome alternatives, but the latter gives you upgraded&nbsp;leather on the seats and some wood paneling to the dash and door cards.</p>

<p>Trim varieties aside, the main attribute of the 3 Series Touring is the way it drives. It’s rear-wheel drive and&nbsp;offers a great driving experience,&nbsp;steering&nbsp;and handling with just enough precision for a keen driver. There’s also an excellent four-wheel drive option: the xDrive. It rides well, too, though versions without the optional adaptive suspension&nbsp;can be a bit too firm; especially so with the M Sport suspension, which we'd avoid.</p>

<p>Inside, there’s the quality you expect from the premium BMW badge, with an upmarket interior and that much-lauded iDrive infotainment system controller. Overall, it is a much plainer design than the glitzy C-Class, but it does feel far better screwed together, coming close to the quality feel of&nbsp;the superbly finished A4.</p>

<p>Also, the 3 Series misses out on the standard-fit lumbar adjustment that comes as standard on its main rivals. Still, there is plenty of adjustment to help you find a comfortable driving position, although, whatever way you sit, you'll have to get used to the restricted rearwards&nbsp;visibility due to a small back&nbsp;window.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Passenger accommodation is pretty good for those in the second row;&nbsp;head and leg room are more generous than its closest competitors can offer. Load-lugging is made easier&nbsp;by a flexible 40:20:40 split folding rear bench and standard fit electric tailgate. The boot isn't as long as the one found in the A4, nor does it have a handy cover that rises out of the way automatically, but the 3 Series has greater underfloor storage to hide things away, plus the rear window can be opened to stuff in smaller items if you can't open the whole tailgate.</p>

<p>If you're interested in finding a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/bmw/3-series?derivative.category=estate&amp;yearTo=2019&amp;used=true&amp;nearlynew=true">used 3 Series</a>, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Car Buying</a>&nbsp;pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.</p>

<h3><strong>Page 1 of 5</strong></h3>


Used BMW 3 Series Touring 2012 - 2019 review

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