Used BMW 3 Series 2012-2019 reliability review

What should I look for in a used BMW 3 Series?

What are the most common problems with a used BMW 3 Series?

With the BMW 3 Series being very popular with company car drivers, there are plenty of high-mileage examples out there. This, in turn, might tempt unscrupulous sellers to artificially alter the car’s digital odometer, so it’s important to look back through the car’s MOT record online (if it’s old enough to have one), pay for a vehicle history check or plug the car into a BMW dealer’s diagnostics machine.

Also bear in mind that models fitted with large alloy wheels and low-profile tyres are not only more vulnerable to kerb damage, but they also have a significantly firmer ride and produce more road noise, particularly at motorway speeds.

All of the diesel engines in this generation of the 3 Series use a timing chain rather than a belt, but 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.

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 most logical systems to use.

Is a used BMW 3 Series reliable?

In our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, the BMW 3 Series diesel ranked fourth out of 24 cars in our most reliable executive car class with a score of 96.5%. The petrol-engined cars scored a good 92%. This was above the Alfa Romeo Giulia and the Skoda Superb, but below the Audi A4, the Jaguar XE and the Mercedes C-Class.

BMW finished eighth out of 31 brands in our most reliable car manufacturers rundown, with a good overall score of 94%. This put it above Audi and Mercedes but below Lexus and Tesla.

Used BMW 3 Series reliability: the owners' view

Owners of the BMW 3 Series told us about their experiences as part of our annual Reliability Survey, and while most said that their cars had been reliable, there were some notable exceptions. Most of these were for minor issues, and mainly related to glitches with the car’s infotainment system.

Some readers expressed dissatisfaction with the cost of servicing their cars using BMW main dealers, with several noting that this was more costly than they were expecting. A small number of readers also expected their cars to come with a longer warranty than the three years BMW offers.