Used BMW 3 Series Touring 2019-present reliability
Category: Estate car
The BMW 3 Series Touring is great to drive and easy to live with, and a top-notch used buy.
What should I look for in a used BMW 3 Series estate?
Most examples of this generation 3 Series will still be found within the BMW franchised dealer network, so they’ll most likely still look like new. Do all the usual checks, though, such as looking for kerb damage on alloy wheels, scratches to the paintwork, damage to the bumpers (particularly the rear bumper, which may have been damaged by items being loaded and unloaded from the boot), and any stains in the carpet and or seat upholstery.
All the electronics should still work, but they’ll still be covered under warranty if anything isn’t operating as it should.
What are the most common problems with a used BMW 3 Series estate?
Crankcase bearing bushing
This recall affects some 3 Series models made from 11 March and 9 July 2019, and concerns a crankcase bearing bushing that might not have been pressed into the engine 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.
Central rear headrest
Some 3 Series built between 5 and 31 July 2019 could have a problem with the central rear headrest. Speak to a BMW dealer to determine whether your car is affected by this recall; it will need to have the headrest replaced if it is.
Battery pack short circuit
Debris from the welding process might not have been cleaned out of the battery packs of some 3 Series' manufactured between 3 March and 22 September 2020, and could potentially cause a short circuit. Speak with a BMW dealer for further information because the pack may have to be replaced in examples affected by this recall.
Is a used BMW 3 Series estate reliable?
The current BMW 3 Series had mixed results in our latest 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey. The petrol-engined 3 series finished in sixth place out of 26 cars in the executive car class while the hybrid 330e finished ninth. The diesel-engined versions finished in 26th place.
Reliability rating 78.0%
Almost a third of diesel-powered BMW 3 Series went wrong. Exhaust and sat-nav/infotainment systems were the main problem areas, followed by bodywork, brakes and engine electrics. Half were out of action for more than a week. BMW paid for only 58% of repairs, while 42% of owners paid more than £1500.
On the whole, the 3 Series scored higher than its rivals the Audi A4 and the Mercedes C-Class, with the exception of the diesel-engined cars. Check out the full list of executive cars here.
BMW as a brand does better on average than Mercedes and Audi, finishing in 16th place overall out of 32 car manufacturers. Check out the full list of manufacturers here.
To read more from our Reliability Survey in detail, check out the full results here.
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.
