ADVERTISEMENT
Sort

Filter & Refine

Rear Wheel Drive
View Layout

BMW 3 SERIES Used Car Review

The 3 Series is German car maker BMW's signature model - a compact luxury passenger car that has existed in multiple generations since its 1975 debut. Since 2014, the 3 Series name has applied to sedan and wagon body styles only, with coupe and convertible models adopting the 4 Series nomenclature. The 3 Series has long been considered one of the most entertaining cars to drive in its class, and the flagship M3 performance variant is especially famous.

Pros

Cons

  • Entertaining to drive with beautiful handling
  • Fuel efficiency consistently excellent, and often class-leading
  • Superb performance of six-cylinder engines
  • Good build quality
  • Run-flat tyres (introduced in 2007 in lieu of a spare wheel) bring a firmer ride
  • Four-cylinder turbos replaced brand's famous six-cylinders in performance but not sound
  • Adaptive suspension (optional on many models) needed for best ride quality
  • Interior presentation has generally lagged behind rival Audi A4
This is general information and should not be relied on as purchasing advice.
BMW3SedanRear Wheel DriveClear all

2020 BMW 3 20i LUXURY LINEBMW 3 dBNZD

  • 120000 km
  • Sedan
  • Auto
  • 4 cyl 2.0L

Tank fly boss walk jam nitty-gritty, You're listening to the boy from the big bad city, This is jam hot. This is jam hot

$20,000 Excl. Gov. Charges
Richmond, NSW

Dealer used
14/01/2025

2014 BMW 3 18d LUXURY LINE Manual Sedan

  • 1000 km
  • Sedan
  • Manual
  • 4 cyl 2.0L

asdasdsadasdasdasdasd

$1,000 Excl. Gov. Charges
Sydney City, NSW

Dealer used
14/01/2025

2020 BMW 3 20i LUXURY LINEBMW 3 prdqtEXeb

  • 130000 km
  • Sedan
  • Auto
  • 4 cyl 2.0L

Tank fly boss walk jam nitty-gritty, You're listening to the boy from the big bad city, This is jam hot. This is jam hot

$30,000 Excl. Gov. Charges
Richmond, NSW

Dealer used
13/01/2025

2014 Mazda 3 BM5438 SP25 SKYACTIV-Drive Aluminium 6 Speed Sports Automatic Hatchback

  • 82637 km
  • Sedan
  • Auto
  • 4 cyl 2.0L

**HAVE A LOOK AT THIS FANTASTIC 2014 MAZDA 3 SP25* **LOCATED ONLY 45 MINUTES SOUTH OF SYDNEY** **AUTOMATIC** -SATELLITE NAVIGATION -REARVIEW CAMERA -ALLOY WHEELS -MUCH MORE... **ONE OWNER** ** FULL-SERVICE HISTORY** All our vehicles have undergone full workshop and safety checks and come with a free 3-year warranty (conditions apply). Get the benefits of a one-stop-shop with finance and insurance packages to suit all budgets and vehicle logbook servicing for all makes and

$22,888 Excl. Gov. Charges
Richmond, NSW

Dealer used
13/01/2025

2011 BMW 3 20d LIFESTYLE

  • 800000 km
  • Sedan
  • Auto
  • 4 cyl 2.0L

Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehicle. Test Vehi

$2,000,000 Excl. Gov. Charges
Rothwell, QLD

Dealer used
13/01/2025

2014 Mazda 3 BM5438 SP25 SKYACTIV-Drive Aluminium 6 Speed Sports Automatic Hatchback

  • 82637 km
  • Sedan
  • Auto
  • 4 cyl 2.0L

**HAVE A LOOK AT THIS FANTASTIC 2014 MAZDA 3 SP25* **LOCATED ONLY 45 MINUTES SOUTH OF SYDNEY** **AUTOMATIC** -SATELLITE NAVIGATION -REARVIEW CAMERA -ALLOY WHEELS -MUCH MORE... **ONE OWNER** ** FULL-SERVICE HISTORY** All our vehicles have undergone full workshop and safety checks and come with a free 3-year warranty (conditions apply). Get the benefits of a one-stop-shop with finance and insurance packages to suit all budgets and vehicle logbook servicing for all makes and

$22,888 Excl. Gov. Charges
Richmond, NSW

Dealer used
13/01/2025

Overview of the BMW 3

Overview of the BMW 3

The 3 Series is German car maker BMW's signature model - a compact luxury passenger car that has existed in multiple generations since its 1975 debut.

Since 2014, the 3 Series name has applied to sedan and wagon body styles only, with coupe and convertible models adopting the 4 Series nomenclature.

The 3 Series has long been considered one of the most entertaining cars to drive in its class, and the flagship M3 performance variant is especially famous.

BMW 3 SERIES GENERATIONS (SINCE 1998)

1998-2006

2007-2012

2012-present

RUNNING COSTS

Fuel Consumption

2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo petrol: 5.4-6.7 litres per 100km

2.0L 4-cylinder turbo diesel: 4.4-5.3 litres per 100km

3.0-litre 6-cylinder turbo petrol: 6.8-7.2 litres per 100km

3.0-litre 6-cylinder turbo diesel: 6.2-6.4 litres per 100km

Hybrid 2.1 litres per 100km

= Highly economical.

= Good economy.

= Average fuel use.

= Heavy consumption.

Servicing

SIMILAR MODELS TO BMW 3 SERIES

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR: BMW 3 SERIES

As with any high-end European car, don't go near a 3-Series that doesn't have a fully stamped service history.

Biggest potential grief comes from variable valve-timing system (VANOS, in BMW-speak) which can fail due to internal leaks within the hydraulic circuitry. Some six-cylinder 3-Series were even recalled to fix this.

Beyond a leak, VANOS can fail through a lack of oil changes as dirt and grit blocks the tiny oilways that operate the system. If it fails, it can cost thousands to fix and the car won't be right without it.

Any 3-Series showing a 'check-engine' light on the dash is cause for concern.

Some early cars from this series had a brake booster that could fail, leaving the car with brakes but no assistance, requiring the driver to press harder on the brake pedal.

Again, this was the subject of a recall, so check that it's been done on affected cars.