With over 20 million models bought since its debut 5 a long time in the past, the three Collection is BMW’s most profitable mannequin, persistently setting the benchmark for sports activities sedans with its flawless mixture of efficiency, consolation, luxurious, and expertise. Nonetheless, not everybody can afford the $50,000 price ticket of a brand new 3er, and lots of consumers are inclined to look to the secondary marketplace for a greater deal.
In spite of everything, used 3 Collection fashions can be found on Edmunds and CarGurus for as little as $2,000. To place that in perspective, probably the most inexpensive new automotive in america, the Nissan Versa, has an MSRP of $18,330. However then, is a used 3 Collection an excellent buy? The reply is usually sure, however with just a few essential exceptions. A
Based mostly on proprietor stories, BMW service bulletins and our personal experiences, on this article, now we have listed the variants to keep away from.
E90 335i (N54/N55)
At its launch, the E90 335i delivered sports activities car-level efficiency. Certainly, its N54 twin-turbo engine produced 302 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, enabling a 0-60 mph time of 5.8 seconds. Naturally, the N54 engine received loads of accolades, together with the Worldwide Engine of the Yr title and the Ward’s 10 Finest Engines award (thrice).
Nonetheless, as BMW’s first trendy mass-produced turbo-petrol engine, the N54 had a number of notable points, together with high-pressure gas pump (HPFP) failure. This concern was so widespread that it led to a class-action lawsuit towards the corporate. Furthermore, the N54’s successor, the N55, additionally had issues, albeit BMW did finally get them underneath management.
E36 3 Collection
The E36 by no means achieved the identical form of recognition because the E30 or E46, and for good motive. BMW’s cost-cutting on the third-generation 3 Collection was evident in its poor-quality interiors and cooling system issues. It was nonetheless a mechanical and design improve over the E30 and earned rave opinions from publications like Autocar, Automobile and Driver, and Highway & Observe.
It’s additionally truthful to say that the majority house owners love their E36 3 Collection, particularly if in case you have a particular one just like the E36 M3-R, which was a homologation particular for the Australian market and had a restricted run of simply 15 models (making it a profitable collector automotive).
F30 3 Collection
We all know that the F30 was a important business success, with 2.6 million deliveries and awards like What Automobile? Govt Automobile of the Yr, the Golden Steering Wheel from Auto Bild, and Vehicle Journal’s All-Star. Nonetheless, the sixth-generation 3er was fairly controversial amongst fanatics, as its elevated concentrate on luxurious, expertise, and luxury was seen as a dilution of BMW’s efficiency DNA. Plus, the 2012-2015 320i and 328i fashions with the N20 engines have been liable to sturdiness issues (timing chain points, oil leaks and turbo longevity).
Frankly, as an alternative of the F30, it’s seemingly a greater worth proposition to pay the premium for a used G20.
Conclusion
Usually talking, BMW is well-regarded for its high quality and dependability. Living proof: in J.D. Energy’s 2025 Car Dependability Examine (VDS), the Munich-based automaker obtained an above-average score (189 issues per 100 autos) and completed forward of Tesla (209 PP100 autos), Mercedes-Benz (243 PP100 autos) and Audi (273 PP100 autos).
Nonetheless, proudly owning a BMW outdoors of its guarantee interval will be pricey and irritating. The aforementioned E36, E90, and F30 fashions are sometimes finest averted. As but, it’s essential to keep in mind that even different 3 Collection fashions/generations could cause important complications and bills if their upkeep has been uncared for.
